THE VACUUM TUBE

It is a device that controls electric current between

electrodes in an evacuated container. Mostly rely on thermionic
emission of electrons from a hot filament or a cathode heated
by the filament. This type is called a thermionic tube or
thermionic valve The simplest vacuum tube, the DIODE
contains only 1. A heater or heated electron-emitting cathode
(the filament itself acts as the cathode in some diodes). 2. A
plate (anode). Current can only flow in one direction through
the device between the two electrodes.

The vacuum tube or thermionic valve was the first form of

active technology used within electronics and these devices are
still used today.
Vacuum tube or thermionic valve technology has been in use
since just after the beginning of the twentieth century.
The introduction of thermionic valve or vacuum tube technology
enabled the foundations of the electronics industry to be set in
place.

What is a Vacuum Tube: Thermionic Valve

 The first observations of what eventually developed into
vacuum tube or thermionic valve technology were observed
by Edison. In his quest to manufacture better incandescent
light bulbs, he noticed and effect that was later called the
Edison Effect.

Later Ambrose Fleming used the effect for rectifying radio

signals in a new form of radio detector he called his
oscillation valve.

Selection of vacuum tubes / thermionic valvesThe next

major development occurred when Lee de Forest added a
third electrode called a grid. This opened up the basic
thermionic valve or vacuum tube idea to amplify signals
and provide considerably more functionality.

A BIT OF HISTORY
The simplest vacuum tube, the
DIODE contains only
1. A heater or heated
electron-emitting cathode (the
filament itself acts as the cathode in
some diodes).
2. A plate (anode).

Current can only flow in one direction

through the device between the two
electrodes.
 Vacuum tube or thermionic valve technology is based around the
basic concept of thermionic emission.
The concept of thermionic valve or vacuum tubes used the idea
that a heated element in a vacuum emitted electrons that would
normally remain in the vicinity of this heated element because of the
charge attraction.
If a second electrode was placed into the vacuum and a high
positive potential placed on it, then the electrons would be attracted
away from the heated element towards this element with a high
potential. As a result a current would flow in this direction.
As electrons were unable to travel in the reverse direction, this
simple valve or vacuum tube acts as a diode.
It is also possible to place a third element known as a grid into
the structure between the structure between the other two
electrodes. This electrode is normally formed of a gauze to allow
electrons to pass through. By varying the potential on this electrode,
the flow of electrons can be controlled.

VACUUM TUBE TECHNOLOGY

There are a number of electrodes in a valve or vacuum tube:

Cathode: This is the electrode that is heated and emits

the electrons.
Anode: This electrode in the vacuum tube or valve has a
high potential to attract electrons from the cathode.
Grid: This is the valve electrode that has a variable
potential and is used to control the flow of electrons
between cathode and anode.

Filament: Most valves these days are indirectly heated,

i.e. a the filament is not connected to the cathode. The
filament heats the cathode which then emits the electrons.
Early valves were directly heated and the filament was used
to emit the electrons. However this placed limitations on the
way in which valves could be used. Having an indirectly
heated cathode allows the cathode to operate at a potential
higher than ground and also for many filaments to be run in
parallel in a single item of equipment.

VACUUM TUBE TECHNOLOGY

 1. CATHODE
1) The thoriated filament:

It is just a tungsten filament like in a light bulb,

except that a tiny amount of the rare metal THORIUM
was added to it.

When the filament is heated white-hot (about 2400

degrees Celsius), the thorium moves to the outer
surface of it and emits electrons.

The filament with thorium is a much better maker of

electrons than the plain tungsten filament by itself.

Nearly all big power tubes used in radio transmitters

use thoriated filaments

The thoriated filament can last a very long time, and

is very resistant to high voltages.
 2. Oxide-coated cathode or
filament.

This can be either just a filament coated with a

mixture of barium and strontium oxides and
other substances

The cathode (and oxide coating) is heated

orange-hot, not as hot as the thoriated filament--
about 1000 degrees Celsius.

Better at making electrons than the thoriated

filament.

It can be damaged by very high voltages and

bombardment by stray oxygen ions in the tube
 The lifetime of a tube is determined by
the lifetime of its cathode emission.

Emission is dependent on the cathode

temperature, the degree of vacuum in the
tube, and purity of the materials in the
cathode.

Lifetime of cathodes
 It is the electrode where the output signal
appears on.

Because the plate has to accept the electron

flow, it can get hot, especially in power
tubes. So it is specially designed to cool itself
off, either by radiating heat through the glass
envelope .

Some tubes use a plate made of graphite,

because it tolerates high temperature.

2. ANODE (PLATE)
 A piece of plated wire, wound around two
soft-metal posts.

In small tubes the plating is usually gold and

copper.

Grids in big power tubes have to tolerate a lot

of heat, so they are often made of tungsten
or molybdenum and graphite wire welded into
a basket form.

Mostly negative potential is applied to it.

3. CONTROL GRID
 An oxide-coated cathode can't heat itself, and
it has to be hot to emit electrons. So, a wire
filament heater is inserted within the
cathode.

Coated with an electrical insulation that won't

burn up at high temperatures (powdered
aluminum oxide).

If the coating rubs off or cracks, the heater

can touch the cathode causing damage.

4. HEATER INSIDE CATHODE

 A good, hard vacuum is needed to make the tube
work properly.

Sometimes, very small leaks can appear in a tube or

the tube may not have been fully "degassed" on the
vacuum pump at the factory, so there may be some
stray air inside. The "getter" is designed to remove
some stray gas.

The getter in most glass tubes is a small cup or

holder, containing a bit of a metal that reacts with
oxygen strongly and absorbs it.

In most modern glass tubes, the getter metal is

barium, which oxidizes very easily when it is pure.

5. GETTER
TETRODE and PENTODE
Vacuum tube technology
VACCUM TUBE TECHNOLOGY
VACUUM TUBE TECHNOLOGY
VACUUM TUBE
PARTS OF A VACUUM TUBE
There are several different types of diode valve. Each has its
own properties and can be sued for different applications.
Diodes can be used for rectifying, whilst triodes, tetrodes
and pentodes are normally used in amplification
applications. Heptodes are often used in RF mixers. As a
result it is necessary to look at the different types when
any application is needed.

Diode valve : This is the basic form of thermionic valve /

vacuum tube device. It consists of a cathode, anode (and
of course the heater or filament). Current can only pass
through the diode in one way - electrons flowing from the
cathode to the anode - in this way it acts as a rectifier or
diode.
Triode valve: The triode valve has a third electrode
added. Called the grid, it is able to control the flow of
electrons.

Vacuum tube types

 Tetrode: The tetrode has an fourth electrode added.
Called a screen grid, it is normally held at a high
potential but lower than that of the anode.
Beam tetrode: The beam tetrode valve was an
enhancement on the basic tetrode valve. It had
special beam plates added to the structure between
the screen grid and the anode to beam the electrons
towards particular areas on the anode. Also as these
plates were held at the same potential as the
cathode, electrons striking the anode and bouncing off
were returned to the anode, and secondary emission
was effectively suppressed.
Pentode: The pentode had a fifth electrode added.
Called the suppressor grid, it was held at a low
potential to suppress secondary emission.

VACUUM TUBE TYPES

RECTIFIER
A rectifier is an electrical device
that converts alternating current (AC), which
periodically reverses direction, to direct
current (DC), which flows in only one
direction. The process is known as
rectification.

Rectifiers have many uses, but are often

found serving as components of DC power
supplies and high-voltage direct
current power transmission systems.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

MIXER

The mixer is an essential tool in

professional audio endeavors. Bands,
concert halls, recording studios, and radio
stations all use mixers to blend audio
signals from different sources into one
signal. Ideally, the mixer only mixes at its
output and not at all at its input.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

DETECTOR

A detector is an older term for

an electronic component in a radio
receiver that
extracts information contained in
a modulated radio wave, a demodulator.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

AMPLIFIER

Tube amplifier is a type of electronic

amplifier that uses vacuum tubes to
increase the amplitude or power of a
signal.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

OSCILLATOR

An oscillator is an electronic
amplifier such as a transistor or
operational amplifier connected in a
feedback loop with its output fed back
into its input through a frequency
selective electronic filter to provide
positive feedback.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

WAVESHAPER

In electronic music waveshaping is a type of distortion

synthesis in which complex spectra are produced from
simple tones by altering the shape of the waveforms.

Waveshapers are used mainly by electronic musicians to

achieve an extra-abrasive sound. This effect is most used
to enhance the sound of a music synthesizer by altering
the waveform or vowel. Rock musicians may also use a
waveshaper for heavy distortion of a guitar or bass. Some
synthesizers or virtual software instruments have built-in
waveshapers. The effect can make instruments sound noisy
or overdriven.

FUNCTIONS OF A VACUUM TUBE

DISADVANTAGES OF VACUUM
TUBES
Tubes operate at higher voltages than
transistors. A typical transistorized amplifier
needs 6 to 12 volts to function; an equivalent
tube type amplifier needs 200 to 400 volts.

The major disadvantages of tubes include the

fact that they require bulky power supplies,
and the high voltages can present an electric
shock hazard.

Large size, limited life and low reliability.

THANK YOU!!!!!!