Traveling-wave tube package with integral voltage regulation circuit for remote power supply

Abstract

A circuit is provided in a traveling-wave tube package which eliminates the need of manually setting the power supply voltage to match the proper operating voltage of the tube. The circuit utilized within the traveling-wave tube package forms a part of the power supply, the remainder of which is provided externally of the traveling-wave tube package. By selecting the proper circuit components, the traveling-wave tube package can be connected without adjustment to a power supply and still operates at the desired voltage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A traveling-wave tube assembly having voltage control for use with an associated remote power supply having a high gain amplifier providing sufficient voltages for the electrodes of the traveling-wave tube comprising: a tube package housing;   a vacuum envelope located within said housing;   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 said beam 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   circuit means connected to said tube package housing and remote from the power supply including at least part of a voltage regulation circuit comprising electronic components for operatively cooperating with the high gain amplifier for automatically establishing a predetermined voltage across said cathode and said collector assembly.   
     
     
       2. A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 1 wherein said voltage regulation circuit regulates external high gain amplifier and comprises an input impedance, a reference voltage source for soupling to the input of said amplifier through said input impedance, and a feedback impedance for connection between the input and output of said amplifier. 
     
     
       3. A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 2 wherein said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance are all connected to said tube package housing and remote from the power supply. 
     
     
       4. A traveling-wave tube assembly of claim 3 wherein said predetermined voltage, V out , is determined by the equation: ##EQU4## and wherein V ref  is the voltage of said reference voltage source, R b  is the impedance of said feedback impedance and R a  is the impedance of said input impedance. 
     
     
       5. A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 2 wherein at least one of said components consisting of said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance is included in said housing connected circuit means and the other of said components have precise values. 
     
     
       6. An electron discharge device having voltage control comprising: an electron discharge tube package housing;   a vacuum envelope located within said housing;   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 said beam of electrons;   a power supply remote from said housing and including a high gain amplifier; and,   circuit means connected to said tube package housing and remote from said power supply and including at least part of a voltage regulation circuit comprising electronic component means for operatively cooperating with said high gain amplifier for automatically establishing a predetermined voltage across said cathode and said collector assembly.   
     
     
       7. The electron discharge device of claim 6 wherein said voltage regulation circuit regulates said high gain amplifier and comprises an input impedance, a reference voltage source coupled to the input of said amplifier and a feedback impedance connected between the input and output of said amplifier. 
     
     
       8. The electron discharge device of claim 7, wherein said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance are all included in said housing connected circuit means. 
     
     
       9. The electron discharge device of claim 8, wherein said predetermined voltage, V out , is determined by the equation: ##EQU5## and wherein V ref  is the voltage of said reference voltage source, R b  is the impedance of said feedback impedance and R a  is the impedance of said input impedance. 
     
     
       10. The electron discharge device of claim 7, wherein at least one of said components consisting of said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance is included in said housing connected circuit means and the other of said components have precise values. .Iadd. 11. A traveling-wave tube assembly having voltage control for use with an associated power supply having a high gain amplifier providing sufficient voltages for the electrodes of the traveling-wave tube comprising: a tube package housing;   a vacuum envelope located within said housing;   a beam generating assembly for generating and projecting a beam of electrons from one position within said envelope to another therein and including a cathode;   a collector assembly located at said other position for collecting said beam 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   circuit means connected to said tube package housing and remote from the power supply including at least part of a voltage regulation circuit comprising electronic components for operatively cooperating with the high gain amplifier for automatically establishing a predetermined voltage across said cathode and said slow-wave structure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 11 wherein said voltage regulation circuit regulates external high gain amplifier and comprises an output impedance, a reference voltage source for coupling to the input of said amplifier through said input impedance, and a feedback impedance for connection between the input and output of said amplifier. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 12 wherein said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance are all connected to said tube package housing and remote from the power supply. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A traveling-wave tube assembly of claim 13 wherein said predetermined voltage, V out , is determined by the equation: ##EQU6## and wherein V ref  is the voltage of said reference voltage source, R b  is the impedance of said feedback impedance and R a  is the   
     
     
        impedance of said input impedance. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15.  A traveling-wave tube assembly as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said components consisting of said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance is included in said housing connected circuit means and the other of said components have precise values. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. An electron discharge device having voltage control comprising: an electron discharge tube package housing;   a vacuum envelope located within said housing;   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 said beam 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;   a power supply remote from said housing and including a high gain amplifier; and   circuit means connected to said tube package housing and remote from said power supply and including at least part of a voltage regulation circuit comprising electronic component means for operatively cooperating with said high gain amplifier for automatically establishing a predetermined voltage across said cathode and said slow-wave structure. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
         7.  The electron discharge device of claim 16 wherein said voltage regulation circuit regulates said high gain amplifier and comprises an input impedance, a reference voltage source coupled to the input of said amplifier and a feedback impedance connected between the input and output of said amplifier. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The electron discharge device of claim 17, wherein said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance are all included in said housing connected circuit means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. The electron discharge device of claim 18, wherein said predetermined voltage, V out , is determined by the equation: ##EQU7## and wherein V ref  is the voltage of said reference voltage source, R b  is the impedance of said feedback impedance and R a  is the 
     
     
        impedance of said input impedance. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20.  the electron discharge device of claim 17, wherein at least one of said components consisting of said input impedance, said reference voltage source and said feedback impedance is included in said housing connected circuit means and the other of said components have precise values. .Iaddend.