US1885819A - Photo-electric tube - Google Patents

Description

NOVf 1, 1932- H. H. GEFFCKEN ET AL 1,885,819

PHOTO ELECTRIC TUBE Filed Deo. '7. 1928- Patented Nov. 1, 1932 taaie f AF F E f IIEINEICH H. eEEEcKENfAND-IIANS E. RICHTER, E LEIPZIG, GERMANY micro-ELECTRIC TUBE Application led December 7, 1928, Serial No.

' Our invention relates to photo-electric tubes of the kind comprising a sealed tube which-may be .of glassfquartzl or other suitable material andfcontaining afilm electrode of light sensitive material (e. g., potassium, sodium' or the' like) and a second electrode. for collecting the electrons emitted by the film electrode when the latter is subjected to .e theinfluence oflight.r`- n 1U More ydefinitely stated, the object of our invention is a photo-electric tube particularly'adapted for. attachment to various apparatus where only narrow spaces,v crevices or channels are left for the insertion of the i photo-electric tube. The photo-electric tube disclosed in this case is of such structure asv to require extremely small space. Thisis,` generally speaking, achieved by arranging the electrodes on `one side and all terminals on the: other side-of the tube and opposite the side from which the light rays fall on the tube. It is possible in thisjway to construct. a very small and eflicienttube which may be inserted into slmallrspace-in an apparatus where the tube is 'required7 being attached to the apparatus not unlike the human eye isattached to the-head. and the light rays will fall on vthe tube without obstruction since all terminals are'provided collectively in the rear of the tube. It will be obvious that such structure of a photo-electric tube will be very valuable in many cases. The usual photo-electric tubes have terminals arranged separately in a certain angle to each other rand require a relatively large space. Thus, by collectively arranging the electrodes on one side (where the light is received) and bv collectivelv arranging the terminals on the opposite side. we succeeded to provide a photo-electric tube of great utility not disclosed in any prior invention.

Our invention will be best understood by reference to the following description which f' should be read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing, Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a photo-electric tube, the light sensitive film Yof which is produced byA pouring the Y Figure 3 represents `a 324`,4=70,'and in Germany December 9, 192'?.`

photo-electric material in liquid condition into the tube. f Y

Figure 2 represents 'a diagrammatic view ofv photo-electric tube, the light sensitive film v'of which is produced by pouring the 55' photo-electric material upon a plate provided in the interior ofv the tubeI and carrying a tight meshy metallic net.-

diagrammatic view of a photo-electric tube, the light sensitive film of which is produced by precipitating the lphoto-electric material in vaporized condition upon a recess in the walls of the tube which rises centrally'into the tube.

Referring particularly to Figure-1, the tube 1V contains an anode electrodey Zand a cathode lightysensitive filmL 3. The light. rays strikethe tube in the direction of the arrows 4.' Both of the terminal wires 5 and 6 of the cathode light sensitive film and of 70 the anode member, respectively, are arranged on the same side of the tube and opposite tothe side exposedto the light rays.

It will be appreciated that the structure described above possesses many advantages over photo-'electric tubes known aty the present time, whichare usually provided `with a separate lateral stalk containing the anode terminalV wire. 'Consequently, the space required by these lphoto-electric tubes-must be relatively large; The advantages of our invention will be very valuable in many cases.

v As shown in Figure 1, the tube l is provided with a conduit?l for supporting inl its interior the anode terminal. This conduit S5 is'also arranged on the tube opposite the side exposed to the light rays. The conduit 7 is adapted to be heated after the light sensi-, tive lilm is positioned in the tube, and this heating can be accomplished without heatl -ingthe light sensitive lm. All precipitates can, therefore, be easily removed and a sui"- ficient insulatingportion is produced in the interior ofthe tube. `The conduit 7 extends into the interior of the tube beyond the film 3, in order to prevent theliquid photo-electric material from entering the conduit 7 during the manufacturing process when applying the liquid material to form the film.

Referring-to Figure 2, the light ysensitive film is in this case applied to a supporting plate 9. The plate is for this purpose provided with a tight meshy net l of copper, silver or another metal, adapted to receive and to absorb the liquid photo-electric mate rial. When the liquid photo-electric material is brought in4 contactL with thenet 10, this net will receive and will absorb thefmaterial owing to cohesion and capillary attrac- 0 tion7 and will be uniformly coated 'withV a tight light sensitiveilm.l

An especial advantage of the last described photo-electric tube resides in the fact that' very small quantities of photo-electric mates rial are required and" that the materialv is applied in liquid (and not in vaporizedcon dition). The possibility of inconveniences;r

whichmay be caused by'undesirable.precipitates of vapor-ized p11oto-eleotricmater1al as usually applied, isconsequently appreciably" reduced. y V,Referring to Figure 135 the tube 'lfisI pro-V vided with a recess 171,. risingA centrally into the interior of the tube'. pposite the 'top 2 5'. of the recesslll, withimthe tube-,there is ar` rangeda roug'hfmeshy.- net 12 of metal, closely attached to .the inte-rior surfaceeofthe front v portion ofthe tube and connected'to'the anodeterminal wire.- The netfl2.serveseasanode electrode. The light sensitivefilm i-s-applied to the topfoflthe' recessll within the tubebyi feeding-the photo-electric'material in vapor-f ized state into the tube andby simultaneously heating, the outer wall of-'th'etubefandicooling:

the recess l'l by a curlrent=l of coldairorin an other suitable manner'.v

Numeral. .13 desigf' nates` a'suitable base.v

scribed embodiment ofourinvention reside in the fact that extremely small quantities of' photo-electric materialane required. for pr-o-A during the light sensitivevlm and that the thek vapor-ized.- material' willi only .precipitate on the cooled recess withoutv any other provision, .and this work and-safely.

Numerous changesfcanVoi course, be made inthe' structure and in thefarrangement of details of our invention without departing p therefore,.wantto have it understoodthat we desire to applythe infrom its spirit.I We,.

vention onlysubject to the limitationsasex-l pressed in` the Aclaims which `follow:

l.. A photo-electric tube havingafsealed en-v velope; a light. sensitive cathode; -an anode-v electrode positioned within saidlenvelope in the end to be exposed to the light rays; 'aV terminall connected to said: cathode artermif "==na1fconnected`to said anode; electrode;"and

can be performedeasily a conduit extending into said envelope through said cathode and separately mounting said anode terminal.

2A photo-electric tube comprising a sealed envelope a light sensitive cathode electrode to be exposed to light rays received from. one side oi said. tube; an anode electrode; a' terminallconneeted tosaidcathode electrode; and aterminal connected to said anode electrode, said last mentioned termina-l extending througbfsaid envelope through an openingin said cathode electrode and through thsideofsaid envelope opposite said one s1. e.` Y Y 31A photo-electric tube v comprising a sealed :envelope h aving. api at, window. alight sensitive cathodeelectrode an anode elec-` trode a terminal`` connected? tofsaid. cathode electrode.; a terminaliconnectedto saidV anode. electrode, Y said last mentioned'. terminal ex-y tending yinto said envelope i'fhrou-ghon,A ov ening.. in -saidfcatliode electrode, saidfcathode, and anode. electrodes being parallel.4 to saidl window, and saidanodeLa-nd cathodetermi nals extending into said'en'veloperon thes-ide opposite said Window. f r

vt'. A photo-.electric tube comprisingk afl sealed' envelope havinga t window;` ai light. sensitive cathode electrode; an anode elect? trode .terminalconnectedit'o said cathode electrode; a terminal'connectedto said'anode electrode; saidterminals projecting through y. the lsides of said`- envelope opposite said Win-A dowsfaud saidelectrodes being interpose'dbefv tween `,said Windows andthe sidetli'rougli which saiditerminalsprojectand extending at'A rightangles .to tlejpath ofLtlie beam of light; whereby substantially allltlie light enteringfrom said- Window Iis* impinged upon and: ab-

sorbedbyfsaid cathode electrode` y p v l Inrtestimony whereof'we aiiixgour signa-f tures.v i

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