Photo induced enhanced field electron emission collector
AssigneePacific Integrated Energy, Inc.
InventorPhillip J. Layton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromagnetic energy collector and sensor use enhanced fields to emit electrons for energy collection. The collector and sensor collect energy from visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. The collector and sensor include a waveguide with a geometry selected to enhance the electric field along a conductor to create a high, localized electric field, which causes electron emission across a gap to a return plane.
Claims30
A method for collecting electromagnetic energy and generating electrical energy, the method comprising:
- receiving the electromagnetic energy by a first end of at least one waveguide having a first cross-sectional dimension defined by an inner surface of the at least one waveguide, wherein said at least one waveguide is adapted to capture and enhance an electric field from said electromagnetic energy to create a high, localized electric field;
- propagating the electromagnetic energy toward a second end of the at least one waveguide, wherein the second end of the at least one waveguide has a second cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension, wherein said at least one waveguide has at least one other cross-sectional dimension that is between the first cross-sectional dimension and the second cross-sectional dimension, and wherein said at least one other cross-sectional dimension corresponds to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy received by said at least one waveguide;
- and
- interacting the electromagnetic energy with the inner surface of the at least one waveguide to generate an emission of electrons from the at least one waveguide to an anode.
A method for generating electrical energy from electromagnetic energy, comprising:
- exposing a first end of at least one waveguide to electromagnetic energy, wherein said at least one waveguide has a first cross-sectional dimension defined by an inner surface of the at least one waveguide, and wherein said at least one waveguide is adapted to capture and enhance an electric field from said electromagnetic energy to create a high, localized electric field,
- wherein, upon exposure of said first end to said electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy propagates toward a second end of the at least one waveguide, the second end of the at least one waveguide having a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension, and wherein said at least one waveguide has at least one other cross-sectional dimension between the first cross-sectional dimension and the second cross-sectional dimension, wherein said at least one other cross-sectional dimensional corresponds to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy exposed to said at least one waveguide, and
- wherein the interaction between said electromagnetic energy and said inner surface of the at least one waveguide generates an emission of electrons from the at least one waveguide to an anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.