Patent · US Expired

Photoionizer

US4454425A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 1983
Grant dateJun 12, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J49/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

There is provided a photoionizer which includes a light source comprising a hollow torus, an ultraviolet transmitting window substantially surrounding a passage through the torus, a gas filling within the torus, and means for creating an electrical discharge within said torus. The photoionizer further includes an electrode means within said passage through said torus for collecting, or extracting, the ions produced by the said light source striking a gas within said passage, means for passing a preselected gas sample through said passage containing said electrode means, and means connected to said electrode means for measuring the ions collected by said electrode means resulting from the interaction between said light source and said gas sample or extracting means able to project a beam of ions from the ionization region or from an ion image outside the ionization region. Means are also provided for either intercepting or measuring surface currents.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.