US5605171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Porous silicon with embedded tritium as a stand-alone prime power source for optoelectronic applications
Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
•
Filing: 1995-08-18
•
Granted: 1997-02-25
•
Expires: 2015-08-18
Abstract
Abstract An illumination source comprising a porous silicon having a source of electrons on the surface and/or interticies thereof having a total porosity in the range of from about 50 v/o to about 90 v/o. Also disclosed are a tritiated porous silicon and a photovoltaic device and an illumination source of tritiated porous silicon.
Inventors
- 👤 Shiu-Wing Tam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:21
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/80; H10H20/81; H10H20/822; H10H20/826; H10H20/8264; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/96
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
An illumination source comprising a porous silicon having a source of electrons on the surface and/or intersticies thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
An illumination source comprising a porous silicon having a source of electrons on the surface and/or intersticies thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein said porous silicon has a total porosity in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein said porous silicon has a pore size distribution in the range of from about 1 to about 100 nanometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein a sufficient quantity of said source of electrons is present to provide radiation of not less than about 10 millicuries/cm 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein a sufficient quantity of said source electrons is present to provide radiation in the range of from about 10 to about 100 millicuries/cm 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein said electron source is tritium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein said porous silicon is optically transparent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The illumination source of claim 1, wherein said porous silicon has a thickness in the range of from about 10 to about 50 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The illumination source of claim 8, and further comprising a photovoltaic device in optical proximity thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The illumination source of claim 8, and further comprising an optoelectronic mechanism operatively connected thereto for converting light from said illumination source to an electrical signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
8 words
An illumination source comprising a tritiated porous silicon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
An illumination source comprising a tritiated porous silicon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The illumination source of claim 11, wherein said porous silicon has a porosity in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by volume.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The illumination source of claim 11, wherein the porous silicon has pores not exceeding about 100 nanometers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The illumination source of claim 11, wherein the porous silicon has a pore size distribution in the range of from about 1 to about 100 nanometers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The illumination source of claim 11, wherein there is sufficient tritium in said porous silicon to provide radiation of not less than 10 millicuries/cm 3 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of a photovoltaic device and an illumination source of tritiated porous silicon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of a photovoltaic device and an illumination source of tritiated porous silicon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein said tritiated porous silicon has a total porosity in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by volume.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 16, wherein said porous silicon has a pore size distribution in the range of from about 1 to about 100 nanometers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 16, wherein said porous silicon is optically transparent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of an illumination source of tritiated porous silicon with one or more microelectro-mechanical systems.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of an illumination source of tritiated porous silicon with one or more microelectro-mechanical systems.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 20, wherein said porous silicon has a total porosity in the range of from about 50% to about 90% by volume.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 20, wherein said porous silicon is optically transparent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein said systems include one or more of electronic sensors, actuators, micropumps and microvalves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5082505A
Cited
US5124610A
Cited
US5285078A
Cited
US5272355A
Cited
US5301204A
Cited
US5396141A
Cited
US5443657A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-25 | 2000-08-26 | 2001-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-25 | 2004-08-26 | 2005-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-25 | 2008-08-26 | 2009-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |