Thermo-quiescent reservoir system for a gaseous-discharge device

A reservoir system for a gaseous-discharge device, comprises:

• a heater coil having electrical leads adapted to be coupled to a voltage source, said heater coil being adapted to generate heat in correspondence with a heater voltage provided by said voltage source;
• a reservoir material layer adapted to regulate pressure of a gas within said gaseous-discharge device in accordance with temperature of said reservoir material;
• and
• means for transferring heat from said heater coil to said reservoir material, said transferring means having a thermal path resistance that increases as temperature of said heater coil increases so that said reservoir material increases in temperature at a slower rate than said heater coil.

A reservoir system for a gaseous-discharge device, comprises:

• a heater coil having electrical leads adapted to be coupled to a voltage source, said heater coil being adapted to generate heat in correspondence with a heater voltage provided by said voltage source;
• a reservoir material layer adapted to regulate pressure of a gas within said gaseous-discharge device in accordance with temperature of said reservoir material;
• and
• means for transferring heat from said heater coil to said reservoir material, said transferring means having a thermal path resistance that increases as temperature of said heater coil increases so that said reservoir material increases in temperature at a slower rate than said heater coil,
• wherein said transferring means comprises:
• an electrically insulating layer surrounding said heater coil;
• a first thermally conductive layer coupled to said electrically insulating layer, said first thermally conductive layer being adapted to evenly conduct heat from said heater coil through said electrically insulating layer;
• a second thermally conductive layer coupled to said first thermally conductive layer, said second thermally conductive layer having a coefficient of expansion substantially greater than that of said first thermally conductive layer and a thermal conductivity less than that of said first thermally conductive layer;
• and
• a third thermally conductive layer coupled between said second thermally conductive layer and said reservoir material layer, said third thermally conductive layer comprising a ductile material to absorb expansion of said second thermally conductive layer.

A reservoir system for a gaseous-discharge device, comprises:

• a heater coil having electrical leads adapted to be coupled to a voltage source, said heater coil being adapted to generate heat in correspondence with a heater voltage provided by said voltage source;
• a reservoir material layer adapted to regulate pressure of a gas within said gaseous-discharge device in accordance with temperature of said reservoir material;
• and
• means for transferring heat from said heater coil to said reservoir material, said transferring means having a thermal path resistance that increases as temperature of said heater coil increases so that said reservoir material increases in temperature at a slower rate than said heater coil,
• wherein said reservoir material adsorbs/absorbs or releases the gas as the temperature of the reservoir material is varied.

A reservoir system for a gaseous-discharge device, comprises:

• a heater coil having electrical leads adapted to be coupled to a voltage source, said heater coil being adapted to generate heat in correspondence with a heater voltage provided by said voltage source;
• an electrically insulating layer surrounding said heater coil;
• a first thermally conductive layer coupled to said electrically insulating layer;
• a second thermally conductive layer coupled to said first thermally conductive layer;
• a third thermally conductive layer coupled between said second thermally conductive layer and said reservoir material layer, said third thermally conductive layer comprising a ductile material adapted to absorb expansion of said second thermally conductive layer;
• and
• a reservoir material layer adapted to regulate pressure of a gas within said gaseous-discharge device in accordance with temperature of said reservoir material,
• wherein said first, second and third thermally conductive layers have different thermal conductivity and coefficients of expansion;
• and
• wherein thermal resistance between said reservoir material and said first thermally conductive layer increases as temperature of said heater coil increases due to thermal expansion of said second thermally conductive layer.