US1375474A - Photo-electric apparatus - Google Patents
Photo-electric apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US1375474A US1375474A US395082A US39508220A US1375474A US 1375474 A US1375474 A US 1375474A US 395082 A US395082 A US 395082A US 39508220 A US39508220 A US 39508220A US 1375474 A US1375474 A US 1375474A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- photo
- electric
- cell
- electrode
- selenium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N Selenium Chemical compound [Se] BUGBHKTXTAQXES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 239000011669 selenium Substances 0.000 description 16
- 229910052711 selenium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 16
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 8
- 235000015110 jellies Nutrition 0.000 description 8
- 239000002305 electric material Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000008274 jelly Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 4
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 3
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000008273 gelatin Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920000159 gelatin Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 235000019322 gelatine Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000011852 gelatine desserts Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012266 salt solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001817 Agar Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241000206576 Chondrus Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008272 agar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010445 mica Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052618 mica group Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007480 spreading Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/08—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors
Definitions
- My invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus, and more particularly relates to an lmproved photo-electric cell.
- One of the o jects of my present invention is to produce a photo-electric cell of relatively cheap construction and high actinic efiiciency, and for the purpose of better explaining the underlying principles of my new cell I have shown in the accompanying drawing two forms of cell which embody the features of my invention, but 1 do not limit myselfto the form of cell shown in the drawing, since the principles of my invention may be broadly applied to many other types of photo-electric devices.
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a very simple form of cell
- Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a modified cell of more rugged construction.
- 1 represents a plate of some conducting metal, such as copper for example
- 2 represents a layer of a photoelectric material such as metallic selenium
- 3 represents an aqueous electrolyte, such as a concentrated salt solution
- 4 represents a metallic electrode, such as stretched wires
- 4* represents a secondary metallic electrode of wires or wire gauze
- 5 represents gaskets of rubber or other suitable insulating material
- 6 represents a protecting plate of glass or other transparent covering material
- 7 represents clamps for suitably holding the other elements of the apparatus in proper position.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cell of the kind shown in section in F ig; 2, for the purpose of better showing the relationship of the clamp 7 to the other parts of the apparatus.
- VThis may be eflf'ected by any of the wellknown methods, a satisfactory method being the spreading of finely divided selenium evenly over a plate of copper, and then covering this layer of selenium with a flat plate of glass, mica, or other material, and simultaneously heating the copper plate and pressing the selenium layer.
- the selenium melts and forms a thin, smooth and firmlyadhering film. If glass is used, care must be taken in this operationto cool the glass surface at the'same time that the copper plate is being heated, as selenium tends to adhere firmly to glass when it is heated in con tact with it for some time.
- this transparent electrode is a thin film of gelatin or starch paste
- this transparent electrode is an aqueous salt solution.
- the essential feature of my invention is an electrically conducting and light-transparent electrode in contact with an electrically-conducting and light-transparent aqueous fluid or colloidal jelly, this latter material being in turn in contact with a photo-electric surface of selenium or like material, and this surface of selenium or other photo-sensitive material being in firm electrical and mechanical contact with a plate of metal, which serves as one electrode of the cell.
- I may use an electrode of agar jelly, chondrus jelly, silica jelly, or other similar materials.
- I may employ a grid of wires arranged in parallel position. Where I use two electrically insulated sets of electrodes, as 8" and 8 in Fig. 2, either or both of these may be composed of wire gauze, the purpose of employing two sets of electrodes being to indicate and utilize photo-electric differences of potential existing between these two sets of grids.
- the purpose of the cover 6, of glass or other transparent material, is to serve as a protection to the transparent aqueous electrolyte, and to reduce the evaporation of same.
- a thin layer of oil may replace this protecting glass surface to advantage, particularly in the case of photo-electric cells of large size,
- the light should preferably fall upon the cell in a direction perpendicular to the.
- gauze is not necessary, and wires stretched in parallel position maybe employed instead, the function of the wires being to assist the electrical conductivity of the aqueous electrolyte.
- the essential element of my invention is the employing of an aqueous solution or a colloidal jelly as one electrode of a photoelectric cell, in conjunction with a grid of wire or Wire gauze in or on such electrode, the aqueous electrode being in contact with a film of photo-electric material serving as 2.
- a transparent electrode for photoelectric cells comprising a grid of wire in contactwith an aqueous colloidal jelly.
- a transparent electrode for photoelectric cells comprising a sheet of wire gauge in contact with a sheet of an aqueous fiui 4.
- a photo-electric cell comprising a film of a photo-electric material in contact with a film of an aqueous fluid containing an electrode in the form of a wire grid.
- a photo-electric cell comprising a metallic electrode, a fihn of a photo-electric material in contact with such electrode, a thin layer of an aqueous fluid in contact with such photo-electric film, and a wire grid in contact with such aqueous fluid.
- a photoelectric cell comprising a metallic electrode, a film of a photo-electric material in contact with such electrode, a thin layer of an aqueous fluid in contact with such photo-electric film, a wire grid in contact with such aqueous fluid, and a layer of transparent material over the layer the film of aqueous electrolyte and the film of aqueous fluid to reduce the evaporation of photo-electric material having a surface of such fluid. of contact. 10 7.
- a photo-electric cell comprising a plate In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 5 of metal in contact With a film of photosubscribed my name this 2nd day of June,
Description
W. 0. SNELLING.
PHOTO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS.
APPLICATION r1150 JULY 9. 1920.
1,375,474. Patented Apr. 19,1921.
Fig.1
or wire gauze.
UNITED STATES WALTER O. SNELLING, OF ALLEN'IOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
PHOTO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS.
' Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented Apr. 19, 1921.
Application filed July 9, 1920. Serial No. 395,082.
To all whom it may concern.-
Be it known that I, WALTER O. SNELL NG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Photo-Electric'Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.
My invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus, and more particularly relates to an lmproved photo-electric cell.
It has long been known that selenium, particularly when in the form known as metallic selenium, undergoes a remarkable change in electrical resistance under the influence of actinic rays. In the absence of light the electrical resistance of selenium is relatively high, but in the presence of actinic rays the electrical resistance is greatly re duced, this property enabling selenium to be employed as a sensitive means for detecting and even measuring actinic radiation.
It has also been known for some time that light-sensitive selenium cells are themselves capable of generating electrical energy, when actinic ra s fall upon them.
One of the o jects of my present invention is to produce a photo-electric cell of relatively cheap construction and high actinic efiiciency, and for the purpose of better explaining the underlying principles of my new cell I have shown in the accompanying drawing two forms of cell which embody the features of my invention, but 1 do not limit myselfto the form of cell shown in the drawing, since the principles of my invention may be broadly applied to many other types of photo-electric devices.
In the drawing Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a very simple form of cell, while Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a modified cell of more rugged construction. In both of these figures 1 represents a plate of some conducting metal, such as copper for example, 2 represents a layer of a photoelectric material such as metallic selenium, 3 represents an aqueous electrolyte, such as a concentrated salt solution, and 4 represents a metallic electrode, such as stretched wires In Fig. 2, 4*" represents a secondary metallic electrode of wires or wire gauze, 5 represents gaskets of rubber or other suitable insulating material, 6 represents a protecting plate of glass or other transparent covering material and 7 represents clamps for suitably holding the other elements of the apparatus in proper position. 8, 8 and 8 represent wires for attaching the photo-electric cell to other electric apparatus. These elements are shown diagrammatically only, and no attempt has been made to show the relative thickness'of the layers of selenium or aqueous electrolyte; but preferably both of these should be very thin to insure minimum electrical resistance. The arrows in the drawing indicate light rays. Flg. 3 is a perspective view of a cell of the kind shown in section in F ig; 2, for the purpose of better showing the relationship of the clamp 7 to the other parts of the apparatus.
In the construction of my improved photoelectric cell I first prepare a thin film of a photo-sensitive material upon a material which is a good conductor of electricity.
VThis may be eflf'ected by any of the wellknown methods, a satisfactory method being the spreading of finely divided selenium evenly over a plate of copper, and then covering this layer of selenium with a flat plate of glass, mica, or other material, and simultaneously heating the copper plate and pressing the selenium layer. The selenium melts and forms a thin, smooth and firmlyadhering film. If glass is used, care must be taken in this operationto cool the glass surface at the'same time that the copper plate is being heated, as selenium tends to adhere firmly to glass when it is heated in con tact with it for some time. t
Having obtainedin the manner described, or in any other convenient way, a suitable layer of a photo-electric material on a good electrical conductor, I next prepare a transparent electrode in contactwith the photosensitive film, this constituting the essential element of my invention. In Fig. 1 this transparent electrode is a thin film of gelatin or starch paste, and in Fig. 2 this transparent electrode is an aqueous salt solution. Even when I use as my transparent electrode a colloidal jelly of starch paste, gelatin or other similar material, I find it of advantage to have an electrolyte such as dilute acid or a solution of ionizin salts present. Since even such colloidal jellies possessrelatively high electrical resistance, I find it of advantage to have such films as thin as possible, and I place in or over such films transparent gauze of wire of high electrical conductivity.
From the foregoing description it will be evident that the essential feature of my invention is an electrically conducting and light-transparent electrode in contact with an electrically-conducting and light-transparent aqueous fluid or colloidal jelly, this latter material being in turn in contact with a photo-electric surface of selenium or like material, and this surface of selenium or other photo-sensitive material being in firm electrical and mechanical contact with a plate of metal, which serves as one electrode of the cell.
Many efforts have hitherto been made to make photo-electric cells of low electrical resistance and high electrical sensitiveness. The most successful of such cells has been the Fritts cell, in which one electrode consists of a thin layer of selenium spread over one surface of a metal plate, while the other electrode consists of a thin sheet of metal foil in contact with the selenium surface. My present photo-electric cell may be considered as a modification and improvement of the F ritts cell, and I have discovered that by replacing the translucent gold foil electrode by an electrode comprising an aqueous solution of high electrical conductivity, the photo-electric efficiency of the cell is greatly increased.
It is evident that a wide range of equivalents may be employed, without departing from the spirit of my invention. Instead of employing a transparent electrode of starch paste or gelatin, I may use an electrode of agar jelly, chondrus jelly, silica jelly, or other similar materials. Instead of employing a gauze net-work in or on my transparent aqueous electrode I may employ a grid of wires arranged in parallel position. Where I use two electrically insulated sets of electrodes, as 8" and 8 in Fig. 2, either or both of these may be composed of wire gauze, the purpose of employing two sets of electrodes being to indicate and utilize photo-electric differences of potential existing between these two sets of grids. The purpose of the cover 6, of glass or other transparent material, is to serve as a protection to the transparent aqueous electrolyte, and to reduce the evaporation of same. Where a cell is used in a horizontal position, a thin layer of oil may replace this protecting glass surface to advantage, particularly in the case of photo-electric cells of large size, The light should preferably fall upon the cell in a direction perpendicular to the.
plane of the photo-electric film, the maxmum efficiency being thus obtained. Where 'it is desired to have photo-electric cells which are more sensitive to certain forms of radiation than to others, .as for example, cells which are more sensitive to rays of yellow light than to rays of green light, this result can be conveniently obtained by adding a suitable dye to the electrolyte 3,
the sensitiveness of the cell to selected colors being greatly influenced in this way.
I find it desirable in the construction of my conducting grids to'use wire of high electrical conductivity, since in this way I obtain minimum electrical resistance and maximum transmission of light through my aqueous electrode to the photo-electric surface. Although as mentioned I prefer to employ wire in the form of wire gauze, the
use of gauze is not necessary, and wires stretched in parallel position maybe employed instead, the function of the wires being to assist the electrical conductivity of the aqueous electrolyte.
The essential element of my invention is the employing of an aqueous solution or a colloidal jelly as one electrode of a photoelectric cell, in conjunction with a grid of wire or Wire gauze in or on such electrode, the aqueous electrode being in contact with a film of photo-electric material serving as 2. A transparent electrode for photoelectric cells comprising a grid of wire in contactwith an aqueous colloidal jelly.
3. A transparent electrode for photoelectric cells comprising a sheet of wire gauge in contact with a sheet of an aqueous fiui 4. A photo-electric cell comprising a film of a photo-electric material in contact with a film of an aqueous fluid containing an electrode in the form of a wire grid.
5. A photo-electric cell comprising a metallic electrode, a fihn of a photo-electric material in contact with such electrode, a thin layer of an aqueous fluid in contact with such photo-electric film, and a wire grid in contact with such aqueous fluid.
6. A photoelectric cell comprising a metallic electrode, a film of a photo-electric material in contact with such electrode, a thin layer of an aqueous fluid in contact with such photo-electric film, a wire grid in contact with such aqueous fluid, and a layer of transparent material over the layer the film of aqueous electrolyte and the film of aqueous fluid to reduce the evaporation of photo-electric material having a surface of such fluid. of contact. 10 7. A photo-electric cell comprising a plate In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 5 of metal in contact With a film of photosubscribed my name this 2nd day of June,
electric material and a grid of Wire in con- 1920. tact with a film of an aqueous electrolyte, WALTER O. SNELLING.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US395082A US1375474A (en) | 1920-07-09 | 1920-07-09 | Photo-electric apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US395082A US1375474A (en) | 1920-07-09 | 1920-07-09 | Photo-electric apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US1375474A true US1375474A (en) | 1921-04-19 |
Family
ID=23561620
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US395082A Expired - Lifetime US1375474A (en) | 1920-07-09 | 1920-07-09 | Photo-electric apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US1375474A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2763752A (en) * | 1953-10-12 | 1956-09-18 | Siemens Ag | Electric fuse for retarded or rapid operation |
| US2815414A (en) * | 1953-10-12 | 1957-12-03 | Siemens Ag | Electric fuse elements for retarded or rapid response |
| US3422270A (en) * | 1964-10-16 | 1969-01-14 | Philco Ford Corp | Logic and learning/recognition systems using bistable optical laminae |
| US4224081A (en) * | 1974-11-27 | 1980-09-23 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Solar cell sealed by glass laminations |
| US4308857A (en) * | 1979-09-20 | 1982-01-05 | Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation | Evacuated envelope and solar energy receiver |
| US6018124A (en) * | 1998-01-15 | 2000-01-25 | Lidow; Nicholai Hart | Selenium photo generator cell with fluid top electrode |
-
1920
- 1920-07-09 US US395082A patent/US1375474A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2763752A (en) * | 1953-10-12 | 1956-09-18 | Siemens Ag | Electric fuse for retarded or rapid operation |
| US2815414A (en) * | 1953-10-12 | 1957-12-03 | Siemens Ag | Electric fuse elements for retarded or rapid response |
| US3422270A (en) * | 1964-10-16 | 1969-01-14 | Philco Ford Corp | Logic and learning/recognition systems using bistable optical laminae |
| US4224081A (en) * | 1974-11-27 | 1980-09-23 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Solar cell sealed by glass laminations |
| US4308857A (en) * | 1979-09-20 | 1982-01-05 | Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation | Evacuated envelope and solar energy receiver |
| US6018124A (en) * | 1998-01-15 | 2000-01-25 | Lidow; Nicholai Hart | Selenium photo generator cell with fluid top electrode |
| US6078007A (en) * | 1998-01-15 | 2000-06-20 | Lidow; Nicholai Hart | Selenium photo generator cell with fluid top electrode |
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