Charge management of electrically isolated objects via modulated photoelectric charge transfer
First Claim
1. A method for transferring charge to or from an electrically isolated test body, the method comprising:
- disposing a reference body in proximity to said test body;
applying a modulated electrical bias between said test body and said reference body;
illuminating said reference body and said test body with modulated optical radiation;
wherein said modulation of said electrical bias and said modulation of said optical radiation are phase coherent;
wherein a wavelength of said optical radiation is sufficiently short that charged particles are emitted from surfaces of said test and reference bodies illuminated by said optical radiation;
wherein said emitted charged particles move between said reference body and said test body in response to said electrical bias;
wherein one or more parameters of said modulated electrical bias and of said modulated optical radiation are selected to set a magnitude and direction of a charge transfer rate between said test body and said reference body;
wherein said parameters include a phase relation between said electrical bias and said optical radiation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Charge transfer is provided to or from an electrically isolated test body by AC modulation of the photoelectric effect. More specifically, a reference body is disposed near the test body without physical contact between the reference and test bodies. Facing surfaces of the reference and test bodies are illuminated by optical radiation having a sufficiently short wavelength that charged particles are emitted from the reference and test bodies. An electrical bias is established between the reference body and the test body. Both the optical radiation and the electrical bias are modulated at the same frequency. A magnitude and direction of a charge transfer rate between the reference and test bodies is set by selecting a phase relation between the optical radiation and the electrical bias.
12 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for transferring charge to or from an electrically isolated test body, the method comprising:
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disposing a reference body in proximity to said test body;
applying a modulated electrical bias between said test body and said reference body;
illuminating said reference body and said test body with modulated optical radiation;
wherein said modulation of said electrical bias and said modulation of said optical radiation are phase coherent;
wherein a wavelength of said optical radiation is sufficiently short that charged particles are emitted from surfaces of said test and reference bodies illuminated by said optical radiation;
wherein said emitted charged particles move between said reference body and said test body in response to said electrical bias;
wherein one or more parameters of said modulated electrical bias and of said modulated optical radiation are selected to set a magnitude and direction of a charge transfer rate between said test body and said reference body;
wherein said parameters include a phase relation between said electrical bias and said optical radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for transferring charge to or from an electrically isolated test body, the system comprising:
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a reference body disposed in proximity to said test body;
bias circuitry for applying a modulated electrical bias between said test body and said reference body;
an optical source for illuminating said reference body and said test body with modulated optical radiation;
wherein said modulation of said electrical bias and said modulation of said optical radiation are phase coherent;
wherein a wavelength of said optical radiation is sufficiently short that charged particles are emitted from surfaces of said test and reference bodies illuminated by said optical radiation;
wherein said emitted charged particles move between said reference body and said test body in response to said electrical bias;
wherein one or more parameters of said modulated electrical bias and of said modulated optical radiation are selected to set a magnitude and direction of a charge transfer rate between said test body and said reference body;
wherein said parameters include a phase relation between said electrical bias and said optical radiation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification