Patent Application
20170169982
As known in the art, a magnetron is a device that uses interaction of a stream of electrons with one of space harmonics of an induced electromagnetic oscillations supported by an anode portion of the magnetron to produce output electromagnetic radiation. The stream of electrons can be produced by a cathode portion of the magnetron and controlled by external crossed electric and magnetic fields. The external crossed electric and magnetic fields are used to support transformation of the kinetic energy of electrons into the energy of induced electromagnetic oscillations to thereby produce the output electromagnetic radiation.
Magnetron typically includes an anode portion or “core” consisting of a periodic set of resonant cavities and vanes surrounding a cathode portion. The operating frequency of the output electromagnetic radiation depends upon the size of the resonant cavities and vanes of the anode portion of the magnetron. These devices can be used in many industries, including radar systems and microwave ovens, as well as in different scientific and military applications.
In some applications, two or more anode portions (cores) might be combined together to form a multi-core or cascaded magnetron. However, the combination of two or more cores creates issues attempting to synchronize electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the individual cores of the multi-core magnetron. Prior attempts to synchronize electromagnetic oscillations in multi-core magnetrons have simply assumed that an automatic synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the individual cores of the multi-core magnetron will occur, which may or, most probably, may not take place. Thus, there is a need for additional measures leading to a forced synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the individual cores of a multi-core magnetron.
The present disclosure is directed toward a structure and technique to achieve phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside individual cores (i.e., anode portions) of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron. In accordance with one aspect of the concepts, structures and techniques described herein, axial straps are used to couple vanes of adjacent cores of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron. With this particular arrangement, structure and technique which forces phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside individual cores of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron are provided. The axial straps provide a direct electrical connection between one or more vanes of the adjacent cores.
In an embodiment, the axial straps are provided having a predetermined length selected to make an electrical length between centers of adjacent cores of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron equal or proportional to one half of a wavelength of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the cores. This structure results in phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the adjacent cores of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron is provided having a cathode and a plurality of cores arranged in an axial direction along a length of the cathode. Each of the cores may have a plurality of vanes arranged periodically in an azimuthal direction along a circumference of the cathode and forming by such a way a plurality of resonant cavities. The multi-core (cascaded) magnetron further includes groups of axial straps coupling each pair of the adjacent cores together in the axial direction along the length of the cathode. In one illustrative embodiment, a first group of axial straps couple a plurality of vanes of a first core to a plurality of vanes of a second core, a second group of axial straps couple a plurality of vanes of a second core to a plurality of vanes of a third core, etc. In an embodiment, the groups of axial straps are configured to provide phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside each of the plurality of cores of a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron.
An axial strap may have a predetermined length, whereby the predetermined length provides a predetermined phase difference between electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the adjacent cores having the axial strap coupled in-between them. In some embodiments, the cores formed by a plurality of its respective resonant cavities and vanes are spaced the predetermined length from each other. The predetermined length may provide an electrical length between centers of adjacent cores of the multi-core (cascaded) magnetron such that the electrical length is equal or proportional to one half of wavelength of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside each of the cores. In an embodiment, the predetermined length is a length of the axial strap.
The groups of axial straps provide phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside each of the cores. The cores may be positioned face to face in a linear cascade arrangement along the length of the cathode and each of the axial straps is positioned parallel with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the cathode. In some embodiments, the axial straps may be metal rods or wires. The groups of axial straps electrically couple one or more vanes of each of the core to one or more vanes of an adjacent core.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of cores may have a plurality of vanes and a hollow center portion. In other words, each of the plurality of cores includes of a plurality of resonant cavities arranged around the hollow center portion and the cathode may extend through the hollow center portion of each of the plurality of cores.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a multi-core (cascaded) magnetron is provided that includes a cathode and a plurality of cores arranged in an axial direction along a length of the cathode. Each of the cores may have a plurality of vanes arranged periodically in an azimuthal direction along a circumference of the cathode and forming a plurality of resonant cavities. The multi-core (cascaded) magnetron further includes groups of axial straps coupling each pair of the adjacent cores together in the axial direction along the length of the cathode. Each axial strap may have a predetermined length to provide phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the multi-core (cascaded) magnetron formed by at least two cores coupled by at least one axial strap.
The foregoing features may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings. The drawings aid in explaining and understanding the disclosed technology. Since it is often impractical or impossible to illustrate and describe every possible embodiment, the provided figures depict one or more exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Like numbers in the figures denote like elements.
The present disclosure is directed toward a multi-core magnetron having a plurality of cores electrically coupled together by axial straps. The axial straps couple vanes of adjacent cores of the multi-core magnetron to synchronize electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the cores and provide, in this way, the phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the cores. For example, the axial straps synchronize electromagnetic oscillations inside a first core with ones inside a second core.
Now referring to
An interaction space is provided between cathode 12 and an inner edge 14 of each of the plurality of vanes 6. Each of the resonant cavities 8 formed between vanes 6 has a slot 16 (e.g., opening) that opens into and connects resonant cavity 8 with the interaction space. In an embodiment, the interaction space is provided to allow electrons produced by the cathode to interact with one of space harmonics of electromagnetic oscillations induced within the interaction space of the magnetron 2. Thus, magnetron 2 may be referred to as a multi-resonant-cavity or multi-vane device, whereby the interaction of electrons produced by cathode 12, positioned adjacent to inner edge 14 of each of the plurality of vanes 6, with one of space harmonics of electromagnetic oscillations induced within the interaction space of the magnetron 2 produces output electromagnetic radiation.
As illustrated in
Each of the plurality of vanes 6 may be formed from an electrically conductive material, such as a metal block. The plurality of vanes 6 may have a resonant frequency based upon characteristics (e.g., shape, size and dimensions) of the respective resonant cavities 8. In an embodiment, each of the vanes 6 and resonant cavities 8 have the same shape, size and dimensions. Alternatively, one or more vanes 6 may have a different shape, size and/or dimensions from another vane 6 and one or more resonant cavities 8 may have a different shape, size and/or dimensions from another resonant cavity 8 forming by such a way, for example, a rising-sun magnetron.
The shape, dimensions and properties of vanes 6 and resonant cavities 8 may be designed based upon a particular application and desired frequency of magnetron operation. For example,
In an embodiment, core 4 is an anode element surrounding cathode 12. Cathode 12 may be an electrically conductive rod disposed through hollow center portion 10. Many different configurations and geometries of cathode 12 may be used included, but not limited by, shaped, transparent, and multi-rod cathodes. Cathode 12 may be configured to produce electrons. For example, cathode 12 may be heated or otherwise excited in order to produce electrons that are emitted (i.e., streamed out) into the interaction space between cathode 12 and inner edges 14 of the plurality of vanes 6. An external magnetic field (not shown) may be applied in a direction parallel to cathode 12. Thus, electrons produced by cathode 12 interact with the magnetic field and the electric field stretching between the vanes 6 and cathode 12, causing the electrons to move in a sweeping direction around the circumference of cathode 12.
In some embodiments, electromagnetic oscillations are induced within the interaction space of the magnetron. If two or more cores are combined to form a multi-core magnetron, each core should be electromagnetically coupled with adjacent cores, which means that electromagnetic oscillations induced in all cores of the multi-core magnetron should be phase synchronized with each other to avoid loss of induced electromagnetic energy and allow the multi-core magnetron to operate efficiently.
Now referring to
Cores 24a, 24b, may be positioned face to face (or end to end) in a linear cascade arrangement along the length of cathode 32. Each of the cores 24a, 24b in the double-core magnetron 20 may have the same shape, size and dimensions, thus having similar electromagnetic characteristics. Cores 24a, 24b are spaced a predetermined length (i.e., distance) from each other with the spacing of cores 24a, 24b determined by a length of axial straps 22.
Axial straps 22 couple adjacent cores 24a, 24b together in a direction along the length (i.e., a central longitudinal axis, here shown as a Z-axis) of cathode 32. For example, axial straps 22 may lie in a plane parallel to cathode 32. In some embodiments, axial straps 22 are symmetrically coupled to adjacent cores 24a, 24b.
Axial straps 22 may be provided as electrically conductive rods or wires having any type of cross-sectional shape (e.g., circular cross-section, rectangular cross-section, etc.) As illustrated in
In an embodiment, axial straps 22 couple facing to each other vanes 26 of adjacent cores 24a, 24b. For example, an axial strap 22 may couple a face portion 34a (not shown) of a vane 26a of first core 24a to a face portion 34b of a vane 26b of second core 24b. Axial straps 22 may be coupled directly onto a surface of the face portion 34 of vane 26. In one embodiment, axial straps 22 are soldered or welded to the face of the vanes 26. In an embodiment, axial straps 22 may be coupled to the surface of the face portion 34 of vane 26 by any known method of forming an electrical connection. In some embodiments, adjacent cores 24a, 24b with axial straps 22 are manufactured as one single piece of metal using an additive manufacturing process, such as 3D printing.
In some embodiments, axial straps 22 are coupled to a central region of the face portions 34 of each of the vanes 26. In other embodiments, axial straps 22 may be coupled to an edge or border region of the face portions 34 of vanes 26. When a group of (i.e., two or more) axial straps 22 couple adjacent cores 24a, 24b, each of the axial straps 22 may be connected to the same or substantially similar area of each of the vanes 26. In other embodiments, each of the axial straps 22 may be connected to the different areas of each of the vanes 26. For example, a first axial strap 22 may be connected to a central region and a second axial strap 22 may be connected to a border region of the face portion of a vane 26. The exact region of the vanes 26 where the axial straps are connected to the vanes 26 may be determined by obtaining the most effective operation of the multi-core magnetron using empirical techniques, analytical techniques, or by using numerical simulations of the multi-core magnetron.
Any number or groups of axial straps 22 may be used to couple adjacent cores 24a, 24b together. A group of axial straps 22 refers to two or more axial straps coupling vanes 26 of adjacent cores 24a, 24b. For example, and as illustrated in
For example, and as illustrated in
In other embodiments, a single axial strap 22 may be used to couple adjacent cores 24a, 24b together, as illustrated in
In still other embodiments, two or more axial straps 22 may be used to couple adjacent cores 24a, 24b together as illustrated in
The number of axial straps 22 used in a multi-core magnetron 20 may depend upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to determining the most effective operation of the multi-core magnetron. The exact number of axial straps to use in any of the above embodiments may be determined by either empirical, or analytical, or numerical techniques.
In an embodiment, axial straps 22 provide phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside individual cores 24a, 24b (i.e., anode elements) of the multi-core magnetron 20. Each core 24 is an individual oscillator in the multi-core magnetron 20. Thus, as each core 24a, 24b is arranged in juxtaposition to cathode 32 and to each other, axial straps 22 provide a direct electrical connection between adjacent cores 24a, 24b.
In other words, axial straps 22 electrically couple vanes 26 of adjacent cores 24a, 24b together. In some embodiments, axial straps 22 transfer electromagnetic energy from a first core 24a to a second core 24b and back from a second core 24b to a first core 24a in the oscillation mode.
Axial straps 22 are configured to provide phase synchronization of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside each core 24 of the multi-core magnetron 20. The phase coupling (i.e., phase locking) of separate cores (anode elements) 24a, 24b may be achieved by selecting such a length of each axial strap 22 that makes an electrical length between centers 36a, 36b (FIG.2) of adjacent cores 24a, 24b of a multi-core magnetron 20 equal or proportional to one half of a wavelength (λ/2) of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the cores 24a, 24b.
Now referring to
Each of the cores 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d are spaced a predetermined length from each other. In an embodiment, each pair of adjacent cores (e.g., 44a-44b, 44b-44c, 44c-44d) are spaced the same length as another pair of adjacent cores. The predetermined length may be a length of the respective groups of axial straps 42a, 42b, 42c coupling the adjacent cores 24 together. In some embodiments, the predetermined length provides an electrical length between centers 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d of adjacent cores 44 of the multi-core magnetron 22 such that the electrical length is equal or proportional to one half of wavelength (λ/2) of electromagnetic oscillations induced inside each of the cores 44.
The electrical length, X1, between each pair of adjacent cores (e.g., 44a-44b, 44b-44c, 44c-44d) may be measured from each of their respective center points 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d. Thus, the length of each axial strap 42 (also the length of each group of axial straps), X4, may be defined as the distance between each face portions 54 of adjacent cores 44.
In some embodiments, the length of each axial strap 42, X4, may be defined as the electrical length, X1, recalculated to a distance between centers 56b, 56c of adjacent cores 44b, 24c of a multi-core magnetron minus the sum of the distances from second center portion 56b to face portion 54b (i.e., edge of core 44b), X2, and from third center point 36c to face portion 54c (i.e., edge of core 44c), X3. It should be appreciated that the length of axial straps 42 may vary based on properties, dimensions, and characteristics of different portions (e.g., cathode, anode) of a particular multi-core magnetron being used and desired operational characteristics of the multi-core magnetron.
In some embodiments, axial straps 42 have a predetermined length. The predetermined length may provide a phase difference between electromagnetic oscillations induced inside the adjacent cores 44 (e.g., 44a-44b, 44b-44c, 44c-44d) coupled together by the axial straps 42. For example, first core 44a may operate with a fixed phase difference from second core 44b that it is coupled to first core 44a by first grouping of axial straps 42a. In some embodiments, axial straps 42 may be used to control the phase difference between pairs of adjacent cores 44 (e.g., 44a-44b, 44b-44c, 44c-44d).
The length of each axial strap 42 may be selected based upon empirical techniques, analytical techniques, or upon numerical simulations of the multi-core magnetron determining the most effective operation of the multi-core magnetron.
It should of course be understood that while the present technology has been described with respect to disclosed embodiments, numerous variations, alternate embodiments, equivalents, etc. are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
In addition, it is intended that the scope of the present claims include all other foreseeable equivalents to the elements and structures as described herein and with reference to the drawing figures. Accordingly, the subject matter sought to be protected herein is to be limited only by the scope of the claims and their equivalents.
Having described preferred embodiments which serve to illustrate various concepts, structures and techniques, which are the subject of this patent, it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts, structures and techniques may be used. For example, it should be noted that individual concepts, features (or elements) and techniques of different embodiments described herein may be combined to form other embodiments not specifically set forth above. Furthermore, various concepts, features (or elements) and techniques, which are described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. It is thus expected that other embodiments not specifically described herein are also within the scope of the following claims.
Accordingly, it is submitted that that scope of the patent should not be limited to the described embodiments, but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.
All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
