Thermionic electric converter
AssigneeThermocon, Inc.
InventorEdwin Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermionic electric converter includes a cathode output enhancing laser (374) operable to direct a laser beam (376) to strike an emissive surface of a cathode emitter (321), to increase the electron output of the cathode emitter (321). The cathode output enhancing lase (374) is positioned to direct a laser beam (375) through an opening (370) in the anode (306) or target structure, in the direction of the cathode emitter (321). An electron repulsion ring (380) is provided at an edge of the opening (370) in the anode (306), to reduce the number of electrons missing the anode (306) and passing through the opening (370) in the anode (306).
Claims21
A thermionic electric converter comprising:
- a casing member;
- a cathode within said casing member having a cathode emitter operable, when heated, to serve as a source of electrons;
- a target structure within the casing member comprising an anode operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode emitter;
- and
- a cathode output enhancing device operable to increase an excitation energy of electrons disposed at said cathode emitter.
A thermionic electric converter comprising:
- a casing member;
- a cathode within said casing member having a cathode emitter operable, when heated, to serve as a source of electrons,
- a target structure within the casing member comprising an anode operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode emitter;
- a cathode enhancing laser positioned to direct a laser beam to strike an emissive surface of said cathode emitter;
- and
- a controller operable to raster said laser beam across said emissive surface of said cathode emitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.