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:
Oct. 20, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 05, 1996
Paul T Baskis, Rantoul, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for converting radioactive energy into electrical energy is provided and includes a first radioisotope (24) emitting alpha particles and a second radioisotope (28) emitting beta particles. A first plate (16) is positioned proximate the first radioisotope (24) and is adapted for capturing the alpha particles wherein the first plate (16) is positively charged. A second plate (18) is positioned proximate the second radioisotope (28) and is insulated from the first plate (16). The second plate (18) is adapted for capturing the beta particles wherein the second plate (18) is negatively charged for establishing an electrical potential between the first plate (16) and the second plate (18). A housing accommodates the radioisotopes (24,28) and plates (16,18) and has a first contact (40) connected to the first plate (16) and a second contact (42) connected to the second plate (18). An electrical potential is generated between the two contacts (40,42). An electrical load L is connected between the first and second contacts (40,42) for permitting the beta particles to travel from the second plate (18), through the second contact (42), the load L and the first contact (40) and to the first plate (16). The alpha particles in the first plate (16) capture the beta particles transmitted thereto to produce helium.