Patent GB-699863-A (GB)
Title: Improved electronic counting device
IPC: H03K21/08
Filed: 1950-10-04
Abstract: 699,863. Cathode-ray tubes. COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION. Oct. 4, 1950 [Oct. 21, 1949], No. 24237/50. Class 39(i) [Also in Groups XIX and XL(c)] An electronic vacuum tube counter in which the beam moves in a stepped circular path comprises three or more deflecting electrodes arranged around the circumference of a cylinder, first and second sets of circularly arranged collecting electrodes equal in number to the number of deflecting electrodes, each deflecting electrode being connected to one of the first set and to one of the second set of collecting electrodes and also being connected to a D.C. source by a resistance so that the beam has a number of stable states in each of which the beam is divided between an electrode'of the first set and one of the second set and a trigger electrode to shift the beam by radial and circumferential movement from one stable state to another. In one form the device has indirectly heated cathode, control grid and accelerating anode preferably designed to form a Pierce type gun, a focusing ring forming an electron lens with the anode, five or ten deflecting electrodes, a positive ring, trigger electrode, front collector system, suppressor grid and back collector system, all these electrodes being supported and spaced by a glass or ceramic tube, Fig. 1 (not shown). Each deflecting electrode is connected to a separate load resistance connected to a common supply lead to which the positive ring and accelerating anode are also connected, all the above parts being located within the tube envelope. The front collector system, suppressor grid and back collector system are spaced by insulating spacers and the assembly secured together by screws; the front collector system rests on a lip of the ceramic tube. The front collector system comprises five overlapping segments A<SP>11</SP> ... E<SP>11</SP>, Figs. 5, 6, formed with slots and/or apertures 24, 25, 26, 27 and the back collector system comprises five overlapping segments A<SP>111</SP>, Fig. 5. Deflecting electrode A<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 5, is connected to collector electrodes All, A<SP>111</SP> and similarly for the other deflecting and collecting electrodes, the result being that the beam has twenty stable positions in each of which half the beam impinges on a front collector and the other half passes through a slot or aperture therein to a back collector. Apertures in the shape of indicia are cut in the back collectors so that part of the beam passes through and impinges on luminescent material on the tube wall to give a visual indication of the count. Alternatively neon lamps or voltmeters could be used but the above described method is preferred. The front collectors, Fig. 6, are secured together in overlapping relation by mica washers 30, 31 and fastening wires 32, and the washers are secured to the collector and suppressor assembly as a whole by screws, Fig. 1 (not shown). When a signal is applied to the trigger electrode the beam is advanced to the next but one stable position, so that the device gives a count of ten for twenty stable positions. The suppressor grid is an apertured sheet metal structure, Fig. 3 (not shown). The back collectors are wired to two annular mica washers, Fig. 4 (not shown). In the stable state part of the beam is intercepted by the positive ring and the beam is held in position by means of the feedback from the collectors to the deflectors in spite of stray beam current fluctuations. The deflection plates are designed to reduce defocusing and may be five helically wound electrodes as in the top half of Fig. 12, or the complete structure of Fig. 12 may be used. The plates may or may not have conically splayed extensions, and may be riveted to the ceramic or glass tube. Alternatively the deflection plates may be metal coatings on the conical surface of the ceramic or glass tube, and the focusing ring, positive ring and trigger electrode may also be metal coatings, Fig. 15 (not shown). In another form, Figs. 7, 13 (not shown) pairs of straight plates may be disposed about the surface of a cylinder or cone. In this case five pairs of plates are connected at intervals of 3, 5 or 7 spaces. In another form, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, each electrode 65 of a set of five is connected to two electrodes 63, 64 of a set of ten in the manner indicated. If two alternate slots in each front collector electrode are omitted, only one stable state is provided for each count of one. If two adjacent slots are omitted, the device can be used as a scale of five tube with two stable states for each count of one. Ten deflecting electrodes can be used if the collector electrodes are subdivided to give an equal number of each set. A reversible counter which will add and subtract is described with reference to Fig. 16 (not shown). The device may use a single trigger electrode; alternatively a second trigger may be added along the axis or the trigger may be split into a number of rings which are electrically independent of one another. In an alternative preferred form, Fig. 17, the electrodes are secured to mica rings 202 supported on five straight metal rods 218, which also serve as electrical connections, some of the electrodes being mechanically interconnected by glass beads 203. The gun anode 215 is in two parts and a focusing ring 214 is supported therein. The deflector electrodes 204, 205 are triply twisted cylindrical portions 204 connected to conical extensions 205. Positive ring 211 is secured to mica washer 202<SP>1</SP> by flanged ring 212, and has a window 206 with a carry-over electrode 207 positioned therein; a carry-over electrode could also be provided in the form of Fig. 1. 208 is the trigger and 219 the collector electrode assembly. The front and back collectors are formed from a single blank suitably shaped and folded and secured to mica washers to form a box-like structure; the arrangement being described in detail with reference to Figs. 18-22 (not shown). A circuit employing three counter tubes, one according to Fig. 1 and the other two according to Fig. 17, is described with reference to Fig 10 (not shown). However, successive counting tubes may for example all be of the form of Fig. 17.