US5359256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regulatable field emitter device and method of production thereof
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1992-07-30
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Granted: 1994-10-25
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Expires: 2012-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A non-power generating current limiting device such as a field effect transistor is provided to output a regulated current in dependence upon a control voltage. An electron field emitter is connected to a drain or output of the non-power generating current limiting device to receive the regulated current. A tip of the electron field emitter emits electrons towards a collector anode. An extractor gate can be provided between the electron field emitter and the collector anode to control the rate of electron emission from the electron field emitter. Because the non-power generating current limiting device regulates the current to the electron field emitter, a maximum current output of the electron field emitter is limited to the regulated current from the voltage controlled current source. The electron field emitter is thus protected from destruction due to excess current. The non-power generating current limiting device can also be used to modulate electron emission from the field emitter.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry F. Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J3/00; H01J3/02; H01J3/021; H01J3/022; H01J21/00; H01J21/02; H01J21/06; H01J21/10; H01J21/105; H01J7/00; H01J7/44; H01J9/00; H01J9/02; H01J9/022; H01J9/025; H01J2201/00; H01J2201/30; H01J2201/319
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A field emitter device comprising: a voltage controlled current source to output a regulated current in dependence upon a control voltage; and an electron field emitter operatively connected to said voltage controlled current source and configured in an arrangement sufficient to allow electrons to be emitted from said electron field emitter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A field emitter device comprising: a voltage controlled current source to output a regulated current in dependence upon a control voltage; and an electron field emitter operatively connected to said voltage controlled current source and configured in an arrangement sufficient to allow electrons to be emitted from said electron field emitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled current source is a constant current source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said electron field emitter is electrically connected to only said voltage controlled current source and thereby floating with respect to remaining electrical connections within said device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled current source comprises a semiconductor which operates always in a saturated current region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled current source comprises a semiconductor which operates always in an active current region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled current source comprises a tetrode or vacuum tube-type device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled current source comprises a transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said transistor comprises a field effect transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said field effect transistor comprises a drain and wherein said electron field emitter is electrically connected to the drain of said field effect transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said electron field emitter and said field effect transistor each consists of monolithic layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 9, further comprising an extractor gate disposed between said electron field emitter and said electrostatic output port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said constant current source comprises a field effect transistor having a source, a gate and a drain, the gate operatively connected to the source and the drain electrically connected to said electron field emitter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 12, further comprising a variable device having an input and an output, wherein the input and the output of said variable device are respectively connected to the gate and the source of said field effect transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said variable device comprises a variable resistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said variable device comprises a variable field effect transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer connected between said voltage controlled current source and more than one said electron field emitter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 16, further comprising a screen lined with luminescent material and having the more than one said electron field emitter adjacent to one side of said screen so that said screen illuminates in response to electrons emitted from selected ones of said more than one said electron field emitter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising a collector anode; and an extractor gate electrostatically disposed between said electron field emitter and said collector anode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 18, wherein said electron field emitter, said voltage control current source and said extractor gate each consists of monolithic layers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is surrounded by an encapsulation material with at least one electrical input connected to said voltage controlled current source and an electrostatic output port adjacent to said electron field emitter to permit emission of electrons therethrough.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
44 words
A device comprising: a voltage controlled current source to provide a regulated current; an electron field emitter operatively connected to said voltage controlled current source to receive the regulated current; and a collector anode disposed to receive electrons emitted from said electron field emitter.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
44 words
A device comprising: a voltage controlled current source to provide a regulated current; an electron field emitter operatively connected to said voltage controlled current source to receive the regulated current; and a collector anode disposed to receive electrons emitted from said electron field emitter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 21, further comprising an extraction gate disposed between said electron field emitter and said collector anode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein said extractor gate is held at a fixed voltage potential at all times during operation of said device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
A field emitter device comprising: a current limiting device whose limiting value is determined by an electric potential; and an ungated electron field emitter operatively connected to said current limiting device and configured in an arrangement sufficient to allow electrons to pass through the current limiting device and to be emitted from said electron field emitter;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A field emitter device comprising: a current limiting device whose limiting value is determined by an electric potential; and an ungated electron field emitter operatively connected to said current limiting device and configured in an arrangement sufficient to allow electrons to pass through the current limiting device and to be emitted from said electron field emitter;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 24, wherein said current limiting device comprises a field effect transistor having a source, a gate and a drain, the gate operatively connected to the source and the drain electrically connected to said electron field emitter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 25, further comprising a variable device having an input and an output, wherein the input and the output of said variable device are respectively connected to the source of the current and the source of said field effect transistor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 26, wherein said electron field emitter, said current limiting device consists of monolithic layers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 24, further comprising an extractor and collector anode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 24, wherein said device is surrounded by an encapsulation material with at least one electrical input connected to said current limiting device and an electrostatic output port adjacent to said electron field emitter to permit emission of electrons therethrough.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |