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US3656019A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hydrogen-filled gas detector having cathode helix supported by envelope wall

Assignee: Melpar Inc
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Filing: 1967-08-11
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1987-08-11
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Abstract

Abstract An ultraviolet detector in which the electrode configuration is non-symmetrical in that one electrode operates permanently as the emitter and the other as the collector, at least one of the electrodes supported by the inner surface of the tube envelope and offering an expansive wide angle field of view for incoming ultraviolet radiation. The electrodes are DC biased to provide a high voltage difference therebetween, i.e., between cathode, or emitter, and anode or collector, the former responsive to each photon of ultraviolet energy incident from within the wide angle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard W Stowe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 04:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J40/00; H01J40/02; H01J40/04; H01J47/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 311 words
An optical radiation detector tube comprising a hermetically sealed elongated cylindrical envelope transparent to ultraviolet radiation over its entire cylindrical surface, said envelope having a longitudinal axis and being closed by end headers, a pair of spaced electro-polished tungsten electrodes housed by said envelope, each of uniform diameter throughout, one of said electrodes constituting a cathode composed of metal having a work function selected for photo-emission of electrons in response to incidence of only preselected wave lengths of ultraviolet radiation thereon with cut off within the range of about 1,500 A to 2,800 A, the other of said electrodes constituting the anode, both of said electrodes having a common longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said envelope, said cathode beinG a helix having spaced apart turns and contacting throughout its length, the interior surface of said envelope and being wholly supported thereby, at least a portion of the cylindrical surface of said envelope being unobstructed by said electrodes to permit passage of optical radiation incident on the exterior of said tube to the interior of said tube via said unobstructed surface, said anode extending axially only and supported solely by said headers, an ionizable gas in said envelope, and respective leads constituted of extensions of said electrodes made of the same metal as said electrodes and continuous therewith without connections or splices of any kind extending from said envelope for application of a d-c potential difference between said electrodes to provide an electric field for accelerating electrons liberated by said cathode toward said anode, said gas being ionizable in response to emission of electrons from said cathode sufficiently that incidence of individual photons of ultraviolet radiation on said cylindrical surface is effective to produce emission of electrons from said cathode and consequent triggering of ionization avalanche discharge between said electrodes when voltage is applied between said anode and cathode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 311 words
An optical radiation detector tube comprising a hermetically sealed elongated cylindrical envelope transparent to ultraviolet radiation over its entire cylindrical surface, said envelope having a longitudinal axis and being closed by end headers, a pair of spaced electro-polished tungsten electrodes housed by said envelope, each of uniform diameter throughout, one of said electrodes constituting a cathode composed of metal having a work function selected for photo-emission of electrons in response to incidence of only preselected wave lengths of ultraviolet radiation thereon with cut off within the range of about 1,500 A to 2,800 A, the other of said electrodes constituting the anode, both of said electrodes having a common longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said envelope, said cathode beinG a helix having spaced apart turns and contacting throughout its length, the interior surface of said envelope and being wholly supported thereby, at least a portion of the cylindrical surface of said envelope being unobstructed by said electrodes to permit passage of optical radiation incident on the exterior of said tube to the interior of said tube via said unobstructed surface, said anode extending axially only and supported solely by said headers, an ionizable gas in said envelope, and respective leads constituted of extensions of said electrodes made of the same metal as said electrodes and continuous therewith without connections or splices of any kind extending from said envelope for application of a d-c potential difference between said electrodes to provide an electric field for accelerating electrons liberated by said cathode toward said anode, said gas being ionizable in response to emission of electrons from said cathode sufficiently that incidence of individual photons of ultraviolet radiation on said cylindrical surface is effective to produce emission of electrons from said cathode and consequent triggering of ionization avalanche discharge between said electrodes when voltage is applied between said anode and cathode.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-04-11 1975-10-11 1976-04-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-04-11 1979-10-11 1980-04-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-04-11 1983-10-11 1984-04-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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