US4083016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupled-cavity microwave oscillator
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1976-12-27
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Granted: 1978-04-04
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Expires: 1996-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An oscillator for very high microwave or millimeterwave frequencies employs a pair of negative-resistance semiconductive devices, each mounted in its own resonant cavity. The two cavities are coupled together by an iris in their common wall. An output waveguide is coupled symmetrically to both sides of the common wall to load both cavities equally. An adjustable mode-control element projects into the cavity to the near vicinity of one of the devices to induce the oscillator to start in the desired mode. Additional dielectric or metallic tuners in the cavities provide a wide variation of frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Roy Zangrando
- 👤 Clifford Herrol Kelley, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:52
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B9/00; H03B9/12; H03B9/14; H03B9/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An oscillator comprising: a conductive cavity resonator structure comprising two resonant hollow cavities electromagnetically coupled together by a coupling iris in a common wall separating said cavities, two equal sets of negative-resistance semiconductive devices, each of said sets being coupled to the electromagnetic field in a separate one of said cavities, each of said devices having a first and second terminal for connection to a source of dc bias, means for applying dc bias to said devices comprising conductive lead means insulated from said cavity resonator structure connecting to said first terminal of each device, and means for coupling electromagnetic energy from said cavities into a useful load, said means for coupling comprising an output iris overlaying said coupling iris, said output iris coupling into an output waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An oscillator comprising: a conductive cavity resonator structure comprising two resonant hollow cavities electromagnetically coupled together by a coupling iris in a common wall separating said cavities, two equal sets of negative-resistance semiconductive devices, each of said sets being coupled to the electromagnetic field in a separate one of said cavities, each of said devices having a first and second terminal for connection to a source of dc bias, means for applying dc bias to said devices comprising conductive lead means insulated from said cavity resonator structure connecting to said first terminal of each device, and means for coupling electromagnetic energy from said cavities into a useful load, said means for coupling comprising an output iris overlaying said coupling iris, said output iris coupling into an output waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The oscillator of claim 1 wherein each of said sets is a single device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The oscillator of claim 1 wherein said cavities are symmetric about a midplane of said common wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The oscillator of claim 3 wherein said means for coupling is symmetric about said midplane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The oscillator of claim 1 further comprising a mode control element protruding from a wall of one of said cavities into the vicinity of said one of said devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The oscillator of claim 5 wherein said mode control element is dielectric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The oscillator of claim 5 wherein said mode control element is a material having high radio-frequency loss.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The oscillator of claim 5 wherein the spacing between said control element and said device is adjustable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The oscillator of claim 1 further including a movable tuning element protruding from a wall of one of said cavities into a region of high electromagnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The oscillator of claim 9 wherein said tuning element is dielectric and said electromagnetic field is rf electric field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The oscillator of claim 9 wherein said tuning element is conductive and said electromagnetic field is rf magnetic field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The oscillator of claim 1 wherein said second terminals are connected to said resonator structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The oscillator of claim 1 wherein said conductive lead means comprises mutually insulated leads connecting to each of said first terminals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The oscillator of claim 1 further comprising isolation means for preventing radio-frequency energy from leaving said cavity structure via said lead means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The oscillator of claim 14 wherein said isolation means comprises a low-pass filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The oscillator of claim 15 wherein said low-pass filter is a bypass capacitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The oscillator of claim 15 wherein said low-pass filter is a choke comprising at least one shunt capacitive element and at least one series inductive element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The oscillator of claim 15 wherein said low-pass filter comprises series sections of transmission line of alternating low and high characteristic impedance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3568110A
Cited
US3810045A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-03 | 1981-10-03 | 1982-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-03 | 1985-10-03 | 1986-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-03 | 1989-10-03 | 1990-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |