Patent US3206537A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3842292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Microwave power modulator/leveler control circuit
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1973-06-04
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-06-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a microwave modulator and leveler including automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry for providing closed loop amplitude control of microwave power propagated through the modulator. In addition to this power amplitude control, the control circuitry for the modulator features automatic and external modulation of microwave power, and also a frequency indication control. Separate control networks for these different control functions are all connected in a unique fashion to a single common control or bias winding of the modulator.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kuno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:42
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B23/00; H03L; H03L5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Circuitry for sweeping the frequency of a solid state diode type oscillator through a predetermined frequency range while simultaneously controlling the amplitude of microwave or millimeter wave power generated by said oscillator, said circuitry including in combination: a. a waveguide modulator electrically coupled to said oscillator and having a control winding thereon for receiving bias currents for varying the attenuation of microwave power passing therethrough, b. detection means coupled to said waveguide modulator and providing a detection voltage proportional to the level of microwave power propagated through said waveguide modulator, c. differential amplifier means having one input thereof connected to said detection means for receiving said detection voltage and the other input thereof connected to a variable threshold reference voltage, whereby said voltages are compared to generate an error signal, and d. means connecting the output of said differential amplifier means to a point on said control winding for thereby coupling said error signal to said modulator and providing closed loop feedback control of the microwave power propagated through said modulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Circuitry for sweeping the frequency of a solid state diode type oscillator through a predetermined frequency range while simultaneously controlling the amplitude of microwave or millimeter wave power generated by said oscillator, said circuitry including in combination: a. a waveguide modulator electrically coupled to said oscillator and having a control winding thereon for receiving bias currents for varying the attenuation of microwave power passing therethrough, b. detection means coupled to said waveguide modulator and providing a detection voltage proportional to the level of microwave power propagated through said waveguide modulator, c. differential amplifier means having one input thereof connected to said detection means for receiving said detection voltage and the other input thereof connected to a variable threshold reference voltage, whereby said voltages are compared to generate an error signal, and d. means connecting the output of said differential amplifier means to a point on said control winding for thereby coupling said error signal to said modulator and providing closed loop feedback control of the microwave power propagated through said modulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
Circuitry defined in claim 1 which further includes means connected between a reference input terminal and an output terminal of said differential amplifier means for clamping the output voltage of said differential amplifier means to a predetermined DC level, thereby preventing signal delays and minimizing overshoot in said differential amplifier means and preventing instability in said amplifier means when the RF power levels through said modulator exceed predetermined values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
Circuitry defined in claim 2 wherein said clamping means includes a transistor which has its emitter-base junction connected between the input and output terminals of said differential amplifier means and its base-collector junction serially connected through suitable logic circuitry to a visual indicator means, whereby said transistor serves the dual purpose of properly clamping said differential amplifier means to prevent signal delays and also controlling the eneRgization of said indicator means to indicate the level of the signal passing through said modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
Circuitry defined in claim 1 which further includes modulation control circuitry having: a. an external modulation input terminal for receiving an external modulation voltage, b. an internal modulation input terminal connectable to a fixed frequency generator for receiving an on/off modulation signal, and c. push-pull amplifier means selectively connectable to one of said external and internal modulation input terminals and having a pair of push-pull output terminals connected to drive said control winding of said modulator in a push-pull fashion, thereby providing on-off and manual modulation control of microwave power passing through said waveguide modulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
Circuitry defined in claim 1 which further includes frequency marker control circuitry having: a. input sweep width control amplifier means connected to receive a sawtooth voltage whose amplitude is proportional to the frequency of said oscillator, and b. threshold switching means coupled to the output of said input amplifier means for generating output pulses whose spacing is dependent upon the frequency of said sawtooth voltage and said oscillator, whereby said pulses may be utilized to control the current flowing in said control winding and thereby provide a frequency indication for said oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The circuitry defined in claim 5 wherein said frequency marker control circuit further includes a bias current regulator network connected between the output of said input amplifier means and said oscillator for providing an adjustable sawtooth bias current to said oscillator, thereby providing variable frequency control for the latter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
Circuitry defined in claim 6 which further includes modulation control circuitry having: a. an external modulation input terminal for receiving an external modulation voltage, b. an internal modulation input terminal connectable to a fixed frequency generator for receiving an on-off modulation signal, and c. push-pull amplifier means selectively connectable to either said external or to said internal modulation terminal and having a pair of push-pull output terminals connectable to said control winding of said waveguide modulator for providing on-off and manual modulation control of microwave power propagated through said waveguide modulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
Circuitry defined in claim 7 which further includes means connected between the reference input terminal and the output terminal of said differential amplifier means for DC clamping the output voltage of said differential amplifier means to a predetermined level, thereby preventing signal delays in said circuitry when the detection voltage from said detection means rapidly exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
Circuitry defined in claim 8 wherein said clamping means is a transistor having its emitter-base junction connected between the input and output terminals of said differential amplifier means and having its base-collector junction serially connected via suitable logic circuitry to a visual level indicator means for controlling the current thereto, whereby said clamping transistor serves the dual purpose of DC clamping the output voltage of said differential amplifier means and also controlling the current to said visual indicator means to indicate the leveling of microwave power passing through said modulator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The circuitry defined in claim 1 wherein said oscillator is an IMPATT diode type oscillator whose output frequency varies as a function of D.C. bias current through an IMPATT diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
Control circuitry for sweeping the frequency of a solid state diode type oscillator through a predetermined frequency range and operative for modulating and leveling microwave or millimeter wave power generated at said oscillator, said circuitry including in combination: a. a waveguide modulator having a control winding thereon for receiving Bias currents to vary the attenuation of microwave power propagated therethrough, b. detection means coupled to the output of said waveguide modulator for providing a detection voltage proportional to the power level at the output of said waveguide modulator, c. means coupled to said detection means for comparing said detection voltage with a variable reference voltage to thereby generate a closed loop feedback error signal, d. means coupling said error signal to said control winding, and e. modulation control circuit means connected to selected points on said winding for providing fixed frequency or other modulation control thereto, whereby a single control winding may be used to receive both a closed loop error signal and an open loop modulation signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
Control circuitry for sweeping the frequency of a solid state diode type oscillator through a predetermined frequency range and operative for modulating and leveling microwave or millimeter wave power generated at said oscillator, said circuitry including in combination: a. a waveguide modulator having a control winding thereon for receiving Bias currents to vary the attenuation of microwave power propagated therethrough, b. detection means coupled to the output of said waveguide modulator for providing a detection voltage proportional to the power level at the output of said waveguide modulator, c. means coupled to said detection means for comparing said detection voltage with a variable reference voltage to thereby generate a closed loop feedback error signal, d. means coupling said error signal to said control winding, and e. modulation control circuit means connected to selected points on said winding for providing fixed frequency or other modulation control thereto, whereby a single control winding may be used to receive both a closed loop error signal and an open loop modulation signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
Circuitry defined in claim 11 wherein: a. said modulation control circuit means has an external modulation input terminal for receiving a manual mode modulation voltage and also has an internal modulation input terminal connectable to a fixed frequency generator for receiving an periodic modulation signal, and b. said modulation control circuit means further including push-pull amplifier means selectively connectable to said external and to said internal modulation input terminals and having a pair of push-pull output terminals connected, respectively, to separate points on said control winding for providing automatic on-off and external modulation control of microwave power propagated through said waveguide modulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
Circuitry defined in claim 11 wherein: a. said comparing means includes a differential amplifier having one input terminal connected to said detection means for receiving said detection voltage and another input terminal connected to a variable reference threshold voltage for controlling the threshold response of said differential amplifier, and b. means coupling the output of said differential amplifier to said control winding for providing the close-loop feedback control of microwave power propagated through said modulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
Circuitry defined in claim 11 which further includes frequency marker control circuitry having: a. input amplifier means connected to receive a sawtooth voltage whose amplitude is proportional to the output frequency of said oscillator, and b. threshold switching means connected to the output of said input amplifier means for generating output pulses whose pulse spacing is dependent upon the amplitude of said sawtooth voltage and the frequency of said oscillator, whereby said pulses may be utilized to control the current in said control winding and provide a microwave frequency marker indication on an oscilloscope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Circuitry defined in claim 14 wherein said frequency marker circuitry includes a bias current regulator network connected between the output of said input amplifier means and the said oscillator for providing a variable reference bias current to the said oscillator, said bias current controlling the frequency of said oscillator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
Circuitry defined in claim 14 wherein: a. said comparing means includes a differential amplifier having one input thereof connected to receive said detection voltage and another input thereof connected to a variable reference threshold voltage for controlling the threshold response of said differential amplifier, and b. means coupling the output of said differential amplifier to said control winding to provide closed loop feedback control of the microwave power propagated through said modulator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
Circuitry defined in claim 16 which further includes means connected between a reference input terminal and an output terminal of said differential amplifier means for clamping the output voltage of said differential amplifier means to a predetermined DC level, thereby preventing signal delays through said differential amplifier means when the RF power levels through said modulator rapidly exceed predetermined levels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
Circuitry defined in claiM 17 wherein said clamping means includes a transistor which has its emitter-base junction connected between the input and output terminals of said differential amplifier means and its base-collector junction serially connected via suitable logic circuitry to a visual indicator means, whereby said transistor serves the dual purpose of properly clamping said differential amplifier means to prevent signal delays and also controlling the energization of said indicator means to indicate the power leveling of the signal passing through said modulator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |