US 12,272,858 B2
Ridged N-way coaxial vacuum power combiner signal injector with radial feeds usable in a coaxial vacuum-electron device
David D. Crouch, Farragut, TN (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/991,431.
Prior Publication US 2024/0170824 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. H01P 5/12 (2006.01); H01J 23/12 (2006.01); H01J 23/14 (2006.01); H01P 1/16 (2006.01); H01P 3/06 (2006.01); H01P 5/16 (2006.01)
CPC H01P 5/12 (2013.01) [H01J 23/12 (2013.01); H01J 23/14 (2013.01); H01P 1/16 (2013.01); H01P 3/06 (2013.01); H01P 5/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A radially-fed RF power combiner configured to combine a plurality of input signals and generate a fundamental-mode transverse electromagnetic (TEM) output, the combiner comprising:
a vacuum coaxial transmission line having a plurality of coaxial vacuum feedthroughs configured to receive the input signals, the coaxial vacuum feedthroughs arranged radially around the vacuum coaxial transmission line;
wherein an inner conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line comprises a cylindrical conductive base and a plurality of radially-aligned conductive ridges azimuthally distributed within a vacuum envelope of the vacuum coaxial transmission line,
wherein a respective one of the conductive ridges is coupled to a center conductor of a corresponding one of the coaxial vacuum feedthroughs, and
wherein the conductive ridges have a respective taper to provide an increasing gap between the conductive ridges and an outer conductive surface of the vacuum coaxial transmission line.