US2206713A - Photoelectric apparatus - Google Patents

Photoelectric apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US2206713A
US2206713A US389066A US38906629A US2206713A US 2206713 A US2206713 A US 2206713A US 389066 A US389066 A US 389066A US 38906629 A US38906629 A US 38906629A US 2206713 A US2206713 A US 2206713A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
light
anode
primary
electrons
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
US389066A
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English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth T Bainbridge
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL38911D priority Critical patent/NL38911C/xx
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US389066A priority patent/US2206713A/en
Priority to DE1930645331D priority patent/DE645331C/de
Priority to FR700897D priority patent/FR700897A/fr
Priority to AT127570D priority patent/AT127570B/de
Priority to GB25456/30A priority patent/GB364006A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2206713A publication Critical patent/US2206713A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J43/00—Secondary-emission tubes; Electron-multiplier tubes
    • H01J43/04—Electron multipliers
    • H01J43/06—Electrode arrangements
    • H01J43/16—Electrode arrangements using essentially one dynode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J40/00—Photoelectric discharge tubes not involving the ionisation of a gas
    • H01J40/16—Photoelectric discharge tubes not involving the ionisation of a gas having photo- emissive cathode, e.g. alkaline photoelectric cell

Definitions

  • Photoelectric tubes of the highly evacuated type are utilized in systems Where uniformity of operation and rapidity of response arenecessary as in the case of rapid variations of light but have the disadvantage of producing photocurrents of small magnitude calling for one or more stages ofamplifying accessories in: order to derive a current of practical amount.
  • the gas-filled tubes give photocurrents of a larger order than those of thepure electron discharge type, hence necessitating less amplification if any, they have the disadvantage of a nonlinear response when considered in terms of photocurrent per unit of light intensity and in addition may ofier a time lag when dealing with light of an undulating character as in television.
  • An object of-the present invention is to provide a photoelectric tube whichwill combine the unif formity and rapidity of response peculiar to the pure electron discharge type with the desirable feature of producing a photocurrent of substantial magnitude as found only in the prior artgasfilled tubes without introducing the disadvantages usually inherent in the latter. The object is thus to combine the desirable features of both types of tube, at the same time eliminating the undesirable properties.
  • numeral l designates a highly evacuated envelope terminated by a reentrant stem and press 2.
  • the press there are fused three rigid wires leading to a plurality of electrodes 3, t and 5.
  • These electrodes are shown as rectangular in shape, extending in the same direction and arranged in vertical planes when referred to the tube position as shown, the two outer members being angularly disposed with respect to oneanother in the horizontal plane and having the central electrode arranged preferably equidistantly between the outer members.
  • the electrodes 3 and 5 which may be termed for convenience, primary cathode and secondary cathode respectively, are constituted of a solid member while the central electrode, which may be ccnsidereda collector or anode, takes on the general form ofa grid with finewires and a f I relatively wide mesh.
  • the cathodes 3 and 5 are each rendered light-sensitive although as will be explained hereinafter, it is necessary for satisfactory operation to provide a photoelectric surface only on the more negative cathode, i. e. elec-. trode 3.
  • the cathodes are cbnstituted of a base metal such as nickel or copper which may be silver-plated preferably apart from the envelope in which they are to be employed by any well known process e. g. by electro-plating, chemical deposition, or electrical sputtering as disclosed and claimed in the Buggles Patent #l,568,694.
  • the silver coating is oxidized, preparatory to receiving the light-sensitive material, .by immersing the plates in an oxidizing atmosphere preferably confined in envelope I or, a separate bulb and glowing the electrodes by applying high voltage thereto from a spark coil. fIhe oxidation may also be produced by applying a high voltage direct current derived from a suitable rectifier set.
  • the depth of the oxide layer may be controlled by the duration and intensity of such treatment.
  • the plates if not already placed in position, may be mounted in the envelope I together with the grid-like anode i.
  • sitize the silver or other metallic oxide surface on the cathodescaesium or other suitable alkali vapor is introduced into the envelope either by distillationfrom a side tube or from pellets heated oxide which does not combine in a substantial degree with caesium, the anode surface remains practically insensitive to light.
  • Theexcess alkali material preferably is removed from the envelope in any suitable manner, for example, by distillation and evacuation of the excess vapor to the manifold, in order to lend to the device uniformity of operation as disclosed and claimed in my prior application Serial No. 244,533 which has matured into Patent No. 1,901,577, granted March 14, 1933.
  • the primary cathode 3 and the anode 4 may be connected to a source of direct current 6, the member 4 being positive while the secondary cathode 5 is connected to an intermediate terminal l in the potential source.
  • This terminal preferably should be at such a position that the potential difference between electrodes 3 and 4 is of the order of several times the potential difference between electrodes 4 and 5, for example, ten times.
  • cathodes 3 and 5 are both negative with respect to the anode or collector 4.
  • a light beam from an eX- ternal source indicated generally by the cross '8 impinges on the primary cathode 3, the latter hundred volts.
  • the potentials assigned to the various electrodes may be such as to produce a large preponderation of the secondary electrons at the surface of the secondary cathode over the number of primary electrons initiated at the primary cathode by light activation and that this electron preponderation may be utilized in an external circuit by way of photocurrents of au mented amplitude.
  • This circuit normally would 5 at the place indicated by the pair of open terminals.
  • current measuring devices 9, If! and H to determine wh n the greatest sensitivity of operation is reached in terms of magnitude of photocurrent as the inter-electrode voltages are regulated.
  • the ammeter 94 will register the total primary electron current leaving the surface of cathode 3, the ammeter H] indicating the combined secondary photocurrents and aportion of the primary photocurrents depending upon the fineness of the grid and other factors.
  • the ammeter II will read the difference between the remainder of the primary electron current which reaches the surface 5 and the combined secondary electron current and photocurrent leaving this surface.
  • the plates 3 and 5 may be arranged angularly with respect to one another thereby to obtain a multiple reflection effect of the light beam loses electrons which are accelerated in the elec- While the cathode 3 and which augment to a certain extent the number of electrons leaving the oathode 5 and travelling toward anode 4.
  • the secondary cathode need not have a highly lightsensitive surface but may consist simply of ordinary metal, in which case the increase in current due to multiple refiection would not be quite so pronounced, although under certain conditions as when the secondary cathode has high reflectivity, the output current may actually be greater than in a case where this cathode is provided with a surface of relatively high light sensitivity.
  • the electrodes 3, 4 and 5 may take on various shapes and arrangements, for example, the primary cathode may consist of a semicylinder with a secondary cathode in the form of a cylinder of smaller diameter than the uated envelope containing a primary cathode having a light sensitive surface, a light source impinging upon said surface, a secondary cathode and an anode, said electrodes extending in the same direction and the cathodes being inclined angularly with respect to one another whereby the light impinging on the primary cathode is given a multiple reflection effect between the cathodes, a source of electromotive force connected between the cathodes of such strength and polarity that the photo-electrons are impelled toward the secondary cathode with a velocity suflicient to produce secondary electrons, a source of electromotive force connected between the secondary cathode and the anode adapted to impel the secondary electrons toward the anode and an output circuit connected between the secondary cathode
  • a tube comprising an evacuated envelope containing a primary cathode, a secondary cathode and an anode inclined angularly with respect to one another, each of said cathodes having a light-sensitive surface, a light source for activating said surface whereby photoelectrons are produced, means for accelerating the photoelectrons between the cathodes with a velocity sufiicient to produce secondary electrons, means for impelling the secondary electrons to- Ward. the anode and an output circuit connected between one of the cathodes and the anode.
  • a photoelectric tube comprising an envelope containing a pair of plate-like electrode-elements positioned in non-parallel relationship, said electrode elements being coated with light sensitive material on faces adjacent each other, and a grid-like anode element through which electrons may pass interposed between said plates.
  • a photoelectric tube comprising an envelope, a pair of lei-dimensional light sensitive members supported therein in inclined relationship relative to each other and having thereon a coating of light-sensitive material adapted to release photoelectrons when subjected to light, means includsensitive members toward another of said members with a velocity sufficient to produce secondary electrons, and electrical connections to said accelerating means and one of said light sensitive members.
  • a photoelectric tube comprising an envelope containing a pair of angularly positioned light-sensitive members, an electron permeable anode interposed therebetween,
  • a phototube comprising a light sensitive photocathode, a solid plate secondary emitter electrode positioned to receive photoelectrons emitted from said photocathode, and a grid-like collector electrode surrounding said secondary emitter electrode.
  • a phototube for utilizing secondary emission to produce primary emission amplification comprising a light sensitive primary electron emitting photocathode, a secondary electron emitting cathode, and a collector electrode surrounding said secondary emitter cathode for collecting said primary and secondary electrons.

Landscapes

  • Common Detailed Techniques For Electron Tubes Or Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Image-Pickup Tubes, Image-Amplification Tubes, And Storage Tubes (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
US389066A 1929-08-28 1929-08-28 Photoelectric apparatus Expired - Lifetime US2206713A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL38911D NL38911C (en, 2012) 1929-08-28
US389066A US2206713A (en) 1929-08-28 1929-08-28 Photoelectric apparatus
DE1930645331D DE645331C (de) 1929-08-28 1930-06-26 Photoelektrische Hochvakuumzelle hoher Leistung
FR700897D FR700897A (fr) 1929-08-28 1930-08-20 Perfectionnements aux appareils photoélectriques
AT127570D AT127570B (de) 1929-08-28 1930-08-25 Lichtelektrische Anordnung.
GB25456/30A GB364006A (en) 1929-08-28 1930-08-26 Improvements in and relating to photo-electric apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US389066A US2206713A (en) 1929-08-28 1929-08-28 Photoelectric apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2206713A true US2206713A (en) 1940-07-02

Family

ID=23536676

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US389066A Expired - Lifetime US2206713A (en) 1929-08-28 1929-08-28 Photoelectric apparatus

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US2206713A (en, 2012)
AT (1) AT127570B (en, 2012)
DE (1) DE645331C (en, 2012)
FR (1) FR700897A (en, 2012)
GB (1) GB364006A (en, 2012)
NL (1) NL38911C (en, 2012)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3630587A (en) * 1968-03-15 1971-12-28 Philips Corp Activating method for cesium activated iii-v compound photocathode using rare gas bombardment

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL53689C (en, 2012) * 1933-10-07
US2123024A (en) * 1936-05-29 1938-07-05 Rca Corp Electrode for electric discharge devices
DE890393C (de) * 1936-05-30 1953-09-17 Fernseh Gmbh Als Reihenvervielfacher arbeitender Sekundaerelektronenverstaerker
DE874176C (de) * 1939-03-25 1953-04-20 Sueddeutsche Telefon App Sekundaerelektronenvervielfacher mit Gluehkathode

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3630587A (en) * 1968-03-15 1971-12-28 Philips Corp Activating method for cesium activated iii-v compound photocathode using rare gas bombardment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB364006A (en) 1931-12-28
AT127570B (de) 1932-04-11
FR700897A (fr) 1931-03-09
DE645331C (de) 1937-05-26
NL38911C (en, 2012)

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