§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3885178A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photomultiplier tube having impact ionization diode collector

Assignee: DKP A Corp OF
•
Filing: 1974-07-11
•
Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1994-07-11
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A photomultiplier tube (PMT) converts a received light signal to an output electrical signal of substantially greater intensity by employing a photocathode to convert incident light to free electrons, a plural dynode accelerating structure for effectively multiplying said free electrons, and an impact ionization diode (IID) for further multiplying and collecting said free electrons to provide a corresponding electrical output signal. The PMT can be an electrostatic device, in which the photocathode and the dynodes are mounted in opposed staggered positions, or a static crossed field device, in which the photocathode and the dynodes all are mounted opposite an accelerating rail and a magnetic field is provided to urge the electrons laterally along the tube. The IID''s junction is reverse biased and the entire diode is maintained at a substantially higher potential than the last dynode. The PMT can be gain controlled or turned off without affecting dynode potentials by controlling the IID''s potential. Due to the gain provided by the IID, dynode current can be reduced greatly, thereby to increase substantially the tube''s life without affecting its overall gain.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald H Goehner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 22:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J43/00; H01J43/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A photomultiplier tube comprising a hermetically sealable enclosure having a transparent area for admission of light, a photocathode positioned in said enclosure for receiving said light and converting same to free electrons, at least one dynode positioned in said enclosure for receiving said free electrons from said photocathode and multiplying same, and means positioned to receive free electrons from said dynode for simultaneously providing multiplication of received electrons and collection of same on a conductor to provide an output signal on said conductor, said means positioned to receive free electrons comprising a diode capable of multiplying and collecting received free electrons by impact ionization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
A photomultiplier tube comprising a hermetically sealable enclosure having a transparent area for admission of light, a photocathode positioned in said enclosure for receiving said light and converting same to free electrons, at least one dynode positioned in said enclosure for receiving said free electrons from said photocathode and multiplying same, and means positioned to receive free electrons from said dynode for simultaneously providing multiplication of received electrons and collection of same on a conductor to provide an output signal on said conductor, said means positioned to receive free electrons comprising a diode capable of multiplying and collecting received free electrons by impact ionization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said dynode is positioned facing said photocathode and said means is positioned facing said dynode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The tube of claim 1 including a plurality of dynodes, each maintained at a greater potential than the one next closest to saId photocathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The tube of claim 1 further including means for providing a magnetic field through said tube for urging free electrons emitted by said photocathode to said dynode, said tube including an accelerating rail, said photocathode and said dynode facing said accelerating rail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is evacuated and further including means for maintaining said dynode and said means at successively greater potentials than said photocathode, and means for controlling independently the potential of said means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
The tube of claim 1 including a plurality of dynodes, each maintained at a greater potential than the one next closest to said photocathode, adjacent ones of said dynodes, said photocathode, and said means facing each other, said means being maintained at a greater potential than any of said dynodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 73 words
The tube of claim 1 including a plurality of dynodes, each maintained at a greater potential than the one next closest to said photocathode, an accelerating rail facing all of said dynodes and said photocathode, said means being maintained at a greater potential than any of said dynodes, and means providing a magnetic field through said dynodes in a direction for urging electrons emitted by said photocathode along said dynodes to said means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The tube of claim 4 further including means for injecting radio frequency energy into said enclosure for urging said electrons to impinge upon said dynode.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2928969A Cited
US3534207A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-05-19 1978-11-18 1979-05-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-05-19 1982-11-18 1983-05-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-05-19 1986-11-18 1987-05-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag