US3573536A - Electron discharge device with integral voltage bridge and method of setting same - Google Patents

Electron discharge device with integral voltage bridge and method of setting same Download PDF

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Publication number
US3573536A
US3573536A US796133A US3573536DA US3573536A US 3573536 A US3573536 A US 3573536A US 796133 A US796133 A US 796133A US 3573536D A US3573536D A US 3573536DA US 3573536 A US3573536 A US 3573536A
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Prior art keywords
cathode
voltage
wave structure
slow wave
bridge
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Expired - Lifetime
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US796133A
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English (en)
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James L Palmer
Gene E Tallmadge
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Teledyne Inc
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Teledyne Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/16—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies
    • H05B41/20—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies having no starting switch
    • H05B41/22—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps having an auxiliary starting electrode

Definitions

  • An internal voltage bridge is connected between the cathode and slow wave structure of a traveling-wave tube whereby the voltage applied between the cathode and slow wave structure can be adjusted to a predetermined value by adjustment until no reading occurs in a current measuring device connected in the bridge portion of the bridge circuit.
  • An internal anode voltage divider is provided by connecting anode electrodes to adjustable potentiometers in one leg of the voltage bridge whereby proper setting of the cathodeto slow wave structure voltage establishes the desired voltage at the respective anode electrodes.
  • the present invention relates in general to electron discharge devices and more particularly to an integral voltage bridge for a traveling-wave tube for easy accurate adjustment of the cathode to slow wave structure voltage in in the field.
  • traveling-wave tubes Many complex electronics systems utilize one or more electron discharge devices as traveling-wave tubes and, in general, these traveling-wave tubes are field replaceable; Le, a tube is replaced directly in the field whenever it fails to meet specifications.
  • a travelingwave tube particularly a low noise traveling-wave tube
  • the performance of a travelingwave tube, particularly a low noise traveling-wave tube is critically dependent upon the high electrode voltages such as in the range of thousands of volts, supplied by the power supplies in the system, and because it is not unusual to find the regulation of the system power supply just barely within the regulation limits permitted by the traveling-wave tube specification, operation of the traveling-wave tube within specified performance can be achieved only if the error in setting the electrode voltages is extremely small.
  • the typical cathode-tohelix voltage regulation specification for a low noise travelingwave tube with a helix slow wave structure is at most 10.5 percent.
  • the most common method in field adjustment of low noise traveling-wave tubes is to adjust the cathode-tohelix voltage for optimum small-signal gain at the highest operating frequency.
  • This method has the advantage of not requiring an accurate voltmeter since the voltage is not even measured; however, it does require much more skill in setting the voltage.
  • the design of the equipment may require certain modifications to permit a small-signal gain measurement.
  • Another difficulty is that many low noise traveling-wave tubes exhibit optimum performance at a voltage different from that producing maximum gain at the highest operating frequency.
  • this procedure does not provide a method accurately setting the various anode voltages, necessary in low noise traveling-wave tubes, without use of an accurate voltmeter which has a very high internal impedance.
  • Coupled with the problem of proper setting of the cathodeto-helix voltage in low noise traveling-wave tubes is the setting of various anode voltages for multipleanode electron guns present in all low noise traveling-wave tubes.
  • the required anode voltages are determined by the particular design of the low noise gun. Because of manufacturing tolerances there is rather a wide variation in anode voltages from tube to tube, but the tolerance within which these voltages must be set in order to achieve the desired noise figure is only about :ti).l percent of the nominal values.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an integral voltage bridge for an electron discharge device whereby the voltage applied to an electron discharge device can be easily and accurately adjusted in the field.
  • Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide such an adjustment method and apparatus whereby proper voltage adjustment between two electrodes of the electron discharge device sets the desired voltage applied to other electrodes of the discharge device.
  • the present invention to be described in greater detail below, is directed to a method and apparatus wherein an integral voltage bridge network is connected between two electrodes of an electron discharge device, such as between the cathode and slow wave structure of a travelingwave tube, and wherein the bridge network is set by the manufacturer such that a reading can be made in the field across the bridge of the bridge network and the voltage applied between the electrodes adjusted until a null reading exists in the measuring device at which point a desired predetermined voltage exists between the electrodes.
  • This invention enables easy accurate adjustment of the applied voltage in the field without requirement of an expensive measuring instrument such as a high impedance voltmeter and avoids the necessity for using a measuring device that needs to be continually calibrated.
  • one of the arms of the bridge is subdivided with a plurality of potentiometers and the center taps of the potentiometers connected to intermediate voltage auxiliary electrodes, such as the multiple anodes in a low noise electron gun, whereby the potentiometers can be factory adjusted to the desired auxiliary electrode voltage when the desired predetermined voltage is accurately applied to the device so that when the proper voltage is determined in the field with a null reading on the bridge of the'bridg e network, the desired voltages are applied to the auxiliary electrodes.
  • auxiliary electrode voltages is avoided and desired auxiliary electrode voltages is avoided and desired auxiliary electrode voltages established with certainty in the field by one adjustment easily and accurately made with inexpensive instruments that need not be recalibrated periodically.
  • an integral voltage bridge is provided for travelingwave tubes to control and set the applied voltage between the cathode and slow wave structure of the device utilizing a bridge network connected between the cathode and slow wave structure with high resistances provided in the branches of the bridge network between the tube cathode and bridge of the network and with a low voltage Zener diode in one branch between the bridge and the slow wave structure and a factory adjustable resistance in the other branch between the bridge and the slow wave structure.
  • an integral voltage bridge as described in the last preceding paragraph is provided in the one branch between the cathode and the bridge with a plurality of potentiometers the center taps of which are respectively connected to auxiliary electrodes which serve as anodes in a low noise electron gun.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an integral voltage bridge in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an integral voltage bridge in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
  • the present invention is broadly directed to an integral voltage bridge for use in electron discharge devices whereby the proper predetermined voltage between selected electrodes can be achieved in the field utilizing inexpensive available microammeters. While it will be appreciated that the present invention can be applied to various different types of electron discharge devices, the invention will be described for purposes of illustration as applied to a traveling-wave tube for which the invention is ideally suited.
  • the traveling-wave tube 11 of conventional construction includes an envelope 12 provided with a beam generating assembly 13 including a cathode 14 at one end position of the envelope 12 for generating and projecting a beam of electrons longitudinally of the envelope 12 to a collector assembly 15.
  • a slow wave structure 16 such as a helix is positioned between the beam generating assembly 13 and the collector assembly 15 for providing wave-beam interaction between an RF electromagnetic wave traveling along the slow wave structure 16 from an input waveguide 17 to an output waveguide 18.
  • the present invention is schematically illustrated and will be described for purposes of illustration as applied to a low power traveling-wave tube utilizing a helix slow wave structure, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to the use with other types of slow wave structures.
  • the traveling-wave tube is operated with application of a high voltage between the cathode and the slow wave structure such as from an adjustable voltage power supply 19 to the cathode 14 on a line 21 and from the collector 15 and ground via a line 22.
  • an integral voltage bridge 23 is connected between the cathode and line 21 and the slow wave circuit and line 22 for easily and accurately adjusting the voltage from the supply 19 applied to the travelingwave tube 11 in the field.
  • the traveling-wave tube 11 and voltage bridge 23 are sold and shipped as an integral unit for connection in the field to the voltage supply 19.
  • the voltage bridge 23 includes a first branch 24 having first and second arms 25 and 26 respectively, connected end to end between lines 21 and 22, a second branch 27 including third and fourth arms 28 and 29, respectively, also connected end to end between lines 21 and 22, and a bridge 30 for connecting the junction of first and second arms 25 and 26 with the junction of third and fourth arms 28 and 29.
  • a high resistance 31 with value R is provided in arm 25; a variable resistor 32 with value R is provided in arm 26; a high resistance 33 with value R is provided in arm 28; and a Zener diode 34 giving a reference voltage V is provided in arm 29.
  • a pair of jacks 35 and 36 is provided in the bridge 30 of the voltage bridge 23 permitting connection of a microammeter 37 having meter resistance R and full scale meter current I
  • the jacks 35 and 36 are the only two points of the circuit assembly that are externally accessible.
  • the integral unit 20 is factory adjusted whereby the voltage bridge 23 provides a means for setting the cathodeto-helix voltage within i0.1 percent under service conditions using -only an uncalibrated microammeter which is readily available in the most commonly used multimeters.
  • the predetermined cathode-to-helix voltage is supplied to the unit 20 from an adjustable voltage supply utilizing a precision voltmeter.
  • a microammeter is connected to jacks 35 and 36 and variable resistance 32 adjusted to achieve zero current through the microammeter and resistance 32 permanently set at this adjustment.
  • the tube is then in condition for delivery to a field installation where a precision voltmeter is not required.
  • the unit 20 is connected to the voltage supply 19 and the microammeter 37 connected to jacks 35 and 36.
  • the voltage of the supply 19 is adjusted to achieve zero current through the microammeter 37. Under these adjusted conditions, the precise predetermined voltage is applied between cathode and helix.
  • the Zener diode serves as a reference voltage which is compared to the voltage V which itself is proportional to the cathode voltage V.
  • the cathode voltage V is related to the parameters of the bridge as follows:
  • a voltage bridge-tube unit was constructed using these values, and the cathode-to-helix voltage V, was set at 3,250 volts using a precision voltmeter (J-Omega Model 415A). Variable resistor 32 was then adjusted to achieve zero current through a microammeter (Simpson Model 260). Next, the cathodehelix voltage was repeatedly readjusted to obtain zero meter current, and at each setting the voltage was recorded from the precision voltmeter. A total of 20 readings weretaken, and the maximum deviation from the nominal value of 3,250 volts was :20 volts. Seventeen of the 20 readings were within :1 .0 volt of the nominal value.
  • an auxiliary electrode or anode voltage divider network is incorporated into the integral voltage bridge for providing precise predetermined voltages to other tube electrodes when the cathode-to-slow wave structure voltage is set utilizing the voltage bridge 23 described above with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the resistance R3 or 33 in arm 28' of branch 27 of the voltage bridge 23" is made up of a plurality of resistors 41-45 connected in series of which. resistors 41-44 are portions of potentiometers. The center taps of these potentiometers 4l44 are connected via lines 46- 49 respectively, to the anodes 51-54, positioned between the cathode l4 and slow wave circuit 16' and form with cathode 14' a low noise electron gun 50.
  • unit 20 as shown in FIG. 2 When unit 20 as shown in FIG. 2 is installed in the field an a null reading achieved in bridge 30' of the voltage bridge 23, slow wave structure, and said resistance the appropriate anode voltages are applied automatically to the low noise gun.
  • a voltage bridge for setting a predetermined cathode-to-electrode voltage comprising:
  • a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said electrode; and a second branch of third and fourth arms connected end to end and between said cathode and said electrode; a resistance provided in said first arm; a selectively adjusted resistance provided in said second arm; a resistance provided in said third arm; a reference voltage device provided in said fourth arm; means for applying a voltage between said cathode and said electrode; and means for measuring current between said branches at the junction of said first and second arms and the junction of said third and fourth arms, said resistances in said first, second and third arms and said voltage device having values such that substantially no current is measured by said measuring means when said predetermined voltage is applied between said cathode and said electrode.
  • the resistance provided in said third arm includes a plurality of potentiometers in series, the tap of each potentiometer connected to an auxiliary electrode maintained by the potentiometer resistance in said third arm at a voltage intermediate the voltage applied between said cathode and said electrode.
  • a traveling-wave tube circuit comprising: a vacuum envelope; a beam generating assembly for generating and projecting a beam of electrons from one position within said envelope to another position therein and including a cathode; a collector assembly located at said other position for collecting saidbeam of electrons; a slow wave structure located between said positions for providing interaction between said beam and a radio frequency wave propagating along said slow wave structure; and bridge network means for establishing a predetermined voltage between said cathode and said collector assembly including a first branch of first and second arms connected end to end between said cathode and said slow wave structure,
  • a traveling-wave tube comprising in combination:
  • a beam generating assembly located at one position within said envelope and including a cathode and anode means for generating and projecting a beam of electrons to another position within said envelope;
  • a collector assembly located at said other position within said envelope for collecting said beam of electrons
  • a slow wave structure located between said first and second positions for providing beam-wave interaction between said beam of electrons and an electromagnetic wave propagating along said slow wave structure
  • said resistances in said first and third arms having resistance values
  • said Zener diode having a voltage value
  • said resistance in said second arm adjusted to a value with the predetermined voltage applied between said cathode and said slow wave structure so that no current flows through a current measuring device connected between said connections when said predetermined voltage exists between said cathode and said slow wave structure.
  • said resistance provided in said third arm includes a plurality of potentiometers, the center taps of said potentiometers connected to respectively positioned anode electrodes whereby proper setting of said voltage applying means such that no current flows in a measuring device connected between said connections establishes desired predetermined voltages to said anode electrodes.

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US796133A 1969-02-03 1969-02-03 Electron discharge device with integral voltage bridge and method of setting same Expired - Lifetime US3573536A (en)

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GB (1) GB1289958A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IL (1) IL33837A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3723798A (en) * 1972-05-01 1973-03-27 Hughes Aircraft Co Traveling wave tube power supply
US3737713A (en) * 1972-01-17 1973-06-05 Itt High voltage supply for depressed collector traveling wave
US3849701A (en) * 1973-05-16 1974-11-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Integrated dual voltage power supply
US3936732A (en) * 1974-12-31 1976-02-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Traveling wave tube body current sensor
US4899113A (en) * 1987-06-29 1990-02-06 Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. Switching helix power supply for a TWT

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2759150A (en) * 1952-06-04 1956-08-14 Rosenbaum Jacob Circuit and method for producing standard voltages
US3087109A (en) * 1959-11-10 1963-04-23 Mc Graw Edison Co Control circuits
US3293479A (en) * 1963-09-11 1966-12-20 Ultra low noise travelling wave tube having a grid voltage

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2759150A (en) * 1952-06-04 1956-08-14 Rosenbaum Jacob Circuit and method for producing standard voltages
US3087109A (en) * 1959-11-10 1963-04-23 Mc Graw Edison Co Control circuits
US3293479A (en) * 1963-09-11 1966-12-20 Ultra low noise travelling wave tube having a grid voltage

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3737713A (en) * 1972-01-17 1973-06-05 Itt High voltage supply for depressed collector traveling wave
US3723798A (en) * 1972-05-01 1973-03-27 Hughes Aircraft Co Traveling wave tube power supply
US3849701A (en) * 1973-05-16 1974-11-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Integrated dual voltage power supply
US3936732A (en) * 1974-12-31 1976-02-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Traveling wave tube body current sensor
US4899113A (en) * 1987-06-29 1990-02-06 Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. Switching helix power supply for a TWT

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IL33837A (en) 1972-12-29
GB1289958A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-09-20
IL33837A0 (en) 1970-04-20

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