US4041413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic phase compensation circuit for paralleling power amplifiers in the microwave frequency range
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-02
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A system for phase control of multiple high power microwave frequency amplifiers. A pilot frequency lower than the frequency to be amplified is used to modulate the microwave signal. The pilot frequency is detected at the output of the amplifier stage and phase compared with the original pilot frequency. Any difference is used to produce a phase correction signal applied to the amplifier. Phase modulatable traveling wave tubes are the power amplifiers. One alternate embodiment involves a steerable array employing an additional pilot frequency correction introduced into the pilot signal. In another embodiment a cross field amplifier is placed in series with a traveling wave tube amplifier in the phase correction loop.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Strothers, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:33
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/54; H03F3/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An automatic phase control microwave amplifier system employing a plurality of microwave power amplifiers; means applying a microwave signal to be amplified in parallel to the power amplifiers; a reference signal source having a lower frequency than the frequency of the microwave signal applied to the microwave power amplifiers; means phase modulating the microwave signal to be amplified with the output of the reference signal source; respective means coupled to the output of each microwave power amplifier for detecting the phase of the modulation frequency content of the output of the respective power amplifiers; respective means for phase comparing the reference signal from its reference signal source and the reference signal detected at the output of its respective microwave power amplifier; respective means developing an error signal proportional to the phase error between the reference signal and the reference signal as detected at the output of the microwave power amplifier; and means applying respective the error signals to each respective microwave power amplifier as a phase correction signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An automatic phase control microwave amplifier system employing a plurality of microwave power amplifiers; means applying a microwave signal to be amplified in parallel to the power amplifiers; a reference signal source having a lower frequency than the frequency of the microwave signal applied to the microwave power amplifiers; means phase modulating the microwave signal to be amplified with the output of the reference signal source; respective means coupled to the output of each microwave power amplifier for detecting the phase of the modulation frequency content of the output of the respective power amplifiers; respective means for phase comparing the reference signal from its reference signal source and the reference signal detected at the output of its respective microwave power amplifier; respective means developing an error signal proportional to the phase error between the reference signal and the reference signal as detected at the output of the microwave power amplifier; and means applying respective the error signals to each respective microwave power amplifier as a phase correction signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said power amplifiers includes a traveling wave tube amplifier and the error signal is applied to the traveling wave tube amplifier to phase modulate signals applied thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein common reference oscillator employed for all of said power amplifier phase correction circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said power amplifiers includes an additional respective reference signal source for individual phase control from a common reference phase defined by said common reference oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination in accordancee with claim 1 wherein said power amplifier comprises a traveling wave tube amplifier followed by a cross field amplifier with the reference signal detected at the output of the cross field amplifier and phase error correction signal applied to the traveling wave tube amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the phase error correction signal is applied to the helix of the traveling wave tube amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 including means for varying the phase of the phase correcting error signal derives from said reference signal as applied to said phase comparing means and including means for applying a plurality of phase deviation producing signals to said last means in order to introduce a plurality of controlled phase deviation into the output of said power amplifiers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3624532A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |