Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for photoelectric generation of electricity

US5973259A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
13References
21Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 12, 1997
Grant dateOct 26, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J40/06
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A close spaced planar vacuum diode is constructed with a photoemissive first electrode and a low work function second electrode. As a result of photon flux on said photoemissive first electrode, electrons are emitted into the vacuum space and travel to said second electrode. This electron current may then flow through an external load, powering said external load.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.