Easily tuned IMPATT diode module

摘要

An improved microwave circuit is disclosed for enabling impedance tuning for power coupling in IMPATT diode and other similar oscillator and amplifier circuits. An electrically conductive support plate forming a ground plane is machined to form a channel for slidably receiving an air-stripline transmission line and a resonator therein. An IMPATT diode is positioned within the channel through an opening extending through the support plate generally perpendicular to the channel and is positioned in contact with the resonator. An electrically conductive bias filter is coupled to the resonator and to an adjusting mechanism for moving the resonator along the channel and providing a DC bias to the diode for oscillation. An electrically conductive cover member retains a spring biased electrically non-conductive projection for maintaining the resonator in contact with the diode. By controlling the adjusting mechanism and the position of the air-stripline within the channel, the real and imaginary parts of diode impedance can be adjusted to change the frequency and match the impedance of the diode to a conventional transmission line or coupling circuit.