A method for the 2.45-GHz magnetron output power control

A new method that overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional magnetron output power (MOP) control is presented in this paper, The conventional LC single-phase half-wave doubler supply has been modified in order to allow the use of a manually controlled and/or PC-controlled electronic variator. Trains of high-voltage pulses followed by inhibited high-voltage pulses are periodically applied on the magnetron anode yielding a corresponding variation of the average MOP, with programmed steps, maintaining the advantage of peak microwave output power operation. The PC-controlled system provides a practically continuous variation of the magnetron average output power.

I. Introduction

Magnetron output power (MOP) is proportional to average operational anode current. Variable MOP is typically accomplished by one of the following current control methods (CCMs): control of the average anode current by duty cycle variation (CCM1), control of peak anode current by power supply (CCM2) and, for magnetrons with electromagnets, control of the anode current by magnetic field variation (CCM3).