Charged-particle powered battery
US5861701A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21H1/04
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved high energy-density battery for producing continuous low-voltage electrical energy is powered by direct conversion of the kinetic energy of charged particles to electrical potentials. An improved battery comprises at least one primary energy source and a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a secondary electron emitter plate spaced apart from a collector plate. Cells are configured to maximize the number of relatively low-energy secondary electrons from the emitter plates which reaches and is retained by collector plates. Heat production is minimized during efficient energy conversion of the relatively high-energy of primary charged particles to the lower energy but relatively high current capacity of large numbers of secondary electrons. Material work functions and Fermi levels of the emitters and collectors are chosen to favor emission of secondary electrons from emitter plates and retention of secondary electrons impinging on a collector plate, thus increasing efficiency and reducing internal battery leakage currents. Relatively low cell voltages and low heat losses in the direct conversion process mean that the energy sources may be confined in relatively small …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.