US3758803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric discharge devices
Assignee: MO Valve Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-02-18
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1992-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An electric discharge device has a cold cathode of solid, easily vaporizable material, and a triggering arrangement comprising a dielectric member, disposed near the cathode and anode, and having on one side a sputtered film of easily vaporizable material and on the other side a trigger electrode. The device operates at high vacuum, and a discharge can be triggered by applying a voltage pulse to the trigger electrode, causing vaporization of material from the film. For example, the device may be a switching device, a travelling-wave device, or an ion propulsion device.
Inventors
- 👤 K Cook
- 👤 R Wheldon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:21
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03H; F03H1/00; F03H1/0037; H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/40; H01J17/44; H01J23/00; H01J23/02; H01J23/04; H01J27/00; H01J27/02; H01J27/08; H01J2893/00; H01J2893/0064; H01J2893/0065; H01J2893/0068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An electric discharge device comprising: an anode; a cold cathode of a solid easily vaporizable material spaced from and electrically insulated from said anode; means for applying a positive voltage to the anode relative to the cathode; a dielectric member disposed in the region of the anode and the cathode, having on one side a film of discrete microscopic particles of easily vaporizable material, said particles being spaced apart from each other and being of different sizes, and having on the other side, electrically insulated from and substantially parallel to said film, a trigger electrode, said trigger electrode being capacitively coupled to said film via said dielectric member; means for applying a voltage pulse between the trigger electrode and the particles of said film; said film being positioned to allow material vaporized from the particles thereof to form a plasma in the region of said anode and cathode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electric discharge device comprising: an anode; a cold cathode of a solid easily vaporizable material spaced from and electrically insulated from said anode; means for applying a positive voltage to the anode relative to the cathode; a dielectric member disposed in the region of the anode and the cathode, having on one side a film of discrete microscopic particles of easily vaporizable material, said particles being spaced apart from each other and being of different sizes, and having on the other side, electrically insulated from and substantially parallel to said film, a trigger electrode, said trigger electrode being capacitively coupled to said film via said dielectric member; means for applying a voltage pulse between the trigger electrode and the particles of said film; said film being positioned to allow material vaporized from the particles thereof to form a plasma in the region of said anode and cathode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electric discharge device according to claim 1 wherein said film is formed by sputtering of material from said cathode in an arc discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electric discharge device according to claim 1, further including an evacuable envelope completely enclosing the anode and cathode for maintaining a vacuum in the region of the anode and cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electric discharge device according to claim 1 wherein said member of dielectric material comprises part of said envelope, said film of discrete particles being formed on an inner surface of said envelope adjacent said anode, and said trigger electrode being formed on an outer surface of said envelope adjacent said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electric discharge device according to claim 1 further including means for extracting charged particles from a plasma formed from material vaporized from the cathode when a discharge is passing between anode and cathode to form a beam of said charged particles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3243640A
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US3331981A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |