Patents Assigned to L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 8427058Abstract: An apparatus that includes a traveling-wave tube having an electron gun having a cathode. The apparatus also includes a first power supply for establishing a first electric potential between the cathode and an anode and for providing an operational current to the cathode to generate a beam of electrons. The apparatus also includes a slow-wave structure having a passage through which the beam of electrons passes. The apparatus also includes a second power supply for providing a voltage to a beam focusing electrode to establish an electric potential between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode. The apparatus also includes a switching module coupled to the first power supply and the second power supply, the switching module providing a current path between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode, wherein the current path is disabled when a biasing current is below a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Eric Lewis
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Patent number: 8136340Abstract: A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stephen L. Hart
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Patent number: 8109075Abstract: A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stephen L. Hart
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Publication number: 20110127911Abstract: An apparatus that includes a traveling-wave tube having an electron gun having a cathode. The apparatus also includes a first power supply for establishing a first electric potential between the cathode and an anode and for providing an operational current to the cathode to generate a beam of electrons. The apparatus also includes a slow-wave structure having a passage through which the beam of electrons passes. The apparatus also includes a second power supply for providing a voltage to a beam focusing electrode to establish an electric potential between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode. The apparatus also includes a switching module coupled to the first power supply and the second power supply, the switching module providing a current path between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode, wherein the current path is disabled when a biasing current is below a predetermined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Eric Lewis
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Patent number: 7893620Abstract: An apparatus that includes a traveling-wave tube having an electron gun having a cathode. The apparatus also includes a first power supply for establishing a first electric potential between the cathode and an anode and for providing an operational current to the cathode to generate a beam of electrons. The apparatus also includes a slow-wave structure having a passage through which the beam of electrons passes. The apparatus also includes a second power supply for providing a voltage to a beam focusing electrode to establish an electric potential between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode. The apparatus also includes a switching module coupled to the first power supply and the second power supply, the switching module providing a current path between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode, wherein the current path is disabled when a biasing current is below a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Eric Lewis
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Publication number: 20100313543Abstract: A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stephen L. Hart
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Publication number: 20100300064Abstract: A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stephen L. Hart
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Patent number: 7836679Abstract: A high voltage propellant isolator includes at least two different types of isolator rings or segments, in alternating lateral arrangement, that direct the flow of propellant, such as xenon gas, in a tortuous path through the isolator.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stephen L. Hart
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Patent number: 7579778Abstract: A traveling-wave tube system and a method for protecting a cathode of a traveling-wave tube system. The system has an electron gun and a power supply that applies an electric potential between a cathode and an anode of the electron gun to generate a beam of electrons. The beam of electrons passes through a passage of a slow-wave structure. A collector electrode collects electrons from the beam of electrons generating a flow of current that flows through an ion trap power supply circuit to generate a DC voltage that is applied to the anode to repel positive ions generated.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John P. Vaszari, Ronald G. Brownell
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Patent number: 7477042Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Steven L. Wiseman
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Publication number: 20080151584Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Steven L. Wiseman
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Publication number: 20080150629Abstract: An apparatus that includes a traveling-wave tube having an electron gun having a cathode. The apparatus also includes a first power supply for establishing a first electric potential between the cathode and an anode and for providing an operational current to the cathode to generate a beam of electrons. The apparatus also includes a slow-wave structure having a passage through which the beam of electrons passes. The apparatus also includes a second power supply for providing a voltage to a beam focusing electrode to establish an electric potential between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode. The apparatus also includes a switching module coupled to the first power supply and the second power supply, the switching module providing a current path between the cathode and the beam focusing electrode, wherein the current path is disabled when a biasing current is below a predetermined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David Eric Lewis
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Patent number: 7365518Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Steven L. Wiseman
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Patent number: 7269940Abstract: An arcing protection circuit for the screen and accelerator grids of an ion thruster engine includes an impedance, which in one embodiment, is fixed, and in another, is variable, coupled in series between the accelerator grid of the engine and a current return path of the grid in such a way that an increase in accelerator grid current resulting from a plasma arc occurring between the screen grid and the accelerator grid is converted by the impedance into a rapid reduction in the voltage difference between the screen and accelerator grids, thereby extinguishing the arc. The arcing protection circuit also includes a monitoring circuit coupled to the accelerator grid that senses an increase in the voltage on the accelerator grid resulting from the plasma arc, and in response thereto, causes the accelerator grid power supply to reduce the voltage on the accelerator grid.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Steven L. Wiseman