US2425877A - Glow and slow acting tube - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1947. J. H. HOMRIGHOUS 2,

GLOW AND SLOW ACTING TUBE Filed June 24, 1944 FIG 6 l INVEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 19. i947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLOW AND SLOW AQJTING TUBE John H. Homrighous, Oak Park, Ill.

Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. l1,94l

l (Jlaims.

This invention relates to radio tubes and more particularly to radio tubes for converting changing electrical energy into variable light values.

One or the objects of my invention is to provide in a radio tube an anode member comprising luminescent or phosphorescent material of relative slow decay for maintaining its brilliancy substantially constant over a period of time after its energizing circuit has been interrupted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a multi-element radio tube having a luminescent anode member and a photo electric device con-- trolled by the intensity of light on the luminescent member.

Another object of the instant invention to provide an improved glow tube for recording variable intensities of light on a moving film in accordance with sound vibrations.

Another object is to provide in a radio tube means for extending the period of time of an impulse applied to its control electrode.

Various circuit arrangements have been de vised for delaying or shifting pulse intervals but none of those circuits employ a radio tube comprising members for causing pulse delay or pulse interval extensions.

The above mentioned objects and others will be obvious from the following description in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the radio tube.

Figure 2 is a top View of the radio tube in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing method for extending the period of time for an impulse.

Figure l shows a modification of the radio tube.

Figure 5 is a top view of the tube in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing method for varying light intensities in accordance with sound vibrations.

Figures 1 to 3 show a radio tube for prolonging or extending the period of time of impulses applied to its control grid by coating the metallic anode with luminescent material of relatively slow decay so that the luminescent material will retain its brilliancy for a period of time after its energizing circuit has been interrupted, to produce substantially constant flow of current through an associated photo electric device.

Figures 4 to 6 show a modification of the radio tube in Figures 1 to 3. The modification primarily consists of omitting the photo cell and coating the metallic anode with luminescent material of relatively fast decay so that light changes may be recorded in accordance with the electrical changes on the control electrode.

In the drawing Figures 1 to 3, the numeral l represents an evacuated bulb having a stem 2 for supporting the various electrode members. The cathode 3 may be indirectly heated by the filament d. Surrounding the cathode 3 is the spiral wire control grid 5. Adjacent one side of the control grid is the anode 5, comprising a fine wire mesh coated with luminescent or phosphorescent material of relatively slow decay. A shield I may be provided partly surrounding the cathode and grid to direct the electrons emitted from the cathode 3 toward the plate or anode 8. Sup ported on the opposite side of the anode 5 is a photo electric device comprising the cathode 8 and the anode 9 arranged to be actuated only by the light radiating from the luminescent material on the wire mesh or gauze comprising the anode 6.

The several tube elements are mounted on and held in proper position by the member it of insulating material. The mounting it! is secured by small rods l l and 52 to the glass stem 2. ,Conductors from the individual tube elements are extended through the glass stem 2 to the base it of the tube where they are terminated on terminals extending from the base.

Referring to Figure 3 the operation is as follows: any variation of potential on grid 5 will cause a similar variation in the anode 6 output circuit. However, since the luminescent coating on the anode Sis of relatively high persistence, rapid fluctuations in current flowing through the tube may produce a light or glow from the anode of relatively even value. Should impulses of wide separation be applied to the grid 5 the duration of the light or glow from the anode would be for a longer period of time than the duration of the voltage impulses applied to the grid. Therefore since the cathode 8 receives light from the anode 6, the output from the photo electric device would be in accordance with the duration of the light or glow on the anode 6. For instance, a potential change similar to that indicated at It may produce in the photo electric device an impulse of longer duration similar to that shown at E5, and impulses of long duration,

but spaced relatively close together similar to those shown at It and applied to the grid may produce in the photo cell a continuous and uniform output or an impulse of longer duration may be produced as shown at H.

Referring to the improved glow lamp or tube Figures 4 to 6 the numeral [8 represents an evacuated bulb or envelope having a stem IQ for supporting the various electrode members. The

' cathode 29 may be indirectly heated by the filament 2|. Surrounding the cathode 20 is the wire control grid 22. Near the end of the glass bulb is the anode 23 constructed with a wire mesh or gauze filled or coated with luminescent material'of relatively fast decay. Surrounding the cathode and grid is a beam forming plate or shield 24 electrically connected to the cathode for directing the electrons toward the anode.

The various tube elements are mounted on and held in proper position by the member 25 of insulating material. The mounting member 25 is secured by small rods 26 and 21 to the glass stem I9. The rods 26 and 21 also support the anode 23 in top of tube with the rod 21 serving as a conductor for the wire gauze in the anode 23. The lower opening of the guide or shield 24 may be shielded by the closure plate 28 on under side of member 25. The shield 24 and the plate 28 are electrically connected.

Referring to Figure 6, the operation is as follows sound signals from the microphone 29 after suitable amplification at 30, are applied to the control grid 22 to vary the number of electrons flowing from the cathode 29 to the anode 23. The anode 23 is responsive to the fluctuations of potential in the grid 22 or to the intensity of the electrons reaching its surface to change its brilliancy.

This glow tube is primarily for recording sound effects on a moving picture film and it is placed inside of a container 3| as shown in Figure 5. In the end of the container there is a narrow rectangular aperture 32 so that a film traveling in front of this aperture may have different degrees of brilliancy recorded in the sound track area on the film.

The embodiments of the invention which have been given herein are illustrations of how the various features may be accomplished and the principles involved. It is to be understood that the invention contained herein is capable of embodiment in many other forms and adaptations, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A radio tube comprising a cathode capable of emitting electrons, a luminescent coated anode sensitive to emissions from said cathode to cause the anode to glow, a control grid surrounding said cathode to control the electrons flowing to said anode, and a photo electric device having a rod like anode partially surrounded by a photo cathode for receiving light rays from said luminescent coated anode, thereby producing electron flow from the photo cathode to the rod like anode.

2. An electron tube comprising a cathode capable of emitting electrons, and a luminescent coated anode, means for heating the said cathode to drive off electrons, a shield electrically connected to said cathode for directing said electrons toward said anode, a source of current connected between the said anode and the said cathode to produce a flow of current therebetween to cause the said anode to glow, and a control electrode surrounding said cathode capable through applied signals to vary the current flow from said anode to said cathode.

3. In a slow acting radio tube, a first cathode, a control electrode surrounding said cathode, a first anode provided with a coating of luminescent material of relatively slow decay, means for heating the said cathode to drive off electrons, a source of current connected between said anode and said cathode for producing a fiow of current therebetween to cause said anode to glow, a signal input circuit including said control electrode for varying said current flow, a photo electric cell comprising a second anode partially surrounded by a second cathode for receiving light rays from said first anode to produce electron emission to the second anode representative of the intensity of the rays, and means including the luminescent material on said first anode for maintaining the intensity of the light directed from the said first anode to the said second cathode substantially constant during relatively fast variations in signal input.

4. A radio tube comprising a cathode for emitting electrons, a luminescent coated anode of relatively slow decay sensitive to emissions from said cathode to cause the anode to glow, a shield electrically connected to said cathode for directing the said electrons toward the said anode, a control electrode disposed between said cathode and said anode, a signal input circuit including said control electrode for varying the electrons reaching said anode, a photo electric device adjacent to and adapted to be actuated by light rays from said anode, and means including the luminescent coated anode for maintaining the intensity of the light directed from said anode substantially constant during variations in signal input.

JOHN H. HOMRIGI-IOUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,268 Wagner June 28, 1938 2,239,769 Batchelor Apr. 29, 1941 2,156,813 Kautz May 2, 1939 2,143,527 Schmidling Jan. 10, 1939 1,999,653 Case Apr. 30, 1935 1,850,467 Nakken Mar. 22, 1932 2,039,134 Waldschmidt Apr. 28, 1936 2,243,408 Anderson May 27, 1941

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