US Patent 7932477 - Electron beam heating with CNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7932477.html

One of the most commonly proposed application of carbon nanotubes is as electron emission devices which can be applied to displays, sensors, and maskless lithography. This patent from Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn) teaches how carbon nanotube strings can also form field emitters for heating. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electron beam heating system comprising:

a cathode;

an anode; and

a carbon nanotube string, wherein the carbon nanotube string comprises an end portion and an emission portion, the end portion is in direct electrical contact with the cathode, the carbon nanotube string is composed of a plurality of carbon nanotube bundles packed closely, each of the carbon nanotube bundles comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel to each other and are joined by van der Waals attractive force, the emission portion comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube bundles forming a tooth-shaped structure;

a chamber, wherein the cathode, the anode and the carbon nanotube string are located in the chamber.