Radioisotope power cells
US5396141A · kind A · utility
41Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21H1/06
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electrical power source or power cell (10) includes a semiconductor material (12) having an N region (14), a P region (16) and a P-N junction (18). A radioactive source (24) associates with P-N junction (18) and emits energy or radioactive particles (26) into semiconductor material (12). In semiconductor material (12), electron-hole pairs are formed in N region (14) and P region (16) to cause electrical current to pass through P-N junction (18) and produce, therefrom, electrical power.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.