ACCOMPLISHMENTS Developed a cathode assembly that uses only 1.5 watts of

heater power. The small size and low power make it ideal for miniature cathode applications such as cathode ray tubes and high frequency traveling wave tubes

Uses the mixed matrix cathode material to give very long life, or alternatively, very high loading levels

FDE Inc.Beaverton, OR

SmallBusinessInnovation Research

GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS

Cathode has been chosen for use as the electron source in a NASA miniature millimeter wave traveling wave tube being developed for space communications

Glenn Research CenterCommunications3-087

A Low Power Dispenser CathodeAssembly for Space Communications

Low Power Dispenser Cathode Assembly

INNOVATION

1995 Phase II, NAS3-97038, 6/02NASA Contact – Edwin G. WintuckyCompany Contact – Bernard K. Vancil

A power efficient miniature barium dispenser thermionic cathode assembly

COMMERCIALIZATION

Sales to date $100,000

The main user of this cathode to date has been a developer of laser-cathode ray tubes. The innovation described here can provide the very high cathode loading

needed to achieve the brightness and spot size required by the tube

Laser-cathode ray tubes are used in projectors for electronic cinema