US4179627A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical apparatus
Assignee: TOM SWIFT ENTERPRISES Inc
•
Filing: 1978-03-08
•
Granted: 1979-12-18
•
Expires: 1998-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An electrical apparatus for use as a capacitor, solar cell, switching device, wave-shaper and the like. The apparatus comprises a first electrode, a first dielectric positioned proximate one side of the first electrode, a second electrode positioned proximate the first dielectric, a second dielectric positioned proximate one side of the second electrode, a third electrode positioned proximate the second dielectric and generally facing said one side of the second electrode, a third dielectric positioned proximate the non-facing side of the third electrode, a fourth electrode positioned proximate the third dielectric, means for connecting the first and fourth electrodes to a control circuit whereby an electrical potential is established between the first and fourth electrodes, and means for connecting the second and third electrodes to an external circuit whereby upon operation of the external circuit the second and third electrodes are connected in circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald P. Reitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G4/00; H01G4/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An electrical apparatus comprising: (a) a first electrode having major opposed surfaces; (b) a first dielectric having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate one surface of said first dielectric; (c) a second electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said first dielectric; (d) a second dielectric positioned proximate the other surface of said second electrode; (e) a third electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate said second dielectric and generally facing said other surface of said second electrode, said second dielectric thereby positioned in between said second and third electrodes; (f) a third dielectric having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said third electrode; (g) a fourth electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said third dielectric; (h) means connecting said first and fourth electrodes to a control circuit whereby an electrical potential is established between said first and fourth electrodes; and (i) means connecting said second and third electrodes to an external circuit whereby, upon operation of said external circuit, said second and third electrodes are connected in said external circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrical apparatus comprising: (a) a first electrode having major opposed surfaces; (b) a first dielectric having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate one surface of said first dielectric; (c) a second electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said first dielectric; (d) a second dielectric positioned proximate the other surface of said second electrode; (e) a third electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate said second dielectric and generally facing said other surface of said second electrode, said second dielectric thereby positioned in between said second and third electrodes; (f) a third dielectric having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said third electrode; (g) a fourth electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said third dielectric; (h) means connecting said first and fourth electrodes to a control circuit whereby an electrical potential is established between said first and fourth electrodes; and (i) means connecting said second and third electrodes to an external circuit whereby, upon operation of said external circuit, said second and third electrodes are connected in said external circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a source of constant potential connected between said first and fourth electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second electrode comprises an electron emitter and said third electrode comprises an electron collector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said electron emitter emits electrons upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation and said apparatus comprises means for exposing said electron emitter to electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said apparatus forms a solar cell, said electromagnetic radiation comprises solar radiation, and said external circuit comprises a load driven by said solar cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said control circuit comprises a variable potential source for cyclically charging and discharging said solar cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for generating said electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic generating means comprises an electrically operated light emitting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said first, second, third and fourth electrodes and said first and third dielectrics are generally planar and positioned parallel to one another and said second dielectric comprises a gaseous medium, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for positioning said light emitting device generally centrally of said first, second, third and fourth electrodes and within the region of said second dielectric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said second dielectric means comprises a gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said second dielectric comprises a gaseous medium, said first and third dielectrics form top and bottom plates of a housing for housing said gaseous medium, said housing having side wall portions, and said apparatus further comprises a conductive grid surrounding said wall portions to reduce wall charge thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising a grid control electrode means positioned proximate said electron emitter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said grid control electrode means comprises a first control electrode positioned proximate one side of said electron emitter and a second control electrode positioned proximate the other side of said electron emitter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claims 1 or 5, or 9, or 12, wherein said first, second, third and fourth electrodes are generally planar and parallel to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claims 1 or 5, or 9, or 12, wherein said first, second, third and fourth electrodes and said first, second and third dielectrics are generally cylindrical and disposed concentrically with respect to one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said second dielectric comprises a gaseous medium forming a cylindrically disposed dielectric region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said external circuit comprises an inductor and said second and third electrodes form a capacitance for use as a tuning element in connection with said inductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a variable potential source for cyclically varying the potential between said first and fourth electrodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said variable potential source comprises a sine wave generator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said external circuit comprises a parallel circuit having two branches, a constant voltage source connected in one branch with said second and third electrodes and a resistive load connected in the other branch with said second and third electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said external circuit further comprises a diode connected in series with said constant voltage source in said one branch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a fifth electrode having major opposed surfaces, (b) a fourth dielectric having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate one surface of said fifth electrode, (c) a sixth electrode having major opposed surfaces, one surface thereof positioned proximate the other surface of said fourth dielectric, and (d) said fifth electrode, fourth dielectric and sixth electrode positioned between said second and third electrodes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth electrodes and said first, third and fourth dielectrics are generally planar and disposed parallel to one another, said second dielectric comprising a gaseous medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and fourth electrodes and said first and third dielectrics are generally planar and parallel to one another and said second electrode comprises an electron emitter and said third electrode comprises an electron collector, said apparatus further comprising: (a) an additional electron emitter positioned within the same general plane of said electron emitter, (b) an additional electron collector positioned within the same general plane of said electron emitter, and (c) means for deflecting electrons from said electron emitter to said additional electron collector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said deflection means comprises a pair of deflection electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2463632A
Cited
US3500101A
Cited
US3058022A
Cited
US3121648A
Cited
US3218196A
Cited
US3678378A
Cited
US3971938A
Cited
US4021788A
Cited
US4058729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-17 | 1983-06-18 | 1983-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-17 | 1987-06-18 | 1987-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-17 | 1991-06-18 | 1991-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |