Whittaker Corporation

Meggitt Safety Systems, Inc.

Farzad Kialashaki

Reza J Kialashaki

Vahid Badii

Apparatus and methods provide a robust radio frequency (RF) interface for a helix-type traveling wave tube (TWT). As a vacuum device, the RF input to the TWT and the RF output from the TWT are sealed to maintain the vacuum. The disclosed robust RF interface techniques are advantageously less prone to breakage than conventional sealing techniques. In addition, configurations of the disclosed robust RF interface techniques can further exhibit relatively good impedance matches between a TWT and an associated antenna, which can reduce insertion losses and reflection losses, thereby advantageously increasing system RF output power.

Robust RF interface in a TWT

A coaxial cable structure incorporating a physical interruption in the outer jacket or sheath of the cable. This interrupts the continuity of the outer conductor and serves to block DC (direct current) and low frequency electrical signals. Also, it greatly reduces heat transmission along the cable. The interruption is achieved by placing a specially fabricated stub in series with the coaxial cable. The resulting coaxial cable assembly acts like a band-pass filter which, although blocking DC and lower frequency electrical signals, is able to transmit RF (radio frequency) signals at selected frequencies. The entire assembly, including the stub, can be made hermetic.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Farzad Kialashaki