Surface breakdown igniter for mercury arc devices

Patent · 01 January 1977

OSTI ID:862964

Bayless, John R ^[1]

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1. Malibu, CA

Surface breakdown igniter comprises a semiconductor of medium resistivity which has the arc device cathode as one electrode and has an igniter anode electrode so that when voltage is applied between the electrodes a spark is generated when electrical breakdown occurs over the surface of the semiconductor. The geometry of the igniter anode and cathode electrodes causes the igniter discharge to be forced away from the semiconductor surface.

• Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Culver City, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4060748
• OSTI ID: 862964
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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anode
anode electrode
applied
breakdown
breakdown igniter
cathode
cathode electrode
cathode electrodes
causes
comprises
device
devices
discharge
electrical
electrical breakdown
electrode
electrodes
forced
generated
geometry
igniter
medium
mercury
occurs
resistivity
semiconductor
semiconductor surface
spark
surface
surface breakdown
voltage