FCC Exam Question: 6A390
Important factors in the operation of the vacuum tube as a frequency doubler are:
Explanation: Operating a vacuum tube as a frequency doubler relies on several key principles to efficiently generate and select the desired harmonic. A) **Plate tank should be tuned to twice the grid circuit frequency:** The plate tank circuit acts as a resonant filter. For frequency doubling, it must be tuned to the second harmonic of the input (grid) frequency to selectively amplify and pass only that desired output frequency, while rejecting the fundamental and other harmonics. B) **The grid bias should be very large, the grid driving voltage must be very large, the plate voltage should be comparatively high:** Frequency multipliers operate in a highly nonlinear mode, typically Class C or beyond cutoff. A very large negative grid bias causes the tube to conduct for only a small fraction of the input cycle, generating a rich spectrum of harmonics. A large grid driving voltage is needed to overcome this bias and drive the tube into conduction. Comparatively high plate voltage allows for greater power output and efficiency under these conditions. C) **The plate tank circuit should have a low C to L ratio:** A low C-to-L ratio results in a high Q (Quality Factor) tank circuit. A high Q circuit provides sharp selectivity, which is crucial for efficiently filtering out only the desired second harmonic from the tube's broad harmonic output, minimizing unwanted frequencies. Since all three factors (A, B, and C) are essential for proper and efficient operation of a vacuum tube frequency doubler, "All of the above" is the correct answer.
6A293
6A142
6A91
6A308
6A430
Pass Your FCC Exam!
Study offline, track your progress, and simulate real exams with the GMDSS Trainer app.
Includes Elements 1, 3, 6, 7R, 8, and 9.