Patent ID: 7938707

Claim:
A method for batch fabrication of cold cathode vacuum switch tubes, the method comprising: providing a stacked assembly of layers comprising a plurality of spacedly adjacent vacuum switch tube sub-assemblies arranged in one or more aligned common layers, the stacked assembly of layers comprising, a trigger electrode layer, a cathode layer comprising a cathode support having a plurality of spacedly adjacent graphite cathodes disposed there through; a first electrically insulating layer disposed between the trigger electrode layer and the cathode layer, a plurality of spacedly adjacent trigger probes, each trigger probe extending through one of the plurality of graphite cathodes, each trigger probe comprising a ceramic insulator having a carbon coating on an end face and at least a portion of the sidewall of the ceramic insulator, each trigger probe comprising an electrical conductor extending through the ceramic insulator thereby electrically connecting the carbon coating on the end face of the ceramic insulator to the trigger electrode layer, a second electrically insulating layer disposed on the cathode layer opposed to the first electrically insulating layer, a plurality of spacedly adjacent anodes, each anode extending at least partially through a clearance through the second electrically insulating layer and being substantially aligned with a corresponding trigger probe, one or more braze alloy layers disposed between the one or more common layers, means for aligning the one or more common layers; and, heating the stacked assembly of layers in a vacuum oven to cause the one or more braze alloy layers to join the stacked assembly of layers into a cohesive assembly wherein a vacuum environment is created between each anode and each corresponding cathode.