The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 24, 2009
Pascal Chabert, Paris, FR;
Ane Aanesland, Paris, FR;
Albert Meige, Paris, FR;
Gary Leray, Gentilly, FR;
Pascal Chabert, Paris, FR;
Ane Aanesland, Paris, FR;
Albert Meige, Paris, FR;
Gary Leray, Gentilly, FR;
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE, Palaiseau, FR;
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, Paris, FR;
Abstract
A plasma thruster includes extraction of a stream of positive ions. The plasma thruster includes a single ionization stage; injecting ionizable gas for said ionization stage comprising injecting a first gas and an electronegative second gas; creating an RF electric field to cause the gases to ionize in the ionization stage creating a first zone called the hot zone, in the ionization stage; the first gas being distributed in the hot first zone, the second gas being distributed in a second zone less hot than said first zone; extracting a stream of negative ions and a stream of positive ions, these being both connected to the ionization stage; and the extraction of a stream of positive ions and the extraction of a stream of negative ions, ensuring that the thruster is electrically neutral.