A circuit technique for broadbanding the electronic tuning range of Gunn oscillators

A circuit technique is described whereby the electronic tuning range obtained by varactor tuning solid-state oscillators, such as Gunn oscillators, can be improved. The principle of the technique has been demonstrated by doubling the tuning range obtained from a coaxial X-band Gunn oscillator using distributed circuit elements. An analytical expression for the improved tuning range is presented and predictions for the improvement in an existing microstrip X-band oscillator using chip devices given.