US 8,035,295 B2 · Field-emission cathode, with optical control

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically-controlled field-emission cathode, comprising a substrate (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100) having at least one conducting surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101) and at least one conducting emitter element (16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96, 106) in the vicinity of a conducting surface, characterized in that it also comprises at least one photoconducting element (13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93, 103) electrically connected in series between at least one emitter element and a conducting surface of the substrate. Another subject of the invention is an amplifier tube comprising such a cathode. The application is for Vacuum tubes, in particular for microwave amplification, with a view for example to applications in telecommunications.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An optically-controlled field-emission cathode, comprising:

a substrate having at least one conducting surface;
at least one conducting emitter element;
and
a photoconducting element electrically connected in series between each conducting emitter element and a conducting surface of the substrate;
wherein the photoconducting element has an upper face and a conducting layer disposed thereon, the conducting layer disposed between the upper face and the emitter element;
and
wherein the conducting layer at the upper face of the photoconducting element is of a dimension similar or less than a height of the emitter.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Field-emission cathode, with optical control

Life of this patent

Field-emission cathode, with optical control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23