US2289319A - Orientation high frequency generator - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1942. H. M. STROBEL ORIENTATION HIGH FREQUENCY GENERATOR Filed Dec. 31, 1940 R O E: H 0 c M \|T 5N m R E R M \IT .C Hi Hu 0 C M U/ mfl m 1\1NC 1mm Rm/ OHM m 0 N 0 n HM f Fig.1.

MAGMH'IC 75m IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 7, 1942 ED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORIENTATION HIGH FREQUENCY GENERATOR 28 Claims.

This invention relates to a high frequency generating system of the type which is impulsed by successive groups of charged particles moving through space, and in which a given control frequency may be used to form the moving groups of charged particles in such a manner as to permit their use in generating frequencies greater than the given control frequency.

The object of the invention is to produce sharply defined groups of moving charged particles of a form most suitable for the generation of high frequencies.

The conventional type of electronic tube having the basic structure of filament, grid, and plate, or modifications thereof, is limited as to the highest frequency that it can generate by the time of transit of electrons from filament to plate. This time of transit can be reduced by reducing the physical dimensions of the tube elements, but such a procedure also limits the power output of the tube. These and other restrictions imposed by the conventional electron tube have indicated the need for new methods wherein the ultimate frequency obtainable was not limited by the dimensions of the tube.

One conventional method uses a given frequency to interrupt a high velocity electron stream which is directed along a given line. This results in the formation of isolated successive groups of electrons whose space dimensions are proportional to the wavelength of the given interrupting frequency. If this interrupted electron stream were used to impulse an oscillating circuit, no increase in frequency would result, however. This is so, because the time interval that it takes to collect each group of electrons is the same as the time interval it takes to produce each of them. To obtain a frequency increase, the time interval of collection at the collector or oscillating circuit must be less than the time interval of formation. One known method obtains the desired smaller time interval of collection by passing the electron groups through a controlled electro-static field which slows down the front electrons and speeds up the rear electrons, so that after a given interval of time the outer electrons of the group will all have converged toward the central plane of the group. If the group is collected at this instant of minimum thickness in the direction of motion, the time interval of collection will be much less than the original time interval of formation, and a correspondingly higher frequency impulse will result. It will be noted that the minimum thickness of the group occurs at but one point, and

ing moving groups of charged particles which possess a fiatsided sharp definition, and which retain their sharp definition While moving through space.

The method employed consists in extruding a. thin sheet of electrons through a narrow slit of an electron gun, while using some given frequency to interrupt the electron stream. This produces groups of electrons substantially in the form of a thin fiatsided disc or square moving edgewise in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the electron gun. If these electron groups were now collected at this stage, the time interval of collection would be equal to the time interval of formation, and no gain in frequency would result. The electron groups are then passed through a deflector region, which successively superimposes a lateral velocity, normal to the original plane of the fiatsided group, upon each electron in the group. This results in the electron group moving edgewise along a path at some angle with the longitudinal axis, with its velocity vector having both longitudinal and lateral velocity components. The electron group is then permitted to move into a corrector region, where the original lateral velocity component successively superimposed thereon is simultaneously removed from all of the electrons in the group. This results in leaving the obliquely oriented group of electrons with only their longitudinal component of velocity. If the moving group of oriented electrons is now collected in a plane substant ally parallel to the oriented plane of the group, the time interval of collection will be smaller than the time interval of formation of the group.

It will be observed that the above method involves the formation of a sheet or fiatsided disc like group of electrons having an edgewise velocity, and then orienting the plane of the flatsided group so that the normal to the plane of the group has a velocity component parallel to the group velocity vector. With such a method,

the ultimate sharpness of definition (minimum thickness of the group) is determined by the width of the electron extruding slit of the electron gun. It follows that it is desirable for the electron group to be oriented with little or no distortion in order to retain the original sharpness of definition at the point of collection.

With more particular regard to the method of orientation, it will be noted. that the electron group is formed with a longitudinal velocity and that in the orientation process a lateral velocity component is successively added to each electron of the group as they pass a given position, while after a stated interval the lateral velocity component is simultaneously removed from all of the electrons in the group, thus leaving the group with only its original longitudinal velocity and understood that various changes in form, ar-

rangement and details both of circuits and of method within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

A clearer understanding of the operation of the invention and its improvement over known methods can be obtained by reference to the following figures and the descriptions relating thereto.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the ar rangement of the principal elements in their successive operative relationship.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the orientation type of high frequency generator with circuit connections for one form of control and energizing equipment.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the orientation type of high frequency generator which utilizes multiple electron groups.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the principal elements of the orientation type of high frequency generator. The block N) indicates a device for emitting high velocity charged particles, which may be of the electron gun type. The electron gun I is provided with a narrow slit, so that the charged particles emitted are in the form of a thin sheet, which, by auxiliary means, may be interrupted into groups. The orientor ll serves to orient the electron groups as formed by the electron gun ID, and includes the two operations of deflecting and correcting performed respectively by the deflector l2 and the corrector l3. Block I4 indicates some form of high frequency collector which is energized by the oriented electron groups. The block l5 indicates a re-orientor, which deflects the path of the electron group in such a manner as to give a focusing action and to re-orient the normal to the plane of the group to a position of parallelism with the direction of motion. Block [6 indicates a high frequency collector positioned so as to be impulsed by the reoriented groups of electrons.

The functional operations of the elements included in the high frequency generator follow the general sequence shown in Figure 1. The electron gun IO is provided with a narrow emitting slit so as to emit a thin sheet of high velocity charged particles. For convenience, it will hereafter be assumed that the charged particles referred to are electrons, though it will be obvious that this is not a necessary restriction. By means familiar to the art, the electron stream thus formed can be interrupted to give successive groups of electrons. These thin flatsided groups will be moving edgewise in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electron gun ID. As the electron group passes through the deflector l2, each electron is successively given a lateral component of velocity in a direction normal to the plane of the original electron group. The

deflector I2 may be of the magnetic or electrostatic type'." If a magnetic field is used to deflect the electron path away from the longitudinal axis, it will be noted that since the electrons retain their original velocity along the new path, that that component of their velocity which is resolved parallel to the longitudinal axis will be correspondingly reduced as the angle of deflection of the path is increased. If the electron path be deflected to form a right angle, the component of velocity along the longitudinal axis would be zero. In the case of an electro-static field applied normally to the original plane of the electron group, a lateral component of velocity is added to each electron, thus deflecting the electron group, but the original velocity component parallel to the longitudinal axis remains substantially undiminished. Since the time interval of collection of the electron group is less for a high velocity in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the latter electro-static deflector is more favorable in this respect. The corrector I3 simultaneously adds a similar component of velocity to each of the electrons of a group. This corrector component can be of such direction and magnitude as to just correct for the lateral velocity component due to the deflector I2, in which case the electron group will leave the corrector l3 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, but this is not a necessary restriction. The method of applying the corrector component velocity may be by magnetic or electro-static means. It follows that the corrector velocity component could be of such magnitude as to cause the electron group to leave the corrector l3 in a direction normal to the existing plane of minimum thickness of the electron group. The emerging electron group may be then used to impulse a high frequency circuit, or it may be re-oriented by a properly positioned magnetic field so as to deflect and re-orient the electrons of the group. The means of re-orientation can be so proportioned that the final direction of motion'of the electron group is at right angles to the plane of minimum thickness of the electron group. The magnetic re-orientation can also be used to reduce the plane area of the electron group, thus achieving a concentrating or focusing result.

Figure 2 shows a form of high frequency generator which utilizes the method of orientation described. The electron gun I0 is depicted as of the type having a cathode element 20, a grid 2|, and a plate 22 having a narrow slit aperture. The plate 22 is maintained at a positive potential with respect to the cathode 20 with conventional energizing sources. The grid 2| is shown as energized by the oscillator 24 through the coupling transformer 23, and can be biased to cutoff so that the frequency applied to the grid 2| serves to interrupt the electron stream emitted by the electron gun' I. The electron group D is shown as just leaving the electron gun III. The position of other electron groups in the tube at the time are indicated by the letters E, F, G, and H. The orientor .l l includes the deflector l2 and the corrector L1. The deflector I 2 is shown as of the electro-static type with the plates 3l.'|-3| arranged so as to give an electro-static field normal to the plane of the electron group D, and with the plates 303I being energized with a voltage function of constant value and of such polarity as to deflect an electron upwards toward plate 30. The corrector i3 is also shown as of the electro-static type, having plates 32-33 positioned so as to produce an electro-static field value and duration as to simultaneously cancel the lateral velocity component successively given to each electron by the deflector I2, which results in the group E leaving the corrector l3 region parallel to the longitudinal axis. Means for applying the proper corrector potential function to the corrector plates 32-33 while the electron group is wholly within the corrector I3 region may be as shown, where a voltage drop is created across the resistor 34. The current through the resistor 34 is controlled by the electron tube 35. The tube 35 is assumed to have its grid biased to cutoff, and is energized by the oscillator 24 tLrough the coupling transformer 36 and the phase shifter 31. The illustrated arrangement is to permit variation of both the magnitude and phase of the potential function applied to the corrector plates 32-33. The high frequency collector I4 is shown in the form of a toroid oscillating circuit 4| which is tuned to the frequency the generator is designed for. The toroid 4| is oriented in such a position as to favor the collection or passing of the electron groups in the smallest time interval. The oscillating circuit 4| is connected to the cathode 20 through the choke coil 43. Energymay be transferred from the oscillating circuit 4| by means of a high frequency transmission line and radiator 42.

The re-orientor l5 consists of a plane region 44 through which is applied a uniform and constant magnetic field. As shown by the drawing, the plane region 44 is dotted and the magnetic field is assumed perpendicular to the drawing and of such polarity as to give the deflection indicated by the dashed line from electron group G to position H. The high frequency collector IS in-- .cludes the oscillator circuit 45, radiator 46, and

a connection to the cathode 20 through the choke coil 47.

In operation, when the oscillator 24 energizes the grid 2| to a potential above cutoff, electrons are drawn to the plate 22 and some pass through the narrow slit therein to form an electron group D. The electron group D is moving edgewise parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Its velocity depends upon the plate voltage applied to the electron gun Ill. The group D passes through the deflector plates 30--3|, and as each successive electron enters the deflector region it is given a lateral velocity component in the upward direction. Hence, on emerging from the deflector l2 region, the electron group will be moving edgewise along the deflected path indicated by the dashed lines. Once the electron group D is wholly within the corrector l3 region, a voltage function is applied across the plates 32-33 which, for the time it acts, is just suflicient to cancel the lateral velocity component first imparted to D by the deflector l2. It will be noted that the correction voltage must be applied while the group is wholly within the corrector region, so as to act simultaneously upon all the electrons in the group, thereby avoiding any entering or emerging distortion to the electron group. After the lateral velocity component of D has been reduced to zero by the corrector l3, the electron group will be in the position E and moving parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The timing of the corrector voltage function, so that it occurs at the proper instant, is effected by driving the amplifier tube 35 by the oscillator 24 through the phase shifter 31. Since the oscillator 24 controls the instant of formation of the group D, and the velocity of the group is known, the instant at which the group D is wholly within the corrector |3 region can be calculated, and the phase shifter 31 set accordingly. The electron group, in passing from position F to position G, passes through the high frequency oscillator circuit 4|, thus energizing it. The high frequency collector 4| is shown as of the toroid type, having two grid or screen like collector elements centrally arranged so as to permit most of the electrons of the group to pass through from F to G. In order to obtain the highest frequency from the passing electron group, it is necessary that the time interval of collection (1. e., passage through the collector screens) be as small as possible. It will be obvious that if the plane of the collector screens were arranged perpendicular to the path of the electron group F that the time interval of passage for the group would be the same as if the collector occurred at position D. By orienting the collector circuit 4| so that the planes of the screens are parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the electron group F, the time interval of collection will be the smallest possible. If two collection screens are used for the oscillating circuit 4| as shown, the spacing must be such that the moving electron group does work on the high frequency oscillating circuit in order to energize it. In general, the time of transit through the collector 4| must be equal to some odd number of half-periods of the high frequency oscillating circuit, where the period of the circuit is the time interval it takes to go through a complete cycle. From this it follows that the collector screen spacing is a function of the velocity and receiving sharpness of definition with respect to the electron group. The electron group G can be re-oriented to the position H by passing it through the magnetic field created in the region 44. The magnetic lines of force are assumed perpendicular to the drawing and confined to the dotted region 44, the polarity and strength of the field being such as .to deflect the electron paths in the direction shown. By a choice of magnetic field strength and angle of orientation of the plane of the magnetic field, the re-orientation of the electron group can be as at H, where the direction of motion is normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the electron group H. A high frequency collector Hi can be placed at as shown, being connected to the cathode through the choke coil 41. Some means for transferring the high frequency energy from the circuit 45 outside the tube, as the transmission line and radiator 46, may be employed.

Figure 3 shows an adaptation of the principles disclosed above to a multiple electron group generator. The external energizing circuits are similar to those in Figure 2 in arrangement and operation. The cathodes for the three parallel electron guns shown at a, b, and c are connected to the cathode circuit 50. The three grids of the electron guns are connected in parallel to the grid energizing circuit 5|, while the corresponding plate elements are connected to the plate energizing circuit 52, as shown. The deflector plates are also connected in parallel to the energizing circuit 53. The corrector field is supplied between plates and 59, and as a means for maintaining the field uniform equipotential plates 56, 51, and 58 may be inserted as shown and maintained at the proper potential. That is, if the voltage between plates 55 and 59 be assumed 100%, then plate '58 will be at 25%, plate 51 at 50%, and plate 58 at 75% of the applied voltage. By means familiar to the art, an internal dropping resistor as shown'may be connected between plates 55-59, and the other plates 56 51, and 58 connected thereto at the pointof correct potential. In this manner, distortion of the corrector field due to space charges and fringe effects can be reduced. The high frequency collector 60 is shown with external high frequency connections Bl. The re-orientation magnetic field is at 62, and the final high fre--' quency collector circuit with external connections 7 is shown at 63.

Variations in the arrangement of some of the elements can be effected'without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in Figure 3 the three electron groups a, b, and c in the K position are not of the same space phase. This space displacement is effected as shown by using a corresponding space displacement of the electron guns III, a, b, and c. This permits the grids of the electron guns ID to be energized from a common source through the connections As a variation, the electron guns I0 0., b, and 0 could all be of the same space phase, and the separate grids energized in such successive time phase as to produce electron groups in the space phase positions shown at K.

In the particular application of the invention described, it will be noted that the electron streams extruded from the electron guns ID are shown as being interrupted into groups, as at D in Figure 2 and as at K in Figure 3. It is to be observed, however, that the device would still be operative even though the extruded electron stream were continuous and not interrupted. This follows from the fact that only those'segments of the electron stream which were completely corrected for their lateral velocity component would emerge from the corrector region I3 in the proper direction necessary to strike the high frequency collector. ments of the electron stream would have received insufiicient or no correction for their lateral velocity component, and so would tend to emerge from the corrector region l3 at other than the proper angle. The misdirected electrons could then be collected by a Plate formed so as to let only the properly directed electrons pass.

In order that the proper orientation be given to the electron groups by the orientor II, it is necessary that the direction of travel or velocity vector of the electrons entering the corrector region I3 have velocity components parallel to the corrector field (lateral velocity component) and at right angles thereto (longitudinal velocity component). Since the corrector l3 removes the parallel or lateral velocity component, the emerging electrons are left with only the longitudinal velocity component. It follows that the electrons entering the corrector region I3 should enter at such an angle as to have a lateral and longitudinal velocity component. If either of these be zero, the desired orientation of the electron group plane will not take place. In the drawings, the desired angle of entry is obtained by having the electron gun l0 impart the longitudinal velocity component and the deflector l2 impart the lateral velocity component. However, the same result may be obtained by orienting the electron gun I 0 in space and dispensing with the deflector All the remaining segl2. Under these conditions, the electron gun It directs the electron stream directly into the corrector region l3 at the proper angle. In the drawing,'the entry angle is shown as being degrees, which is the orientation of the electron gun I0 necessary if the deflector I2 is ,to be I omitted.

In general, if a given frequency is used to form electron groups, and then the definition and velocity of the groups are changed so that the collection frequency is, say, 100 times the forming frequency, it will be noted that the final high frequency circuit will be energizedor im-pulsed only once in each 100 cycles, whenonly a single electron gun is used. By utilizing the multiple electron gun construction, as also herein disclosed, the number of impulses to the high frequency circuit for each group of 100 cycles minimum thickness of the said group, adjusting the degree of orientation of said group to a position substantially parallel to that of a collector electrode, said collector electrode being oriented with respect to the velocity vector of said stream, and collecting energy from said oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

2. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a sharply defined stream of moving charged particles whose velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, orienting a segment of said stream into a moving group of charged particles whose velocity vector contains a component in the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of said group and in said plane, reorienting said moving group of charged particles so that the velocity vector is parallel to the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming parallel fiat-sided streams of moving charged particles whose velocity vector are parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of each'stream, orienting segments of said streams into moving groups of charged particles whose velocity vectors contain a component in the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of each respective group and whose velocity vectors substantially coincide as to direction, and collecting energy from the resulting successive oriented groups of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

4. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a flat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, orienting the relative position of the fiat-sided group to its velocity vector so that the group possesses a sidewisevelocity component, reorienting said moving group of charged particles so that the velocity vector is parallel to the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

5. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming parallel flat-sided groups of charged particles having edgewise velocities, so that the velocity vector of each group is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of each group, orienting the relative position of each group to its velocity vector so that each group possesses a sidewise velocity component and so that the oriented moving groups follow successively along substantially a single path, and collecting energy from each successive oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

6. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a fiat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, deflecting successive elements of the group as they pass a given region, whereby the resulting edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with the longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, canceling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the group, whereby the group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has its velocity vector parallel to the longitudinal axis, and collect-energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

7. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a flat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, deflecting successive elements of the group as they pass a given region, whereby the resulting edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with the longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, cancelling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the group, whereby the group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has its velocity vector parallel to the longitudinal axis, reorienting the relative position of the oriented group to its velocity vector so that the velocity vectorapproaches the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and collecting energy from the group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

generation which includes the steps of forming fiat-sided parallel groups of charged particles each having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector of each is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, deflecting successive elements of each group as they pass a given region, so that each resultant edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with said longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, cancelling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the mlutiple group, so that the multiple group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has the velocity vector of each successive group directed along a line substantially parallelt said longitudinal axis, and collecting energy from the successive groups of charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

9. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a fiat-sided stream of charged particles which has an edgewise direction of motion, orienting the relative position of the plane of a segment of said stream to its direction of motion so that in collecting energy from said moving segmental group, the time interval of collection is less than the time interval originally required for its formation, and collecting energy from said segmental group, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

10. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming in parallel planes a multiple of fiat-sided streams of charged particles having an edgewise direction of motion, orienting the relative position of the plane of a segment of each of said streams to its direction of motion, so that in collecting energy from each segmental group the time interval of collection is less than the time interval of formation, and so that the multiple segmental groups are collected successively, and collecting energy from said successive segmental groups, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

11. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a flat-sided group of moving charged particles in a given time interval whose thickness is less than its length and which has an edgewise direction of motion, orienting the relative position of the plane of the group to its direction of motion solength and each of which has an edgewise direction of motion, orienting the relative position of the plane of each group to its direction of motion so that, in collecting energy from each moving group, the time interval of collection is less than the said given time interval of formation, and so that the multiple groups are collected successively, and collecting energy from said successive multiple groups, whereby the collector circuit is energized by'high frequency impulses.

13. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, the method of high frequency generation which includes the steps of forming a fiat-sided stream of moving charged particles whose velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, applying simultaneously to the charged particles in a segment of said stream an oblique periodic electrostatic field, said field being parallel to the plane defined by the velocity vector and the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, whereby the segmental group is oriented with respect to its resulting velocity vector, and collecting energy simultaneously from substantially all the charged particles of said oriented group, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

14. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a sharply defined stream of moving charged particles whose velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, means for orienting a segment of said stream into a moving group of charged particles whose velocity vector contains a component in the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, and means for collecting energy from said oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

15. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a sharply defined stream of moving charged particles whose velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, means for orienting a segment of said stream into a moving group of charged particles whose velocity vector contains a component in the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of said group and in said plane, means for reorienting said moving group of charged particles so that the velocity vector is parallel to the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and means for collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

16. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming parallel flatsided streams of moving charged particles whose velocity vectors are parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of each stream, means for orienting segments of said streams into moving groups of charged particles whose velocity vectors contain a component in the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of each respective group and whose velocity vectors substantially coincide as to direction, and means for collecting energy from the resulting successive oriented groups of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

17. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for periodically forming a flat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the said group, means for applying an obliquely directed force to said group so as to orient the relative position of the fiat-sided group to its velocity vector so that the group possesses a sidewise velocity component, and means for collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

18. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a fiat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the said group, means for simultaneously changing the direction of motion of all the elements of the group so as to orient the relative position of the fiat-sided group to its velocity vector thereby causing the group to possess a sidewise velocity component, means for deflecting said oriented group so as to reorient the moving group of charged particles so that the velocity vector is parallel to the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and means for collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

19. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming multiple parallel flat-sided groups of charged particles having edgewise velocities, so that the velocity vector of each group is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of each group, means for altering the direction of motion of each group so as to orient the relative position of each group to its velocity vector so that each group possesses a sidewise velocity component and so that the multiple groups move successively along substantially the same path, and means for collecting energy from each successive oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

20. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a fiat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, means for deflecting successive elements of the group as they pass a given region, whereby the resulting edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with the longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, means for cancelling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the group, whereby the group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has its velocity vector parallel to the longitudinal axis, and means for collecting energy from the oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

21. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a flat-sided group of charged particles having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said group, means for deflecting successive elements of the group as they pass a given region, whereby the resulting edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with the longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, means for cancelling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the group, whereby the oriented group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has its velocity vector parallel to the longitudinal axis, means for altering the direction of motion of each element of the group so as to reorient the relative position of the oriented group to its velocity vector so that the velocity vector approaches the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, and means for collecting energy from the group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

22. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming fiat-sided parallel groups of charged particles each having an edgewise velocity parallel to a given longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the velocity vector of each is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the group, means for deflecting successive elements of each group as they pass a given region, so that each resultant edgewise velocity vector makes an angle with said longitudinal axis and has a lateral and longitudinal velocity component, means for cancelling simultaneously the lateral velocity component of all the particles in the multiple group, so that the multiple group possesses a sidewise velocity component and has the velocity vector of each successive group directed along a line substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and means for collecting energy from the successive groups of charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

23. In a high, frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a fiat-sided stream of charged particles which has an edgewise direction of motion, means for orienting the relative position of the plane of a segment of said stream to its direction of motion so that in collecting energy from said moving segmental group, the time interval of collection is less than the time interval originally required for its formation, and means for collecting energy from said segmental group, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

24. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming in parallel planes a multiple of flat-sided streams of charged particles having an edgewise direction of motion, means for orienting the relative position of the plane of a segment of each of said streams to its direction of motion so that in collecting energy from each segmental group, the time interval of collection is less than the time interval of formation, and so that the multiple segmental groups move successively along substantially the same path, and means for collecting energy from said successive segmental groups, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses. I

25. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a fiat-sided group of moving charged particles in a given time interval whose thickness is less than its length and which has an edgewise direction of motion, means for orienting the relative position of the plane of the group to its direction of motion so that in passing through a given plane region the time interval of passage is less than said given time interval of formation, and means for collecting energy from said group, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

26. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming in a multiple of parallel planes flat-sided groups of moving charged particles in substantially equal time intervals each of whose thickness is less than its length and each of which has an edgewise direction of motion, means for orienting the relative position of the plane of each group to its direction of motion so that, in passing through a given plane region, the time interval of passage is less than the said given time interval of formation, and so that the multiple groups pass through successively, and means for collecting energy from said successive multiple groups, whereby the collector circuit is energized by high frequency impulses.

27. In a high frequency generating system utilizing high velocity charged particles in an evacuated vessel, means for forming a fiat-sided stream of moving charged particles whose velocity vector is parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, means for simultaneously applying to the charged particles in a segment of said stream an oblique periodic electrostatic field, said field being parallel to the plane defined by the velocity vector and the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of said stream, whereby the segmental group is oriented with respect to its resulting velocity vector, means for disposing a collector electrode in the path of said oriented group with its electrode substantially parallel to the plane of minimum thickness of the oriented group, and means for collecting high frequency energy from said oriented group of moving charged particles, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

28. In a high frequency generating system consisting of an evacuated vessel including, means for forming a flat-sided electron stream of given velocity, means for periodically applying an oblique electro-static field simultaneously to all the electrons of some segment of the electron stream, said electro-static field being parallel to the plane defined by the path and the normal to the plane of minimum thickness of the electron group, and making some angle other than zero and other than ninety degrees with said normal, means for controlling the magnitude and sense of said electro-static field so as to modify that velocity component of the electron group which is parallel to said field, means for positioning a collector electrode substantially parallel to the plane of said electron group, and means for collecting energy simultaneously from substantially all the electrons in the moving electron group, whereby the collector circuit is energized by a high frequency impulse.

HOWARD M. STROBEL.

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