Cathode-Ray Tube UV Source With Phosphor Cooling and Beam Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UV light sources for sterilization and communication, such as low-pressure mercury vapor lamps, Light Emitting Diodes, and pulsed Xenon lamps, face inefficiencies, high costs, environmental hazards, and health risks due to mercury use, and require complex filtering to produce UVC light effectively.

Innovation Solution

A cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source utilizing a metal housing, heatsink, phosphor, and electron gun to emit UVC light efficiently without mercury, with adjustable emission characteristics through electron beam focus and phosphor materials, and optional reflectors for collimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If low pressure mercury vapor lamps are used to produce UVC light, then energy efficiency and cost effectiveness are improved, but environmental hazards and health risks increase due to mercury use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUVC light production efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental and health hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates mercury from the UVC light generation process by using alternative materials (semiconductor materials or phosphors combined with electron beams) that can produce UVC light without requiring mercury vapor, thereby resolving the contradiction between efficiency and environmental safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light generation mechanism from mercury vapor excitation to either semiconductor electroluminescence or phosphor cathodoluminescence, enabling UVC production through different physical processes that eliminate mercury while maintaining efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If Light Emitting Diodes are used to produce UVC light, then environmental safety is improved by eliminating mercury, but energy efficiency and light capacity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidUVC light capacity and efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material systems: semiconductor materials combined with specific phosphors, or phosphors excited by electron beams, creating a hybrid approach that achieves both environmental safety and high UVC light capacity by leveraging the advantages of each material type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces phosphors as an intermediary medium that converts electron beam energy or semiconductor emissions into UVC light, enabling efficient UVC generation without direct mercury involvement, thus resolving the efficiency-safety contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Illumination intensity

If pulsed Xenon lamps are used to produce UVC light, then light output capability is improved, but cost increases and spectral filtering complexity is required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUVC light outputVSAvoidspectral filtering requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using phosphors with specific emission characteristics tailored to UVC wavelengths, or semiconductor materials with direct UVC bandgap, thereby generating UVC light directly without producing the broad spectrum that would require filtering, reducing device complexity while maintaining high output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Produces UVC light efficiently and cost-effectively, reducing environmental risks and operational complexity, while allowing for adjustable spectral output and angular emission control.

Implementation Method 1

an electron gun capable of developing an electron beam to impinge upon the first surface of the phosphor, whereby light emitted from the second surface of the phosphor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCathodoluminescence: Cathodoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a phosphor having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the second surface of the phosphor is in thermal contact with the heatsink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250329526A1Cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 BRETSCHNEIDER ERIC C

AI summary

A cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source includes a metal housing provided with a light-transmissive window, a heatsink disposed within the metal housing, a phosphor having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the second surface of the phosphor is in thermal contact with the heatsink, and an electron gun capable of developing an electron beam to impinge upon the first surface of the phosphor, whereby light emitted from the second surface of the phosphor is directed through the light-transmissive window.