Cathode-Ray Tube UVC Source With Phosphor Cooling and Beam Excitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UV light sources for sterilization and non-line of sight communication, such as low pressure mercury vapor lamps, Light Emitting Diodes, and pulsed Xenon lamps, face inefficiencies, high costs, and environmental hazards due to mercury use, while lacking efficient production of UVC light in the 190-230 nm range.

Innovation Solution

A cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source with a metal housing, heatsink, phosphor, and electron gun, which emits UVC light efficiently without mercury, using a reflector to direct light through a transparent window, and optionally varying emission characteristics with electron beam focus and multiple phosphors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates mercury from the UVC light generation system by using a cathode-ray tube with phosphor conversion instead of mercury vapor excitation. The electron beam excites phosphor materials that convert to UVC emission, completely removing the harmful mercury substance while maintaining UVC production capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light generation mechanism from mercury vapor electrical excitation to electron beam phosphor excitation. This parameter change allows achieving the same UVC output function without the harmful mercury substance, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and environmental safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If Light Emitting Diodes are used to produce UVC light, then environmental hazards are reduced by eliminating mercury, but production efficiency and light capacity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental hazardVSAvoidlight capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the semiconductor electrical excitation mechanism of LEDs with a cathode-ray tube electron beam excitation mechanism. This substitution enables higher power density and greater light capacity while maintaining mercury-free operation, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental safety and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight outputVSAvoidspectral filtering

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selecting specific phosphor materials with defined emission characteristics that directly produce the desired UVC spectrum. This eliminates the need for broad-spectrum generation followed by filtering, simplifying the device while maintaining high light output in the target wavelength range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Use of energy by moving object

If cathode-ray tube design is used to produce UVC light, then mercury-free efficient UVC production is achieved, but heat management requirements increase due to electron beam energy conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUVC production efficiencyVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a heatsink as an intermediary thermal management component between the phosphor and the environment. This heatsink absorbs and dissipates the heat generated by electron beam energy conversion, enabling efficient UVC production while controlling operating temperatures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 providing controlled spectral output without mercury, suitable for sterilization and covert communication.

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)

Implementation Method 3

a reflector is disposed within the metal housing to direct the light emitted from the first surface towards the light-transmissive window

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12362166B2Cathode-ray tube ultraviolet light source

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 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.