Back to results
US 9,659,735 B2Granted
Applications of graphene grids in vacuum electronics
AssigneeElwha LLC
InventorsWilliam David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Max N. Mankin, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Graphene grids are configured for applications in vacuum electronic devices. A multilayer graphene grid is configured as a filter for electrons in a specific energy range, in a field emission device or other vacuum electronic device. A graphene grid can be deformable responsive to an input to vary electric fields proximate to the grid. A mesh can be configured to support a graphene grid.
Claims68
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the voltage is dynamically tunable, and wherein tuning the voltage changes the energy pass band.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a cathode and a graphene grid that are configured in a vacuum electronic device, wherein the graphene grid is configured to modulate a flow of electrons from the cathode in device operation;
- wherein the cathode and the graphene grid are receptive to a voltage to produce an electric field between the cathode and the graphene grid;
- and
- wherein the graphene grid is deformable responsive to an input, and wherein the deformation responsive to the input is selected to change the electric field between the cathode and the graphene grid.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a cathode and a grid that are configured in a vacuum electronic device, wherein the grid is configured to modulate a flow of electrons from the cathode in device operation;
- wherein the grid includes a layer of graphene on a support structure;
- and
- wherein the support structure is in contact with the cathode and the graphene grid, and wherein the support structure has a thickness that determines the separation between the cathode and the graphene grid.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the set of device parameters and the voltage are selected to maximize the transmission of electrons through the first grid for the energy pass band.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- and
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the set of device parameters are further selected to minimize a relative amount of inelastic scattering for a set of electron energies.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the set of device parameters includes a spacing between the at least two graphene layers that is at least partially determined by a spacer layer.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the set of device parameters includes a number of layers of graphene corresponding to the first grid, where the number of layers of graphene is greater than two.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- a second grid, wherein the set of device parameters includes a position of the second grid relative to the first grid, a cathode, and an anode.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein at least one of the at least two layers of graphene is doped.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the set of device parameters includes an incident angle defined by a direction of the flow of electrons and the first grid.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the first grid is arranged sufficiently close to a cathode to induce electron emission from the cathode when an electric potential is applied to the first grid in device operation.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first grid configured to receive a flow of electrons in a vacuum device, wherein the first grid includes at least two substantially parallel layers of graphene, and wherein the vacuum device is configured with a set of device parameters;
- wherein the first grid is receptive to a voltage source to produce a voltage in the first grid;
- wherein the first grid is configured to transmit electrons in an energy pass band that is at least partially determined by the voltage and the set of device parameters;
- and
- wherein the grid is characterized by an energy-dependent transmission probability spectrum, and wherein the set of device parameters is selected according to the energy dependent transmission probability spectrum.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a cathode and a grid that are configured in a vacuum electronic device, wherein the grid is configured to modulate a flow of electrons from the cathode in device operation;
- wherein the grid includes a layer of graphene on a support structure;
- and
- wherein the support structure includes at least one of a polymer, a silicon oxide, and silicon nitride.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a cathode and a grid that are configured in a vacuum electronic device, wherein the grid is configured to modulate a flow of electrons from the cathode in device operation;
- wherein the grid includes a layer of graphene on a support structure;
- and
- wherein the support structure includes an array of carbon nanotubes.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a cathode and a grid that are configured in a vacuum electronic device, wherein the grid is configured to modulate a flow of electrons from the cathode in device operation;
- wherein the grid includes a layer of graphene on a support structure;
- and
- wherein the support structure includes lacey carbon.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.