US4820688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traveling wave tube oscillator/amplifier with superconducting RF circuit
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1987-11-27
•
Granted: 1989-04-11
•
Expires: 2007-11-27
Abstract
Abstract Microwave oscillators and amplifiers which utilize a superconducting slow-wave circuit. The slow circuit is made from materials which exhibit superconductivity at relatively high critical temperatures. The slow wave circuit is integral with the device's vacuum housing. Coolant exterior to the vacuum housing maintains the circuit in the superconducting state. The slow-wave circuit, which protrudes into the vacuum housing provides modulation of an electron beam which traverses the interior of the vacuum housing. Output power is ultimately extracted from the slow wave circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis J. Jasper, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J23/00; H01J23/16; H01J23/24; H01J23/165; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/826; Y10S505/853; Y10S505/855; Y10S505/866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A device comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for collecting said electron beam; a vacuum housing surrounding said electron beam and having an integral slow wave circuit, said circuit being made from superconducting ceramic material; means for maintaining the temperature of said superconducting ceramic below its critical temperature; means for extracting an output signal from said slow wave circuit; means for creating a magnetic field within said vacuum housing so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces said output signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A device comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for collecting said electron beam; a vacuum housing surrounding said electron beam and having an integral slow wave circuit, said circuit being made from superconducting ceramic material; means for maintaining the temperature of said superconducting ceramic below its critical temperature; means for extracting an output signal from said slow wave circuit; means for creating a magnetic field within said vacuum housing so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces said output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 further including: means for connecting an input signal to said slow wave circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a helix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a ring bar circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a bifilar helix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a log periodic helix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a meanderline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is an interdigital slow wave circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit is a dual helix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said vacuum housing is cylindrical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said vacuum housing has a cylindrical midsection and two conical portions attached to the ends of said cylindrical midsection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said slow wave circuit protrudes into the interior of said vacuum housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said superconducting ceramic is material having chemical formula: RBa 2 Cu 3 O 9-y where R is selected from the group consisting of scandium, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, ytterbium, yttrium, and lutetium and y is a number less than 9.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
The device of claim 13 wherein y is 2.1±0.05.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A microwave tube comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for receiving said electron beam; a vacuum housing between said electron gun and said collector, said vacuum housing a first dielectric portion and second superconducting ceramic helix portion, said dielectric portion and said helix portion being sealed together to form a unitary, intertwined, sealed enclosure, said helix having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface being located within the interior of said vacuum housing for interaction with said electron beam; means for maintaining the temperature of said superconducting helix below its critical temperature; means for coupling signals onto and out of said helix; means for creating a magnetic field within said vacuum housing so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces an output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A microwave tube comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for receiving said electron beam; a vacuum housing between said electron gun and said collector, said vacuum housing a first dielectric portion and second superconducting ceramic helix portion, said dielectric portion and said helix portion being sealed together to form a unitary, intertwined, sealed enclosure, said helix having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface being located within the interior of said vacuum housing for interaction with said electron beam; means for maintaining the temperature of said superconducting helix below its critical temperature; means for coupling signals onto and out of said helix; means for creating a magnetic field within said vacuum housing so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces an output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
A crossed field amplifier comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for collecting said electron beam; a vacuum housing having an integral slow wave circuit, said circuit being made from material with superconducting critical temperature above 77° K., and said vacuum housing also having a sole; means for maintaining the temperature of said slow wave circuit below its said critical temperature; means for producing an electric field; means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to said electric field so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces an output signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
A crossed field amplifier comprising: an electron gun for producing an electron beam; a collector for collecting said electron beam; a vacuum housing having an integral slow wave circuit, said circuit being made from material with superconducting critical temperature above 77° K., and said vacuum housing also having a sole; means for maintaining the temperature of said slow wave circuit below its said critical temperature; means for producing an electric field; means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to said electric field so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces an output signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
A crossed field amplifier comprising: a cylindrical vacuum housing having a first dielectric portion and a second superconductive meanderline portion, said dielectric portion and said meanderline portion being sealed together to form a unitary, intertwined enclosure, said meanderline having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface being located within the interior of said vacuum housing; an electron gun within said vacuum housing for producing an electron beam; a cylindrical sole within said vacuum housing; an anode within said vacuum housing; means for producing an electric field between said electron gun and said sole; means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to said electric field so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces output power.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
A crossed field amplifier comprising: a cylindrical vacuum housing having a first dielectric portion and a second superconductive meanderline portion, said dielectric portion and said meanderline portion being sealed together to form a unitary, intertwined enclosure, said meanderline having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface being located within the interior of said vacuum housing; an electron gun within said vacuum housing for producing an electron beam; a cylindrical sole within said vacuum housing; an anode within said vacuum housing; means for producing an electric field between said electron gun and said sole; means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to said electric field so that interaction between said electron beam and said slow wave circuit produces output power.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4347419A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-10 | 1992-10-10 | 1993-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-10 | 1996-10-10 | 1997-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-10 | 2000-10-10 | 2001-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |