Electron tube
A high power electron tube, such as a magnetron, has the disadvantage that, to reduce the chances of the ceramic RF window failing in use, the manufacturing step entails a prolonged ageing period of powering the magnetron at low power on test, in order to drive any absorbed gases out of the RF window. According to the invention, the RF window 6 is internally glazed ( 8 ), which makes it possible to avoid the ageing period.
1. An electron tube having an RF output window of ceramic material having an inner surface, the RF output window being arranged to pass RF energy from a vacuum environment in the electron tube to a gaseous environment outside the electron tube, wherein the RF output window includes an electrically insulating glass coating on the inner surface of the ceramic material.
2. The electron tube as claimed in claim 1 , in which a periphery of the RF output window is free of the electrically insulating lass coating.
3. The electron tube as claimed in claim 2 , in which the periphery of the RF output window has been ground to ensure it is free of the electrically insulating glass coating.
4. The electron tube as claimed in claim 3 , in which the periphery of the RF output window is chamfered.
5. The electron tube as claimed in claim 3 , in which a region of the RF output window adjacent to the periphery of the RF output window that has been ground is metallised.
6. The electron tube as claimed in claim 1 , in which the coating is of a high temperature glass.
7. The electron tube as claimed in claim 1 , in which the glass is borosilicate glass.
8. The electron tube as claimed in claim 1 , in which the thickness of the coating lies between 0.05 mm and 3 mm.
9. The electron tube as claimed in claim 8 , in which the thickness of the coating is approximately 0.2 mm.
10. The electron tube as claimed claim 1 , in which the ceramic material is alumina.
11. The electron tube as claimed in claim 1 , in which the electron tube is a magnetron.
12. The electron tube as claimed in claim 11 , in which the RF output window is dome-shaped.
13. A method of making an RF output window suitable for use in the electron tube according to claim 1 .