# US 7,408,173 B2 · Cold electron emitter

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- Number: US 7,408,173 B2
- Document ID: US7408173B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/152,049
- Filed: 2005-06-15
- Published: 2006-12-21
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2005-06-15
- Inventors: Wesam Khalil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7408173B2

## CPC

- H01J 35/065: {Field emission, photo emission or secondary emission cathodes}
- H01J 31/50: Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output
- H01J 2231/50015: Light
- H01J 2235/062: Cold cathodes
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

An electron emitter provides a photocell having at least one photosensitive side, an electron accelerator, an electron collector disposed between the photosensitive side of the photocell and the electron accelerator, a non-metallic vacuum chamber having an adjustable vacuum containing the photocell, the electron accelerator and the electron collector; and a light source to excite electrons on the photosensitive side of the photocell. Upon light activation, infrared light strikes the photocell, causing electrons to be excited and released. The highly positively charged electron accelerator will attract the electrons under sufficient vacuum conditions. Some of the electrons travelling towards the electron accelerator will encounter the electron collector and be collected thereon. The device may be used as a rectifier or regulator to replace vacuum tubes such as for audio amplifiers and high voltage devices. It may also have application as an x-ray generator, an electron microscope or a display screen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electron emitter device comprising:
a. a photocell having at least one photosensitive side;
an electron accelerator having a first adjustable potential difference applied thereto;
an electron collector having a second adjustable potential difference applied thereto, the electron collector disposed between the photosensitive side of the photocell and the electron accelerator;
a non-metallic vacuum chamber having an adjustable vacuum containing the photocell, the electron accelerator and the electron collector; and
a light source positioned to provide light of a wavelength selected to excite electrons on the photosensitive side of the photocell, wherein the light source is embedded within the photocell.

### Claim 2

An electron emitter device comprising:
a photocell having at least one photosensitive side;
an electron accelerator having a first adjustable potential difference applied thereto;
an electron collector having a second adjustable potential difference applied thereto, the electron collector disposed between the photosensitive side of the photocell and the electron accelerator;
a non-metallic vacuum chamber having an adjustable vacuum containing the photocell, the electron accelerator and the electron collector; and
a light source positioned to provide light of a wavelength selected to excite electrons on the photosensitive side of the photocell, wherein the first adjustable potential difference accelerator voltage is at least 12 KV when the vacuum does not exceed 23 inches HgV.