The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 22, 2019
Filed:
May. 02, 2018
Applicant:
Spark Thermionics, Inc., Berkeley, CA (US);
Inventors:
Jared William Schwede, Berkeley, CA (US);
Lucas Heinrich Hess, Berkeley, CA (US);
Assignee:
Spark Thermonics, Inc., Berkeley, CA (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 35/30 (2006.01); H01L 35/18 (2006.01); H01L 35/14 (2006.01); H01L 35/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 35/30 (2013.01); H01L 35/14 (2013.01); H01L 35/18 (2013.01); H01L 35/22 (2013.01);
Abstract
A thermionic energy converter, preferably including an anode and a cathode. An anode of a thermionic energy converter, preferably including an n-type semiconductor, one or more supplemental layers, and an electrical contact. A method for work function reduction and/or thermionic energy conversion, preferably including inputting thermal energy to a thermionic energy converter, illuminating an anode of the thermionic energy converter, thereby preferably reducing a work function of the anode, and extracting electrical power from the system.