Electrically tuned microwave energy device

Claim 2

A microwave energy device comprising: means for generating electromagnetic energy at a predetermined frequency including cavity resonator means; coupled-circuit means for electrically tuning said device including a transmission line electrically coupled with said cavity resonator means; said transmission line having mounted therein, in the order named, a circular polarizer for converting linear to circularly polarized wave energy, ferromagnetic phase-shifting means, short circuit means enclosing an end to reflect substantially all of the circularly polarized energy incident thereon; magnetic field producing means including a source of electric current positioned in the region of said phase-shifting means to provide said ferromagnetic material with an internal magnetization field below the saturation magnetization value of said material and produce a variable phase shift of circularly polarized wave energy propagated therethrough in forward and reverse directions; output energy coupling means electrically coupled to said cavity resonator means at a location separate and apart from said coupled-circuit means.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupled-circuit means further include ferromagnetic Faraday rotator means for angular displacement of linearly oriented energy positioned in proximity to the end of said transmission line coupled to said cavity resonator means.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 wherein said Faraday rotator means and circular polarizer comprise a single ferromagnetic material element.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1 wherein said ferromagnetic phase-shifting means comprise an element of approximately one wavelength of said frequency in length.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 1 wherein said circular polarizer comprises a diametrically disposed plate member of dielectric material one-quarter of a wavelength of said frequency in length.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 1 wherein said transmission line comprises a section of circular waveguide.

Claim 8

A crossed field microwave energy oscillator comprising: an anode-cathode interaction resonant circuit system including a plurality of circumferentially disposed cavity resonators defined by anode elements; coaxial cavity resonator means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency; and coupled-circuit means for electrically varying said frequency comprising a section of circular waveguide connected to said coaxial cavity resonator means; a circular polarizer adapted to convert said energy to circularly polarized wave energy positioned within said waveguide; a ferromagnetic element positioned along the longitudinal axis of said waveguide for producing a phase shift of said circularly polarized wave energy; means for short-circuiting the end of said waveguide to substantially reflect all of said circularly polarized wave energy; magnetic field producing means including an electric field coil positioned in the region of said ferromagnetic phase-shifting element to provide an unsaturated internal magnetization field parallel to the direction of propagation of said energy and variable phase-shift of circularly polarized wave energy propagated in said element in opposing directions; and means for coupling said energy from said oscillator coupled to said cavity resonator means.

Claim 9

A crossed field microwave energy oscillator comprising: an anode-cathode interaction resonant circuit system including a plurality of circumferentially disposed cavity resonators defined by anode elements; coaxial cavity resonator means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency; and coupled-circuit means for electrically varying said frequency comprising a section of circular waveguide connected to said coaxial cavity resonator means; a circular polarizer adapted to convert said energy to circularly polarized wave energy positioned within said waveguide; a ferromagnetic element positioned along the longitudinal axis of said waveguide for producing a phase shift of said circularly polarized wave energy; means for short-circuiting the end of said waveguide to substantially reflect all of said circularly polarized wave energy; magnetic field producing means including an electric field coil positioned in the region of said ferromagnetic phase-shifting element to provide an unsaturated internal magnetization field parallel to the direction of propagation of said energy and variable phase-shift of circularly polarized wave energy propagated in said element in opposing directions; and means for coupling said energy from said oscillator coupled to said cavity resonator means.