Cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source
OwnerEric C. Bretschneiderinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cathode-ray ultraviolet light source comprising: an elongated glass envelope having a first end and second end, the glass envelope defining an evacuated volume; an electron gun positioned within the evacuated volume proximate to the first end and being capable of developing an electron beam; a target disposed within the evacuated volume between the first and second end of the glass envelope, the target comprising a phosphor material covered with a reflective metal film; and an electron beam focusing and deflecting mechanism disposed within the evacuated volume between the electron gun and the target to direct the electron beam towards the reflective metal film of the target.
Claims16
A cathode-ray ultraviolet light source comprising:
- an elongated glass envelope having a first end and second end, the glass envelope defining an evacuated volume;
- an electron gun positioned within the evacuated volume proximate to the first end and being capable of developing an electron beam;
- a target disposed within the evacuated volume between the first and second end of the glass envelope, the target comprising a phosphor material including one or more of AlN, AlGaN and hexagonal boron nitride, and a reflective metal film at least partially covering the phosphor material;
- and
- an electron beam focusing and deflecting mechanism disposed within the evacuated volume between the electron gun and the target to steer an electron beam spot across the reflective metal film of the target to penetrate the metal film and to cause the phosphor material to emit ultraviolet (UV) light in the wavelength range of 190-280 nm, wherein a diameter of the spot is in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm.
A method for operating a cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source comprising:
- steering an electron beam to create a moving spot having a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm on a reflective metal film covering a phosphor comprising one or more of AlN, AlGaN and hexagonal boron nitride in an evacuated glass envelope;
- and
- emitting ultraviolet (UV) light in the wavelength range of 190-280 nm from the phosphor through the glass envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.