A microscale gas breakdown device includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface define a gap distance. The device includes a perturbation on the first surface or the second surface. The perturbation is defined by a height value and a radius value. The device includes a current source or a voltage source configured to apply a current or a voltage across the first surface and the second surface. In response to the current or the voltage being applied, a resulting discharge travels along a first discharge path in response to being exposed to a high pressure and a second discharge path in response to being exposed to a low pressure.

According to one embodiment, a switch device includes a container configured to house a gas, a cathode located in the container, a first anode located in the container, and a second anode located in the container. A second direction from the cathode toward the second anode crosses a first direction from the cathode toward the first anode. A second distance between the cathode and the second anode is greater than a first distance between the cathode and the first anode.

According to one embodiment, a switch device includes a container configured to house a gas, a cathode located in the container, a first anode located in the container, and a second anode located in the container. A second direction from the cathode toward the second anode crosses a first direction from the cathode toward the first anode. A second distance between the cathode and the second anode is greater than a first distance between the cathode and the first anode.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a plasma disk assembly connectable to a vehicle's wheel assembly, the plasma disk assembly comprising a plasma disk assembly having a sealed plasma disk display encapsulating ionizable gas, at least one controllable power source for producing an output sufficient to ionize the gas in the plasma discharge tube and operably connected to the power supply for optionally adjusting the level of the energy to cause selective ionization of the gas in the plasma display to occur in differing amounts as a function of a changing stimulus connected to an input, at least one ball bearing system or mount, electrical connectors connecting the power source to the plasma disk, at least one pair of electrodes electrically coupling the electrical connectors to the ionizable gas in the plasma discharge tube, and at least one ballast system.

A microscale gas breakdown device includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface define a gap distance. The device includes a perturbation on the first surface or the second surface. The perturbation is defined by a height value and a radius value. The device includes a current source or a voltage source configured to apply a current or a voltage across the first surface and the second surface. In response to the current or the voltage being applied, a resulting discharge travels along a first discharge path in response to being exposed to a high pressure and a second discharge path in response to being exposed to a low pressure.

A gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas, an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, where the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the gas switch includes a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate the conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking the conduction surface and raises the conduction current density at the cathode surface to technically useful levels.

A gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas, an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, where the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the gas switch includes a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate the conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking the conduction surface and raises the conduction current density at the cathode surface to technically useful levels.

A gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas, an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, where the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the gas switch includes a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate the conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking the conduction surface and raises the conduction current density at the cathode surface to technically useful levels.

A gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas, an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, where the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the gas switch includes a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate the conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking the conduction surface and raises the conduction current density at the cathode surface to technically useful levels.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a plasma disk assembly connectable to a vehicle's wheel assembly, the plasma disk assembly comprising a plasma disk assembly having a sealed plasma disk display encapsulating ionizable gas, at least one controllable power source for producing an output sufficient to ionize the gas in the plasma discharge tube and operably connected to the power supply for optionally adjusting the level of the energy to cause selective ionization of the gas in the plasma display to occur in differing amounts as a function of a changing stimulus connected to an input, at least one ball bearing system or mount, electrical connectors connecting the power source to the plasma disk, at least one pair of electrodes electrically coupling the electrical connectors to the ionizable gas in the plasma discharge tube, and at least one ballast system.