The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 1997
Filed:
May. 13, 1994
Dan M Goebel, Tarzana, CA (US);
Jennifer M Butler, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Robert L Eisenhart, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
Microwave amplifiers are disclosed having a hollow helix slow-wave structure coupled directly to input and output waveguides. This helix-waveguide coupling structure couples the TEM mode of the helix to the TE10 mode of the rectangular waveguides and also defines ports communicating with the helix interior. Heating of the helix during high-power operation can be removed by cooling liquid pumped through the helix via these ports. The helix is surrounded by a cylindrical housing containing a low-pressure ionizable gas which forms a plasma channel that focuses the electron beam without the need for surrounding magnetic structures. A plasma cathode electron gun is arranged to inject an electron beam through the helix. Backflowing ions from the housing are harmlessly absorbed into the face of the plasma cathode. The microwave amplifier is converted to a backward wave oscillator by coupling a load to one of the waveguides.