Patent ID: 8742840

Claim:
A travelling wave tube amplifier, comprising: a travelling wave tube comprising a cathode, a helix, a radio frequency (RF) input, an RF output, and a plurality of collectors; and an electronic power conditioner providing power supply and electrode polarization to said travelling wave tube, said electronic power conditioner including flexibility control means for adjusting, via control commands, the helix to a cathode voltage to allow an adjusting of the travelling wave tube operating frequency range, wherein the electronic power conditioner comprises primary control means comprising a power cell configured to drive a high voltage generation and control means comprising a multistage high voltage transformer whose primary side is controlled by said power cell and configured to generate high voltages requested by at least one collector in said plurality of collectors, said cathode and said helix, said flexibility control means comprising means for adjusting a voltage reference driving a voltage control loop, said voltage control loop configured to drive the power cell through pulse width modulation.