Microwave field emitter array limiter
US6353290B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01T4/12
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus using field emission techniques to limit voltage on RF transmission lines. A voltage limiter comprises a cathode and an anode housed in an airtight tube, whereby the cathode comprises a field emitter array having a plurality of field tips distributed about the surface of an insulating layer, and a microstrip transmission line overlying the insulating layer and having a predetermined width to form electrical contact with a selected group of the field tips. The microstrip transmission line enables propagation of electromagnetic microwave energy over a bandwidth of multiple octaves. The field emitters enable the generation of a flow of electrons at a predetermined breakdown threshold voltage, without the necessity for an external source to induce electron flow. Generation of the electron flow by the field tips creates a reflection wave on the transmission line that interferes with the incident electromagnetic energy to limit the voltage on the transmission line.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.