US1989462A - Ionic amplifier - Google Patents

Ionic amplifier Download PDF

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Publication number
US1989462A
US1989462A US702667A US70266733A US1989462A US 1989462 A US1989462 A US 1989462A US 702667 A US702667 A US 702667A US 70266733 A US70266733 A US 70266733A US 1989462 A US1989462 A US 1989462A
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United States
Prior art keywords
grid
cathode
tube
discharge
mercury
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
Application number
US702667A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ruben Samuel
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to US702667A priority Critical patent/US1989462A/en
Priority to GB14306/34A priority patent/GB439879A/en
Priority to ES0134642A priority patent/ES134642A1/es
Priority to FR774088D priority patent/FR774088A/fr
Priority to BE403775D priority patent/BE403775A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1989462A publication Critical patent/US1989462A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/50—Thermionic-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/52—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode
    • H01J17/54—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode having one or more control electrodes
    • H01J17/56—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode having one or more control electrodes for preventing and then permitting ignition, but thereafter having no control

Definitions

  • FIG.1. SM/2a kw J a b 4 a 7 C 6'2 f 3 6 2b i: I: 10 L L Li: I I I i l I i i i I v III II I I! III I I I 'y/ I II I 4 I I l/ A INVENTOR SAMUEL RUBEN ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE romc AMPLIFIER Samuel Ruben, New Rochelle, N. Y. Application December 16, 1933, Serial No. 102,667
  • Thisinvention relates to an ionic discharge amplifier.
  • An object of the invention is the provision of an ionic discharge device capable of being used as an amplifier and specifically to provide a device capable of being used as a power detector in a radio receiving circuit without the requirement of an auxiliary audio amplifier.
  • Another object is to provide a means of ob-- taining a sensitive or graduated control of an ionic discharge throughout the entire current output range.
  • a specific object is to obtain such a control electrostatically by the use of an initially negatively biased grid element and with minimum grid current fiow.
  • a further object is the provision of an amplifier device in which the higher power output obtainable by the use of an ionized metal vapor such as mercury or mercury amalgam can be controlled by an electron discharge within the amplifier device.
  • An object is to provide an electrical discharge tube allowing a load impedance and a power output and sensitivity greater than that obtainable from vacuum type amplifier tubes of comparable structure.
  • a specific object is to provide an electrical dischargetube having an atmosphere of restricted vapor pressure and in which the mean free path length is greater than the distance between the cathode and control element.
  • An object of this invention is to provide in an electron discharge tube a limited vapor atmos phere insufficient to allow conduction within certain areas by ionic conduction, but sufiicient to allow a reduced electron space charge.
  • 'Still another object is to employ in tubes of the type described an atmosphere which is the resultant product of two materials one having a relatively low vapor pressure, for instance, cadmium, and one having a relatively high vapor pressure such as mercury, the ratio of composition being such as to prevent an excessive rise of pressure which might tend to cause an arc-like discharge under operating conditions.
  • arclike discharges are caused by ionic bombardment in devices where the pressure is such that the meanfree path length is less than the distance between the elements maintained at a potential difference.
  • Fig. 1 shows a tube of the invention in an operable circuit
  • Fig. 2 is a top view, showing the arrangement of the elements.
  • the tube may also be used in other circuits and for such other uses as combined oscillator and detector, audio and radio frequency amplifier, 5 voltage amplifier in connection with such devices as photo cells, relays, etc.
  • the tube physically comprises an electron emission cathode, an anode, an ionizable medium, a control grid surrounding the cathode, a shield 10 or space charge grid surrounding the control gr'id, Q a third grid surrounding the shield grid and facilities at the terminals of the electron emiss'ion areas for confining the discharge directly to the space between the cathode and anode through 5 the grids.
  • the spacings between the tube elements are of fundamental. importance; are dependent upon such factors as vapor pressure and mean free path length and controLthe operation and effectiveness of the tube.
  • the device operates with a direct electrostatic control of an electron discharge with means of shielding the control electrode from an ionic discharge resulting vfrom impact of the con-'- trolled electron discharge with the vapor atmos- 5 phere.
  • thermionic discharge tubes of the prior art employing a'thermionic cathode in a space charge reducing atmosphere such as mercury, only a trigger type of control is obtained.
  • the grid has little influence on the discharge, the change in grid voltage merely varying the thickness of the sheath of positive ions surrounding the grid.
  • 35 the plate potential must be disrupted to extinguish the discharge.
  • the trigger potential is determined by the initial amplification factor of the tube. This trigger characteristic has prevented the use of tubes of this type in circuits such 40 as shown in the'drawing or-in other audio amplifier circuits requiring a graduated or non-distorted amplification of an applied control potential to the grid control element.
  • the electron discharge surrounding the oathode is directly controlled by a grid located close to the cathode, preferably within the "cathode fall space", at a distance less than the mean free path length of the electrons in the ionizable medium.
  • the control grid is surrounded by a positively charged grid which serves a two-fold purpose: It tends to lower the impedance and space charge and reduces the migration of positive ions to the control grid.
  • the tube of this invention differs from the tubes described in my co-pending applications. Instead of having a fairly definite limit at which the control grid may be placed from the cathode, as represented by the cathode fall space described in the prior applications, the area of controllable electron discharge adjacent the cathode has been extended. This allows a more practical structure and has the effect of reducing sputtering of the elements.
  • the surrounding anode may be located at a distance beyond the cathode fall space or at a distance greater than the mean free path length of the electrons in the ionizable medium; also as in my other tubes, the discharge is confined directly to the space between the cathode and anode, through the grids.
  • the control grid When looking downward in the tube, (when operating) it is observed that the area between the cathode and control grid is dark; that the area between the control grid and the second grid (first positively charged grid) is dark with negligible visible discharge; that there may be a faint luminosity in the area between the second and third grids, but that the area between the third or outer grid and the anode, is highly luminous, due to the increased ionization of the vapor in this space.
  • the control grid isoperated in a relatively ion free atmosphere, as can be further noted from low grid current flow when biased negatively, and the smooth and stepless control of the plate current output.
  • the relative luminous effects noted in this tube are not due to means used in the prior art, where, for example, a self supporting discharge was used with a control grid located in the cathode dark space, or where screens have been used to separate the discharge 'into two definite classes.
  • the negligible amount of ionization in my tube near the cathode is due to the use of an electrode distance less than the electron mean free path length which with the spacial relations used is obtained by use of the cadmium amalgam as a source of ionizing medium.
  • the potential applied to the second grld should be less than is necessary to intensely ionize the space between it and the cathode and is determined by the combined effect of ionization potential of the gas, the gas pressure and the field voltage gradient across the first grid.
  • That the potential applied to the second grid should not be of such a magnitude as to force a localized ionic discharge from it to the cathode through the control grid.
  • the ionizable medium should have limited or restricted maximum pressure rise.
  • the three grids should preferably be as close as practicable. It is desirable that they should have approximately the same number of turns.
  • the inert gases neon, helium, argon, etc., can be any inert gases, neon, helium, argon, etc.
  • the cathode fall space was such that the control grid was spaced at a distance approximately only .010" from the cathode.
  • the control electrode can be spaced .040" from the cathode with negligible ionization in the space therebetween.
  • the space between the control grid and second grid and between second and outer grid is also of this magnitude.
  • the ⁇ discharge should be confined to the space between the cathode emitting surface and the anode and diretly through the This is accomplished byproviding blockmembers, such as mica discs at the anode ends of the cathode emitting surface terminals, transverse electrical field of such terminals as provided will flow to length is less than the diffused uncontrollable discharge free path supported by lead terminal (2b).
  • blockmembers such as mica discs at the anode ends of the cathode emitting surface terminals
  • transverse electrical field of such terminals as provided will flow to length is less than the diffused uncontrollable discharge free path supported by lead terminal (2b).
  • Closely surrounding the cathode is control grid (3) supported by lead (3b), and support (30) and which has an inside diameter about mils greater than that of the outside diameter of the cathode.
  • the nickel anode (6) is of .750" diameter and at its terminals appear mica (9) for confining the discharge to tween the cathode and anode maintain the elements are held in
  • the cathode is heated ('1) which has an integrally formed coating of aluminum oxide to insulate it from
  • the capsule (10) contains cadmium-mercury amalgam and a getter such as magnesium.
  • (RF) is the radio frequency which is applied to the grid (3) and cathode (2) through the negative biasing portion of resistance (R1) which is shunted across plate potential supply (E allowing a positive potential to be applied to shield grids
  • At (C) is the output condenser for the anode potential supply and at (S) a translating device, such as a loud speaker.
  • the assembled tube should be completely degasified and the alkaline earth oxides broken down to their active form as is general practice, the magnesium getter and the mercury amalgam pill being discharged into the tube.
  • the third grid potential can be varied within limits so as to be positive or negative with respect to the second grid.
  • the cathode (2) is raised to emission temperature, and electrons are discharged therefrom.
  • the control grid (3) being located within the dense electron field immediately adjathe space beand which help to.
  • the tube While most of the above description of the tube relates to its employment as a detector, it may, however, be used as a tube having a very high power sensitivity.

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  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)
  • Cell Electrode Carriers And Collectors (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
US702667A 1933-12-16 1933-12-16 Ionic amplifier Expired - Lifetime US1989462A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US702667A US1989462A (en) 1933-12-16 1933-12-16 Ionic amplifier
GB14306/34A GB439879A (en) 1933-12-16 1934-05-11 Improvements in ionic amplifier or detector tube
ES0134642A ES134642A1 (es) 1933-12-16 1934-05-31 PERFECCIONAMIENTOS INTRODUCIDOS EN LOS AMPLIFICADORES IoNICOS
FR774088D FR774088A (fr) 1933-12-16 1934-06-02 Perfectionnements aux amplificateurs thermoïoniques
BE403775D BE403775A (en, 2012) 1933-12-16 1934-06-18

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US702667A US1989462A (en) 1933-12-16 1933-12-16 Ionic amplifier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1989462A true US1989462A (en) 1935-01-29

Family

ID=24822148

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US702667A Expired - Lifetime US1989462A (en) 1933-12-16 1933-12-16 Ionic amplifier

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US1989462A (en, 2012)
BE (1) BE403775A (en, 2012)
ES (1) ES134642A1 (en, 2012)
FR (1) FR774088A (en, 2012)
GB (1) GB439879A (en, 2012)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2495908A (en) * 1948-07-16 1950-01-31 Sylvania Electric Prod Thermionic discharge device
CN102592946A (zh) * 2012-02-26 2012-07-18 烟台同辉照明科技有限公司 低频低压无极紫外光灯

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2495908A (en) * 1948-07-16 1950-01-31 Sylvania Electric Prod Thermionic discharge device
CN102592946A (zh) * 2012-02-26 2012-07-18 烟台同辉照明科技有限公司 低频低压无极紫外光灯

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR774088A (fr) 1934-11-30
ES134642A1 (es) 1934-08-16
GB439879A (en) 1935-12-11
BE403775A (en, 2012) 1934-07-31

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