Patent ID: 6509669
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G21H,H01J

Abstract:
A microminiature thermionic converter comprising:a first electrode comprising a first material having a first work function; a second electrode comprising a second material having a second work function different from the first work function; at least one dielectric spacer deposited using chemical vapor deposition, supporting the second electrode relative to the first electrode such that the second electrode, at its closest approach to the first electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance ranging from between about 1 micron and about 10 microns thereby defining an interelectrode gap, wherein aggregate cross sectional area associated with the at least one dielectric spacer is sufficiently low that in operation the ratio of watts of thermal conversion of the microminiature thermionic converter to watts of thermal conductivity losses, including losses resulting from flow of thermal energy between the first and second a electrodes via the at least one dielectric spacer, is greater than about 0.15.