Patent US3609448A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3609448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High-power plasma generator employed as a source of light flux at atmospheric pressure
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-14
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1990-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A multimode cavity resonator includes a duct system for directing a gas stream through the resonator. Electromagnetic power is supplied to the resonator for establishing a plasma discharge in the air stream within the resonator. Light flux generated by the plasma at atmospheric pressure is transmitted through an optically transparent wall portion of the cavity to a utilization region outside of the cavity. The gas ducts and the optically transparent wall of the cavity include a cluster of conductive tubes dimensioned to be cut off at the operating frequency of the cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman H Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/46; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/08; B01J2219/0894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A high-power source of light flux comprising an envelope forming an electromagnetic multimode cavity resonator, means for introducing electromagnetic power into said resonator, gas inlet port means opening directly to the interior of said envelope for passing gas into said resonator, gas outlet port means opening directly to the interior of said envelope for passing gas out of said resonator, means for causing gas flow through said inlet and outlet port means and through the interior of said resonator to form within said resonator a gas flow stream which supports and confines a continuous stable plasma discharge in the resonator, said gas in the resonator being at substantially atmospheric pressure, and said envelope having a substantially optically transparent wall portion facing the plasma discharge to a utilization region located outside of said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A high-power source of light flux comprising an envelope forming an electromagnetic multimode cavity resonator, means for introducing electromagnetic power into said resonator, gas inlet port means opening directly to the interior of said envelope for passing gas into said resonator, gas outlet port means opening directly to the interior of said envelope for passing gas out of said resonator, means for causing gas flow through said inlet and outlet port means and through the interior of said resonator to form within said resonator a gas flow stream which supports and confines a continuous stable plasma discharge in the resonator, said gas in the resonator being at substantially atmospheric pressure, and said envelope having a substantially optically transparent wall portion facing the plasma discharge to a utilization region located outside of said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optically transparent wall portion of said cavity includes a cluster of parallel conductive tubes dimensioned to be cut off at the operating frequency of said cavity, said tubes being directed at the plasma discharge region in said cavity resonator, said tubes terminating within said cavity such that their inner ends define the inside optically transparent wall portion of said cavity, and the outer ends of said tubes opening to the atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inside of said cavity resonator envelope is rectangular with its three dimensions each being in excess of five free-space wavelengths at the operating frequency of said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for introducing electromagnetic power comprises a plurality of waveguides opening into said cavity resonator, said waveguides hAving their axes defined by the direction of power flow into said cavity and being directed orthogonally to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said gas port means is disposed above the elevation of the other such that the direction of air flow of the gas stream within said cavity includes a substantial component in the vertical direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the power delivered by said means for introducing electromagnetic power is substantially 90 kilowatts average power, and the gas flow delivered by said gas-flow means is substantially 2,000 cubic feet per minute.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of operating an electromagnetic cavity resonator as a high power source of light flux in which said resonator includes an optically transparent wall portion, comprising the steps of introducing electromagnetic power into said resonator, creating a gas stream flow directly into, through and out of the interior of said resonator and thus creating solely by said electromagnetic power and gas flow a continuous stable plasma discharge in said gas stream, and utilizing the output from said transparent wall as a source of high power light flux.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of operating an electromagnetic cavity resonator as a high power source of light flux in which said resonator includes an optically transparent wall portion, comprising the steps of introducing electromagnetic power into said resonator, creating a gas stream flow directly into, through and out of the interior of said resonator and thus creating solely by said electromagnetic power and gas flow a continuous stable plasma discharge in said gas stream, and utilizing the output from said transparent wall as a source of high power light flux.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |