Thermionic/thermotunneling thermo-electrical converter
US8541678B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
8References
33Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thermionic or thermotunneling converter consisting of two electrodes maintained at a desired distance from one another by means of spacers in which the electrodes comprise silicon coated with a hard material, or comprise a ceramic or other refractory material. The spacers are formed by oxidizing one electrode, protecting certain oxidized areas and removing the remainder of the oxidized layer. The protected oxidized areas remain as spacers. These spacers have the effect of maintaining the electrodes at a desired distance without the need for active elements, thus greatly reducing costs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.