Global Patent Index - EP 1984625 A4

EP 1984625 A4 20101110 - CLOSELY SPACED ELECTRODES WITH A UNIFORM GAP

Title (en)

CLOSELY SPACED ELECTRODES WITH A UNIFORM GAP

Title (de)

DICHT ANGEORDNETE ELEKTRODEN MIT EINHEITLICHER LÜCKE

Title (fr)

ELECTRODES ETROITEMENT ESPACEES PAR UN ENTREFER UNIFORME

Publication

EP 1984625 A4 20101110 (EN)

Application

EP 07756398 A 20070122

Priority

  • US 2007060871 W 20070122
  • US 34462206 A 20060131
  • US 84126206 P 20060830

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO2007100941A2] An improved design for maintaining separation between electrodes in tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermophotovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is made from flexible material. A magnetic field is present to combine with the current flowing in the flexible electrode and generate a force that counterbalances the electrostatic force or other attracting forces between the electrodes. The balancing of forces allows the separation and parallelism between the electrodes to be maintained at a very small spacing without requiring the use of multiple control systems, actuators, or other manipulating means, or spacers. The shape of one or both electrodes is designed to maintain a constant separation over the entire overlapping area of the electrodes. The end result is an electronic device that maintains two closely spaced parallel electrodes in stable equilibrium with a uniform gap therebetween over a large area in a simple configuration for simplified manufacturability and use to convert heat to electricity or electricity to cooling.

IPC 8 full level

H02N 3/00 (2006.01); H10N 99/00 (2023.01); F25B 21/02 (2006.01); H01J 21/08 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP KR)

F25B 21/00 (2013.01 - EP); H01J 1/88 (2013.01 - EP); H01J 21/08 (2013.01 - EP); H01J 45/00 (2013.01 - EP); H02N 10/00 (2013.01 - KR); F25B 2321/003 (2013.01 - EP); Y02B 30/00 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 2007100941 A2 20070907; WO 2007100941 A3 20090528; BR PI0708014 A2 20110517; EP 1984625 A2 20081029; EP 1984625 A4 20101110; JP 2009525620 A 20090709; KR 20080091783 A 20081014

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 2007060871 W 20070122; BR PI0708014 A 20070122; EP 07756398 A 20070122; JP 2008553443 A 20070122; KR 20087018747 A 20080729