Patent ID: 8183760

Claim:
A substrate ( 10 ) for an electron emitter ( 12 ) comprising: a coil ( 14 ) comprised of a first material and having a length ( 16 ) and a diameter ( 18 ) and two ends ( 20 , 22 ); and an element ( 23 ) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of said ends ( 20 , 22 ), said element ( 23 ) comprising a second material different from said first material and being of a size to allow said coil ( 14 ) to subsequently be mounted between spaced-apart lead-in wires ( 40 , 42 ) by utilizing said element ( 23 ) wherein said element ( 23 ) comprises a solid ball ( 24 ) having a diameter substantially equal to said coil diameter ( 18 ) and each said element ( 23 ) directly electrically couples said spaced-apart lead wires ( 40 , 42 ) to said coil ( 14 ).