Grid-Controlled X-Ray Source for Space Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray communication systems suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio, high error rate, and low communication speed due to limitations in power handling and focusing capabilities, particularly in long-distance space communication.
Innovation Solution
A grid-controlled X-ray source with a thermionic cathode, modulation grid, electronic beam focusing electrode, and metallic target anode is used to modulate and focus X-ray pulses, combined with a high-time-resolution X-ray detector for improved signal processing and amplification, enabling high-power and high-speed X-ray modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the power of incident light is increased to improve transmission power, then the transmission power increases, but the photoelectric cathode will be damaged and the current cannot be too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grid electrode as an intermediary control element between the photoelectric cathode and the anode. The grid electrode modulates the electron beam current by applying control voltage, enabling independent control of transmission power without directly increasing incident light power on the cathode. This resolves the contradiction by decoupling the relationship between incident light power and transmission power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the electron beam current through the grid electrode voltage. By dynamically adjusting the grid voltage, the system can modulate the current in real-time according to signal requirements, allowing transmission power to be varied without permanently increasing the cathode's incident light power, thus protecting the cathode while enabling power control.
2Area of stationary object
If a large-area Si-PIN photoelectric diode is used to detect X-ray pulses for long-distance communication, then the detection area increases, but the time resolution deteriorates to millisecond magnitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the solid-state Si-PIN photoelectric diode with a vacuum tube-based X-ray detector using photoelectric emission and electron multiplication. This substitution enables the use of fast-response photomultiplier tubes that achieve nanosecond time resolution while maintaining large detection area, resolving the trade-off between area and time resolution that plagues solid-state detectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection mechanism from internal photoelectric effect in semiconductors to external photoelectric effect with electron multiplication in vacuum. This parameter change in the detection physics enables simultaneous achievement of large area and fast time response, as the electron multiplication process in vacuum tubes occurs much faster than charge collection in large-area semiconductor detectors.
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
This solution enhances communication distance to over 4,000 kilometers, reduces error rates, and significantly increases communication speed by utilizing a grid-controlled X-ray tube and advanced X-ray detectors with nanosecond response times.
Implementation Method 1
a thermionic cathode 23, a modulation grid 24
Implementation Method 2
the modulation grid 24 is an electrode plate with a small hole which faces the emergence hole of the thermionic cathode 23
Implementation Method 3
an electronic beam focusing electrode 25 and a metallic target anode 26; wherein one end of the filament 21 is grounded and the other end is connected with the anode of a power supply
Implementation Method 4
the electronic beam focusing electrode 25 is located on the two sides of the small hole of the modulation grid 24 to form a focusing channel facing the small hole, an electronic beam is focused by the electronic beam focusing electrode 25 and then transmitted to the metallic target anode 26
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a grid-controlled X-ray source, a space X-ray communication system and a space X-ray communication method. The structure of the grid-controlled X-ray source is: one end of the filament is grounded and the other end is connected with the anode of a power supply, the thermionic cathode is located at the side of the filament and the emergence hole thereof faces the filament, the modulation grid is an electrode plate with a small hole which faces the emergence hole of the thermionic cathode, the electronic beam focusing electrode is located on the two sides of the small hole of the modulation grid to form a focusing channel facing the small hole, an electronic beam is focused by the electronic beam focusing electrode and then transmitted to the metallic target anode, wherein the transmitting surface of the metallic target anode faces the outlet of the focusing channel and the other surface is connected with the anode of the power supply, and the output window is located on an reflection path of the electronic beam which is from the metallic target anode. The disclosure solves the technical problems that the signal-to-noise ratio of communication is low, the error rate error rate of communication is high and the speed of communication is low when an X ray is used for implementing communication in the conventional art, and has the advantages of long communication distance and the low error rate of communication.