Back to results
US 10,903,035 B2Granted
High-frequency vacuum electronic device
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsDaniel W. van der Weide, Max Lagally, Francesca Cavallo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-assembling element fabricated using integrated circuit techniques may provide a small diameter helical conductor surrounding an electron beam for the construction of a vacuum electronic device such as a traveling-wave tube for terahertz scale signal.
Claims24
A vacuum electronic device comprising:
- a housing defining a cavity supporting a vacuum;
- an electron source for generating a beam of electrons directed along an axis through the cavity;
- a helical conductor spiraling about the axis and including a strip presenting a stress gradient along its thickness when flat, the stress gradient causing the strip to relax to form a helix of the helical conductor, the strip having edges flanking the helical conductor to also spiral about the axis when the strip relaxes to form the helix;
- and
- a coupler directing an electromagnetic signal into the helical conductor for amplification of the electromagnetic signal by a transfer of energy from the electron beam to the electromagnetic signal in the helical conductor.
2 more elements
A method of fabricating a vacuum electronic device of a type having:
- a housing defining a cavity supporting a vacuum;
- an electron source for generating a beam of electrons directed along an axis through the cavity;
- a helical conductor spiraling about the axis and including a prestressed strip relaxing to form a helix of the helical conductor, the strip having edges flanking the helical conductor to also spiral about the axis when the strip relaxes to form the helix;
- and
- a coupler system for coupling an electromagnetic signal into the helical conductor for amplification by a transfer of energy from the electron beam to the electromagnetic signal in the helical conductor, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a sacrificial layer to a substrate;
- (b) applying at least one strip material to the sacrificial layer having a stress gradient when attached to the sacrificial layer to create a prestressed strip;
- and
- (c) separating the strip layer from the sacrificial layer to form the helical conductor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.