Patent US3798486A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3798486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Metal vapor laser discharge device
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A low noise metal vapor laser discharge device of simple construction employing an anode electrode, a cold cathode electrode and condenser therebetween. The device features a relatively long intermediate portion, including a bore region and metal vapor store region, which communicates with the bore region at a plurality of spaced points along the length of the bore region, extending between the anode electrode and condenser.
Inventors
- 👤 K Hernquist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
A metal-vapor laser discharge device responsive to a given operating voltage applied thereto for producing a discharge therein, said device comprising: a. a gas-filled envelope having a longitudinal axis, said envelope being divided into first and second spaced portions, and an intermediate portion therebetween interconnecting sid first and second portions thereof; b. a cold cathode electrode located wholly within said first portion and an anode electrode located wholly within said second portion, said gas including as a fraction thereof a given metal vapor which is cataphoretically transported through said intermediate portion in a direction from said anode electrode toward said cathode electrode in response to a discharge in said device; c. a condenser located wholly within said first portion and positioned between said cathode electrode and said intermediate portion for condensing transported metal vapor entering said first portion and preventing substantially all of it from reaching said cathode electrode, and d. separation means for dividing said intermediate portion into an axial bore region and an auxiliary region which communicate with each other only at a predetermined plural number of given spaced points along the length of said intermediate portion, said separation means including a plurality of longitudinallydistributed, separate, spaced conductive grid elements located wholly within said auxiliary region of said intermediate portion, each of said grid elements dividing an entire cross section of solely said auxiliary region into a plurality of gas diffusing openings separated from each other by conductive material, the maximum size of any of said openings being sufficiently small to prevent a discharge from passing therethrough, and the spacing between any pair of adjacent grid elements being such that the potential difference existing therebetween in response to said operating voltage being applied to said anode and cathode electrodes is below the coldcathode breakdown voltage between that pair of adjacent grid elements, and wherein the overall length occupied by all of said longitudinally-distributed grid elements and all of said spaced points is substantially greater than the minimum longitudinal distance from said condenser to the one of said spaced points closest thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
A metal-vapor laser discharge device responsive to a given operating voltage applied thereto for producing a discharge therein, said device comprising: a. a gas-filled envelope having a longitudinal axis, said envelope being divided into first and second spaced portions, and an intermediate portion therebetween interconnecting sid first and second portions thereof; b. a cold cathode electrode located wholly within said first portion and an anode electrode located wholly within said second portion, said gas including as a fraction thereof a given metal vapor which is cataphoretically transported through said intermediate portion in a direction from said anode electrode toward said cathode electrode in response to a discharge in said device; c. a condenser located wholly within said first portion and positioned between said cathode electrode and said intermediate portion for condensing transported metal vapor entering said first portion and preventing substantially all of it from reaching said cathode electrode, and d. separation means for dividing said intermediate portion into an axial bore region and an auxiliary region which communicate with each other only at a predetermined plural number of given spaced points along the length of said intermediate portion, said separation means including a plurality of longitudinallydistributed, separate, spaced conductive grid elements located wholly within said auxiliary region of said intermediate portion, each of said grid elements dividing an entire cross section of solely said auxiliary region into a plurality of gas diffusing openings separated from each other by conductive material, the maximum size of any of said openings being sufficiently small to prevent a discharge from passing therethrough, and the spacing between any pair of adjacent grid elements being such that the potential difference existing therebetween in response to said operating voltage being applied to said anode and cathode electrodes is below the coldcathode breakdown voltage between that pair of adjacent grid elements, and wherein the overall length occupied by all of said longitudinally-distributed grid elements and all of said spaced points is substantially greater than the minimum longitudinal distance from said condenser to the one of said spaced points closest thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein said overall length occupied by all of said longitudinally-distributed grid elements and all of said spaced points is in the order of nine times or more said minimum longitudinal distance from said condenser to the one of said spaced points closest thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein each of said grid elements has a central aperture extending therethrough, and wherein said separation means further includes bore tube means passing longitudinally through said apertures of all said grid elements for dividing said intermediate portion into said axial bore region and said auxiliary region, said bore tube means including a series of longitudinally disposed separate openings therein with each respective grid element being situated between each pair of adjacent openings for thereby providing communication between said regions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device defined in claim 3, wherein said bore tube means includes a single bore tube passing through all said grid elements, said single bore tube having said separate openings therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device defined in claim 3, wherein said bore tube means includes a plurality of separated axially aligned bore tube seCtions with each single one of said sections passing through a different one of said grid elements, the separation between adjacent ones of said bore tube sections defining said separate openings of said bore tube means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein said metal vapor is cadmium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein in response to a reversal in polarity of said given operating voltage said electrode in said first portion operates as an anode electrode instead of a cold cathode electrode and said electrode in said second portion operates as a cold cathode electrode instead of an anode electrode, wherein said second portion includes a second condenser located wholly therewithin and positioned between said electrode within said second portion and said intermediate portion for condensing transported metal vapor entering said second portion and preventing substantially all of it from reaching said electrode within said second portion whenever it is operating as a cathode electrode, and wherein said second condenser includes means for operating it as a metal vapor source when said electrode within said first portion is operating as a cathode electrode and said first named condenser includes means for operating it as a metal vapor source when said electrode within said second portion is operating as a cathode electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3639804A
Cited
US3683295A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |