Slow wave structure, traveling wave tube and network equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a slow wave structure, a traveling wave tube and network equipment, and relates to the technical field of vacuum electronics. The slow-wave structure comprises a shell, a slow-wave transmission line, an input coupler and an output coupler, the shell comprises a first shell cover and a second shell cover which are connected in a stacked mode in the first direction, so that the slow-wave structure is of a stacked structure, the slow-wave transmission line is located on a first plane perpendicular to the first direction, and the input coupler and the output coupler are electrically connected with the slow-wave transmission line. At least one of the input coupler and the output coupler is not coplanar with the first plane, so that the at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler has good consistency with the stacking direction, the production and assembly of the input coupler and / or the output coupler are simplified, the integration level of the input coupler and the output coupler is improved, and the cost is reduced. And miniaturization of the slow wave structure is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of vacuum electronic devices, and particularly to a slow-wave structure, a traveling-wave tube, and a network device. Background Art

[0002] Millimeter-wave power amplifiers include traveling-wave tubes and solid-state power amplifiers. The applicable power of solid-state power amplifiers is relatively low, resulting in a great limitation on the coverage distance of base stations using solid-state power amplifiers. It is necessary to increase the number of base stations to meet the coverage requirements, increasing the deployment cost. The applicable power of traveling-wave tubes is relatively high. Using a traveling-wave tube amplifier can increase the effective isotropic radiated power of the base station, thereby reducing the number of base stations and saving the deployment cost.

[0003] Traveling-wave tubes are classified according to the type of slow-wave structure, including traveling-wave tubes of the all-metal waveguide slow-wave structure type and traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type. Traveling-wave tubes of the all-metal waveguide slow-wave structure type have a metal wall. Through special structural design, the transmission path of electromagnetic waves is folded, thereby reducing the propagation phase velocity of electromagnetic waves and realizing the energy conversion between electromagnetic waves and electrons. However, the waveguide mode of traveling-wave tubes of the all-metal waveguide slow-wave structure type is the transverse electric wave / transverse magnetic mode (TE mode / TM mode), and its total field using harmonics interacts with the electron beam, resulting in a poor amplification effect on electromagnetic waves.

[0004] Traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type have a metal slow-wave line, a dielectric support rod, and a metal tube shell. The metal slow-wave line is used to transmit electromagnetic waves, the dielectric support rod is used to support the metal slow-wave line, and the metal tube shell serves as a waveguide to enclose the dielectric support rod and the metal slow-wave line. The materials of the dielectric support rod and the metal tube shell are usually different. Traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type have a two-conductor structure, making the waveguide mode of traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type the transverse electromagnetic wave (TEM mode / quasi-TEM mode). Compared with the transverse electric wave / transverse magnetic mode, the electric field of the transverse electromagnetic wave is larger and the frequency band is wider, enabling traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type to achieve a better amplification effect on electromagnetic waves while being miniaturized. However, the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler of traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type with the waveguide is relatively low, and the consistency of the assembly method of the input coupler and the output coupler with the waveguide during the assembly process is poor, which is not conducive to the miniaturization and integration of traveling-wave tubes of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure type. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a slow-wave structure, a traveling-wave tube, and a network device. By setting at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler perpendicular or parallel to a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction, it is beneficial to simplify the production and assembly of the input coupler and / or the output coupler, improve the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler, and realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a slow-wave structure, including: a housing, including a first housing cover and a second housing cover stacked and connected along a first direction; a slow-wave transmission line extending on a first plane perpendicular to the first direction, the slow-wave transmission line being fixed in a first waveguide formed by the first housing cover and the second housing cover; an input coupler and an output coupler, both electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line, and at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler being non-coplanar with the first plane.

[0007] The slow-wave structure provided by the present application includes a housing, a slow-wave transmission line, an input coupler, and an output coupler. The housing includes a first housing cover and a second housing cover stacked and connected along a first direction, such that the slow-wave structure is a stacked structure. During the manufacturing process of the slow-wave structure, each layer structure in the slow-wave structure can be processed separately, which is conducive to realizing planarized mass production, shortening the processing time, and improving the production and processing efficiency of the slow-wave structure. At least one of the input coupler and the output coupler is non-coplanar with the first plane, such that at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler has good consistency with the stacking direction, that is, at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler has good consistency with the assembly method of the slow-wave structure, which is conducive to simplifying the production and assembly of the input coupler and / or the output coupler, improving the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler, and realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0008] In a possible implementation manner, the input coupler includes a plurality of first metal parts connected in sequence, the output coupler includes a plurality of second metal parts connected in sequence, a stepped structure is formed between two adjacent first metal parts or two adjacent second metal parts, and at least one of the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts forms an angle with the first plane. By making at least one of the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts form an angle with the first plane, two adjacent first metal parts or two adjacent second metal parts are connected in sequence along the stacking direction, which is conducive to simplifying the production and assembly of the input coupler and / or the output coupler, improving the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler, and realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0009] In a possible implementation manner, the input coupler further includes an input coaxial line and a second waveguide. The input coaxial line is electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line and the plurality of first metal parts. The plurality of first metal parts and at least a part of the input coaxial line are located in the second waveguide, and the second waveguide is used for coupling electromagnetic waves. By making the input coupler further include an input coaxial line and a second waveguide, the input coaxial line is used to convert the waveguide mode of the electromagnetic wave from the TEM mode to the quasi-TEM mode, so that the mode of the electromagnetic wave at the slow-wave transmission line is the quasi-TEM mode, which is conducive to improving the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure on the electromagnetic wave.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the slow-wave structure includes at least one attenuator, the attenuator is electrically connected to the output coupler or the input coupler, and the attenuator is used to absorb electromagnetic waves. By electrically connecting the attenuator to the output coupler or the input coupler, it is beneficial to avoid the reflection of electromagnetic waves to the slow-wave transmission line, improve the stability of the transmission of electromagnetic waves at the slow-wave transmission line, and thus ensure the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure on electromagnetic waves.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the slow-wave transmission line includes at least two segments of transmission lines, and adjacent two segments of the transmission lines are arranged at intervals. The slow-wave structure includes at least two of the attenuators, each segment of the transmission line is electrically connected to at least one of the attenuators, and the slow-wave structure further includes at least two couplers at the intervals, and the couplers at the intervals are electrically connected to the transmission line and the attenuator. By making the slow-wave transmission line include at least two segments of transmission lines, and each single segment of the transmission line is electrically connected to at least one attenuator, so that each segment of the transmission line is provided with an attenuator to absorb excess electromagnetic waves, avoiding the reflection of electromagnetic waves at each segment of the transmission line, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the transmission of electromagnetic waves at each segment of the transmission line.

[0012] In a possible implementation, both the input coupler and the output coupler are non-coplanar with the first plane, and the couplers at the intervals are coplanar with the first plane. By making both the input coupler and the output coupler non-coplanar with the first plane, and the couplers at the intervals coplanar with the first plane, it is beneficial to simplify the setting manner of the input coupler and the output coupler, improve the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler, reduce the occupied space of the attenuator and the couplers at the intervals, and realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0013] In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of periods and the period length of at least two segments of the transmission lines is different. By making at least one of the number of periods and the period length of at least two segments of the transmission lines different, the reduction rate of the phase velocity of electromagnetic waves at each segment of the transmission line is different, which is beneficial to improving the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure on electromagnetic waves.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the shape of the attenuator is wedge-shaped, and the cross-sectional area of the side of the attenuator close to the coupler at the interval is larger than the cross-sectional area of the side far from the coupler at the interval, and the cross-section is perpendicular to the direction from the coupler at the interval to the attenuator. By making the shape of the attenuator wedge-shaped, it is beneficial to reduce the reflection of electromagnetic waves in the attenuator, so that the attenuator can absorb electromagnetic waves in a larger frequency range and power.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the attenuator, the input coupler, and the output coupler are all integrated with the first cover. By integrating the attenuator, the input coupler, and the output coupler with the first cover, it is beneficial to assemble the input coupler and the output coupler in the stacking direction, provide a accommodation space for the setting of the attenuator, improve the integration degree of the attenuator, the input coupler, and the output coupler, and is beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the first cover has a first input hole and a first output hole. The input coupler is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first input hole, and the output coupler is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first output hole. By fixedly connecting the input coupler and the output coupler to the inner walls of the first input hole and the first output hole respectively, at least part of the input coupler and at least part of the output coupler are accommodated in the shell layer of the first housing, improving the integration degree of the input coupler and the output coupler with the first housing, and being beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the slow-wave structure further includes a first energy transmission window and a second energy transmission window. The first energy transmission window closes the first input hole, the second energy transmission window closes the first output hole, the first energy transmission window is electrically connected to the input coupler and the input waveguide interface, and the second energy transmission window is electrically connected to the output coupler and the output waveguide interface. By making the slow-wave structure further include the first energy transmission window and the second energy transmission window, the first energy transmission window and the second energy transmission window respectively realize the sealing of the first waveguide at the first input hole and the first output hole, ensuring the sealing performance of the first waveguide.

[0018] In a possible implementation, at least one of the inner walls of the first input hole and the first output hole has a flange, and the flange supports and connects at least one of the first energy transmission window and the second energy transmission window. By making at least one of the inner walls of the first input hole and the first output hole have a flange, it is beneficial to improve the stability of the position of the first energy transmission window and / or the second energy transmission window in the slow-wave structure.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner, the second housing cover has a second input hole and a second output hole. The first input hole and the second input hole are in communication with each other in the first direction, and the first output hole and the second output hole are in communication with each other in the first direction. The slow-wave structure further includes a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector closes the second input hole, and the second reflector closes the second output hole. By making the second housing cover have a second input hole and a second output hole, with the first reflector closing the second input hole and the second reflector closing the second output hole, it is beneficial to ensure that the inside of the first waveguide is in a sealed state. By providing the first reflector and the second reflector, it is beneficial for the electromagnetic wave to undergo phase cancellation with the original electromagnetic wave after reflection, thereby enhancing the stability of the electromagnetic wave during transmission.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner, one of the first housing cover and the second housing cover includes a circuit layer, and the circuit layer is stacked and connected to the other of the first housing cover and the second housing cover in the first direction. By making one of the first housing cover and the second housing cover include a circuit layer, and the circuit layer is stacked and connected to the other in the first direction, the slow-wave transmission line can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure in the stacking direction, improving the integration degree of the slow-wave transmission line and the housing, which is beneficial for realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner, the slow-wave transmission line is parallel to the first plane, and the number of the slow-wave transmission lines is at least two. At least two of the slow-wave transmission lines are spaced and stacked in the first direction. By making the number of the slow-wave transmission lines be at least two, it is beneficial to generate an electric field with a consistent direction, enhancing the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure on the electromagnetic wave.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner, the input coupler and the output coupler are located on the same side of the slow-wave transmission line in the first direction. By making the input coupler and the output coupler be located on the same side of the slow-wave transmission line in the first direction, the occupied space of the slow-wave transmission line, the input coupler, and the output coupler in the first direction is reduced, which is beneficial for realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a traveling wave tube, which includes an electron gun, a collector, a focusing system, an input device, an output device, and the slow-wave structure described in any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The electron gun and the collector are both fixedly connected to the housing of the slow-wave structure. The electron gun is configured to emit electrons into the first waveguide of the slow-wave structure, the collector is configured to collect the electrons in the first waveguide, the focusing system is configured to enable the electrons to pass through the slow-wave structure, the input device is electrically connected to the input coupler of the slow-wave structure, the input device is configured to send electromagnetic waves to the input coupler, the output device is electrically connected to the output coupler of the slow-wave structure, and the output coupler is configured to send the amplified electromagnetic waves to the output device. The beneficial effects corresponding to this embodiment are similar to those of the above embodiments, and will not be elaborated in this embodiment.

[0024] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a network device, which includes an antenna and the traveling wave tube described in the second aspect. The antenna is electrically connected to the traveling wave tube, and the antenna is configured to send the electromagnetic waves amplified by the traveling wave tube. The beneficial effects corresponding to this embodiment are similar to those of the above embodiments, and will not be elaborated in this embodiment. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Figure 1 is a perspective structural schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view of the slow-wave structure provided by the embodiment shown;

[0027] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a structural schematic diagram of the first housing cover in the embodiment shown;

[0028] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure without a housing provided by the embodiment of the present application, in which both the input coupler and the output coupler are not coplanar with the first plane;

[0029] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure without a housing provided by the embodiment of the present application, in which only the input coupler is not coplanar with the first plane;

[0030] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure without a housing provided by the embodiment of the present application, in which only the output coupler is not coplanar with the first plane;

[0031] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure without a housing provided by the embodiment of the present application, which has a single-section transmission line and a single attenuator;

[0032] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure without a housing, having two transmission lines and two attenuators, provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure without a housing, having three transmission lines and four attenuators, provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure having an energy input window and a reflector, provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 11 is Figure 10 an exploded view of the slow-wave structure provided by the embodiment shown;

[0036] Figure 12 is a perspective structural diagram of the inner wall of the first input hole and the first energy input window provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 13 is Figure 12 an exploded view of the inner wall of the first input hole and the first energy input window provided by the embodiment shown;

[0038] Figure 14 is a schematic system diagram of a traveling wave tube provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 15 is a schematic system diagram of a network device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed Embodiments

[0040] The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0041] For ease of understanding, the English abbreviations and related technical terms involved in the embodiments of the present application will be explained and described first below.

[0042] It should be clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0043] The terms used in the embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms of "a", "the" and "said" used in the embodiments of the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0044] It should be understood that the term “and / or” used herein is merely a description of the same fields of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Additionally, the character “ / ” herein generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an “or” relationship.

[0045] Depending on the context, as used herein, the word “if” can be interpreted as “when...”, “while...”, “in response to determining”, or “in response to detecting”. Similarly, depending on the context, the phrase “if determined” or “if detecting (stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determined”, “in response to determining”, “when detecting (stated condition or event)”, or “in response to detecting (stated condition or event)”.

[0046] It should be understood that the “first”, “second”, etc. used in this application are only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying an order.

[0047] In the description of this application, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as “center”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation to this application.

[0048] In the description of this application, it should be noted that due to manufacturing errors or assembly errors, there are some angular deviations in the design that should be perpendicular or parallel. For example, deviations within 15 degrees also belong to the perpendicular or parallel described in this embodiment.

[0049] For the “within... range” used in this application, unless it is separately stated that the end values are not included, it is default to include the two end values of the range. For example, within the range of 1 to 5, the two values 1 and 5 are included.

[0050] In the description of this application, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms “installed”, “connected”, and “coupled” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, a contact connection, or an integral connection; for those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0051] It should be understood that in this application, "electrically connected" can be understood as physical contact and electrical conduction between components; it can also be understood as a form of connection between different components in a circuit structure through physical lines such as copper foils or wires of a printed circuit board (PCB) that can transmit signals. "Connected" and "linked" can both refer to a mechanical connection relationship or a physical connection relationship. For example, A is connected to B or A is linked to B can mean that there are fastening components (such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc.) between A and B, or A and B are in contact with each other and it is difficult to separate A and B.

[0052] In this application, "length" can be understood as the physical length of an object, or it can also be understood as the electrical length. The electrical length can be expressed as the ratio of the physical length (i.e., the mechanical length or geometric length) multiplied by the transmission time of an electrical or electromagnetic signal in a medium to the time required for this signal to pass through the same distance as the physical length of the medium in free space. The electrical length can satisfy the following formula:

[0053]

[0054] Wherein, L is the physical length, a is the transmission time of the electrical or electromagnetic signal in the medium, and b is the transmission time in free space.

[0055] Alternatively, the electrical length can also be the ratio of the physical length (i.e., the mechanical length or geometric length) to the wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic wave. The electrical length can satisfy the following formula:

[0056]

[0057] Wherein, L is the physical length and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.

[0058] Coupling: Refers to the phenomenon that there is a close cooperation and mutual influence between the inputs and outputs of two or more circuit elements or electrical networks, and energy is transmitted from one side to the other through mutual interaction.

[0059] Millimeter-wave transmitters have the advantages of a wide frequency band and high linearity, can meet the needs of ultra-large-capacity transmission in communication systems, and bring great advantages to millimeter-wave communication systems. Millimeter-wave power amplifiers are the core components of millimeter-wave transmitters, and their performance directly determines the cost, size, and transmission performance of millimeter-wave transmitters. Millimeter-wave power amplifiers include solid-state power amplifiers and traveling-wave tubes. The power of solid-state power amplifiers is relatively low, resulting in a relatively low output power of millimeter-wave transmitters using solid-state power amplifiers, limiting the coverage distance of base stations. It is necessary to increase the number of base stations to meet the coverage requirements, increasing the deployment cost of base stations.

[0060] A traveling wave tube is a microwave electron tube that relies on the synchronization of the velocity of an electron beam with the phase velocity of an electromagnetic wave to achieve the amplification function of the electromagnetic wave. In a traveling wave tube, the electron beam interacts with the electromagnetic wave traveling in a slow wave structure, and the electron beam continuously transfers its kinetic energy to the electromagnetic wave, thereby amplifying the electromagnetic wave. Since it uses a slow wave structure to interact with the electron beam instead of a resonant cavity, the traveling wave tube has a wide operating frequency band, high efficiency, and large output power.

[0061] The slow wave structure is a device used to strengthen the interaction between electrons and the electromagnetic field in a traveling wave tube, enabling the energy of the electron flow to be more effectively converted into high-frequency energy of the electromagnetic wave. Since the propagation speed of an electromagnetic wave in a vacuum is the speed of light, and the movement speed of an electron beam in a vacuum is much lower than the speed of light, in order to make the electromagnetic wave interact with the electron beam, a specific high-frequency structure must be used to reduce the movement speed of the equal phase surface of the electromagnetic wave. That is, the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave must be slowed down so that the traveling speed of the electrons is close to the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave, thus meeting the synchronization condition.

[0062] The slow wave structure includes a slow wave structure of the all-metal waveguide type and a slow wave structure of the dielectric support type. The material of the slow wave structure of the all-metal waveguide type is all-metal, which is more conducive to processing and manufacturing. This slow wave structure includes a hollow metal waveguide, which is used to deform or fold the transmission path of the electromagnetic wave to reduce the propagation phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave, thereby realizing the energy conversion between the electromagnetic wave and the electrons. The operating mode of the slow wave structure of the all-metal waveguide type is the transverse electric wave / transverse magnetic mode (TE mode / TM mode). During the transmission of the electromagnetic wave, the transmission speed of the electromagnetic wave in the TE mode / TM mode is relatively fast. Therefore, more electromagnetic wave transmission paths need to be folded to reduce the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave to the required range, increasing the length of the hollow metal waveguide in the transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave, resulting in an increase in the structural size of the slow wave structure of the all-metal waveguide type and being unable to meet the miniaturization requirements. At the same time, since this type of waveguide needs to operate on spatial harmonics to achieve the slow wave effect, the electric field of the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the hollow metal waveguide in the transmission direction is small, resulting in a poor amplification effect of the slow wave structure of the all-metal waveguide type on the electromagnetic wave.

[0063] The dielectric-supported slow-wave structure includes a metal slow-wave line, a dielectric support rod, and a metal casing that are sleeved in sequence. The metal slow-wave line is used to transmit electromagnetic waves, and the structure of the metal slow-wave line is a bent structure, so that the path of the electromagnetic wave is folded when it is transmitted at the metal slow-wave line, thereby reducing the propagation phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave, and then realizing the energy conversion between the electromagnetic wave and the electron. The metal casing acts as a waveguide to enclose the dielectric support rod and the metal slow-wave line. The material of the dielectric support rod is different from that of the metal casing. The material of the dielectric support rod is usually ceramic. The dielectric-supported slow-wave structure has a two-conductor structure, so that the waveguide mode of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure is a transverse electromagnetic wave (TEM mode / quasi-TEM mode). Compared with the TE mode / TM mode, the bandwidth of the TEM mode / quasi-TEM mode is wider, and it is easier to reduce the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave to the required range at a smaller size. At the same time, since this type of slow-wave structure operates on the first spatial harmonic of the TEM mode, the electric field of the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the metal slow-wave line in the transmission direction is large, so that the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure has a better amplification effect on the electromagnetic wave.

[0064] The dielectric-supported slow-wave structure is more conducive to the miniaturization of the traveling-wave tube. However, at present, the integration of the input coupler and the output coupler of the dielectric-supported slow-wave structure with the waveguide is low, and the consistency of the assembly method of the input coupler and the output coupler with the waveguide during the assembly process is poor, which makes the assembly of the traveling-wave tube of the dielectric-supported type more complicated and prone to errors, and is not conducive to the further miniaturization of the traveling-wave tube of the dielectric-supported type.

[0065] This application provides a slow-wave structure 100. Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 as shown, Figure 1 which shows a perspective structure schematic diagram of the slow-wave structure 100 provided by the embodiment of this application, Figure 2 shows Figure 1 an exploded view of the slow-wave structure 100 provided by the embodiment shown. The slow-wave structure 100 includes a housing 10 and a slow-wave transmission line 20. The housing 10 includes a first housing cover 11 and a second housing cover 12 that are stacked and connected in a first direction ( Figure 1 the Z direction in

[0066] ). The first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 enclose a first waveguide 13, and the slow-wave transmission line 20 is fixed in the first waveguide 13. Figure 1In the Y direction of China, the second direction can be perpendicular to the first direction. The channel area of the first waveguide 13 perpendicular to the second direction can remain unchanged in the second direction to ensure the consistency of the channel area of the first waveguide 13 in its extending direction, avoid electrons being blocked by the inner wall of the first waveguide 13 during the movement in the first waveguide 13, and improve the space utilization rate of the first waveguide 13. The cross-sectional shape of the first waveguide 13 includes but is not limited to a circular shape or a rectangular shape, which can be set according to actual requirements.

[0067] The slow-wave transmission line 20 is used for transmitting electromagnetic waves. The slow-wave transmission line 20 is fixed in the first waveguide 13. The electromagnetic waves transmitted by the slow-wave transmission line 20 interact with the electrons in the first waveguide 13 to achieve the amplification of the electromagnetic waves.

[0068] The structure of the slow-wave transmission line 20 is a folded structure, so that the path of the electromagnetic wave is folded when transmitted at the metal slow-wave line, thereby reducing the propagation phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave. The slow-wave transmission line 20 can extend linearly along the second direction as a whole. The extending direction of the slow-wave transmission line 20 is the same as the extending direction of the first waveguide 13, so that the overall transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave at the slow-wave transmission line 20 is the same as the transmission direction of the electrons in the first waveguide 13.

[0069] Refer to Figure 4 As shown in Figure 4 The figure shows a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure 100 without a housing 10 provided by an embodiment of the present application, in which both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are non-coplanar with the first plane 26. The slow-wave transmission line 20 can extend along the first plane 26. The first plane 26 is one of the planes perpendicular to the first direction, and the slow-wave transmission line 20 extends linearly along the second direction on the first plane 26 as a whole. The central axis of the slow-wave transmission line 20 is located in the first plane 26, so that the slow-wave transmission line 20 is symmetrically arranged with respect to the first plane 26.

[0070] In one embodiment, the slow-wave transmission line 20 can extend spirally along the second direction. During the spiral extension of the slow-wave transmission line 20, the radius of a single spiral can remain unchanged to ensure the consistency of the path folding degree of the electromagnetic wave at each position when transmitted at the metal slow-wave line.

[0071] In one embodiment, the slow-wave transmission line 20 can also extend bendedly along the second direction on the first plane 26. The slow-wave transmission line 20 includes a plurality of bend lines connected end to end. The shapes and sizes of the plurality of bend lines can be the same. The shapes of the plurality of bend lines include but are not limited to a U shape, a V shape or an S shape.

[0072] The slow-wave structure 100 further includes an input coupler 30 and an output coupler 40. Both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20. The input coupler 30 is used to input electromagnetic waves into the slow-wave transmission line 20. During the process of the slow-wave transmission line 20 transmitting electromagnetic waves, the electrons in the first waveguide 13 interact with the electromagnetic field of the electromagnetic waves. The electrons continuously transfer their kinetic energy to the electromagnetic field, causing the electromagnetic waves to be amplified. The slow-wave transmission line 20 transmits the amplified electromagnetic waves to the output coupler 40, and the output coupler 40 then outputs the amplified electromagnetic waves from the slow-wave structure 100.

[0073] At least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26. In one embodiment, referring to Figure 4 as shown, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 may be non-coplanar with the first plane 26. In one embodiment, referring to Figure 5 as shown, Figure 5 FIG. shows a schematic structural diagram of the slow-wave structure 100 without the housing 10 in which only the input coupler 30 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26 provided by the embodiment of the present application. The input coupler 30 may be non-coplanar with the first plane 26, and the output coupler 40 may be coplanar with the first plane 26. In one embodiment, referring to Figure 6 as shown, Figure 6 FIG. shows a schematic structural diagram of the slow-wave structure 100 without the housing 10 in which only the output coupler 40 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26 provided by the embodiment of the present application. The input coupler 30 may be coplanar with the first plane 26, and the output coupler 40 may be non-coplanar with the first plane 26.

[0074] At least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 being non-coplanar with the first plane 26 means that at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is not parallel to the first plane 26, and at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is not located on the first plane 26. Both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 may have an angle with the first plane 26; or, the input coupler 30 has an angle with the first plane 26 and the output coupler 40 is parallel to the first plane 26; or, the input coupler 30 is parallel to the first plane 26 and the output coupler 40 has an angle with the first plane 26.

[0075] Exemplarily, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are perpendicular to the first plane 26; or, the input coupler 30 is perpendicular to the first plane 26 and the output coupler 40 is parallel to the first plane 26; or, the input coupler 30 is parallel to the first plane 26 and the output coupler 40 is perpendicular to the first plane 26.

[0076] The housing 10 includes a first housing cover 11 and a second housing cover 12 that are stacked and connected in a first direction. The slow-wave structure 100 can be a stacked structure. During the manufacturing process of the slow-wave structure 100, each layer structure in the slow-wave structure 100 can be processed separately, so that each layer structure in the slow-wave structure 100 can be processed simultaneously, which is conducive to realizing planarized mass production, shortening the processing time, and improving the production and processing efficiency of the slow-wave structure 100. At the same time, the processed layer structures can be assembled in sequence along the stacking direction. The assembly method in the stacking direction has a smaller error and is more suitable for industrial production and manufacturing, which is conducive to simplifying the processing and assembly process of the slow-wave structure 100, improving the production accuracy and yield of the slow-wave structure 100, and enhancing the amplification effect and amplification stability of the slow-wave structure 100 on electromagnetic waves.

[0077] At least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26. At least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 has an angle with the first plane 26 during the setting process, so that the setting direction of at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 has a good consistency with the stacking direction. When processing the input coupler 30 or the output coupler 40, at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure 100 in the stacking direction, improving the integration degree of at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, which is conducive to realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100. At the same time, it is also conducive to matching the stacking connection method of the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12, and realizing the assembly of the input coupler 30 or the output coupler 40 in the stacking direction, simplifying the setting method of the input coupler 30 and / or the output coupler 40, and making the assembly of the input coupler 30 or the output coupler 40 more convenient for industrial production.

[0078] The slow-wave structure 100 provided in this application includes a housing 10, a slow-wave transmission line 20, an input coupler 30, and an output coupler 40. Both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20. The housing 10 encloses the first waveguide 13, and the slow-wave transmission line 20 is fixed in the first waveguide 13, so that electromagnetic waves can be transmitted through the slow-wave transmission line 20. The electrons in the first waveguide 13 can act on the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the slow-wave transmission line 20 to realize the amplification of electromagnetic waves. The slow-wave structure 100 adopts the TEM mode / quasi-TEM mode, which is conducive to ensuring a good amplification effect of electromagnetic waves.

[0079] The housing 10 includes a first housing cover 11 and a second housing cover 12 that are stacked and connected in a first direction, such that the slow-wave structure 100 is a stacked structure. During the manufacturing process of the slow-wave structure 100, each layer structure in the slow-wave structure 100 can be processed separately, which is conducive to realizing planarized mass production, shortening the processing time, and improving the production and processing efficiency of the slow-wave structure 100. At the same time, at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26, such that at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 has a good consistency with the stacking direction, that is, at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 has a good consistency with the assembly method of the slow-wave structure 100, which is conducive to simplifying the production and assembly of the input coupler 30 and / or the output coupler 40, improving the integration degree of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, and realizing miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0080] In a possible implementation manner, referring to Figure 4 As shown, the input coupler 30 includes a first mode converter 31, and the output coupler 40 includes a second mode converter 41. The first mode converter 31 is configured to convert the waveguide mode of the electromagnetic wave from the TE mode to the TEM mode; the second mode converter 41 is configured to convert the mode of the electromagnetic wave from the TEM mode to the TE mode, so that the mode of the electromagnetic wave when output is the TE mode.

[0081] The first mode converter 31 has a plurality of first metal parts 311, and the plurality of first metal parts 311 are connected in sequence, and adjacent two first metal parts 311 form a stepped structure; similarly, the second mode converter 41 has a plurality of second metal parts 411, and the plurality of second metal parts 411 are connected in sequence, and adjacent two second metal parts 411 form a stepped structure. At least one of the first mode converter 31 and the second mode converter 41 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26, that is, at least one of the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts 411 forms an angle with the first plane 26.

[0082] Referring to Figure 4 As shown, when both the first mode converter 31 and the second mode converter 41 are non-coplanar with the first plane 26, both the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts 411 form an angle with the first plane 26; referring to Figure 5 As shown, when the first mode converter 31 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26 and the second mode converter 41 is coplanar with the first plane 26, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first metal parts 311 forms an angle with the first plane 26, and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts 411 are parallel to the first plane 26; referring to Figure 6As shown, when the first mode converter 31 is coplanar with the first plane 26 and the second mode converter 41 is not coplanar with the first plane 26, the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts 311 are parallel to the first plane 26, and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts 411 form an angle with the first plane 26.

[0083] Exemplarily, the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 are both perpendicular to the first plane 26; or, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first metal parts 311 is perpendicular to the first plane 26, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second metal parts 411 is parallel to the first plane 26; or, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first metal parts 311 is parallel to the first plane 26, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second metal parts 411 is perpendicular to the first plane 26.

[0084] When manufacturing the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, the one of the first mode converter 31 and the second mode converter 41 that is not coplanar with the first plane 26 can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure 100 in the stacking direction, that is, at least one of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 is sequentially arranged in the stacking direction, and two adjacent first metal parts 311 or two adjacent second metal parts 411 are sequentially connected in the stacking direction, which is beneficial to simplifying the production and assembly of the input coupler 30 and / or the output coupler 40, improving the integration degree of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, and realizing miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100. Two adjacent first metal parts 311 or two adjacent second metal parts 411 can be sequentially welded in the stacking direction so that the plurality of first metal parts 311 form an integrated first mode converter 31 or the plurality of second metal parts 411 form an integrated second mode converter 41.

[0085] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 4 As shown, both the first mode converter 31 and the second mode converter 41 are perpendicular to the first plane 26, the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 are both perpendicular to the first plane 26. When manufacturing the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 are sequentially connected in the stacking direction, and the volumes of the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 in the stacking direction decrease sequentially, so that a stepped structure is formed between two adjacent first metal parts 311 or two adjacent second metal parts 411 in the stacking direction.

[0086] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 5As shown, the first mode converter 31 is perpendicular to the first plane 26, the second mode converter 41 is parallel to the first plane 26, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first metal parts 311 is perpendicular to the first plane 26, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second metal parts 411 is parallel to the first plane 26. When manufacturing the input coupler 30, the plurality of first metal parts 311 are sequentially connected in the stacking direction, making the production and assembly of the input coupler 30 more convenient and improving the integration degree of the input coupler 30.

[0087] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, Figure 3 shows Figure 1 a schematic structural diagram of the first housing cover in the shown embodiment. The input coupler 30 further includes an input coaxial line 32 and a second waveguide 33. The input coaxial line 32 is electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the first mode converter 31. The input coaxial line 32 is used to convert the waveguide mode of the electromagnetic wave from the TEM mode to the quasi-TEM mode, so that the mode of the electromagnetic wave at the slow-wave transmission line 20 is the quasi-TEM mode. The two ends of the input coaxial line 32 can be electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the first mode converter 31 respectively. The input coaxial line 32 is electrically connected to the plurality of first metal parts 311. The input coaxial line 32 can be directly connected to a single first metal part 311 located at the end among the plurality of first metal parts 311, that is, the input coaxial line 32 can be in contact with a single first metal part 311 located at the end among the plurality of first metal parts 311. The plurality of first metal parts 311 and at least part of the input coaxial line 32 are located in the second waveguide 33. The second waveguide 33 is used to couple the electromagnetic wave, so that the electromagnetic wave is transmitted from the input coupler 30 to the slow-wave transmission line 20.

[0088] Similarly, the output coupler 40 includes an output coaxial line 42 and a third waveguide 43. The output coaxial line 42 is electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the second mode converter 41. The output coaxial line 42 is used to convert the waveguide mode of the electromagnetic wave from the quasi-TEM mode to the TEM mode, so that the mode of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the slow-wave transmission line 20 to the second mode converter 41 is the TEM mode. The two ends of the output coaxial line 42 can be electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the second mode converter 41 respectively. The input coaxial line 32 can be directly connected to a single second metal part 411 located at the end among the plurality of second metal parts 411. The plurality of second metal parts 411 and at least part of the output coaxial line 42 are located in the third waveguide 43. The third waveguide 43 is used to couple the electromagnetic wave, so that the amplified electromagnetic wave is output from the slow-wave transmission line 20.

[0089] The input coaxial line 32 and the output coaxial line 42 can both extend along a straight line. The extending directions of the input coaxial line 32 and the output coaxial line 42 can both be parallel to the first plane 26. Compared with the case where the extending directions of the input coaxial line 32 and the output coaxial line 42 both have an included angle with the first plane 26, the occupied space of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 in the first direction ( Figure 4 the Z direction in

[0090] In one implementation, referring to Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 as shown, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are located on the same side of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the first direction ( Figures 4 to 6 the Z direction in

[0091] That is, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are located on the same side of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the stacking direction. When manufacturing the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 can be integrated simultaneously, which is beneficial to simplifying the production and assembly of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40. At the same time, compared with the case where the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are respectively located on the opposite sides of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the first direction, the occupied space of the slow-wave transmission line 20, the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 in the first direction is reduced, which is beneficial to realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0092] The slow-wave transmission line 20 extends along the second direction ( Figures 4 to 6 the Y direction in Figures 4 to 6extends in the X direction, and the third direction is perpendicular to both the second direction and the first direction. At this time, both ends of the input coaxial line 32 are respectively connected to a plurality of first metal parts 311 and the slow-wave transmission line 20, and both ends of the output coaxial line 42 are respectively connected to a plurality of second metal parts 411 and the slow-wave transmission line 20, so that the plurality of first metal parts 311 and the plurality of second metal parts 411 are both arranged at intervals from the slow-wave transmission line 20, providing space for the arrangement of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the first waveguide 13 and the transmission of electrons. The input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 can be respectively located on both sides of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the third direction, so that the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are arranged staggeredly with respect to the slow-wave transmission line 20, facilitating the identification when the input device 203 and the output device 204 are respectively connected to the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0093] In a possible implementation manner, referring to Figure 7 and Figure 8 as shown, Figure 7 shows a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure 100 without a housing 10 having a single-section transmission line and a single attenuator 60 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 shows a schematic structural diagram of a slow-wave structure 100 without a housing 10 having two-section transmission lines and two attenuators 60 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The slow-wave structure 100 includes at least one attenuator 60, and the attenuator 60 is used to absorb electromagnetic waves. The single attenuator 60 is electrically connected to the input coupler 30 or the output coupler 40. The single attenuator 60 is indirectly electrically connected to the input coupler 30 through the slow-wave transmission line 20, and the slow-wave transmission line 20 is located between the input coupler 30 and the attenuator 60; the single attenuator 60 can be indirectly electrically connected to the output coupler 40 through the slow-wave transmission line 20 or directly electrically connected. When the attenuator 60 is directly electrically connected to the output coupler 40, the single attenuator 60 is directly in contact connection with the output coupler 40.

[0094] In an embodiment, referring to Figure 7As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 is a single-section transmission line, and the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are directly connected to both ends of the slow-wave transmission line 20 respectively. The slow-wave structure 100 includes a single attenuator 60, and the single attenuator 60 is directly connected to the output coupler 40. When electromagnetic waves are transmitted from the input coupler 30 through the slow-wave transmission line 20 to the output coupler 40, most of the electromagnetic waves can be output from the output coupler 40. To avoid partial electromagnetic waves being reflected from the output coupler 40 to the slow-wave transmission line 20, which may affect the electromagnetic waves in the slow-wave transmission line 20 during transmission, the output coupler 40 is electrically connected to the attenuator 60. The attenuator 60 absorbs the excess electromagnetic waves at the output coupler 40, which is beneficial to avoiding the reflection of electromagnetic waves to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and improving the transmission stability of electromagnetic waves at the slow-wave transmission line 20, thereby ensuring the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure 100 on electromagnetic waves.

[0095] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 8 and Figure 9 as shown, Figure 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of the slow-wave structure 100 without the housing 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application, which has three-section transmission lines and four attenuators 60. The slow-wave transmission line 20 includes at least two sections of transmission lines, and the at least two sections of transmission lines are arranged in sequence in the second direction. Adjacent two sections of transmission lines are spaced apart, and there is a gap between adjacent two sections of transmission lines in the second direction. The input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are located at both ends of the slow-wave transmission line 20, and the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are electrically connected to the two sections of transmission lines at both ends respectively. When the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes at least two sections of transmission lines, electromagnetic waves are transmitted sequentially at the at least two sections of transmission lines. Adjacent two sections of transmission lines are spaced apart. By setting the spacing distance between adjacent two sections of transmission lines, the truncation of the electromagnetic wave transmission path can be realized at the gap between adjacent two sections of transmission lines; at the same time, the electron beam for interacting with the electromagnetic waves at the gap can enter the next section of the slow-wave line without interception under the constraint of the magnetic field, and excite the corresponding electromagnetic field to continue to interact with the electromagnetic waves, which is beneficial to improving the amplification effect on the electromagnetic waves.

[0096] The slow-wave structure 100 further includes at least two couplers 50 at the gaps. The couplers 50 at the gaps are electrically connected to one end of the adjacent two sections of transmission lines at the gap. One end of one of the two sections of transmission lines at both ends is electrically connected to the input coupler 30 and the coupler 50 at the gap respectively, and the other end is electrically connected to the output coupler 40 and the coupler 50 at the gap respectively.

[0097] The slow-wave structure 100 includes at least two attenuators 60. The attenuators 60 are electrically connected to the couplers 50 at the intervals, and the number of the couplers 50 at the intervals is the same as the number of the attenuators 60. Both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are indirectly electrically connected to the attenuators 60 through transmission lines, and the couplers 50 at the intervals are directly electrically connected to the attenuators 60, that is, the couplers 50 at the intervals are in direct contact with the attenuators 60. The couplers 50 at the intervals are electrically connected to both the transmission lines and the attenuators 60, so that the couplers 50 at the intervals are located between the transmission lines and the attenuators 60. Each section of the transmission line is electrically connected to at least one attenuator 60, so that each section of the transmission line is provided with an attenuator 60 to absorb the redundant electromagnetic waves, avoid the reflection of the electromagnetic waves at each section of the transmission line, and is beneficial to improving the stability of the amplification of the electromagnetic waves in each section of the transmission line.

[0098] Taking the number of the transmission lines included in the slow-wave transmission line 20 as n and the number of the attenuators 60 in the slow-wave structure 100 as m, when the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes at least two sections of transmission lines, the number of the transmission lines and the number of the attenuators 60 satisfy the relational expression: m = 2×(n - 1). By making the slow-wave structure 100 satisfy the above relational expression, each section of the transmission line is electrically connected to at least one attenuator 60, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the transmission of the electromagnetic waves at each section of the transmission line.

[0099] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 8 As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes two sections of transmission lines, which are the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 respectively. Two ends of the first transmission line 21 are electrically connected to the input coupler 30 and the coupler 51 at the first interval respectively, and two ends of the second transmission line 22 are electrically connected to the output coupler 40 and the coupler 52 at the second interval respectively. The slow-wave structure 100 includes two attenuators 60, which are the first attenuator 61 and the second attenuator 62 respectively. The first attenuator 61 is electrically connected to the coupler 51 at the first interval, and the second attenuator 62 is electrically connected to the coupler 52 at the second interval.

[0100] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 9As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes three sections of transmission lines, namely the first transmission line 21, the second transmission line 22, and the third transmission line 23. The first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 are respectively located at both ends of the slow-wave transmission line 20, and the third transmission line 23 is located in the middle region of the slow-wave transmission line 20. Both ends of the first transmission line 21 are electrically connected to the input coupler 30 and the coupler 51 at the first interval, both ends of the second transmission line 22 are electrically connected to the output coupler 40 and the coupler 52 at the second interval, and both ends of the third transmission line 23 are electrically connected to the coupler 53 at the third interval and the coupler 54 at the fourth interval. The slow-wave structure 100 includes four attenuators 60, namely the first attenuator 61, the second attenuator 62, the third attenuator 63, and the fourth attenuator 64. The first attenuator 61 is electrically connected to the coupler 51 at the first interval, the second attenuator 62 is electrically connected to the coupler 52 at the second interval, the third attenuator 63 is electrically connected to the coupler 53 at the third interval, and the fourth attenuator 64 is electrically connected to the coupler 54 at the fourth interval, so that both ends of the third transmission line 23 are electrically connected to the third attenuator 63 and the fourth attenuator 64 respectively.

[0101] In a possible implementation, referring to Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are non-coplanar with the first plane 26, so that the setting directions of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are both in good agreement with the stacking direction. Both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure 100 in the stacking direction, which is beneficial to simplifying the setting method of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 and improving the integration degree of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40.

[0102] The couplers 50 at the intervals are all coplanar with the first plane 26, so that the setting directions of the couplers 50 at the intervals are all parallel to the first plane 26, which is beneficial to providing space for the setting of the attenuators 60. Compared with the couplers 50 at the intervals being non-coplanar with the first plane 26, when the attenuators 60 are electrically connected to the couplers 50 at the intervals coplanar with the first plane 26, the occupied space of the attenuators 60 and the couplers 50 at the intervals in the first direction is smaller, which is beneficial to realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0103] Exemplarily, referring to Figure 8As shown, both the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are perpendicular to the first plane 26, and the couplers 50 at the two intervals are both parallel to the first plane 26. The setting directions of the couplers 50 at the intervals and the attenuators 60 electrically connected thereto are parallel to the first plane 26, which is conducive to making full use of the space of the slow-wave structure 100 parallel to the first plane 26, reducing the occupied space of the attenuators 60 and the couplers 50 at the intervals in the first direction, and realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0104] The coupler 50 at the interval includes a third mode converter 55, a coaxial line 56 at the interval, and a fourth waveguide. The third mode converter 55 includes a plurality of third metal parts 551, and the plurality of third metal parts 551 are connected in sequence. Adjacent two third metal parts 551 form a stepped structure, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of third metal parts 551 is parallel to the first plane 26. The coaxial line 56 at the interval is electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the third mode converter 55. The coaxial line 56 at the interval can be electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the third mode converter 55 at both ends respectively. The coaxial line 56 at the interval is electrically connected to the plurality of third metal parts 551. The coaxial line 56 at the interval can be directly connected to a single third metal part 551 located at the end of the plurality of third metal parts 551, and the coaxial line 56 at the interval can extend along the third direction. The plurality of third metal parts 551 and at least part of the coaxial line 56 at the interval are located in the fourth waveguide, and the fourth waveguide is used to couple electromagnetic waves so that part of the amplified electromagnetic waves can be absorbed by the attenuator 60.

[0105] In a possible implementation, refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes at least two repeating units, and a single-section transmission line includes at least one repeating unit, so that a single-section transmission line includes at least one period, that is, the number of periods of a single-section transmission line is the same as the number of repeating units of the single-section transmission line. The plurality of repeating units are connected end to end in the second direction ( Figure 8 and Figure 9 the Y direction in

[0106] The slow-wave transmission line 20 includes at least two sections of transmission lines, and at least one of the number of periods and the period length of the at least two sections of transmission lines is different, so that the reduction rate of the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave at each section of the transmission line is different, which is conducive to improving the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure 100 on the electromagnetic wave.

[0107] Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 8, the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes a first transmission line 21 and a second transmission line 22. The period length of the first transmission line 21 is the same as that of the second transmission line 22, and the number of periods of the first transmission line 21 is less than that of the second transmission line 22, such that the length of the first transmission line 21 in the second direction is less than the length of the second transmission line 22 in the second direction.

[0108] In one embodiment, the repeating unit of the slow-wave transmission line 20 is a bent line, and the shapes and sizes of at least two bent lines are the same. The shapes of at least two bent lines include, but are not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, or S-shaped.

[0109] In a possible embodiment, referring to Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the attenuator 60 is wedge-shaped. The cross-sectional area of the attenuator 60 on the side close to the coupler 50 at the interval is larger than the cross-sectional area on the side far from the coupler 50 at the interval, and this cross-section is perpendicular to the direction from the coupler 50 at the interval to the attenuator 60. By making the shape of the attenuator 60 wedge-shaped, it is beneficial to reduce the reflection of electromagnetic waves in the attenuator 60, so that the attenuator 60 can absorb electromagnetic waves in a larger frequency range and power.

[0110] Exemplarily, the direction from the coupler 50 at the interval to the attenuator 60 is parallel to the second direction. The cross-sectional area of the side of the attenuator 60 close to the coupler 50 at the interval in the direction perpendicular to the second direction is larger than the cross-sectional area of the side of the attenuator 60 far from the coupler 50 at the interval in the direction perpendicular to the second direction, such that the extending direction of the attenuator 60 is parallel to the extending direction of the slow-wave transmission line 20, which is beneficial to making full use of the space of the slow-wave structure 100 and realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0111] In a possible embodiment, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the first housing cover 11 includes a first accommodation cavity 114, a second accommodation cavity 115, and a third accommodation cavity 116 that are connected and communicate with each other. The first accommodation cavity 114 is the cavity of the first waveguide 13. The first accommodation cavity 114 is used to accommodate the slow-wave transmission line 20 and pass electrons. The first accommodation cavity 114 can constitute the cavity of the first waveguide 13, and the first housing cover 11 alone constitutes the first waveguide 13, such that the slow-wave transmission line 20 is only integrated with the first housing cover 11; alternatively, the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 can jointly enclose to form the cavity of the first waveguide 13, and the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 jointly constitute the second waveguide 33, such that the slow-wave transmission line 20 is integrated with both the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12.

[0112] The second accommodation cavity 115 and the third accommodation cavity 116 are both in communication with the first accommodation cavity 114. The second accommodation cavity 115 forms the cavity of the second waveguide 33, and the first shell cover 11 forms the second waveguide 33. The second accommodation cavity 115 is used to accommodate a plurality of first metal parts 311. The input coaxial line 32 is located at the communication position between the second accommodation cavity 115 and the first accommodation cavity 114, so that one end of the input coaxial line 32 electrically connected to the plurality of first metal parts 311 is located in the second accommodation cavity 115, and one end of the input coaxial line 32 electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 is located in the first accommodation cavity 114. The third accommodation cavity 116 forms the cavity of the third waveguide 43, and the first shell cover 11 forms the third waveguide 43. The third accommodation cavity 116 is used to accommodate a plurality of second metal parts 411. The output coaxial line 42 is located at the communication position between the third accommodation cavity 116 and the first accommodation cavity 114, so that one end of the output coaxial line 42 electrically connected to the plurality of second metal parts 411 is located in the third accommodation cavity 116, and one end of the output coaxial line 42 electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 is located in the first accommodation cavity 114.

[0113] By making the first shell cover 11 form the second waveguide 33 and the third waveguide 43, it is beneficial to realize the integration of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 with the first shell cover 11. When the first shell cover 11 and the second shell cover 12 are assembled in the stacking direction, the integration of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 with the slow-wave structure 100 can be realized synchronously, which is beneficial to realize the assembly of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 in the stacking direction and simplifies the setting method of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40. At the same time, compared with separately setting the shell cover structure to form the second waveguide 33 and the third waveguide 43 and then integrating them with the first shell cover 11, the number of structures of the slow-wave structure 100 is reduced, the integration degree of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is improved, and it is beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0114] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 7 , the attenuator 60 is electrically connected to the output coupler 40, and the attenuator 60 electrically connected to the output coupler 40 is accommodated in the third accommodation cavity 116, which is beneficial to improve the integration degree of the attenuator 60 and the output coupler 40.

[0115] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 8 , the first shell cover 11 further includes a fourth accommodation cavity. The fourth accommodation cavity is in communication with the first accommodation cavity 114. The fourth accommodation cavity forms the cavity of the fourth waveguide, and the first shell cover 11 forms the fourth waveguide. The fourth accommodation cavity is used to accommodate a plurality of third metal parts 551 and the attenuator 60. The coaxial line 56 at the interval is located at the communication position between the fourth accommodation cavity and the first accommodation cavity 114, so that one end of the coaxial line 56 at the interval electrically connected to the plurality of third metal parts 551 is located in the fourth accommodation cavity, and one end of the coaxial line 56 at the interval electrically connected to the slow-wave transmission line 20 is located in the first accommodation cavity 114.

[0116] By making the first housing cover 11 form the fourth waveguide, it is beneficial to realize the integration of the coupler 50 and the attenuator 60 at the interval with the first housing cover 11. When the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 are assembled in the stacking direction, the integration of the coupler 50 at the interval with the slow-wave structure 100 can be realized synchronously, and a accommodating space is provided for the setting of the attenuator 60, which is beneficial to realize the assembly of the coupler 50 and the attenuator 60 at the interval in the stacking direction and simplifies the setting method of the coupler 50 and the attenuator 60 at the interval. At the same time, the number of structures of the slow-wave structure 100 is reduced, the integration degree of the coupler 50 and the attenuator 60 at the interval is improved, and it is beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0117] Exemplarily, the fourth accommodating cavity is located on both sides of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the second direction, so that the coupler 50 and the attenuator 60 at the interval are located on both sides of the slow-wave transmission line 20 in the second direction, which is beneficial to make full use of the edge space of the first housing 10 and realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0118] In a possible implementation manner, referring to Figure 10 and Figure 11 as shown, Figure 10 shows a schematic structural diagram of the slow-wave structure 100 with an energy transmission window and a reflector provided by the embodiment of the present application, Figure 11 shows Figure 10 the exploded view of the slow-wave structure 100 provided by the embodiment shown. The first housing cover 11 has a first input hole 111 and a first output hole 112, the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112 are arranged at intervals, the input coupler 30 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first input hole 111, and the output coupler 40 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first output hole 112, so that at least part of the input coupler 30 and at least part of the output coupler 40 are accommodated in the shell layer of the first housing 10, making full use of the thickness of the first housing 10 to provide an accommodating space for the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40, improving the integration degree of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 with the first housing 10, and being beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0119] The penetrating directions of the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112 both have an included angle with the first plane 26, so that the penetrating directions of the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112 have good consistency with the stacking direction, which is convenient to realize that at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 is non-coplanar with the first plane 26, so that at least one of the input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure 100 in the stacking direction, and simplifies the setting method of the input coupler 30 and / or the output coupler 40.

[0120] The slow-wave structure 100 further includes a first energy input window 34 and a second energy input window. The first energy input window 34 closes the first input hole 111, and the second energy input window closes the first output hole 112, so that the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112 are closed, ensuring that the inside of the first waveguide 13 is in a sealed state, which is conducive to providing a vacuum environment for the transmission of electrons in the first waveguide 13. The first energy input window 34 is located between the input coupler 30 and the opening of the first input hole 111, and the second energy input window is located between the output coupler 40 and the opening of the first output hole 112. The first energy input window 34 and the second energy input window respectively achieve the sealing of the first waveguide 13 at the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112.

[0121] In one embodiment, the slow-wave structure 100 further includes an input waveguide interface 35 and an output waveguide structure. The input waveguide interface 35 is used to electrically connect the input coupler 30 and the input device 203, and the output waveguide interface 44 is used to electrically connect the output coupler 40 and the output device 204. The input waveguide interface 35 is inserted into the first input hole 111 and contacts the first energy input window 34. The first energy input window 34 is used to electrically connect the input coupler 30 and the input waveguide interface 35, so that the electromagnetic wave at the input device 203 can be transmitted to the input coupler 30 through the first energy input window 34; the output waveguide interface 44 is inserted into the second output hole 122 and contacts the second energy input window. The second energy input window is used to electrically connect the output coupler 40 and the output waveguide, so that the electromagnetic wave at the output coupler 40 can be transmitted to the output device 204 through the second energy input window.

[0122] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 12 and Figure 13 as shown, Figure 12 FIG. shows a perspective structural schematic diagram of the inner wall of the first input hole 111 and the first energy input window 34 provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 13 FIG. shows Figure 12 an exploded view of the inner wall of the first input hole 111 and the first energy input window 34 provided by the embodiment shown. At least one of the inner walls of the first input hole 111 and the first output hole 112 has a flange 113, that is, both the inner wall of the first input hole 111 and the inner wall of the first output hole 112 may have a flange 113, or the inner wall of the first input hole 111 has a flange 113 and the inner wall of the first output hole 112 does not have a flange 113, or the inner wall of the first input hole 111 does not have a flange 113 and the inner wall of the first output hole 112 has a flange 113.

[0123] The flange 113 supports and connects at least one of the first energy transmission window 34 and the second energy transmission window, so that the set positions of the first energy transmission window 34 and / or the second energy transmission window in the slow-wave structure 100 are more stable, ensuring the sealing of the first input hole 111 by the first energy transmission window 34 and the sealing of the first output hole 112 by the second energy transmission window, which is beneficial to maintaining a sealed state in the first waveguide 13.

[0124] The inner wall of the first input hole 111 may include at least two flanges 113, and the at least two flanges 113 are spaced apart in the first direction, so that the first energy transmission window 34 is clamped between the at least two flanges 113. The at least two flanges 113 limit the position of the first energy transmission window 34 in the first direction, and the inner wall of the first input hole 111 limits the position of the first energy transmission window 34 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, which is beneficial to further improving the stability of the position of the first energy transmission window 34. Similarly, the inner wall of the first output hole 112 may also include at least two flanges 113, and the at least two flanges 113 are spaced apart in the first direction, so that the second energy transmission window is clamped between the multiple flanges 113, further improving the stability of the position of the second energy transmission window. The flange 113 may be arranged around a central axis parallel to the first direction. The flange 113 may be an annular flange 113 or multiple spaced flanges 113, and the multiple flanges 113 are arranged around the central axis.

[0125] Referring to Figure 11 As shown, the second housing cover 12 has a second input hole 121 and a second output hole 122, and the second input hole 121 and the second output hole 122 are spaced apart. The first input hole 111 and the second input hole 121 communicate with each other in the first direction, that is, at least part of the area enclosed by the inner wall of the first input hole 111 coincides with the positive projection of the area enclosed by the inner wall of the second input hole 121; the first output hole 112 and the second output hole 122 communicate with each other in the first direction, that is, at least part of the area enclosed by the inner wall of the first output hole 112 coincides with the positive projection of the area enclosed by the inner wall of the second output hole 122.

[0126] The slow-wave structure 100 further includes a first reflector 36 and a second reflector 45. The first reflector 36 closes the second input hole 121, and the second reflector 45 closes the second output hole 122, so as to close the second input hole 121 and the second output hole 122, ensuring that the inside of the first waveguide 13 is in a sealed state, which is conducive to providing a vacuum environment for the transmission of electrons in the first waveguide 13. The first reflector 36 is located between the input coupler 30 and the opening of the second input hole 121, and the second reflector 45 is located between the output coupler 40 and the opening of the second output hole. The first reflector 36 and the second reflector 45 respectively achieve the sealing of the first waveguide 13 at the second input hole 121 and the second output hole. The first reflector 36 can be fixedly connected to the inner wall of the second input hole 121, and the second reflector 45 can be fixedly connected to the inner wall of the second output hole 122, so that the first reflector 36 and the second reflector 45 are accommodated in the shell layer of the second housing 10, making full use of the thickness of the second housing 10 to provide an accommodation space for the first reflector 36 and the second reflector 45, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0127] The first reflector 36 is used to make the electromagnetic wave transmitted to the first reflector 36 cancel the phase with the original electromagnetic wave after reflection, and the second reflector 45 is used to make the electromagnetic wave transmitted to the second reflector 45 cancel the phase with the original electromagnetic wave after reflection, which is conducive to improving the stability of the electromagnetic wave during transmission.

[0128] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , one of the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 includes a circuit layer 14. The circuit layer 14 can belong to the first housing cover 11 or the second housing cover 12. The circuit layer 14 is stacked and connected to the other of the first housing cover 11 and the second housing cover 12 in the first direction. The slow-wave transmission line 20 is disposed on the circuit layer 14, and the slow-wave transmission line 20 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 10 at the circuit layer 14, so that the slow-wave transmission line 20 can be integrated with other structures of the slow-wave structure 100 in the stacking direction, simplifying the setting method of the slow-wave transmission line 20 and making the assembly of the slow-wave transmission line 20 more convenient for industrial production. At the same time, the slow-wave transmission line 20 is integrated with the first housing cover 11 or the second housing cover 12, improving the integration degree of the slow-wave transmission line 20 and the housing 10, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0129] The circuit layer 14 may include an upper housing 142, a slow-wave transmission line layer 141, and a lower housing 143. The slow-wave transmission line layer 141 is sandwiched between the upper housing 142 and the lower housing 143. The slow-wave transmission line layer 141 has slow-wave transmission line 20 accommodation holes that conduct in a first direction. The slow-wave transmission line 20 is disposed within the slow-wave transmission line 20 accommodation holes. The upper housing 142 and the lower housing 143 respectively enclose the slow-wave transmission line 20 accommodation holes on both sides of the slow-wave transmission line layer 141 in the first direction to form a first accommodation cavity 114.

[0130] In one embodiment, the first housing cover 11 may include a coupling layer 15. The coupling layer 15 may include a first coupling layer 151 and a second coupling layer 152. The input coupler 30 is disposed on the first coupling layer 151, and the output coupler 40 is disposed on the second coupling layer 152. The first coupling layer 151, the second coupling layer 152, and the circuit layer 14 may be stacked and connected in sequence in the first direction. The first coupling layer 151 and the second coupling layer 152 may be located on the same plane parallel to the first plane 26. Similarly, the first housing cover 11 may further include an energy transmission window layer 16. The energy transmission window layer 16 may include a first energy transmission window layer 161 and a second energy transmission window layer 162. The first energy transmission window 34 is disposed on the first energy transmission window layer 161, and the second energy transmission window is disposed on the second energy transmission window layer 162. The first energy transmission window layer 161, the second energy transmission window layer 162, the first coupling layer 151, the second coupling layer 152, and the circuit layer 14 may be stacked and connected in sequence in the first direction. The first energy transmission window layer 161 and the second energy transmission window layer 162 may be located on the same plane parallel to the first plane 26.

[0131] In one embodiment, the second housing cover 12 may include a reflector layer 17. The reflector layer 17 may include a first reflector layer 171 and a second reflector layer 172. The first reflector 36 is disposed on the first reflector layer 171, and the first reflector 36 is disposed on the second reflector layer 172. The first energy transmission window layer 161, the second energy transmission window layer 162, the first coupling layer 151, the second coupling layer 152, the circuit layer 14, the first reflector layer 171, and the second reflector layer 172 may be stacked and connected in sequence in the first direction. The first reflector layer 171 and the second reflector layer 172 may be located on the same plane parallel to the first plane 26.

[0132] In one possible implementation, referring to Figure 4 As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 is parallel to the first plane 26. The number of the slow-wave transmission lines 20 is at least two. At least two slow-wave transmission lines 20 are arranged at intervals and stacked in the first direction. At least two slow-wave transmission lines 20 are all used for transmitting electromagnetic waves, which is beneficial to generating an electric field with a consistent direction and improving the amplification effect of the slow-wave structure 100 on electromagnetic waves.

[0133] In one possible implementation, referring to Figure 1As shown, the materials of the slow-wave transmission line 20, the input coupler 30, the output coupler 40, and the housing 10 include at least one of molybdenum, tungsten, tungsten / molybdenum alloy copper, stainless steel, nickel-based alloy, and copper, such that the materials of the slow-wave transmission line 20, the input coupler 30, the output coupler 40, and the housing 10 are all metals.

[0134] The slow-wave structure 100 can use dielectric support rods to support the slow-wave transmission line 20, or by setting the structure of the slow-wave transmission line 20, when the metal housing 10 is connected to and supports the slow-wave transmission line 20, the same effect as that of the dielectric support rods on the slow-wave transmission line 20 can be achieved.

[0135] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the slow-wave transmission line 20 includes a transmission main line 24 and a plurality of stubs 25. The transmission main line 24 extends along the second direction. The input coupler 30 and the output coupler 40 are respectively electrically connected to both ends of the transmission main line 24. One end of each of the plurality of stubs 25 is electrically connected to the transmission main line 24, and the other end is connected to the inner wall of the housing 10. The plurality of stubs 25 are spaced apart in the second direction. The housing 10 supports the plurality of stubs 25 so that the slow-wave transmission line 20 is supported by the housing 10. When the slow-wave transmission line 20 transmits high-frequency electromagnetic waves, the high-frequency electromagnetic waves are equivalent to an open circuit at the plurality of stubs 25, so that the high-frequency electromagnetic waves cannot be transmitted from the plurality of stubs 25 to the housing 10, and the mode of the slow-wave structure 100 is the TEM mode or the quasi-TEM mode. The above setting method reduces the number of structures of the slow-wave structure 100, makes the materials of each structure of the slow-wave structure 100 all metals, is beneficial to simplifying the processing of the slow-wave structure 100, improving the integration degree of each structure in the slow-wave structure 100, and is beneficial to realizing the miniaturization of the slow-wave structure 100.

[0136] This application also provides a traveling-wave tube 200. Refer to Figure 14 As shown, Figure 14 shows a schematic structural diagram of the traveling-wave tube 200 provided by the embodiment of this application. The traveling-wave tube 200 includes an electron gun 201, a collector 202, an input device 203, an output device 204, and the slow-wave structure 100 described in any one of the above embodiments. The electron gun 201 and the collector 202 are both fixedly connected to the housing 10 of the slow-wave structure 100. The electron gun 201 is used to emit electrons into the first waveguide 13 of the slow-wave structure 100. The collector 202 is used to collect the electrons in the first waveguide 13. The input device 203 is electrically connected to the input coupler 30 of the slow-wave structure 100. The input device 203 is used to send electromagnetic waves to the input coupler 30. The output device 204 is electrically connected to the output coupler 40 of the slow-wave structure 100. The output coupler 40 is used to send the amplified electromagnetic waves to the output device 204.

[0137] In one embodiment, the electron gun 201 and the collector 202 are respectively located on both sides of the slow-wave structure 100 in the second direction ( Figure 14 the Y direction in this case), and electrons travel from the electron gun 201 along the second direction through the slow-wave structure 100 to the collector 202. The input device 203 and the output device 204 are respectively located on both sides of the slow-wave structure 100 in the third direction ( Figure 14 the X direction in this case).

[0138] In one embodiment, the traveling-wave tube 200 further includes a focusing system 205, which is used to confine the magnetic field in the first waveguide 13 of the slow-wave structure 100, so that the electron beam emitted by the electron gun 201 passes through the slow-wave structure 100 without interception, which is beneficial to improving the amplification effect of the traveling-wave tube 200 on electromagnetic waves.

[0139] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 1 as shown, the housing 10 has an electron emission hole 117. The electron gun 201 corresponds to the electron emission hole 117 and emits electrons into the first waveguide 13 from the electron emission hole 117. The electron gun 201 is connected to the housing 10 and closes the electron emission hole 117.

[0140] It can be understood that the traveling-wave tube 200 in this embodiment has the slow-wave structure 100 in the above embodiment. Therefore, the traveling-wave tube 200 in this embodiment has all the technical effects of the slow-wave structure 100 in the above embodiment. Since the technical effects of the slow-wave structure 100 have been fully described in the above embodiment, they will not be elaborated here.

[0141] This application also provides a network device 300. Referring to Figure 15 as shown, Figure 15 it shows a system schematic diagram of the network device 300 provided by the embodiment of this application. The network device 300 includes an antenna 301 and the above traveling-wave tube 200. The antenna 301 and the traveling-wave tube 200 are electrically connected, and the antenna 301 is used to transmit the electromagnetic waves amplified by the traveling-wave tube 200.

[0142] It can be understood that the network device 300 in this embodiment has the traveling-wave tube 200 in the above embodiment. Therefore, the network device 300 in this embodiment has all the technical effects of the traveling-wave tube 200 in the above embodiment. Since the technical effects of the traveling-wave tube 200 have been fully described in the above embodiment, they will not be elaborated here.

[0143] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit it; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present application, and should all be included within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A slow wave structure, characterized in that, it includes: a housing including a first housing cover and a second housing cover stacked and connected along a first direction; a slow wave transmission line extending along a first plane perpendicular to the first direction, and the slow wave transmission line is fixed in a first waveguide formed by the first housing cover and the second housing cover; an input coupler and an output coupler, both electrically connected to the slow wave transmission line, and at least one of the input coupler and the output coupler is non-coplanar with the first plane.

2. The slow wave structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, the input coupler includes a plurality of first metal parts connected in sequence, the output coupler includes a plurality of second metal parts connected in sequence, a stepped structure is formed between two adjacent first metal parts or two adjacent second metal parts, and at least one of the arrangement directions of the plurality of first metal parts and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second metal parts has an angle with the first plane.

3. The slow wave structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, the input coupler further includes an input coaxial line and a second waveguide, the input coaxial line is electrically connected to the slow wave transmission line and the plurality of first metal parts, the plurality of first metal parts and at least part of the input coaxial line are located in the second waveguide, and the second waveguide is used for coupling electromagnetic waves.

4. The slow wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the slow wave structure includes at least one attenuator, the attenuator is electrically connected to the output coupler or the input coupler, and the attenuator is used for absorbing electromagnetic waves.

5. The slow wave structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, the slow wave transmission line includes at least two sections of transmission lines, the adjacent two sections of transmission lines are arranged at intervals, the slow wave structure includes at least two of the attenuators, each section of transmission line is electrically connected to at least one of the attenuators, the slow wave structure further includes at least two couplers at the intervals, and the couplers at the intervals are electrically connected to the transmission lines and the attenuators.

6. The slow wave structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, both the input coupler and the output coupler are non-coplanar with the first plane, and the couplers at the intervals are coplanar with the first plane.

7. The slow wave structure according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that, at least one of the number of periods and the period length of at least two sections of the transmission lines is different.

8. The slow wave structure according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, the shape of the attenuator is wedge-shaped, the cross-sectional area of the attenuator on the side close to the coupler at the interval is larger than the cross-sectional area on the side far from the coupler at the interval, and the cross-section is perpendicular to the direction from the coupler at the interval to the attenuator.

9. The slow wave structure according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that, the attenuator, the input coupler and the output coupler are all integrated with the first housing cover.

10. The slow wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first cover has a first input hole and a first output hole. The input coupler is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first input hole, and the output coupler is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first output hole.

11. The slow-wave structure according to claim 10, wherein, the slow-wave structure further includes a first energy input window and a second energy input window. The first energy input window closes the first input hole, and the second energy input window closes the first output hole. The first energy input window is electrically connected to the input coupler and the input waveguide interface, and the second energy input window is electrically connected to the output coupler and the output waveguide interface.

12. The slow-wave structure according to claim 11, wherein, the inner wall of at least one of the first input hole and the first output hole has a flange, and the flange supports and connects at least one of the first energy input window and the second energy input window.

13. The slow-wave structure according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein, the second cover has a second input hole and a second output hole. The first input hole and the second input hole are in communication with each other in the first direction, and the first output hole and the second output hole are in communication with each other in the first direction. The slow-wave structure further includes a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector closes the second input hole, and the second reflector closes the second output hole.

14. The slow-wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, one of the first cover and the second cover includes a circuit layer, and the circuit layer is stacked and connected to the other of the first cover and the second cover in the first direction.

15. The slow-wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, the slow-wave transmission line is parallel to the first plane, the number of the slow-wave transmission lines is at least two, and at least two of the slow-wave transmission lines are arranged at intervals and stacked in the first direction.

16. The slow-wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, the input coupler and the output coupler are located on the same side of the slow-wave transmission line in the first direction.

17. A traveling-wave tube, wherein, it includes an electron gun, a collector, a focusing system, an input device, an output device, and the slow-wave structure according to any one of claims 1 to 16. Both the electron gun and the collector are fixedly connected to the housing of the slow-wave structure. The electron gun is used to emit electrons into the first waveguide of the slow-wave structure, the collector is used to collect the electrons in the first waveguide, the focusing system is used to enable the electrons to pass through the slow-wave structure, the input device is electrically connected to the input coupler of the slow-wave structure, the input device is used to send electromagnetic waves to the input coupler, the output device is electrically connected to the output coupler of the slow-wave structure, and the output coupler is used to send amplified electromagnetic waves to the output device.

18. A network device, wherein, Comprising an antenna and the traveling wave tube described in claim 17, the antenna and the traveling wave tube being electrically connected, and the antenna being used for transmitting the electromagnetic wave amplified by the traveling wave tube.

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