Vacuum electronic device, electronic module, and electronic system

Abstract

The present application provides a vacuum electronic device, an electronic module, and an electronic system. A reconstruction structure is added between an energy exchange structure and a collection structure, and the reconstruction structure adjusts energy distribution of an energy-exchanged electron beam, thereby facilitating optimization of the adjusted energy distribution of the electron beam. In this way, compared with the energy-exchanged electron beam directly entering the collection structure, the energy-exchanged electron beam entering the collection structure after undergoing energy distribution adjustment by the reconstruction structure facilitates the implementation of higher collection efficiency of the collection structure for the electron beam, thereby enabling the overall tube efficiency to meet application requirements.

Description

Vacuum electronic devices, electronic modules and electronic systems

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202411767184.4, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on November 30, 2024, entitled "Vacuum Electronic Devices, Electronic Modules and Electronic Systems", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a vacuum electronic device, electronic module and electronic system. Background Technology

[0003] With the increasing demand for transmission capacity, the operating frequency bands of communication systems are constantly expanding. Current standards have extended the operating frequency bands of 5G systems to the millimeter-wave band. In high-capacity millimeter-wave communication systems, millimeter-wave power amplifiers are essential modules in millimeter-wave transmitters, and their performance directly determines the performance of the millimeter-wave transmitter. Currently, the most commonly used millimeter-wave power amplifier is the traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifier. A TWT mainly includes a transmitting structure (such as an electron gun), an energy exchange structure (such as a slow-wave structure), input ports, output ports, focusing structures, and collection structures.

[0004] Millimeter-wave communication systems typically employ wideband, high-order modulated signals, resulting in a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). To achieve linear amplification of these signals, the traveling-wave tube (TWT) must operate in both power saturation and power back-off states. The TWT's overall efficiency is primarily determined by the electronic efficiency of the traveling-wave tube and the collection efficiency of the collection structure. When the TWT operates in power back-off state, its electronic efficiency drops significantly, causing the overall efficiency to fail to meet the high-efficiency application requirements.

[0005] To improve overall tube efficiency, current research mainly focuses on adjusting the collector voltage or the morphology of the electron beam entering the collector structure. However, due to system size limitations, the number of collector electrodes in the collector structure for energy collection is finite, and the collection efficiency achievable in current research is still insufficient to meet application requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An electron beam comprises a large number of moving charges. The process of energy exchange between the electron beam and the signal is essentially a process in which the numerous charges within the electron beam exchange energy with the signal. Analysis reveals that the quantity of charge in the electron beam varies significantly with the energy distribution of the charges (referred to as the energy distribution of the electron beam) before and after energy exchange, and different energy distributions have different maximum collection efficiencies. However, to increase the energy of the signal output by the energy exchange structure, the energy distribution of the electron beam deteriorates severely after energy exchange, meaning that the maximum collection efficiency corresponding to its energy distribution is significantly reduced. The maximum collection efficiency of the energy distribution refers to the maximum collection efficiency that the collection structure can achieve for an electron beam with that energy distribution by adjusting the voltage of the electrodes and / or adjusting the shape of the electron beam.

[0007] To address this, this application proposes adding a reconfiguration structure between the energy exchange structure and the collection structure. This reconfiguration structure adjusts the energy distribution of the energy-exchanged electron beam, optimizing its distribution. Thus, compared to the energy-exchanged electron beam directly entering the collection structure, the reconfiguration structure adjusts the energy distribution before the beam enters, leading to greater collection efficiency and ultimately ensuring the overall tube efficiency meets application requirements. The solution provided by this application based on this concept is described below.

[0008] Firstly, this application provides a vacuum electronic device. The vacuum electronic device includes an energy exchange structure and a reconstruction structure. The energy exchange structure is used to exchange energy between an electron beam and a first signal; more specifically, the energy exchange structure is used to exchange the energy of the electron beam for the energy of the first signal. The energy exchange structure has an output port, and the signal energy exchange structure is also used to output the first signal after energy exchange through the output port. The electron beam sequentially passes through the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure. Therefore, the electron beam after energy exchange enters the reconstruction structure. The reconstruction structure is used to adjust the energy distribution of the entering electron beam (i.e., the electron beam after energy exchange). The adjusted electron beam (i.e., the electron beam passing through the reconstruction structure) is used to enter a collection structure, which is used to collect the energy of the electron beam. The fact that the electron beam after energy exchange enters the collection structure only after passing through the reconstruction structure is beneficial for optimizing the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collection structure, thereby achieving greater collection efficiency in the collection structure.

[0009] The vacuum electronic device may include further structures. Optionally, the vacuum electronic device may also include at least one of an emission structure, a focusing structure, an input port for a first signal, or a collection structure. The emission structure is used to generate the electron beam. The focusing structure is used to focus the electron beam. The input port for the first signal is used to input the first signal into the energy exchange structure.

[0010] Secondly, this application provides a vacuum electronic device. The vacuum electronic device includes a reconstruction structure and a collection structure. An electron beam can sequentially pass through an energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure. The energy exchange structure is used to exchange the energy of the electron beam for the energy of a first signal, and outputs the first signal after energy exchange through an output port. The electron beam after energy exchange enters the reconstruction structure, which is used to adjust the energy distribution of the electron beam after energy exchange. The adjusted electron beam (i.e., the electron beam that has passed through the reconstruction structure) enters the collection structure, which is used to collect the energy of the electron beam. The fact that the electron beam after energy exchange enters the collection structure only after passing through the reconstruction structure facilitates the optimization of the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collection structure, thereby achieving greater collection efficiency in the collection structure.

[0011] The vacuum electronic device may include further structures. Optionally, the vacuum electronic device may also include at least one of an emission structure, a focusing structure, or the energy exchange structure. The emission structure is used to generate the electron beam. The focusing structure is used to focus the electron beam. Optionally, the energy exchange structure may have an input port for a first signal, which is used to input the first signal into the energy exchange structure.

[0012] In this application, since the energy exchange structure does not have an input port for the first signal, the first signal can be a signal generated by the first electron beam, and the vacuum electronic device can serve as the signal source of the first signal. Alternatively, since the energy exchange structure does have an input port for the first signal, the signal source of the first signal can be a device other than the vacuum electronic device, and the vacuum electronic device can serve as a power amplifier for amplifying the power of the first signal generated by the signal source.

[0013] In this application, "adjustment" can also be understood as alteration, modulation, or reconstruction, and "collection" can also be understood as recycling. In this application, "signal" can also be understood as an electrical signal, electromagnetic wave, or radio frequency signal, etc. This application does not limit the type of charge; the charge can be any type of particle capable of transmission or movement in a vacuum tube, for example, an electron. In this application, the slow-wave structure is also called a slow-wave circuit, and the reconstruction structure is also called a reconstruction circuit.

[0014] In this application, optionally, both the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure can adjust the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through them. Therefore, the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure can be collectively referred to as the energy distribution adjustment structure. By adjusting the parameters of the energy distribution adjustment structure, the energy distribution adjustment structure can optimize the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it, or conversely, degrade the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it. For example, when the parameters of the energy distribution adjustment structure satisfy the first parameter condition, the energy distribution adjustment structure optimizes the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it; when the parameters of the energy distribution adjustment structure satisfy the second parameter condition, the energy distribution adjustment structure degrades the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it. The first parameter condition and the second parameter condition are generally different. Furthermore, analysis shows that when the energy distribution adjustment structure is also used to output a signal that has exchanged energy with the electron beam, compared with the energy distribution adjustment structure that satisfies the first parameter condition, the energy distribution adjustment structure that satisfies the second parameter condition can output a signal with higher energy, i.e., it has higher electronic efficiency.

[0015] Therefore, even if the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure include the same type of structure, such as both including slow-wave structures or both including standing-wave structures, by making them satisfy different parameter conditions, for example, making the energy exchange structure satisfy the second parameter condition and the reconstruction structure satisfy the first parameter condition, the energy exchange structure can degrade the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it, while the reconstruction structure can optimize the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it. For ease of distinction, this application refers to the adjustment of the electron beam's energy distribution by the energy exchange structure as modulation, and the adjustment of the electron beam's energy distribution by the reconstruction structure as reconstruction. That is to say, the energy distribution of the electron beam degrades after being modulated by the energy exchange structure, but after the modulated electron beam enters the reconstruction structure, its energy distribution is optimized after being reconstructed by the reconstruction structure. This not only helps to increase the electronic efficiency of the energy exchange structure, but also helps to improve the collection efficiency of the collection structure, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the vacuum electronic device.

[0016] Based on the vacuum electronic device described in the first or second aspect above, this application also provides multiple implementation methods. Furthermore, a single implementation method provided by this application can be implemented independently based on the first or second aspect, or two or more implementation methods provided by this application can be implemented in combination based on the first or second aspect. The implementation methods provided by this application are described below.

[0017] In one implementation, the adjusted energy distribution satisfies one or more of the first, second, or third conditions.

[0018] The first condition is that the adjusted energy distribution corresponds to a smaller energy range; that is, the energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam after restructuring is smaller than the energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam before restructuring. The energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam can refer to the difference between the maximum and minimum charge energies in the electron beam. The second condition is that the first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more local minima. The third condition is that the first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more energy intervals. Here, the first function is the first derivative (or first derivative) of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and this second function is used to fit the energy distribution. The charge quantity corresponding to the first function in this energy interval is zero. Alternatively, the charge quantity corresponding to the first function in this energy interval is less than the charge quantities corresponding to two adjacent energy intervals of the first function in this energy interval.

[0019] In one implementation, the second function is used to fit multiple sets of measurement data. Each set of measurement data includes the voltage value and current value of an electrode. The electrode is configured to have a certain voltage value and is used to collect charge from the electron beam at a voltage not lower than that voltage value. The current value of the electrode is the magnitude of the current in the electrode when the electrode is configured to have the voltage value of the electrode in the same set of measurement data, or the magnitude of the current corresponding to the charge collected by the electrode. The voltage values ​​in different sets of measurement data can be different.

[0020] Optionally, the voltage value of the electrode in the measurement data can be replaced with the charge energy corresponding to that voltage value.

[0021] In one implementation, the vacuum electronic device is used to operate in a power saturation state or a power back-off state. For example, the vacuum electronic device can operate in a power saturation state in a first time interval and in a power back-off state in a second time interval.

[0022] Compared to vacuum electronic devices operating in power saturation mode, vacuum electronic devices operating in power back-off mode have a lower energy output signal from their energy exchange structure. Correspondingly, the electron beam after energy exchange generally has higher energy. Therefore, compared to vacuum electronic devices operating in power saturation mode, the collection efficiency of the electron beam accounts for a larger proportion of the overall tube efficiency in power back-off mode. Furthermore, vacuum electronic devices operating in power back-off mode have lower overall tube efficiency compared to those operating in power saturation mode, and in some applications (such as millimeter-wave communication), vacuum electronic devices primarily operate in power back-off mode. Therefore, compared to vacuum electronic devices operating in power saturation mode, vacuum electronic devices operating in power back-off mode have a higher requirement for the recovery efficiency of the collection structure.

[0023] In view of this, in one implementation, based on the vacuum electronic device operating in a power-back state, the adjusted energy distribution satisfies one or more of the first to third conditions. Conversely, based on the vacuum electronic device operating in a power-saturated state, the adjusted energy distribution may satisfy one or more of the above conditions, or it may not satisfy any of the first to third conditions.

[0024] In one implementation, the reconfiguration structure is used to enable the electron beam to exchange energy with the radio frequency component generated by the electron beam, thereby adjusting the energy distribution of the electron beam.

[0025] In one implementation, the reconstruction structure has a second signal input port for inputting the second signal into the reconstruction structure. The reconstruction structure is used to enable energy exchange between the electron beam and the second signal, thereby adjusting the energy distribution of the electron beam.

[0026] In one implementation, the reconstruction structure includes a first slow-wave structure or a first standing-wave structure. The first standing-wave structure can be a resonant cavity (referred to as the first resonant cavity).

[0027] In one implementation, the phase velocity of the first slow-wave structure is between the maximum and minimum velocities of the electron beam after energy exchange. This improves the coupling efficiency between the electron beam after energy exchange and the signal in the first slow-wave structure. As mentioned earlier, the signal in the first slow-wave structure can be a radio frequency component generated by the electron beam itself and / or a second signal input through the input port of the reconstruction structure.

[0028] In one implementation, the energy exchange structure includes a second slow-wave structure or a second standing-wave structure. The second standing-wave structure can be a resonant cavity (referred to as a second resonant cavity).

[0029] In one implementation, the reconfiguration structure and the energy exchange structure can each include a first slow-wave structure and a second slow-wave structure, or they can each include a first standing-wave structure and a second standing-wave structure. This facilitates obtaining the energy exchange structure and the reconfiguration structure through integrated molding.

[0030] As mentioned earlier, even if the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure include the same type of structure, such as both including slow wave structures or both being standing wave structures, by making them satisfy different parameter conditions, such as making the energy exchange structure satisfy the second parameter condition and the reconstruction structure satisfy the first parameter condition, the energy exchange structure can degrade the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it, and the reconstruction structure can optimize the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through it.

[0031] In this application, by way of example, the parameter conditions of a slow-wave structure can be conditions satisfied by one or more parameters such as the period length, phase velocity distribution, or total length of the slow-wave structure, and the parameter conditions of a standing-wave structure can be conditions satisfied by parameters such as the period length and / or total length of the standing-wave structure. Slow-wave and standing-wave structures generally have periodically repeating substructures, and the period length can be the length between two adjacent substructures. The phase velocity distribution can be the distribution of the phase velocity of the signal in the slow-wave structure as a function of the length of the slow-wave structure. For slow-wave and standing-wave structures, "length" can refer to the length along the electron beam propagation direction.

[0032] In one implementation, the electromagnetic wave induced by the first signal in the energy exchange structure is shielded outside the reconstruction structure. This can be understood as the electromagnetic wave induced by the first signal in the energy exchange structure being able to propagate within the energy exchange structure and also being able to propagate outside the energy exchange structure through the output port of the first signal on the energy exchange structure, but being unable to propagate into the reconstruction structure. This helps to avoid increasing the energy of the first signal output through the output port.

[0033] In one implementation, the vacuum electronic device includes a shielding structure for shielding the electromagnetic wave induced by the first signal in the energy exchange structure from the reconstructed structure. This application does not limit the shielding structure to shield all energy of the electromagnetic wave from the reconstructed structure; rather, compared to a vacuum electronic device without the shielding structure, in a vacuum electronic device with the shielding structure, more energy of the electromagnetic wave is shielded from the reconstructed structure.

[0034] In one implementation, the vacuum electronic device is applied to a traveling wave tube, a klystron, a backward wave tube, a traveling wave klystron, or a gyrotube.

[0035] Thirdly, this application provides an electronic module. The electronic module includes a power supply and a vacuum electronic device, which can be a vacuum electronic device as described in the first aspect or any implementation thereof, or in the second aspect or any implementation thereof, and the power supply is used to provide energy to the vacuum electronic device.

[0036] In one implementation, the electronic module further includes a housing, and the power supply and the vacuum electronic device are installed in a cavity within the housing.

[0037] In one implementation, the electronic module further includes a circuit board on which the power supply and the vacuum electronic device can be integrated.

[0038] Fourthly, this application provides an electronic system. The electronic system includes one or more electronic modules, which can be the electronic modules described in the third aspect or any implementation thereof. The electronic system further includes a signal processing unit and / or one or more transmitting antennas. The signal processing unit is used to input signals to the one or more electronic modules respectively. The transmitting antennas are used to transmit signals output by the electronic modules.

[0039] Fifthly, this application provides an electronic system. The electronic system includes one or more vacuum electronic devices, which can be vacuum electronic devices as described in the first aspect or any implementation thereof, or in the second aspect or any implementation thereof. The electronic system further includes a signal processing unit and / or one or more transmitting antennas. The signal processing unit is used to input signals to the one or more vacuum electronic devices respectively. The transmitting antennas are used to transmit signals output by the vacuum electronic devices. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 schematically illustrates one structure of the transmitter;

[0041] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the existing traveling wave tube 200;

[0042] Figure 3 schematically shows the energy distribution of the electron beam in the traveling wave tube 200 shown in Figure 2 after passing through the slow wave structure 220 and entering the collection structure 260.

[0043] Figures 4 and 5 schematically illustrate one structure of the traveling wave tube of this application;

[0044] Figures 6-1 and 6-2 schematically illustrate the phase velocity variation of the first slow-wave structure 470;

[0045] Figure 7-1 schematically shows the energy distribution of the electron beam when the traveling wave tube 400 is operating in power back-off mode;

[0046] Figure 7-2 schematically shows curve 1 of the second function 1 shown in Figure 7-1 and curve 3 of the first derivative of the second function 1 (i.e., the first function 1).

[0047] Figure 7-3 schematically shows curve 2 of the second function 2 shown in Figure 7-1 and curve 4 of the first derivative of the second function 2 (i.e., the first function 2).

[0048] Figure 7-4 schematically shows the curves corresponding to the discontinuity of the first function 2;

[0049] Figures 8-1 and 8-2 schematically illustrate the traveling wave tube structure of this application, respectively;

[0050] Figures 9-1 to 9-3 schematically illustrate other structures of the vacuum electronic device of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0051] First, some terms used in this application will be explained.

[0052] (1) Electron beam: The electron beam formed by electrons emitted by the electron gun in a focused state is referred to as electron beam in this paper.

[0053] (2) Electronic efficiency, the efficiency by which a traveling wave tube converts the DC power of an electron beam into radio frequency energy. In one embodiment, the electronic efficiency of a traveling wave tube = the output power of the radio frequency signal / (voltage of the electron beam * current of the electron beam).

[0054] (3) The power saturation region, or simply the saturation region, is one of the output characteristics of a traveling wave tube. When the traveling wave tube is operating in the saturation region, its electronic efficiency reaches its peak.

[0055] (4) The power back-off region, also known as the back-off region or linear amplification region, is one of the output characteristics of the traveling wave tube. When the traveling wave tube operates in the linear amplification region, the electronic efficiency of the traveling wave tube is relatively low.

[0056] (5) Collection efficiency, also known as recovery efficiency or collection efficiency, refers to the efficiency of recovering the energy of the electron beam after transduction. In one embodiment, collection efficiency = energy recovered from a unit electron beam / total energy of a unit electron beam, or collection efficiency = recovered energy / total energy of the electron beam, where a unit electron beam refers to the electron beam entering the collection structure of the traveling wave tube per unit time.

[0057] (6) Overall efficiency refers to the total efficiency of a traveling wave tube (TWT), which includes various efficiencies of the TWT, including electronic efficiency and collection efficiency. In other words, overall efficiency is a comprehensive efficiency that integrates electronic efficiency, collection efficiency, and transmission efficiency. In one implementation, the overall efficiency satisfies the formula: Where, η e Represents electronic efficiency, t 流通率 η represents the electron flux. coll Represents the collection efficiency, η ov P represents overall tube efficiency. out P represents microwave output power. o P represents the DC power of the electron beam. rec P represents the collector power. cir P represents the line loss power. h This represents the filament power.

[0058] As described above, this application provides a vacuum electronic device, electronic module, and electronic system. The following examples illustrate application scenarios of the solution presented in this application.

[0059] In one implementation, the technical solution of this application can be applied to millimeter-wave wireless communication systems. To meet the ultra-high capacity transmission requirements of communication systems, the existing 3GPP standard has extended the operating frequency band of 5G systems to 40GHz, and the frequency band for future communication will continue to expand. Millimeter-wave transmitters, possessing both wide bandwidth and high linearity, bring significant advantages to future high-capacity millimeter-wave wireless communication systems.

[0060] As an example, the technical solution of this application can be applied to a transmitter in a millimeter-wave wireless communication system. Figure 1 schematically illustrates the structure of a transmitter. As shown in Figure 1, the transmitter may include a baseband module, an intermediate frequency (IF) module, a power amplifier (abbreviated as power amplifier), and an antenna. The baseband module is used to generate a baseband signal based on the input signal. The IF module is used to upconvert the baseband signal generated by the baseband module to an IF signal, and then upconvert the IF signal to an RF signal. The power amplifier is used to amplify the power of the RF signal, and the antenna is used to transmit the amplified RF signal. The baseband module can be a baseband chip. Unlike traditional low-frequency communication systems, considering applications such as mobile access and backhaul, high transmission path loss and penetration loss (especially in non-line-of-sight situations) will limit the application of millimeter waves. Therefore, the research on high-power and high-efficiency transmitters is a key task for future millimeter-wave wireless communication.

[0061] As an example, the vacuum electronic devices or electronic modules provided in this application can be applied to the power amplifier of a transmitter. The transmitter includes a power amplifier, and the transmitter's performance is related to the performance of the power amplifier. To achieve ultra-high system speeds and high frequency utilization, millimeter-wave communication systems typically employ broadband high-order modulated orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals (e.g., bandwidth reaching 400MHz / 800MHz, modulation scheme: 16QAM / 64QAM / 256QAM), resulting in a very high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). Here, QAM is short for quadrature amplitude modulation. To meet the linear amplification requirements of such signals, the power amplifier must operate in both the power saturation region (saturation region) and the power back-off region (back-off region). This necessitates that the power amplifier not only have higher efficiency in the back-off region to reduce energy consumption but also possess the capability for saturated peak power output.

[0062] Currently, millimeter-wave bands utilize solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) and traveling-wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs). SSPAs are primarily suitable for applications with lower power requirements, while TWTAs are mainly used for applications with higher power requirements. Employing millimeter-wave TWTAs can significantly improve the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of base stations, thereby reducing the number of base stations required and saving deployment costs.

[0063] As an example, the vacuum electronic devices or electronic modules provided in this application can be applied to a TWTA. A traveling-wave tube (TWT) is a component of a TWTA, responsible for amplifying radio frequency signals. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the traveling-wave tube 200. As shown in Figure 2, the traveling-wave tube 200 includes a transmitting structure 210, a slow-wave structure 220, an input port 230, an output port 240, a focusing structure 250, and a collecting structure 260. The slow-wave structure 220 includes a tube shell 221 and a spiral line 222. The spiral line 222 is a slow-wave line.

[0064] While TWTA offers significant advantages in output power, bandwidth, gain, and peak efficiency, its application in 5G wireless communication and even future millimeter-wave / terahertz communication still faces considerable challenges. This is primarily because while TWTA exhibits high overall efficiency (typically >70%@Sub15G) when operating in saturation mode, its efficiency drops significantly when operating in fallback mode, failing to meet the demands of high-efficiency applications.

[0065] The overall efficiency of a traveling wave tube (TWT) is determined by both electronic efficiency and collection efficiency. When the operating voltage and current are fixed, electronic efficiency is determined by the energy exchange structure (or transducer circuit or transducer structure); that is, the higher the output power, the higher the electronic efficiency. Collection efficiency refers to the efficiency of recovering the energy of the transduced electrons. Therefore, theoretically, the higher the electronic efficiency, the lower the recoverable efficiency, and vice versa. The back-out state means that the TWT's output power is low, and the electron beam energy spectrum after transduction is uncontrollable. The electron beam distribution is only limited by the output power. That is, under a given transducer structure and with a fixed output power, the theoretical maximum value of the collector efficiency is also fixed. Optimizing the structural design can only make the collection efficiency as close to this theoretical value as possible, but cannot exceed it (because the actual collector efficiency is lower than the theoretical maximum efficiency due to losses at each stage of the collector), thus limiting the improvement of the overall efficiency of the TWT. Current technologies typically improve the overall efficiency of TWTs by increasing both electronic efficiency and collection efficiency. On the one hand, a specific transducer structure that meets the requirements is designed according to the research objectives, namely a traveling wave tube slow wave structure (SWS), which enables the traveling wave tube to convert the DC energy of the electron beam into electromagnetic wave energy through the slow wave structure, thereby achieving a higher electron efficiency. On the other hand, the collection efficiency is improved by designing a multi-stage step-down collection structure.

[0066] As shown in Figure 2, the focusing structure 250 includes a transition region magnet 251 located within the dashed box. The transition region magnet 251 is the magnet between the output port 240 and the collecting structure 260. Existing technology uses the magnetic field of the transition region magnet 251 to cluster electrons after interaction, thereby improving collection efficiency and reducing interception. For example, by increasing the magnetic field strength of the transition region magnet 251 or changing its periodic distribution, the electron beam after transduction can be focused, thereby reducing the transverse velocity of the electrons and increasing their longitudinal velocity, enabling them to enter higher energy levels of the collecting structure, thus improving collection efficiency.

[0067] However, since the region corresponding to the transition magnet 251 (the region within the dashed box in Figure 2) is part of the slow-wave structure 220, the adjustment of the transition magnet 251 directly affects energy exchange. Especially in the magnet near the output port 240, the electron beam morphology significantly influences the gain, output power, electron efficiency, and bandwidth of the traveling wave tube 200. Therefore, the magnetic field of the transition magnet 251 usually needs to balance these characteristics to focus the electron beam, resulting in limited overall efficiency.

[0068] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collecting structure 260 after passing through the slow-wave structure 220 in the traveling wave tube 200 shown in Figure 2. In the energy distribution shown in Figure 3, curve a represents the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collecting structure 260 when the traveling wave tube 200 is operating in power saturation state (denoted as energy distribution 1), curve b represents the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collecting structure 260 when the traveling wave tube 200 is operating in power fallback state (denoted as energy distribution 2), and curve c represents the energy distribution of the electron beam emitted by the transmitting structure 210 that has not yet entered the slow-wave structure 220 (denoted as energy distribution 3). The energy distribution can be obtained by fitting multiple sets of measurement data. For example, energy distribution 1 can be obtained by fitting multiple sets of measurement data under power saturation state, and energy distribution 2 can be obtained by fitting multiple sets of measurement data under power fallback state. Each set of measurement data includes the voltage value of the collecting electrode (or electrode) and the current value of the electrode, which is configured to have a certain voltage value and is used to collect charges from the electron beam with a voltage not lower than that voltage value. The electrode current value is the magnitude of the current in the electrode, or the magnitude of the current corresponding to the charge collected by the electrode, when the electrode is configured to have the electrode voltage value in the same set of measurement data. The voltage values ​​in different sets of measurement data may be different. The vertical axis of Figure 3 represents the electrode current value (in mA), and the horizontal axis represents the charge energy (in eV) corresponding to the electrode voltage value. In this application, charge energy may refer to the kinetic energy of the charge.

[0069] When the traveling wave tube (TWT) operates in power saturation mode, the total energy collected by the collecting structure from the electron beam per unit time can be represented by the total area enclosed by curve a and the horizontal and vertical axes (denoted as area 1). Furthermore, the energy range between the minimum and maximum energies corresponding to curve a on the horizontal axis is energy range a. When the TWT operates in power fallback mode, the total energy collected by the collecting structure from the electron beam per unit time can be represented by the total area enclosed by curve b and the horizontal and vertical axes (denoted as area 2). Furthermore, the energy range between the minimum and maximum energies corresponding to curve a on the horizontal axis is energy range b. The total energy of the electron beam before entering the slow-wave structure 220 per unit time can be represented by the total area enclosed by curve c and the horizontal and vertical axes (denoted as area 3). By comparing areas 1 and 2 with area 3, it can be seen that the energy of the electron beam decreases after passing through the slow-wave structure 220. Comparing areas 1 and 2 reveals that the total charge energy of the electron beam entering the collecting structure 260 per unit time is significantly less when the traveling wave tube 200 operates in power saturation mode than when it operates in power back-off mode. Furthermore, in some applications (such as millimeter-wave communication), the traveling wave tube primarily operates in power back-off mode. Therefore, compared to a traveling wave tube operating in power saturation mode, a traveling wave tube operating in power back-off mode has a higher requirement for collection efficiency.

[0070] However, the existing technology only requires the magnetic field of the transition region magnet 251 to prevent electrons in the electron beam from being intercepted by the slow-wave structure 220 as much as possible, that is, to allow as many electrons in the electron beam as possible to enter the collecting structure 260. This has little effect on improving the collecting efficiency or even the overall efficiency. The following analysis, based on the formulas, explains why the collecting efficiency is difficult to further improve.

[0071] The collection structure shown in Figure 2 includes four collecting stages, which can be four sets of electrodes with different voltages. Analysis reveals that for a four-stage collecting structure, assuming the total electron beam current is I... m The current values ​​of collectors 1 to 4 are I1, I2, I3, and I4, respectively, and the voltage values ​​of collectors 1 to 4 are U1, U2, U3, and U4, respectively. The minimum and maximum voltage values ​​corresponding to the electron beam entering the collecting structure 260 are U1, U2, U3, and U4, respectively. min and U max The total energy collected by the four-stage collector per unit time is P. rec These parameters satisfy the following formula: I m =I1 + I2 + I3 + I4; 0 ≤ I k (k = 1, 2, 3, 4); U min ≤U1≤U2≤U3≤U4≤U max ; Un =f(I n ),ΔI n =I k Max:P rec =U1I1+U2I2+U3I3+U4I4;

[0072] In Figure 3, when the traveling wave tube is operating in power back-off mode, P rec It can be represented by the total area of ​​the gray-filled rectangle (denoted as area 4). This can be represented by the area 2 mentioned earlier. and P rec The difference between them can be represented by the area enclosed between curve b and the gray-filled rectangle (denoted as area 5), ​​which is the difference between area 2 and area 4.

[0073] For an electron beam with energy distribution 2, adjusting the voltage of the collecting electrode and / or the shape of the electron beam can help increase the collection efficiency of the collecting structure, but the improvement in collection efficiency that the collecting structure can achieve is limited.

[0074] For a given number of collecting electrodes, different energy distributions generally result in different maximum collection efficiencies. However, under a given operating condition, the energy distribution (or energy spectrum distribution) of the transduced electron beam is fixed, which means that the theoretical maximum recovery efficiency of the collecting structure is fixed. For an electron beam with a definite energy distribution, adjusting the voltage of the collecting electrodes and / or the shape of the electron beam can improve the collection efficiency, but the improvement effect is limited.

[0075] Based on the above analysis, this application proposes that the energy distribution of the electron beam can be reconstructed without affecting the interaction process of the slow wave structure, that is, without affecting the output power, gain, electronic efficiency, bandwidth and nonlinearity of the original traveling wave tube, thereby constructing an energy distribution that is conducive to improving the maximum collection efficiency and thus improving the overall tube efficiency.

[0076] To address this, this application proposes a circuit structure (i.e., the reconfiguration structure described above) between the slow-wave structure and the collection structure. This reconfiguration structure reconstructs the energy distribution of the electron beam after energy exchange, thereby increasing the maximum collection efficiency of the electron beam entering the collection structure. Subsequently, by optimizing at least one of the period length, phase velocity distribution / change, or total length of the slow-wave structure, the electron beam entering the collection structure can be better collected and recovered, improving the collection efficiency and thus the overall tube efficiency.

[0077] The structure of the traveling wave tube provided in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0078] As previously described, the energy exchange structure and reconstruction structure in vacuum electronic devices can be a second slow-wave structure and a first slow-wave structure, respectively. Taking the application of vacuum electronic devices in traveling wave tubes, with the energy exchange structure and reconstruction structure being a second slow-wave structure and a first slow-wave structure, respectively, as an example, Figure 4 schematically illustrates a traveling wave tube structure of this application.

[0079] As shown in Figure 4, the traveling wave tube 400 includes a transmitting structure 410, a second slow-wave structure 420, an input port 430, an output port 440, a focusing structure 450, a collecting structure 460, and a first slow-wave structure 470. The second slow-wave structure 420 includes a housing 421 and a helix 422, and the first slow-wave structure 470 includes a housing 471 and a helix 472. Unlike the traveling wave tube 200 shown in Figure 2, the traveling wave tube 400 adds a first slow-wave structure 470 before the collecting structure 460. The transmitting structure 410, the second slow-wave structure 420, the input port 430, the output port 440, the focusing structure 450, and the collecting structure 460 in the traveling wave tube 400 can also be understood with reference to the relevant content in Figure 2.

[0080] Among them, the emitting structure 410 can be an electron gun, which mainly includes a cathode, an anode and a focusing electrode. The cathode can generate an electron beam.

[0081] The focusing structure 450, also known as a magnetic focusing system, focuses the electron beam, keeping it in a focused state. The electron beam then passes through the second slow-wave structure 420 and the first slow-wave structure 470 before entering the collecting structure 460. The focusing structure 450 maintains the desired shape of the electron beam, allowing it to pass smoothly through the second slow-wave structure 420 and effectively interact with the microwave field of the signal. Finally, the collecting structure 460 receives the electron beam.

[0082] Input port 430 is used to feed the radio frequency signal to be amplified (hereinafter referred to as the signal) into the second slow-wave structure 420. For example, input port 430 can convert the transverse electric mode (TE) TE10 signal into a (quasi) transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM) through a waveguide, so as to input the signal to be amplified into the second slow-wave structure 420 (e.g., a slow-wave line) to modulate the electron beam. The TE10 mode is the dominant mode in the rectangular waveguide and also the waveform with the longest cutoff wavelength in the waveguide. After the radio frequency signal is input into the second slow-wave structure 420, it travels along the second slow-wave structure 420 (e.g., along the x-direction).

[0083] The second slow-wave structure 420 is used to enable energy exchange (or interaction) between the electron beam passing through the second slow-wave structure 420 and the radio frequency signal traveling along the second slow-wave structure 420, converting the kinetic energy of the electrons into electromagnetic waves to amplify the power of the radio frequency signal to be amplified. Optionally, the second slow-wave structure 420 may also include a clamping rod (not shown in Figure 4) for clamping the helix 422.

[0084] Output port 440 is used to couple the amplified signal to an external circuit, that is, to output the amplified radio frequency signal.

[0085] The first slow-wave structure 470 is used to enable the electron beam to interact with the radio frequency signal in the first slow-wave structure 470 when the electron beam is focused by the focusing system, so as to reconstruct the energy distribution of the electron beam and output an electron beam with a specific energy spectrum distribution (e.g., satisfying one or more of the first to third conditions) to the collecting structure 460. The radio frequency signal in the first slow-wave structure 470 can be the radio frequency signal induced by the electron beam itself. The first condition is that the adjusted energy distribution corresponds to a smaller energy range, that is, the energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam after the reconstruction structure is adjusted is smaller than the energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam before the reconstruction structure is adjusted. The energy range corresponding to the energy distribution of the electron beam can refer to the difference between the maximum and minimum charge energy in the electron beam. The second condition is that the first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more minimum points. The third condition is that the first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more energy intervals. Here, the first function is the first derivative of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and the second function is used to fit the energy distribution. The charge quantity corresponding to the first function in the energy interval is zero. Alternatively, the charge quantity corresponding to the first function in this energy range is less than the charge quantity corresponding to the two adjacent energy ranges of this energy range. The first function is the first derivative of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and the second function is used to fit the energy distribution.

[0086] The collection structure 460 is used to recover the remaining energy of the electron beam that has passed through the first slow-wave structure 470.

[0087] The electron beam emitted by the emitting structure 410 enters the slow-wave structure under the focusing structure 450. Modulated by the signal fed from the input port 430 (or input coupler), it clusters along the interaction direction (the z-direction as shown in Figure 4) and gradually releases energy. On one hand, the kinetic energy of the electron beam is converted into microwave energy in the second slow-wave structure 420, and the amplified signal is transmitted to an external circuit through the output port 440 (e.g., the output coupler). On the other hand, after the electron beam interacts with the second slow-wave structure 420, its energy distribution is modulated. Then, the electron beam enters the first slow-wave structure 470, where its energy distribution is reconstructed, such that the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collecting structure 460 satisfies specific conditions (one or more of the first, second, or third conditions described below). Afterward, the collecting structure 460 recovers the remaining energy of the electrons after their interaction with the slow-wave structure and the subsequent reconstruction.

[0088] This application also provides an electronic module including a power supply and vacuum electronic devices. Taking a traveling wave tube amplifier as an example, with the energy exchange structure and reconstruction structure being a second slow-wave structure and a first slow-wave structure, respectively, Figure 5 schematically illustrates one structure of the traveling wave tube amplifier of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the traveling wave tube amplifier includes a traveling wave tube 400 and a power supply 500. Optionally, the traveling wave tube amplifier may include more components, such as control circuitry.

[0089] The traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 5 and the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 4 can be understood by reference to each other. Structures with the same reference numerals in the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 5 and the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 4 can be understood by reference to each other. For example, the transmitting structure 410 shown in Figure 5 and the transmitting structure 410 shown in Figure 4 can be understood by reference to each other.

[0090] Power supply 500 is used to provide energy with a voltage value of U4 to the transmitting structure 410.

[0091] As shown in Figure 5, the collecting structure 460 includes four sets of collecting electrodes symmetrically installed. These four sets of collecting electrodes are named collecting electrode 1 to collecting electrode 4 in order of distance from the first slow wave structure 470 from near to far. The current values ​​corresponding to the electron energy collected by collecting electrodes 1 to collecting electrode 4 are I1, I2, I3 and I4, respectively, and the voltage values ​​corresponding to the electron energy collected by collecting electrodes 1 to collecting electrode 4 are U1, U2, U3 and U4, respectively.

[0092] As shown in Figure 5, the second slow-wave structure 420 includes a housing 421 and a helix 422. One port of the helix 422 is coupled to the input port 430, and the other port of the helix 422 is coupled to the output port 440. The channel formed by the electron stationary path of the helix 422 passes through it. The housing 421 can be grounded.

[0093] As shown in Figure 5, the first slow-wave structure 470 includes a housing 471 and a helix 472. Optionally, the first slow-wave structure 470 may also include a clamping rod (not shown in Figure 5) for clamping the helix 472. The housing 471 may be grounded. In Figure 5, the two ends of the helix 472 are identified by p1 and p2, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, both ends of the helix 472 are open-circuited. Optionally, both ends of the helix 472 may be connected to the housing 471 to be grounded through the housing 471, or one end of the helix 472 may be open-circuited, and the other end of the helix 472 may be grounded through the housing 471.

[0094] Figure 5 shows a traveling wave tube 400, which is a helical traveling wave tube. Compared with a conventional helical traveling wave tube, the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 5 adds a reconstruction circuit (such as the first slow wave structure 470) between the helical output port 440 of the second slow wave structure 420 and the collection structure 460. The tube shell 471 of the first slow wave structure 470 and the tube shell 421 of the second slow wave structure 420 can be different parts of the same tube shell, or in other words, the tube shell 471 and the tube shell 421 can be integrally formed. Optionally, the first slow wave structure 470 and the second slow wave structure 420 can share a clamping rod.

[0095] The phase velocity variation of the first slow-wave structure 470 can satisfy the conditions for reconstructing the transduced electron beam. For example, the phase velocity of the first slow-wave structure 470 (or helix 472) can satisfy the variation relationship shown in Figure 6-1 or Figure 6-2. In Figures 6-1 and 6-2, line 1 represents the phase velocity variation of the second slow-wave structure 420 with distance, line 2 represents the phase velocity variation of the first slow-wave structure 470 with distance, and line 3 represents the output power of the second slow-wave structure 420 to the signal. The vertical axis represents the phase velocity or output power, and the horizontal axis represents the distance between the position corresponding to the midpoint of the line and the second slow-wave structure 420 along the x-direction. Referring to Figures 6-1 and 6-2, the phase velocity of the second slow-wave structure 420 increases from Vp2 to Vp3 and then decreases to Vp1, that is, the maximum and minimum phase velocities of the second slow-wave structure 420 are Vp3 and Vp2, respectively. Referring to Figure 6-1, the phase velocity Vprec of the first slow-wave structure 470 remains constant with distance, and Vprec is less than Vp3 and greater than Vp2. Referring to Figure 6-2, the phase velocity Vprec of the first slow-wave structure 470 changes with distance; however, the maximum value of Vprec is less than Vp3 and the minimum value of Vprec is greater than Vp2. The variation of the phase velocity Vprec of the first slow-wave structure 470 with distance in Figure 6-2 is merely an example. This application does not limit the specific type of variation of the phase velocity Vprec of the first slow-wave structure 470 with distance. For example, it may decrease with increasing distance, or increase first and then decrease with increasing distance, or decrease first and then increase with increasing distance. The curve of the phase velocity Vprec of the first slow-wave structure 470 with distance may be uniformly constant or may have multiple segments with gradual / abrupt changes. The first slow wave structure 470 can reconstruct the energy distribution of the electron beam after it has been transduced by the first slow wave structure 470. Since the first slow wave structure 470 is located after the second slow wave structure 420, it does not affect the generation and amplification process of electromagnetic waves in the preceding second slow wave structure 420. That is, it does not affect the original traveling wave tube's output power, gain, electronic efficiency, bandwidth, and nonlinearity.

[0096] The working principle of the second slow-wave structure 420 is analyzed below. After the electron beam is emitted from the emitting structure 410, it enters the second slow-wave structure 420 under the focusing structure 450. There, it interacts with the signal to be amplified entering from the input port 430. Specifically, as the signal to be amplified propagates in the second slow-wave structure 420, the resulting high-frequency field modulates the electron beam, causing the DC component of the uniform electron beam to cluster. This means the DC component of the uniform electron beam is modulated by the input signal. The modulated electron beam induces a corresponding high-frequency field in the second slow-wave structure 420, which in turn further acts on the electron beam to strengthen the modulation process. This is the interaction process between the electron beam and the signal (or electromagnetic wave). Ultimately, the two reach a dynamic equilibrium, meaning the signal to be amplified in the second slow-wave structure 420 is amplified and coupled from the output port to the external circuit. In this process, the DC component of the electron beam is superimposed with the radio frequency component (i.e., the modulated part). From a macroscopic perspective, the electron beam converts its DC energy into electromagnetic wave energy.

[0097] The preceding text introduces the vacuum electronic device provided in this application. The traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5 can be regarded as an example of the vacuum electronic device rather than a limitation. In the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, the emitting structure 410, the second slow wave structure 420, the input port 430, the output port 440, the focusing structure 450, the collecting structure 460, and the first slow wave structure 470 can be regarded as examples of the corresponding structures in the vacuum electronic device provided above rather than a limitation. The second slow wave structure 420 and the first slow wave structure 470 correspond to the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure, respectively. Other structures in the traveling wave tube 400 correspond to the structures with the same names in the vacuum electronic device. For example, the emitting structure 410 corresponds to the emitting structure in the vacuum electronic device.

[0098] Similarly, the electronic module provided in this application was introduced above. In the traveling wave tube amplifier shown in Figure 5, the traveling wave tube amplifier can be used as an example of the electronic module mentioned above, rather than a limitation. The traveling wave tube 400 and the power supply 500 can be used as examples of vacuum electronic devices and power supplies in the electronic module, respectively, rather than a limitation.

[0099] For conventional traveling-wave tubes (TWTs), after the electron beam interacts with the slow-wave structure, it directly enters the collecting structure. Part of the remaining electron beam energy is recovered, and the other part is dissipated as heat. The energy dissipated as heat can be seen in the area enclosed by curve b and the gray-filled rectangle in Figure 3 (i.e., area 5 mentioned earlier). A key problem here is that the remaining electron energy does not ideally match the collecting structure, leading to low collection efficiency. Furthermore, a given collecting structure cannot simultaneously satisfy the optimal collection efficiency in both saturation and backoff states. This is especially true for communication-type TWTs, which primarily operate in backoff state. In this state, the output power is lower, meaning most of the electron beam energy enters the collecting structure. This causes the collection efficiency to have a much greater impact on the overall tube efficiency than the electron efficiency at this time.

[0100] The preceding text introduced how the energy distribution of the reconstructed electron beam can satisfy one or more of the first, second, or third conditions to improve the maximum collection efficiency of the electron beam. The following section, with reference to the accompanying figures, analyzes the principle behind how an energy distribution satisfying the above conditions is beneficial for improving the maximum collection efficiency of the electron beam.

[0101] Figure 7-1 schematically illustrates the energy distribution of the electron beam when the traveling wave tube 400 operates in power back-off mode. In the energy distribution shown in Figure 7-1, curve 1 represents the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through the second slow-wave structure 420 but not yet entering the first slow-wave structure 470 (denoted as energy distribution 1), and curve 2 represents the energy distribution of the electron beam passing through the first slow-wave structure 470 and entering the collection structure 460 (denoted as energy distribution 2). The energy distribution can be obtained by fitting multiple sets of measurement data. A single set of measurement data includes the voltage value and current value of the electrode used for measurement, which is configured to have a certain voltage value and is used to collect charge from the electron beam at a voltage not lower than that voltage value. The current value of the electrode is the magnitude of the current in the electrode when the electrode is configured to have the voltage value of the electrode in the same set of measurement data, or the magnitude of the current corresponding to the charge collected by the electrode. The voltage values ​​in different sets of measurement data may be different. The vertical axis of Figure 7-1 represents the current value of the electrode (in mA), and the horizontal axis represents the charge energy (in eV) corresponding to the voltage value of the electrode.

[0102] As shown in Figure 7-1, energy distribution 2 satisfies the first condition, which is that the energy range corresponding to energy distribution 2 (i.e., energy range 2 shown in Figure 7-1) is smaller than the energy range corresponding to energy distribution 1 (i.e., energy range 1 shown in Figure 7-1). By ensuring that the reconstructed energy distribution satisfies the first condition, it is beneficial to reduce the energy range collected by each collecting electrode in the collecting structure 460, thereby reducing the energy dissipated by the collecting electrodes in the form of heat and improving the collection efficiency.

[0103] The preceding text introduced the first function and the second function. The first function is the first derivative of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and the second function is used to fit the energy distribution. Figure 7-1 shows examples of the second functions used to fit the energy distribution before reconstruction (denoted as second function 1) and after reconstruction (denoted as second function 2), respectively. Assuming second function 1 is represented by I = f1(U), then the first derivative of second function 1 (denoted as first function 1) can be represented as I′ = f′1(U). Assuming second function 2 is represented by I = f2(U), then the first derivative of second function 2 (denoted as first function 2) can be represented as I′ = f′2(U). Here, I′ can be represented as dI / dU.

[0104] Figure 7-2 schematically illustrates curve 3 and curve 1 in Figure 7-1. Curve 1 represents the second function 1 (i.e., I = f1(U)), and curve 3 represents the first function 1 (i.e., I′ = f′1(U)). In Figure 7-2, the horizontal axis represents the charge energy U, in electron volts (eV). The left vertical axis represents the ordinate of each point on curve 1 (i.e., the function value I of the second function 1), in milliamperes (mA). The right vertical axis represents the ordinate of each point on curve 3 (i.e., the function value I′ of the first function 1), in mA / eV. The energy range shown on the horizontal axis in Figure 7-2 is the same as the energy range 1 shown in Figure 7-1.

[0105] Figure 7-3 schematically illustrates curve 4 and curve 2 in Figure 7-1. Curve 2 represents the second function 2 (i.e., I = f2(U)), and curve 4 represents the first function 2 (i.e., I′ = f′2(U)). Similar to Figure 7-2, in Figure 7-3, the horizontal axis represents the charge energy U, in eV. The left vertical axis represents the ordinate of each point on curve 2 (i.e., the function value I of the second function 2), in mA. The right vertical axis represents the ordinate of each point on curve 4 (i.e., the function value I′ of the first function 2), in mA / eV. The energy range shown on the horizontal axis in Figure 7-3 is the same as the energy range 2 shown in Figure 7-1.

[0106] As shown in Figure 7-3, energy distribution 2 satisfies the second condition, which is that the first function 2 has one or more local minima. Figure 7-3 schematically shows the three local minima of the first function 2, which are identified by d1, d2, and d3, respectively. As shown in Figure 7-2, the first function 1 does not have any local minima; therefore, energy distribution 1 does not satisfy the second condition.

[0107] As shown in Figure 7-3, energy distribution 2 satisfies the third condition, which is that the first function 2 has one or more energy intervals. This energy interval can be a zero-value energy interval, where any value (i.e., I′) of the first function 2 within the zero-value energy interval is 0. That is, the amount of charge corresponding to any U in the electron beam output from the first slow-wave structure 470 per unit time is zero. Figure 7-3 schematically shows three zero-value energy intervals of the first function 2, identified by r2, r4, and r6, respectively. As shown in Figure 7-2, the first function 1 does not have a zero-value energy interval; therefore, energy distribution 1 does not satisfy the third condition.

[0108] As shown in Figure 7-3, curve 4 also includes three other energy intervals besides the zero energy interval. These three other energy intervals are identified by r1, r3, and r5, respectively. Energy interval r1 has a minimum point d1, energy interval r2 has a minimum point d2, and energy interval r3 has a minimum point d3.

[0109] Figure 7-3 shows an example of a single other energy range having one minimum point. Optionally, a single other energy range may have more minimum points.

[0110] Figure 7-3 uses the first function 2 as an example, which is a continuous function. Optionally, the first function 2 can be a discontinuous function, and its corresponding curve can be shown in Figure 7-4. As shown in Figure 7-4, the first function of the reconstructed energy distribution (hereinafter referred to as the reconstructed first function) is discontinuous at both ends of the zero-value energy interval. Optionally, the reconstructed first function is continuous at one end of the zero-value energy interval and discontinuous at the other end.

[0111] Figure 7-3 is for illustrative purposes only. This application does not limit the number of minimum points of the first function of the reconstructed energy distribution, nor does it limit the number of zero-value energy intervals of the first function of the reconstructed energy distribution.

[0112] Figures 7-3 and 7-4 illustrate the reconstructed first function satisfying the third condition, i.e., the reconstructed first function has a zero-value energy interval. Optionally, the reconstructed first function may not have a zero-value energy interval. In this case, the curve corresponding to the reconstructed first function can be referenced to the curve obtained by shifting curve 4 shown in Figure 7-3 downwards. Correspondingly, the function values ​​of the first function 2 within r2, r4, and r6 are less than 0. Alternatively, the curve corresponding to the reconstructed first function can be referenced to the curve obtained by shifting the curve shown in Figure 7-4 downwards. After shifting curve 4 downwards, its energy intervals r2, r4, and r6 can be referred to as near-zero energy intervals. Therefore, optionally, the reconstructed first function may have one or more near-zero energy intervals. In this application, the energy interval (e.g., zero-value energy interval, near-zero energy interval, and other energy intervals) of the first function of the energy distribution refers to the energy interval within the energy range of the energy distribution.

[0113] By making the reconstructed energy distribution (such as energy distribution 2) satisfy the second condition, for example, the first function 2 has one or more minimum points, it is beneficial to make the first function have one or more energy ranges, which can be zero energy ranges or near-zero energy ranges, so that the number of charges corresponding to these one or more energy ranges in the energy range of the electron beam is 0 or close to 0, thereby reducing the effective energy range collected by each collecting electrode in the collecting structure 460, which is beneficial to reduce the energy dissipated by the collecting electrode in the form of heat and improve the collection efficiency.

[0114] By making the reconstructed energy distribution (such as energy distribution 2) satisfy the third condition, for example, the first function 2 has one or more energy ranges (such as zero energy range or near-zero energy range), it is beneficial for the number of charges corresponding to these one or more energy ranges in the energy range of the electron beam to be 0 or close to 0, thereby reducing the effective energy range collected by each collecting electrode in the collecting structure 460, which is beneficial to reducing the energy dissipated by the collecting electrode in the form of heat and improving the collection efficiency.

[0115] The first function 2 has one or more local minima or one or more energy ranges, which can also be represented by the stepped shape of curve 2 in Figure 7-1. From the formula "P" introduced earlier... rec As can be seen from the gray rectangles in Figure 3, when the energy distribution of the electron beam entering the collecting structure presents a "step" shape, it is beneficial to reduce the area between the curve corresponding to the energy distribution and the curve corresponding to the energy collected by the collecting electrode, thereby reducing the heat dissipation energy caused by energy level mismatch and improving the recovery efficiency of the collecting electrode.

[0116] The following explains the working principle of the traveling wave tube 400 reconstructing the energy distribution of the transduced electron beam through the first slow-wave structure 470. The transduced electron beam still contains its DC component and modulated radio frequency component. Therefore, when this electron beam enters the first slow-wave structure 470, the induced high-frequency field acts on the electron beam, adjusting its energy distribution and decelerating high-energy electrons while accelerating low-energy electrons. Alternatively, some electrons are subjected to an electric field force and pass through a deflection space, thus achieving the same velocity. This allows electrons with the required energy to be recovered by a specific collecting electrode, thereby improving the maximum recovery efficiency of the collecting electrode. The energy distribution reflects one or more of the above-mentioned first to third conditions. For example, curve 2 in Figure 7-1 exhibits a "step" distribution, or curve 4 in Figure 7-2 has one or more minimum points or one or more energy ranges.

[0117] As shown in Figure 7-1, compared with curve 1, which corresponds to the energy distribution of the electron beam after reconstruction (curve 2), the energy distribution of the electron beam directly entering the collector after transduction in a conventional traveling wave tube, shows a clear effect of charge energy accumulation to achieve optimal matching of the collection structure. This results in a "stepped" energy spectrum. The large number of charges in the reconstructed electron beam can be understood as clusters of one or more charge clusters. Within the same charge cluster, the energy differences between different charges are small (e.g., less than the energy threshold), and there are certain energy intervals between different charge clusters (e.g., the energy ranges mentioned above). In other words, multiple energy ranges corresponding to multiple charge clusters are separated by these energy intervals. In the traveling wave tube 400 shown in Figure 5, a spiral 472 with open ends is used as the reconstruction structure. The two ends of the spiral 472 (p1 and p2 in Figure 5) can also be short-circuited, or one end of the spiral 472 can be open and the other short-circuited, forming a passive resonant circuit. When the modulated electron beam passes through this circuit, the induced high-frequency field / standing wave field modulates the electron beam, thereby accelerating low-energy electrons, decelerating high-energy electrons, and giving more electrons the same velocity, thus achieving electron beam reconstruction and improving the collecting electrode efficiency. Further simulation calculations of the structure in the back-off state show that the maximum recovery efficiency increases from 91.9% to 95.5%, and the theoretical overall tube efficiency increases from 49.4% to 66%.

[0118] Figure 5 takes the slow wave line in the first slow wave structure 470 as a spiral as an example. In addition to the spiral shape, the slow wave line can also be other shapes, such as double spiral, sawtooth, corrugated or ring rod, etc.

[0119] Besides the first slow-wave structure 470 shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, the reconstruction structure described above can also be the resonant cavity 470' shown in Figure 8-1, based on the purpose and working principle of the reconstruction structure. This application does not limit the type of resonant cavity used in the reconstruction structure; for example, the selected resonant cavity can be a gap resonant cavity, a multi-gap resonant cavity, a re-entry resonant cavity, or a contour-stabilized interaction resonant cavity, etc. The essence of the resonant cavity 470' is that when the modulated electron beam passes through the resonant cavity 470', the high-frequency field induced in the resonant cavity 470' reconstructs the energy distribution of the electron beam. That is, the induced high-frequency field / standing wave field modulates the electron beam, thereby accelerating low-energy electrons / decelerating high-energy electrons / allowing more electrons to have the same velocity, thus achieving electron beam reconstruction and improving the collection efficiency. Other structures shown in Figure 8-1 can be understood by referring to the corresponding structures in Figure 5 or Figure 4.

[0120] As previously described, vacuum electronic devices may include shielding structures. For example, this shielding structure can be understood with reference to shielding structure 480 shown in Figure 5 or shielding structure 480' shown in Figure 8-1. This shielding structure is used to shield the electromagnetic waves induced by the signal in the second slow-wave structure 420 from the first slow-wave structure 470 or resonant cavity 470'.

[0121] In the first slow-wave structure 470 shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the resonant cavity 470' shown in Figure 8-1, no other signals are introduced. Instead, the energy distribution of the electron beam is reconstructed by exchanging energy between the electron beam and the radio frequency component (or radio frequency signal) induced by the electron beam itself. Optionally, as described above, this reconstruction structure has a second signal input port, which is used to input the second signal into the reconstruction structure. The reconstruction structure is used to enable the electron beam to exchange energy with the second signal, thereby adjusting the energy distribution of the electron beam.

[0122] Figure 8-2 schematically illustrates another structure of a traveling wave tube (TWT). The structure of this TWT can be understood by referring to the corresponding structure shown in Figure 4. However, unlike the TWT shown in Figure 4, the TWT shown in Figure 8-2 also includes an input port 490 of a first slow-wave structure 470. Input port 490 is used to couple a signal into the first slow-wave structure 470, allowing the electron beam to interact with the signal to reconstruct the energy distribution of the electron beam. This signal is different from the signal coupled to input port 430; it is not the signal to be amplified. The first and second signals have been introduced above. Optionally, the signal input to input port 430 is the first signal, and the signal input to input port 490 is the second signal.

[0123] In the traveling wave tubes shown in Figures 4, 5, 8-1 and 8-2 of this application, taking the second slow wave structure 420 as an example of the energy exchange structure, the second slow wave structure 420 can optionally be replaced with other types of energy exchange structures, such as a resonant cavity.

[0124] The above example illustrates the application of the technical solution of this application to a traveling wave tube (TWT). A TWT is a type of vacuum electronic device. Vacuum electronic devices can be used in microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz frequency bands. Vacuum electronic devices come in various types, including, for example, coupled-cavity TWTs (as shown in Figure 9-1), backward-wave tubes (as shown in Figure 9-2), klystrons (as shown in Figure 9-3), gyrotrons, and magnetrons. The structures shown in Figures 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 are merely examples of the corresponding vacuum electronic devices and not limitations. Taking the backward-wave tube shown in Figure 9-2 as an example, its output port can be installed in other locations within the slow-wave structure. Many types of vacuum electronic devices generally include the aforementioned transmitting structure, focusing structure, energy exchange structure, and collection structure. Therefore, the technical solution of this application can be applied not only to TWTs but also to other types of vacuum electronic devices to improve their overall tube efficiency.

[0125] In the vacuum electronic devices shown in Figures 4, 5, 8-1, 8-2, 9-1, 9-2 and 9-3 of this application, different structures can be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or different structures can be manufactured as a single unit.

[0126] The core of the vacuum electronic devices provided in this application lies in adding a circuit between the transducer structure and the collector structure to reconstruct (or remodulate) the electron beam, i.e., a reconstruction structure. This ensures that the electron beam entering the collector structure meets the target energy level requirements of the collector electrodes. For example, the energy distribution of the electron beam is concentrated at the energy corresponding to the voltage of each collector electrode (i.e., the target energy level), thereby improving the collection efficiency. Therefore, specific applications are not limited to whether the reconstruction structure is a spiral slow-wave structure, a coupled cavity structure, or a resonant cavity structure; other extended forms are also possible, such as planar microstrip lines, folded waveguides / sine / cosine waveguides, interleaved double grids, extended interactive resonant cavities, etc. Furthermore, the reconstruction structure is not limited to O-type tubes such as traveling wave tubes, backward wave tubes, and klystrons; it can also be used in traveling wave klystrons, inductive output tubes, and gyrotrons. Here, an O-type tube refers to a vacuum electronic device with a circular cross-sectional shape for the electron beam.

[0127] The above application of the technical solution of this application to a millimeter-wave wireless communication system is an example, and this application does not limit the specific application scenarios of the above technical solution. For example, the technical solution of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication systems, satellite communication, space communication, 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication systems, or new radio access technology (NR) or future communication systems (such as the next-generation communication technology 6G), etc. In addition, this application can be applied to electronic systems such as radar, communication, and particle accelerators.

[0128] The above examples illustrate the application of this application's technical solution to transmitters or power amplifiers in communication systems. This application's technical solution can also be applied to oscillators in communication systems. Furthermore, it can be applied to radar systems, for example, as a receiver or transmitter in a radar system, or as a signal source for an active phased array antenna. It can also be applied to information systems, for example, as a transmitter in broadcast television or television stations, a transponder in microwave communication or satellite communication, or a base station in mobile communication. In addition, this application's technical solution can also be applied to signal sources in millimeter-wave and terahertz imaging systems, non-destructive testing, biomedical systems, or security inspection systems, or as a signal source for plasma diagnostics and heating, or as a high-power microwave source in controlled thermonuclear reactions, etc.

[0129] In this application's embodiments, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. Furthermore, it should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe objects in this application's embodiments, these objects should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish between objects.

[0130] The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, used in the description of the embodiments of this application, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include other steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

Claims

1. A vacuum electronic device, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic device includes an energy exchange structure and a reconfiguration structure, wherein the energy exchange structure has an output port; The energy exchange structure is used to exchange the energy of the electron beam for the energy of a first signal, and output the first signal after energy exchange through the output port, wherein the electron beam passes through the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure in sequence; The reconfiguration structure is used to adjust the energy distribution of the electron beam after energy exchange; The electron beam passing through the reconstructed structure is used to enter the collection structure, which is used to collect the energy of the electron beam.

2. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjusted energy distribution satisfies at least one of the following conditions: The adjusted energy distribution corresponds to a smaller energy range; The adjusted first function of the energy distribution has one or more local minima; or, The first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more energy ranges, and the current magnitude of the first function corresponding to the energy range is zero. Wherein, the first function is the first derivative of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and the second function is used to fit the energy distribution.

3. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Since the vacuum electronic device is operating in a power-back state, the adjusted energy distribution satisfies at least one of the conditions.

4. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The reconstructed structure includes a first slow-wave structure or a first standing-wave structure.

5. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The phase velocity of the first slow-wave structure is between the maximum and minimum velocities of the electron beam after the energy exchange.

6. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The reconfiguration structure is used to enable energy exchange between the electron beam and the radio frequency component generated by the electron beam.

7. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The reconstruction structure has a second signal input port, which is used to input the second signal into the reconstruction structure; The reconstructed structure is used to enable the electron beam to exchange energy with the second signal.

8. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The electromagnetic waves induced by the first signal in the energy exchange structure are shielded outside the reconstruction structure.

9. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The energy exchange structure includes a second slow-wave structure or a second standing-wave structure.

10. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic device further includes at least one of a transmitting structure, a focusing structure, an input port for the first signal, or a collecting structure; wherein, The emission structure is used to generate the electron beam; The focusing structure is used to focus the electron beam; The input port of the first signal is used to input the first signal into the energy exchange structure.

11. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic devices are used in traveling wave tubes, klystrons, backward wave tubes, traveling wave klystrons, or gyrotrons.

12. A vacuum electronic device, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic device includes a reconfiguration structure and a collection structure; The reconstruction structure is used to adjust the energy distribution of the electron beam after energy exchange. The electron beam passes through the energy exchange structure and the reconstruction structure in sequence. The energy exchange structure is used to exchange the energy of the electron beam for the energy of a first signal and output the first signal after energy exchange through the output port. The collection structure is used to collect the energy of the electron beam passing through the reconstructed structure.

13. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The adjusted energy distribution satisfies at least one of the following conditions: The adjusted energy distribution corresponds to a smaller energy range; The adjusted first function of the energy distribution has one or more local minima; or, The first function of the adjusted energy distribution has one or more energy ranges, and the current magnitude of the first function corresponding to the energy range is zero. Wherein, the first function is the first derivative of the second function corresponding to the energy distribution, and the second function is used to fit the energy distribution.

14. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 13, characterized in that, Since the vacuum electronic device is operating in a power-back state, the adjusted energy distribution satisfies at least one of the conditions.

15. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that, The reconstructed structure is either a first slow-wave structure or a first standing-wave structure.

16. The vacuum electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The phase velocity of the first slow-wave structure is between the maximum and minimum velocities of the electron beam after the energy exchange.

17. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that, The reconfiguration structure is used to enable energy exchange between the electron beam and the radio frequency component generated by the electron beam.

18. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that, The reconstruction structure has a second signal input port, which is used to input the second signal into the reconstruction structure; The reconstructed structure is used to enable the electron beam to exchange energy with the second signal.

19. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 12-18, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic device further includes at least one of a transmitting structure, a focusing structure, an input port for the first signal, or the energy exchange structure; wherein, The emission structure is used to generate the electron beam; The focusing structure is used to focus the electron beam; The input port of the first signal is used to input the first signal into the energy exchange structure.

20. The vacuum electronic device according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that, The vacuum electronic devices are used in traveling wave tubes, klystrons, backward wave tubes, traveling wave klystrons, or gyrotrons.

21. An electronic module, characterized in that, The electronic module includes a power supply and a vacuum electronic device as described in any one of claims 1-20, wherein the power supply is used to provide energy to the vacuum electronic device.

22. An electronic system, characterized in that, The electronic system includes one or more electronic modules as described in claim 21, and the electronic system further includes a signal processing unit and / or one or more transmitting antennas; The signal processing unit is used to input signals to one or more of the electronic modules respectively; The transmitting antenna is used to transmit the signals output by the electronic module.

Images