DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for batch fabrication of vacuum switch tubes that reduce manufacturing costs and improve tube to tube uniformity. The disclosed methods comprise creating a stacked assembly of layers containing a plurality of adjacently spaced switch tube sub-assemblies aligned and registered through common layers. The layers include trigger electrode layer, cathode layer including a metallic support/contact with graphite cathode inserts, trigger probe sub-assembly layer, ceramic (e.g. tube body) insulator layer, and metallic anode sub-assembly layer. Braze alloy layers are incorporated into the stacked assembly of layers, and can include active metal braze alloys or direct braze alloys, to eliminate costs associated with traditional metallization of the ceramic insulator layers. The entire stacked assembly is then heated to braze/join/bond the stack-up into a cohesive body, after which individual switch tubes are singulated by methods such as sawing. The inventive methods provide for simultaneously fabricating a plurality of devices as opposed to traditional methods that rely on skilled craftsman to essentially hand build individual devices.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1018339
Patent Number(s):
7938707
Application Number:
12/168,625
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Walker, Charles A, and Trowbridge, Frank R. Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes. United States: N. p., 2011. Web.
Walker, Charles A, & Trowbridge, Frank R. Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes. United States.
Walker, Charles A, and Trowbridge, Frank R. Tue . "Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1018339.
@article{osti_1018339,
title = {Methods for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes},
author = {Walker, Charles A and Trowbridge, Frank R},
abstractNote = {Methods are disclosed for batch fabrication of vacuum switch tubes that reduce manufacturing costs and improve tube to tube uniformity. The disclosed methods comprise creating a stacked assembly of layers containing a plurality of adjacently spaced switch tube sub-assemblies aligned and registered through common layers. The layers include trigger electrode layer, cathode layer including a metallic support/contact with graphite cathode inserts, trigger probe sub-assembly layer, ceramic (e.g. tube body) insulator layer, and metallic anode sub-assembly layer. Braze alloy layers are incorporated into the stacked assembly of layers, and can include active metal braze alloys or direct braze alloys, to eliminate costs associated with traditional metallization of the ceramic insulator layers. The entire stacked assembly is then heated to braze/join/bond the stack-up into a cohesive body, after which individual switch tubes are singulated by methods such as sawing. The inventive methods provide for simultaneously fabricating a plurality of devices as opposed to traditional methods that rely on skilled craftsman to essentially hand build individual devices.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2011},
month = {5}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Lifetime of ferroelectric cathodes
journal, April 2001


A review of high-power switch technology
journal, October 1979


Theoretical Study of Triple Junction Electron Emission for a New Type of Cold Cathode
conference, January 2006


Analytic expression for triple-point electron emission from an ideal edge
journal, January 1998


Application of a ferroelectric plasma cathode as a high-current switch
journal, April 2002


Kiloampere and microsecond electron beams from ferroelectric cathodes
journal, January 1998


Electron emission from ferroelectrics
journal, December 2000


A Comparison of High-Voltage Switches
report, February 1999


Electron emission from ferroelectrics - a review
journal, February 1994


Diamond field emission devices
journal, March 2003