US2402188A - Electronic device and circuits - Google Patents

Electronic device and circuits Download PDF

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Publication number
US2402188A
US2402188A US422228A US42222841A US2402188A US 2402188 A US2402188 A US 2402188A US 422228 A US422228 A US 422228A US 42222841 A US42222841 A US 42222841A US 2402188 A US2402188 A US 2402188A
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potential
electrode
grid
primary
electrodes
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US422228A
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Albert M Skellett
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AT&T Corp
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Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc
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Priority to US422228A priority patent/US2402188A/en
Priority to GB16178/42A priority patent/GB559907A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03F—AMPLIFIERS
    • H03F3/00—Amplifiers with only discharge tubes or only semiconductor devices as amplifying elements
    • H03F3/62—Two-way amplifiers
    • H03F3/64—Two-way amplifiers with tubes only
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J43/00—Secondary-emission tubes; Electron-multiplier tubes
    • H01J43/02—Tubes in which one or a few electrodes are secondary-electron emitting electrodes
    • H01J43/025—Circuits therefor

Definitions

  • FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 4A
  • This invention relates to electronic devices of the type involving secondary electron emission and to circuits incorporating such devices.
  • An object of the invention is to enable bidirectional transmission of electric waves or signals through an electronic device of the vacuum tube type.
  • Another object is to regulate the transmitting condition of a transmission path and/or to control the amplitude of the electric wave or signal being transmitted over the transmission path.
  • a feature of the invention comprises including a secondary electron section in a vacuum tube having a primary electron source, the secondary electron section comprising a pair of electrodes 50 related that potential variations appearing on
  • An electronic device in accordance with the invention comprises an evacuated envelope containing a primary electron structure or section and a secondary electron structure or section.
  • the primary electron structure may comprise a cathode, for example of the indirectly heated type, an input control grid and a primary anode.
  • the latter contains an aperture or window to permit the escape of a substantial proportion of the primary electrons emitted by the cathode when the potential on the input grid is sufficiently removed from cathode-anode current cut-off.
  • the secondary electron section may be located out of the direct path of the primary electrons, the latter being directed or deflected onto the secondary electron structure by a deflector electrode or other suitable means.
  • the secondary electron section comprises a plate electrode and a grid electrode, the former having a surface treated so that, when bombarded with primary electrons, it will emit on the average more than one secondary electron per primary electron, the two electrodes being spaced apart a very small distance.
  • the electrodes of the secondary electron section may be inserted in a transmission path or line so as to constitute a gap or interruption in the path so long as the secondary electron section is not activated or energized by primary electron bombardment.
  • the latter constitute or may be considered as analogous to a relatively low resistance contact that closes the circuit of the transmission path or line and permits electric wave or signal transmission, for example, of audio frequency electric waves, substantially equally well in either direction over the line, transmission being effected by virtue of the fact that potential variations appearing on either the plate or the grid electrode produce corresponding potential variations on the other.
  • Figs. 1 and 1A show elemental circuits to be referred to in explaining certain of the basic concepts involved in the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the electrode arrangement in an electronic device in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of another electronic device embodying the invention in which a plurality of secondary electron sections is provided;
  • Figs. 4, 4A, 5, 6 and 7 show the characteristic of an electronic device such as that shown in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 8 shows a circuit arrangement intended for bidirectional transmission of audio frequency currents with the secondary electron section of a device according to Fig. 2 included in the transmission path;
  • Fig. 9 shows a circuit arrangement enabling the application of regenerative feedback to an electronic device in accordance with the invention.
  • Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show circuit arrangements involving a path or line for bidirectional transmission including an electronic device of the type shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating a number of expedients to trigger the electronic device on and off;
  • Fig, 13 shows another circuit arrangement for bidirectional transmission in which the transmitting condition of the transmission line is under the control of a circuit including an electronic I device such as is shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 14 shows an amplitude limiting or static only, that is, they have an asymmetrical or unidirectional transmission characteristic.
  • two-way transmission it is a general practice to use two electronic devices so arranged that transmission in one direction is eflected by the passage of a signal or electric wave through one of them, and transmission in the opposite direction is effected by the passage of the signal or electric wave through the other of them.
  • this necessitates a duplication of the electronic devices as well as an elaboration or complication of the requisite circuits.
  • This invention makes available an electronic device which transmits signals or electric waves in either of opposite directions, and which may be controlled by potentials applied to an electron stream.
  • the electronic device of this invention comprises a pair of electrodes in an evacuated envelope, one of the electrodes being in the form of a plate member preferably imperforate and treated at least on one surface so as to emit secondary electrons in ratio greater than unity when bombarded with primary electrons, i. e., on the average, to emit more than one secondary electron for each primary electron striking the treated surface, the other of which comprises a perforate or grid member in close spaced relation to the secondary electron emitting surface and adapted for the passage therethrough of primary electrons directed at the plate member, the grid member also acting as a secondary electron collector electrode.
  • This pair of electrodes may be considered or be termed an electronic circuit maker or interrupter, and may be likened, in operation, to a pair of relay contacts.
  • contact When the primary electron stream is caused to pass through the grid to the plate member, contact may be considered as established and electric signals or waves may pass through the contact in either direction.
  • contact When the primary electron stream is discontinued or interrupted "contact is interrupted and electric signals or waves cannot pass in either direction because of the open, circuit.
  • Fig. 1 The basic circuit arrangement for these electrodes is shown by Fig. 1, the numerals l and H designating theplate member or emitter electrode and the grid electrode, respectively.
  • Primary-electrons and their direction are indicated by the open-headed arrows, "and secondary electrons and their general direction are indicated by the solid-head arrows.
  • the primary electrons have suificient energy when they strike the emitter electrode and that the latter is so treated that, on the average, more than one secondary electron is caused to be emitted per primary electron.
  • the resistance CD is high enough, the emitter electrode will float at a potential that is a few volts negative with respect to the potential of the electrode H. This floating action is present when the number of secondary electrons Ni drawn to the grid minus the number of electrons N; which arrive at the electrode III by way of the resistance CD is equal to the number of primary electrons Np striking the electrode I 0, that is,
  • That the potential of the electrode II will follow the potential variation of the electrode Hi can also be shown, starting with the arrangement of Fig. 1 in its equilibrium condition.
  • the potential of the grid is determined by the potential drop across the resistance AB, resulting from the flow of primary electrons caught by the grid and of the secondary electrons which the grid, collects from the electrode M.
  • the secondary electron component is generally much larger than the primary electron component and, since the latter, in operation, will not vary appreciably, it may be neglected for this discussion.
  • the electrode I0 is caused to become more positive resulting in a lower potential difference between the electrodes l0 and H whereby fewer secondary electrons will flow from the electrode In to the electrode I I with aresultant decrease in current flow through the resistance AB.
  • the potential across resistance AB is opposite in sign to that across resistance CD.
  • Decrease in the potential drop across the resistance AB means that the point A becomes less negative or more positive, that is, the electrode II also becomes more positive in potential.
  • the electrode I0 i caused to become of less positive potential, that is, be driven or cause to drift in a. negative direction, more secondary electrons are caused to flow to the electrode II to produce an increased potential drop along resistance AB and causing the electrode II to assume a more negative potential.
  • ! incorporating these electrodes is shown by Fig. 2.
  • the primary electron stream is furnished by a triode structure or section comprising a cathode I3, an input control grid I4 and a primary anode IS.
  • the latter contains an aperture or window I6 for the escape of about one-third of the primary electrons emitted by the cathode.
  • a greater or lesser proportion of the primary electron emission of the cathode may be confined to the triode section of the tube.
  • the secondary electron emitter II] and the electron collector grid II are positioned out of the direct path of the escaped primary electrons so that the secondary electron emitting surface will not be contaminated by cathode particles, the escaped primary electrons being deflected or directed onto the electrode II] by the deflector electrode or member ll.
  • the optimum deflector shape is determined by the size and shape of the primary anode electron window and the angle of emission of the escaped electrons, and its contour may be ascertained by rubber model studies.
  • the defiector electrode may be connected with the oathode so as to be maintained at cathode potential.
  • the spacing between the electrodes l0, II may be of the order of 6 inch.
  • the primary anode i5 contains a pair of oppositely disposed apertures It, It" for the escape of primary electrons to be deflected by the deflector electrodes l1, l1" to the secondary electron sections constituted by the electrodes Ill, iI' and III", II".
  • the triode section and the electrodes M, II may be utilized in a particular circuit for bidirectional transmitting of electric waves or signals; and the same triode section and the electrodes II)", II” may be utilized'as a trigger device in the manner disclosed in my copending application Serial No.
  • the apertures I6, I6 may be of the same or diiierent sizes and shapes, and permit the same or different amounts of primary electron flow therethrough.
  • the effective resistance between the electrodes II), II is very high and such as to prevent transmission of electric signals or waves therethrough.
  • the effective resistance between the electrodes III, II- is of the order of some thousands of ohms.
  • impedances of considerable higher magnitude for example, of the order of tens of thousands of ohms, should be associated with the device. Impedances or such magnitude, of course, are not high for electronic, devices, and. are within the range of readily available transformers.
  • the effective resistance between the electrodes I0, I I is the reciprocal oi the slope of its currentvoltage characteristic.
  • Fig. 4 shows a family of curves evidencing the relation between the current to the electrode I I with variation in potential difference between the electrodes I0, II for different values of primary electron current. These curves were obtained by holding the potential of the electrode III constant at about 150 volts, the zero point on the abscissae corresponding to 150 volts on both of the electrodes I0, I I. The reciprocals of the slopes of these curves of Fig. 4 for a potential difference of 6 volts between the collector grid and secondary emitter are plotted against primary electron current in Fig. 5. The resistance varies markedly with primary electron current.
  • Fig. 6 shows curves for transmission in the direction of collector grid to the secondary emitter and evidences the variation of current in the circuit connected to the secondary emitter with variation in secondary emitter potential for different values of collector grid potential.
  • the primary electron current was about 1.5 milliamperes and the recorded potentials for collector grid and secondary emitter were measured above and below 150 volts, which was the potential of the primary anode of the tube.
  • a load resistance line of 50,000 ohms is shown passing through the working point on the curve for V equal to zero, which i at a biasing potential of 6 volts for the secondary emitter relative to the collector grid.
  • FIG. 7 shows collector grid potential above and below primary anode potential plotted against collector grid current in milliamperes for diiierent values of secondary emitter potential above and below primary anode potential.
  • rimary electron current constitutes an impedance across the load resistances AB and CD which cannot be evaluated exactly because of the fact that the primary electron currents divide between the collector grid and the secondary emitter in an unknown ratio.
  • the equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 1A.
  • the shunt resistance looking in the direction from west to east may be written as:
  • R1 and R4 represent the load resistances corresponding to resistances AB and CD, respectively, and R2 and R3 represent the resistances ascribable to the primary electron stream, and R rep-. resents the effective resistance of the secondary electron section.
  • Most of the primary electrons flow to the secondary emitter so that, for an approximate solution, R2 may be neglected, and a value for R3 obtained by measuring the slope of the primary electron current versus collector grid for secondary emitter potential.
  • the potential of the collector grid has considerably more effect on the primary electron current than does the potential of the secondary emitter because the latter is shielded by the grid.
  • a complete solution for the resistance looking in from either direction is therefore complex but not diflicult if an assumption is made for the ratio of primary electron current to collector grid and secondary emitter.
  • the order of magnitude of these resistance values may be obtained from the following:
  • E and E are the secondary emitter and the collector grid potentials, respectively. At very high frequencies, the more complex impedances, including the interelectrode capacitances, will have to be taken into consideration, but in the voice frequency range, these may be neglected.
  • Fig. 8 shows a circuit arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention for effecting bidirectional transmission between a pair of telephone stations 40, 40' through a vacuum tube or electronic device of the type described hereinabove with specific reference to Figs. 1, 1A and 2.
  • Each telephone station comprises a transmitter T, for example, of the granular carbon type, a receiver R, a transformer 4
  • the telephone station 40 may be coupled to the electronic device 20 through a transformer 43, and the telephone station 40' may be coupled to the electronic device 20 through a transformer 43'.
  • the cathode is of the indirectly heated type, biasing potential for the control grid 4 is provided by the source 44, and potential for the primary anode, the collector grid and the secondary emitter is provided by the source 45. As shown in Fig. 8, the device 20 is in its energized condition,
  • tion 40 the user at the former station talks into the transmitter T thereat and varies the direct current supplied by the source 42 in accordance with the sound waves generated.
  • appears across the second winding 41 of the transformer 43 and causes variation in the potential of the collector grid.
  • the variations in the potential of the collector grid produce corresponding variations in the potential of the secondary electron emitter and of the current flow in the winding 41o1' the transformer 43'.
  • the audio frequency variations in the current flow in the winding 41' appear across the terminal of the winding 46 of the transformer 43', and are translated by the receiver R at the station 40' into sound waves.
  • the user at the station 4Q talks into the transmitter T thereat to vary in accordance with the that is, the triode section is supplying a primary sound waves generated, the direct current flowing in the local circuit comprising the transmitter T, the source 42', the winding 46 of the transformer 43' and the primary winding of the induction coil 4
  • the audio or voice frequency component of the current flowing in the winding 46 appears across the terminals of the winding 41' of the transformer 43' and cause variation in the potential of the secondary emitter electrode.
  • the variations in the potential of the secondary emitter cause corresponding variations in'the potential of the collector grid current flowing in the winding 41 of the transformer 43.
  • the variations in the collector grid current appear across the winding 46 01' the transformer 43 and are translated into sound waves by the receiver R at the station 40.
  • Fig. 9 shows a circuit arrangement whereby some of the energy passingthrough the electrodes III, II may be fed back to the grid l4 so as to introduce regeneration with respect to transmission in each direction through the device.
  • the resistances Ra and Rh comprise the load impedances for the collector grid and the secondary emitter circuit.
  • Feedback to the grid I4 is accomplished through the transformer 50, the primary winding of which is connected across resistance R- and provided with an adjustable contact or slide 5
  • the transformer is provided because, for regeneration, the fed back voltage should be out of phase with the transmitted signal. With the arrangement shown, the amount of feedback was increased by moving the contact 5
  • the loss through the electrode III, II was of the order of about 10 per cent.
  • the amount of feedback was increased by ad justment of the contact 5
  • the regeneration was operative equally well for transmission in either direction through the device 20. Similar results are obtainable when the feedback voltages are obtained from the resistance Rb instead of from the resistance Ra.
  • Electrodes II, II and i5 are supplied by the source I and biasing potential for the input grid I4 is provided by the source 64 through resistor 65.
  • the grid I4 is normally biased from source 84 to a potential such as to block primary electron flow to the electrodes H), II or so to reduce the flow of primary electrons to the electrode l that secondary electron emission from the latter is negligible. Under such circumstances transmission in either direction, that is, from west to east or east to west, along the line 60 is blocked or prevented because of the open circuit between the electrodes 10, l I.
  • a switch 66 connected to the point A and to ground is indicated as one expedient for nullifying the initial bias on the grid l4.
  • Such a switch may be located at either end of the transmission path or line, or one may be located at each end of the line, or at some point along the line and, of course, the switch could comprise 'the contacts of a relay operable by the electric wave or signal to be transmitted along the line.
  • a relay is shown at 61 for the west-line section, and a similar relay is shown at 68 for the east-line section.
  • relays are actuated by the presence of voice or other signal currents on the respective line section, through the agency of amplifier-detectors 61' and 68, respectively.
  • switch 89 When switch 89 is permanently closed and switch 86 is left in its open position, either relay 61 or 68 when actuated by voice currents connects point A to ground and nullifles the initial disabling bias on grid l4.
  • bidirectional transmission along the line of, for example, an audio frequency wave may take place until the device 20 is deenergized or restored to its initial condition by removal of ground at the point A by restoration of the switch 66 to its open condition or by the opening of the contacts of relays 61 and 68. No appreciable power is required to produce the on and oil functioning or the device 20, and such functioning could take place in a fraction of a microsecond.
  • Fig. 11 shows an electric wave circuit comprising a transmission path or line 10, for example, for transmitting audio frequency electric waves, having a bidirectional transmission control circuit II inserted therein.
  • the circuit ll comprises a vacuum tube or electronic device 20 in which the electrode III is connected through blocking condenser C1 to one line conductor extending west, through resistor 12 and source 13 of grid biasing potential to grounded cathode, and through the adjustable contact or slide 14 on resistor 12 to the grid H.
  • the collector grid II is connected through blocking condenser C2 to one line conductor extending east, and through resistor I to the primary anode and the source 16 of anode and collector grid potential.
  • Condenser C3 by-passes the audio frequency electric wave so that the latter has a negligible efiect on the grid I.
  • the normal condition desired is that transmission along the line be blocked.
  • the bias on the grid I 4 would be so chosen that primary electron flow to the electrode I0 is blocked or so that the number of electrons reaching the electrode III is negligible.
  • the circuit between the electrodes III, II, therefore, is open.
  • a positive pulse is transmitted along the line from its west terminal.
  • Such pulse momentarily reduces the negative bias on the grid, that is, makes it more positive with respect to the cathode and enables a suflicient quantity of primary electrons to bombard the electrode I.
  • the electrode Ill rising in potential thereby'causing the grid ll to become still more positive with respect to the oath ode with resulting greater primary electron flow.
  • the electrode Ill rises to a stable floating potential and the tube 20 remains energized, that is, the circuit between the electrodes-10, ll remains closed, until a negative pulse of suflicient magnitude is transmitted from the west terminal of the line to. apply momentarily to the grid II a potential suillciently negative with respect to the cathode so as to block primary electron flow to the electrode l0.
  • Fig. 12 The circuit arrangement of Fig. 12 is similar to that of Fig. 11 except that the electrode I0 is included in a bleeder circuit comprising the resistances 1.2 and 11 and the sources 13 and 16 whereby it is at a positive potential conditioning it for a rapid rise to its stable floating potential when primary electrons are directed against it.
  • the energizing positive pulse or the deenergizing negative pulse is transmitted from the west terminal of the circuit over a conductor 18 separate from the line Ill. .
  • the conductor 18 connects with the grid l4 through the condenser C4.
  • a resistor 19 is connected between the slide 14 and the grid II.
  • the control circuit 1 l' is adapted to be energized and deenergized with considerably smaller control voltages than are required in the case of the control circuit ll of Fig. 11. If it is assumed that the normal condition of thecircuit H is such that the circuit between the electrodes III, II of the device 20 is open, that is, there is an absence of secondary electron flow between those electrodes, the grid I4 is biased suificiently negatively with respect to the cathode to block primary electron flow to the electrode Ill.
  • the transmittal over the conductor 18 of a positive pulse of appropriate magnitude momentariiy causes the grid H to become sufliciently less negative with respect to the cathode to permit the primary electron flow to'the electrode l0, whereby secondary electron emission from the electrode in to the electrode II is established and the electrode Illrises in potential and thereby tends to cause the grid ll to become even less negative with respect to the cathode.
  • the electrode I ll rises to its stable floating potential and the circuit between the elec- 1'1 trodes I0, II remains closed and permits bidirectional transmission therethrough until the primary electron stream is blocked by the transmittal over the conductor 18 of a negative control pulse.
  • the electric wave circuit of Fig- 13 comprises a transmission path or line 80 including a plurality of transformers or repeating coils 8
  • the electrodes I, II are connected in the line 80, potential for them being supplied-from the source 84.
  • the cathode is connected to ground.
  • Biasing potential for the grid I4 is provided by the source 85.
  • Potential fo the anode I5 and the collector grid II is provided by the source 84 and potential for the electrode I0 is provided by the bleeder circuit comprising the resistances 88, Bland the sources 84, 85.
  • the initial condition of the control circuit may be such that the grid I4 is biased so negative with respect to the cathode that primary electron flow to the two secondary electron sections is blocked.
  • the electrodes I8, II' are in open circuit condition and the line 80 is open or interrupted with respect to electric wave transmission in each direction thereover.
  • the absence of primary electron bombardment of the electrode I0" causes the latter to remain at thepotential determined by the bleeder circuit, a potential preferably suchthat when primary electrons do impinge on the electrode I0" the latter rises rapidly to a stable floating potential.
  • the device 30 may be energized by transmitting a positive pulse over the conductor 88, the pulse being of a magnitude suflicient to reduce the negative bias on the grid l4 and thereby to initiate primary electron bombardment of the electrodes I0, I0".
  • the pulse being of a magnitude suflicient to reduce the negative bias on the grid l4 and thereby to initiate primary electron bombardment of the electrodes I0, I0".
  • the electrode I0 With emission of secondary electrons from the electrode I0" in ratio greater than unity the electrode I0" rises in potential to its stable floating potential and causes the grid I4 to become suificiently positive with respect to the cathode so that the primary electron flow to the electrode I0 is continuous.
  • a primary electron stream is established through the aperture I6 between the cathode and the electrode I0.
  • the secondary electron stream established thereby between the electrodes I0 terminates the open condition of the line 80 and bidirectional transmission of electric waves or signals, for example, audio frequency electric waves, along the line 80 and through therelecti'qdes IO, N becomes possible.
  • the circuit 83 may be restored to its initial condition by transmitting a negative pulse over the conductor 88 to render the grid I4 momentarily so negative with respect to the cathode that primary electron flow to the secondary electron section is blocked.
  • Cessation of secondary electron emission from the electrode I0" causes the potential of the latter to fall to its original value and the source 85 again controls the bias on the grid I4.
  • the use of the device 30 instead of the device 20 obviates the need for a by-pass condenser C3 and segregates the pulsing circuit and triggering action (onand oil) from the electric wave or signal transmission path.
  • the initial or normal condition thereof has been described as that in which the secondary election.
  • the initial or normal condition could be that in which the device or 38 is energized, that is. with its secondary electron section or sections in closed condition.
  • the pulsing circuit to trigger the device 20 or 30 on or off is shown in Figs. 10, 12 and 13 as extending from the west terminal only of the'line, obviously it could extend from the east terminal, or the arrangement could be such that the device 20 or 30 could be triggered on or oil from each-terminal of the line.
  • Fig. 14 shows a circuit arrangement for a static'reducer or amplitude limiter 90 incorporating the vacuum tube or electronic device 20.
  • the signal wave input is by way of a transformer 8
  • includes a pair of secondary windings 83, 84 one of which is connected to the delay network 95 and the other of which is connected to the input grid 95 and the cathode 81 of a vacuum tube 88.
  • the grid 88 is normally biased by a source 88 'to a potential sufliciently negative with respect to the cathode 91 to block space current flow in the tube 98.
  • the anode I00 derives its operating potential from the source I 0
  • the electrodes I0, I of the device 20 are connected in the circuit between the network and one winding of output transformer 82. Potential for the electrodes I0, II and for the primary anode I5 is supplied by source "I03, and biasing potential for the grid I4 is supplied by the source I04.
  • the grid I4 isnormally biased to a potential with reference to the cathode such that primaryelectron flow through the aperture in the anode I5 is enabled and secondary electron emission is established between the electrodes I0, II, that is the latter are in condition for electric wave transmission between them.
  • a condenser C10 connects the anode of the tube '98 and the grid
  • the circuit of Fig. 14 could be used for volume compression or expansion purposes.
  • the tube 90 were normally biased just to cut-ofi so that it rectifles at all times, and the grid I4 of the tube 20 had variable mu properties, volume compression would be obtained, the transmission through the electrodes I0, I I being reduced to a larger extent for strong signals incoming through the transformer 8
  • vol- "tron section or sections are in their open condi- 75 ume expansion, another stage or tube would be 13 inserted between the tube 98 and tube 20 to reverse the phase of the control signal developed by the tube 98 for application to the input grid H of the tube 20.
  • the effective resistance between the electrodes in, Ii, and, therefore, the transmission between these electrodes varies with the magnitude of the primary electron current as indicated by Fig. 5.
  • This characteristic may be availed of for modulation purposes.
  • a carrier wave could be fed into the circuit in either direction, that is, from east to west or from west to east, and modulated by voltages impressed on the grid 14, assuming'the switch 66 to be closed.
  • a transmission line and a pair of spaced members connected to provide a discharge gap in series in said line and contained in an evacuated enclosure, a source of'primary electrons therein, one of said members being adapted to emit secondary electrons to establish an electron stream between said members when said one member is bombarded with primary electrons from said source, and means to cause potential variations applied to either member after establishment of the secondary electron stream to produce corresponding potential variations on the other member.
  • a transmission line and a pair of spaced members connected to provide a discharge gap in series in said line and contained in an evacuated enclosure, one of said members being adapted to emit secondary electrons to establish an electron stream between said members when said one member is bombarded with primary electrons, said members in the absence of said secondary electron stream preventing electric wave transmission along said line, a source of primary electrons in said enclosure for bombardment of said one member, and means normally blocking primary electron flow to said one member, but responsive to a control pulse of momentary duration for overcoming such blocking action.
  • An electric wave circuit comprising a transmission path, a pair of telephone stations coupled to said path, a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit in each of said stations, and an electronic device in said path between said stations for transmitting in each direction over said path communication current originating in each station, said electronic device comprising an evacuated enclosure containing a plurality of electrodes providing a discharge space serially connected in said path, one of said electrodes being adapted to emit secondary electrons when bombarded with primary electrons, means to supply primary electrons to bombard said one electrode, the other of said electrodes being a collector of said secondary electrons and coupling means between the portion of said path on either side of said device and a respective one of said electrodes for varying the potential thereof for causing voice fluctuations on one portion of the path to vary transmission into the opposite portion of the path.
  • a line for transmitting an electric wave and an electronic contact serially inserted in said line for opening and closing said line to transmission of said electric wave in opposite directions over said line, said electronic contact comprising a plate member and a grid member in an evacuated enclosure, 9. source of primary electrons therein, said plate member emitting secondary electrons in ratio greater than unity when bombarded with primary electrons from said source and said grid member collecting said secondary electrons and means for coupling the portion of line on either side of said contact in two-Way energy-transfer relation with, respectively, said plate member and said grid member to both impress voltage variations on and receive voltage variations from the respective member.
  • An electric wave circuit comprising an electron discharge device, including a source of primary electrons, a source of secondary electrons to be bombarded by said primary electrons and having an emission ratio greater than unity, an electrode for collecting secondary electrons emitted by said secondary source, an east and a west line conductor, means including said east line conductor to vary the potential of said secondary source to produce corresponding variations in the potential of the collecting electrode for impression of said variations on said west line, and means including said west line conductor to vary the potential of the collecting electrode to produce corresponding variations in the potential of said secondary source for impression of said variations on said east line.
  • a transmission line divided into two portions and an electronic device comprisin a primary electron section and a pair of secondary electron sections, each of said secondary electron sections including a pair of electrodes, one electrode emitting secondary electrons I in ratio greater than unity when bombarded by 'primary electrons from said primary electron section and the other electrode being a collector of the secondarily emitted electrons from said one electrode, one of said secondary electron sections having its emitter electrode and its collector electrode respectively coupled in energy-transferrelation to opposite portions of said line for inter connecting portions of said transmission line, means for controlling the supply of primary electrons from said primary electron section to said secondary electron sections to energize and deenergize the latter, comprising a control element in said device, and means to supply control pulses thereto to shift the potential on said control element to a new value, and means comprising the other of said secondary electron sections for maintaining the potential on said control element at said new value.
  • An electric wave circuit comprising a transmission line comprising difierent portions, an
  • said primary electron section normally bombarding said secondary electron section with primary electrons to establish a secondary electron stream between said electrodes to close the circuit between said line portions, and means coupled to said transmission line and to said primary electron section for suppressing said primary electron bombardment and thereby opening the line circuit during .periods in which the electric wave being transmitted along said line exceeds a preassigned amplitude.
  • a two-way repeater of signal waves for insertion between two sections or a two-way line comprising a vacuum electronic device containing a primary electron section, a secondary electron section having spaced electrodes, and means to direct primary electrons from said primary section into said secondary section to establish secondary electron emission therein, said secondary electron section comprising an electronic contact serially included in said line for blocking signal wave flow in opposite directions therethrough in the absence of secondary electron' emission therein, but offering a low impedance to signal wave flow in opposite directions therethrough during secondary electron emission therein, two-way transmission means coupling one of said electrodes to one only of said line sections to transmit voltage variations to and receive volt'age variations from said one sec- 16 tion, and two-way transmission means coupling the other of said electrodes to only the other line section to transmit voltage variations to and receive voltage variations from said other line section.
  • An electric wave circuit comprising a transmission path, a pair 01 telephone stations coupled to said path at separated-locations, a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit in each station,land means for repeating voice current fluctuations in both directions over said path between said stations
  • an electronic device including a pair of spaced electrodes forming an electronic pathserially included in said transmission path between said stations, said device including means to produce primary electrons and to drive them against one of said electrodes, said latter electrode having its surface treated to give of! secondary electrons in abundance from impact of said primary electrons, the other of said pair of spaced electrodes constituting a collector of secondary electrons emitted from the othermentioned electrode of the pair, and means eontrolled by the voice current fluctuations trans- ALBERT M. SKELLETT.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
US422228A 1941-12-09 1941-12-09 Electronic device and circuits Expired - Lifetime US2402188A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL71849D NL71849C (en)) 1941-12-09
US422228A US2402188A (en) 1941-12-09 1941-12-09 Electronic device and circuits
GB16178/42A GB559907A (en) 1941-12-09 1942-11-16 Improvements in or relating to electric signal transmission systems

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US422228A US2402188A (en) 1941-12-09 1941-12-09 Electronic device and circuits

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US2402188A true US2402188A (en) 1946-06-18

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GB (1) GB559907A (en))
NL (1) NL71849C (en))

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2577164A (en) * 1945-03-20 1951-12-04 Rca Corp Electronic device
US2735936A (en) * 1956-02-21 gridley
US2779893A (en) * 1950-07-13 1957-01-29 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Device comprising an electric discharge tube having a concentrated electron beam

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2735936A (en) * 1956-02-21 gridley
US2577164A (en) * 1945-03-20 1951-12-04 Rca Corp Electronic device
US2779893A (en) * 1950-07-13 1957-01-29 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Device comprising an electric discharge tube having a concentrated electron beam

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL71849C (en))
GB559907A (en) 1944-03-09

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