Anode initiated surface flashover switch
| Patent Number: | 6,555,961 |
| Issued: | 4/29/2003 |
| Official Filing: | View the Complete Patent |
| Abstract: | A high voltage surface flashover switch has a pair of electrodes spaced by an insulator. A high voltage is applied to an anode, which is smaller than the opposing, grounded, cathode. When a controllable source of electrons near the cathode is energized, the electrons are attracted to the anode where they reflect to the insulator and initiate anode to cathode breakdown. |
| Filed: | 9/4/2001 |
| Application Number: | 9/947,106 |
| Government Interests: | STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |