Three-dimensional graphene network electrode for a high-power switch circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12451672-B2
Application number	US-202318179129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2023
Priority date	Mar 6, 2023
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

One disclosed example provides a high-power switch circuit, comprising a cathode and an anode. One or more of the cathode and the anode comprises a three-dimensional graphene network. The high-power switch circuit further comprising a gap separating the cathode and the anode, a high-power voltage source electrically connected to the cathode and the anode, and a trigger device configured to selectively control triggering of an electrical current between the cathode and the anode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A high-power switch circuit, comprising:
a cathode and an anode, wherein one or more of the cathode and the anode comprises a three-dimensional graphene network, wherein the three-dimensional graphene network comprises a three-dimensional network of carbon rings with delocalized pi bonding in directions other than along planar sheets;
a gap separating the cathode and the anode;
a high-power voltage source electrically connected to the cathode and the anode; and
a trigger device configured to selectively control triggering of an electrical current between the cathode and the anode.

2. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger device comprises a pulsed laser.

3. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger device comprises a trigger voltage source.

4. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger device is configured to trigger at a microwave frequency.

5. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger device is configured to trigger at a radio frequency.

6. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein both the cathode and the anode comprise the three-dimensional graphene network.

7. The high-power switch circuit of claim 6 , wherein the gap comprises a hold-off gas.

8. The high-power switch circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger device is configured to trigger at a radar frequency.

9. A machine, comprising:
a high-power switch circuit, comprising:
a cathode and an anode, wherein one or more of the cathode and the anode comprises a three-dimensional graphene network, wherein the three-dimensional graphene network comprises a three-dimensional network of carbon rings with delocalized pi bonding in directions other than along planar sheets;
a gap separating the cathode and the anode;
a high-power voltage source electrically connected to the cathode and the anode; and
a trigger device configured to selectively control triggering of an electrical current between the cathode and the anode.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the machine comprises a communications transmitter.

11. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the communications transmitter is configured as a radio frequency transmitter.

12. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the communications transmitter is configured as a microwave transmitter.

13. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the machine comprises a sensing device.

14. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the machine is configured for use in one or more of a space environment, a near-space environment, an aerial environment, a land-based environment, or a submarine environment.

15. A method for operating a high-power switch circuit, the method comprising:
applying a high-power voltage source across a cathode and an anode of the high-power switch circuit, wherein one or more of the cathode and the anode comprises a three-dimensional graphene network, wherein the three-dimensional graphene network comprises a three-dimensional network of carbon rings with delocalized pi bonding in directions other than along planar sheets; and
triggering an electrical current between the cathode and the anode using a signal from a trigger device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said triggering the electrical current comprises pulsing a laser to induce a dielectric breakdown condition of a gap between the cathode and the anode.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said triggering the electrical current comprises applying a trigger voltage source across the cathode and the anode to reach a dielectric breakdown condition of a gap between the cathode and the anode.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising transmitting electromagnetic waves based on the electrical current triggered.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said transmitting the electromagnetic waves comprises transmitting in a radio frequency.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said transmitting the electromagnetic waves comprises transmitting in a microwave frequency.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Howe Wayne R
• Hunt Jeffrey H

Classifications

• H01S3/10

  Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating · CPC title

• H01T2/00

  Spark gaps comprising auxiliary triggering means (triggering circuits H01T15/00) · CPC title

• H01T1/22

  by the shape or the composition of the electrodes · CPC title

• H03K17/10

  Modifications for increasing the maximum permissible switched voltage · CPC title

• H01T2/02 Primary

  comprising a trigger electrode or an auxiliary spark gap · CPC title