Bipolar microelectronic device

摘要

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modulating electric current. An electron source electrode provides a flow of electrons in a partial vacuum environment. An ionizable gas in the partial vacuum environment forms positively charged ion particles in response to impact with the electrons from the electron source electrode. Application of a bias voltage differential between a first bias electrode and a second bias electrode in the partial vacuum environment forms an electric field gradient in a path of the flow of electrons. A collector electrode in the partial vacuum environment collects more electrons than ion particles when a collector electrode input voltage is above a threshold, and collects more ion particles than electrons when the collector electrode input voltage is below the threshold.

主权项

1. An apparatus to modulate electric current, the apparatus comprising:
an electron source electrode in a partial vacuum environment, the electron source electrode providing a flow of electrons; an ionizable gas in the partial vacuum environment, at least a portion of the ionizable gas forming ion particles in response to impact with the electrons from the electron source electrode, the ion particles having a positive electric charge; a first bias electrode and a second bias electrode in the partial vacuum environment, the first and second bias electrodes forming an electric field gradient in a path of the flow of electrons in response to application of a bias voltage differential between the first and second bias electrodes, wherein the first bias electrode has a positive voltage and the second bias electrode has a negative voltage; and a collector electrode in the partial vacuum environment, the collector electrode collecting more electrons than ion particles in response to a collector electrode input voltage being above a threshold, and the collector electrode collecting more ion particles than electrons in response to the collector electrode input voltage being below the threshold, wherein the first bias electrode collects at least a portion of the electrons in response to the collector electrode input voltage being below the threshold and the second bias electrode collecting at least a portion of the ion particles in response to the collector electrode input voltage being above the threshold.