Electronics 1 (Electronics Devices and Circuits)

Module No. : 01
Topic/s : Fundamentals of Tubes and Other Devices

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, the student should be able to:

 discuss the fundamental principles of vacuum tubes

INTRODUCTION

Vacuum tube, also called electron tube or thermionic valve, is a device usually consisting of a sealed glass or
metal ceramic enclosure that is used in electronic circuitry to control the flow of electrons for various range of
applications such as amplification, rectification, oscillation, and image projection. Some of its varieties include
magnetrons, klystrons, gyrotrons, cathode-ray tubes, photoelectric cells, and neon and fluorescent lamps.

Vacuum tubes' operation is mainly caused by electron emission. Electron emission is defined as the ejection or
liberation of electrons from any surface of a substance (mostly metals). Basically, there are four processes that
produce electron emission – thermionic emission, field emission, secondary emission, and photoelectric
emission.

DISCUSSION

Basic Applications of Vacuum Tubes

1. Amplification. It is the process of increasing the output of a source to a desired level.

2. Rectification. It is the process of converting an alternating current to direct current.
3. Oscillation. It is the process of producing periodic signal or producing an alternating current signal from a
direct current source.
4. Image Projection. It is the process of electronically displaying image on a surface or medium

Methods of Electron Emission

1. Thermionic Emission. Thermionic emission or Edison effect is achieved by subjecting a metallic surface
into very high temperatures. The energy produced by high amount of heat sufficient to eject or liberate the
free electrons. It is the core method of liberating free electrons in vacuum tubes.
2. Field Emission. Field emission is the process of removal of electrons from a conductor’s surface induced by
a strong electrostatic field. The free electrons should overcome the surface barrier or the potential barrier on
the surface of the conductor created by back pull of the positive nuclei on them. With the high positive charge
on the surface caused by the strong electrostatic field, the electrons will now have enough energy to pass the
barrier and be emitted.
3. Secondary Emission. Secondary emission happens when a high-velocity electron beam hits a metallic
surface. The kinetic energy produced from electrons striking each other is transferred to the free electrons
giving them sufficient energy to overcome the surface barrier.
4. Photoelectric Emission. Photoelectric emission is the process of subjecting a metallic surface to light energy.
Light is composed of photons with each photon possessing energy depending on the light ray’s wavelength.
Upon hitting the surface, the photons transfer their energy to the free electrons, hence, giving them enough
energy to surpass the surface barrier.

Engr. Jayson Paul V. Vicencio, EcE, EcT

[email protected]
College of Engineering and Computer Technology
Wesleyan University – Philippines
Page | 1
Electronics 1 (Electronics Devices and Circuits)
Module No. : 01
Topic/s : Fundamentals of Tubes and Other Devices

Types of Vacuum Tubes

1. Diode. A vacuum tube diode is composed of two electrodes, the plate(anode) and the cathode. The cathode
is where the electrons are emitted by thermionic emission while the plate (anode) attracts the emitted
electrons.

(a) (b)
(a) schematic symbol (b) example

2. Triode. A vacuum tube triode is composed of three electrodes, the plate(anode), cathode, and the control grid. The
additional third electrode, the control grid, serves as the cathode’s screen or shield from the electrostatic field from the
anode. By varying the amount of signal voltage applied to the control grid, the amount of electron flow is also varied.

(a) (b)
(a) schematic symbol (b) example

3. Tetrode. A vacuum tube tetrode is composed of four electrodes, the plate(anode), cathode, control grid,
and the screen. The screen is positioned between the plate and the grid to avoid capacitive linkages that could
result to signal feedback and unwanted oscillations especially at high frequencies.

(a) (b)
(a) schematic symbol (b) example

4. Pentode. A vacuum tube pentode is composed of five electrodes, the plate(anode), cathode, control grid,
screen, and the suppressor. The suppressor is situated between the plate and the screen directly connected to
Engr. Jayson Paul V. Vicencio, EcE, EcT
[email protected]
College of Engineering and Computer Technology
Wesleyan University – Philippines
Page | 2
Electronics 1 (Electronics Devices and Circuits)
Module No. : 01
Topic/s : Fundamentals of Tubes and Other Devices
the ground or to the cathode. Due to high velocity emissions, electrons bounce back from the plate and with
the suppressor grid, it repels any secondary emissions back to the plate.

(a) (b)
(a) schematic symbol (b) example

BEYOND THE LESSON: THOUGHTS FOR SELF-REFLECTION

“Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let
the oppressed go free And break every yoke?”
Isaiah 58:6

REFERENCES

Electron Tubes. Brittanica.com. Retrieved: https://www.britannica.com/technology/electron-tube/

What is Vacuum Tube. Physics-and-Radio-Electronics.com. Retrieved: https://www.physics-and-radio-

electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-circuits/vacuum-tubes/whatisvacuumtube.html

Engr. Jayson Paul V. Vicencio, EcE, EcT

[email protected]
College of Engineering and Computer Technology
Wesleyan University – Philippines
Page | 3