US4121130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cathode structure and method of operating the same
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
•
Filing: 1977-04-04
•
Granted: 1978-10-17
•
Expires: 1997-04-04
Abstract
Abstract An insulating substrate is provided with a plurality of discrete electrode pads on a surface thereof. A thermionic line cathode, e.g., a directly heated filament, is positioned to one side of the substrate surface and extends across a surface of each one of the electrode pads. An apertured electrode is positioned in spaced relation to the cathode in a direction away from the surfaces of the electrode pads. The apertured electrode may include a single slit-shaped aperture or a plurality of colinear apertures. The structure may also include a pair of spaced parallel filter plates whose surfaces are disposed in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the line cathode and in orthogonal relation to the surfaces of the electrode pads. The filter plates function to collimate the electron flow emitted from the cathode.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Allen Gange
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J1/00; H01J1/02; H01J1/13; H01J1/20; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A cathode structure, which comprises: an insulating substrate having a plurality of discrete electrode pads on a surface thereof; a thermionic cathode positioned to one side of said surface, said cathode extending across a surface of each one of said electrode pads in spaced relation therewith such that separate portions of said cathode are associated with different ones of said electrode pads; and an apertured electrode positioned in spaced relation to said cathode and said electrode pads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A cathode structure, which comprises: an insulating substrate having a plurality of discrete electrode pads on a surface thereof; a thermionic cathode positioned to one side of said surface, said cathode extending across a surface of each one of said electrode pads in spaced relation therewith such that separate portions of said cathode are associated with different ones of said electrode pads; and an apertured electrode positioned in spaced relation to said cathode and said electrode pads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said cathode is between said apertured electrode and said electrode pads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 2 in which said cathode comprises a line cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 in which the ratio of the spacing between said apertured electrode and said cathode to the spacing between said cathode and said electrode pads is at least about 10:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 in which said electrode pads are associated with separate portions along the length of said cathode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 including discontinuities between said electrode pads for preventing cathode deposits from forming electrically conductive paths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 6 in which said discontinuities for preventing cathode deposits comprise grooves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 including at least one isolation electrode disposed between adjacent ones of said electrode pads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 8 in which said electrode pads are recessed with respect to said isolation electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 in which said line cathode comprises a directly heated filament.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3 in which said line cathode comprises an indirectly heated filament.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 3, which further comprises: at least two spaced apart filter plates, each of said filter plates having at least one surface which is disposed in orthogonal relation to said surfaces of said electrode pads and in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said line cathode, said filter plates being disposed between said cathode and said apertured electrode so that electrons moving from said cathode to said apertured electrode traverse the space between said filter plates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 12 in which said filter plates are disposed on said insulating substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 13 in which said insulating substrate comprises quartz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 14 in which said filter plates include a buffer layer of tantalum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 15 in which a conductive layer of molybdenum-steatite is disposed on said tantalum buffer layer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of operating a cathode structure having an insulating substrate with a plurality of electrode pads on a surface thereof, a thermionic cathode positioned in spaced relation to one side of the surface with the cathode extending across a surface of the electrode pads such that different portions of the cathode are associated with different electrode pads, and an apertured electrode positioned in a spaced relation to said cathode, the method comprising: establishing electrical potentials at said electrode pads, said cathode and said apertured electrode with the potential at each of said electrode pads controling the magnitude of electron flow from the associated portion of said cathode through said apertured electrode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of operating a cathode structure having an insulating substrate with a plurality of electrode pads on a surface thereof, a thermionic cathode positioned in spaced relation to one side of the surface with the cathode extending across a surface of the electrode pads such that different portions of the cathode are associated with different electrode pads, and an apertured electrode positioned in a spaced relation to said cathode, the method comprising: establishing electrical potentials at said electrode pads, said cathode and said apertured electrode with the potential at each of said electrode pads controling the magnitude of electron flow from the associated portion of said cathode through said apertured electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 in which the electrical potential at said electrode pad is switched between two values, at least one of which results in a potential well circumscribing said cathode such that electrons emitted at said cathode are substantially prevented from leaving said cathode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 18 in which another value of said electrical potential at said electrode pad causes electrons emitted by said cathode to leave said cathode and pass through said apertured electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 in which pulse width control is used to modulate the magnitude of said electron flow through said apertured electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 in which said cathode structure includes a plurality of said electrode pads and said cathode comprises a line cathode, said line cathode extending across a surface of each one of said cathode pads such that separate portions of said cathode are associated with different ones of said electrode pads, wherein the method comprises: establishing said electrical potentials at each one of said electrodes, said cathode and said apertured electrode so as to control the magnitude of electron flow through said apertured electrode from each of said separate portions of said cathode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 in which said cathode is between said apertured electrode and said electrode pads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cathode structure, which comprises: a pair of spaced opposing insulating surfaces, each of said surfaces having a plurality of discrete electrode pads thereon with said pads on said opposing surfaces in opposing relation; a thermionic cathode positioned between said opposing surfaces, said cathode extending orthogonally across a surface of each one of said electrode pads such that separate portions of said cathode are associated with different opposing pairs of said electrode pads with at least a portion of each of said electrode pads extending beyond the circumference of said cathode; and means for extracting electron emission from said cathode, said means being disposed in spaced relation to said cathode and in adjacent relation to said portions of said electrode pads.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cathode structure, which comprises: a pair of spaced opposing insulating surfaces, each of said surfaces having a plurality of discrete electrode pads thereon with said pads on said opposing surfaces in opposing relation; a thermionic cathode positioned between said opposing surfaces, said cathode extending orthogonally across a surface of each one of said electrode pads such that separate portions of said cathode are associated with different opposing pairs of said electrode pads with at least a portion of each of said electrode pads extending beyond the circumference of said cathode; and means for extracting electron emission from said cathode, said means being disposed in spaced relation to said cathode and in adjacent relation to said portions of said electrode pads.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 23 in which said means comprises an apertured electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 23 in which said cathode comprises a line cathode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cathode structure in accordance with claim 25 in which said cathode comprises a directly heated cathode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-16 | 1982-04-17 | 1982-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-16 | 1986-04-17 | 1986-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-16 | 1990-04-17 | 1990-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |