Abstract: Switching apparatus for switching on and off one or more microwave tubes. A preferred embodiment of the switching apparatus comprises a solid state magnetron switcher that switches a plurality of magnetrons on and off using a plurality of high voltage (IGBT) switches. The microwave tubes or magnetrons are driven from a single power supply. The technical approach employed in the present invention places all microwave tubes or magnetrons into low level oscillation prior to switching them into full conduction. This maintains minimal voltage across the high voltage switches while allowing only a small percentage (1-2%) of full load current to be drawn.

Abstract: A microwave launcher includes a hollow microwave cavity in the shape of a plus sign, four coplanar exit ports in the arms of the microwave cavity, and a non-coplanar entry port at a central hub of the microwave cavity. A single magnetron is in communication with the entry port. There is a controllable, electrically activated microwave barrier at each of the exit ports. Each microwave barrier includes an electrical signal input whose operation controls the activation of the microwave barrier. A switching circuit has a voltage source for the electrical signal input of each of the microwave barriers. Microwave power output from the single microwave source is launched from the selected exit port by using the switching circuit to selectively block microwave passage through each of the nonselected exit ports, but to leave the selected exit port unblocked.

Abstract: A beam steering array that comprises a high voltage source for providing high voltage pulses and a plurality of high voltage switches coupled between the high voltage source and a plurality of microwave sources. Each of the microwave sources are coupled to an antenna element. A trigger source is coupled to the plurality of high voltage switches for providing trigger pulses thereto that are used to selectively switch the respective switches on and off to transfer the high voltage pulses from the high voltage source to a selected microwave source. In a reduced to practice embodiment, the present invention provides for a thyratron switched beam steering array comprising a plurality of channels that each include a high voltage switch comprising a thyratron, a triggering circuit, a magnetron that is used as the microwave source, and an antenna element coupled to the magnetron.

Abstract: A microwave switch selectively directs a microwave signal along first and second signal paths. The switch includes a microwave transmission member, a microwave chamber formed by the transmission member for containing an ionizable gas, input and output ports formed by the transmission member to communicate with the microwave chamber and a triggered plasma generator which is configured to generate, in response to a voltage trigger signal, a trigger electron density N.sub.t in the gas. The microwave signal increases the trigger electron density N.sub.t to a reflective electron density N.sub.r. Consequently, the microwave signal is reflected along a first path from the input port when the trigger electron density N.sub.t is present and is directed along a second path to the output port when the trigger electron density N.sub.t is absent. A plurality of these microwave switches is arranged to form a tunable microwave short.

Abstract: A switched-inverter modulator for use in driving a load that comprises master and slave high voltage power supplies for providing output pulses that directly drive the load. A synchronized pulse generator provides pulse width tinting and synchronized amplitude commands to the master power supply. The timing pulse instructs the power supplies when to initiate high voltage and for what time interval. The analog waveform instructs the master power supply as to what high voltage level to obtain. The master power supply may have multiple slaves connected in parallel for additional current capacity. A low voltage DC capacitor bank is connected in parallel with each of the power supplies to supplement energy storage. Isolation resistors are coupled between outputs of the respective high voltage power supplies and the load to minimize temporary shorts from ringing back into the power supplies.