Plasma electron source for cold-cathode discharge device or the like
First Claim
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1. A plasma electron source for a vacuum device comprising:
- (a) a cathode having aperture means;
(b) a housing for defining a cavity behind said aperture means;
(c) a trigger electrode in communication with the cavity, and responsive to a short-duration trigger pulse for establishing plasma in the cavity; and
(d) means for confining the plasma to the cavity.
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Abstract
A plasma electron source has an apertured cathode, and a housing for defining a cavity behind the aperture. A trigger electrode, in communication with the cavity, is responsive to a short-duration trigger pulse for establishing plasma in the cavity. The plasma is sustained in the cavity subsequent to the termination of the trigger pulse by a bias circuit, which biases the cavity at a relatively low voltage with respect to the cathode for a period of time much longer than the duration of the trigger pulse.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A plasma electron source for a vacuum device comprising:
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(a) a cathode having aperture means; (b) a housing for defining a cavity behind said aperture means; (c) a trigger electrode in communication with the cavity, and responsive to a short-duration trigger pulse for establishing plasma in the cavity; and (d) means for confining the plasma to the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification