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:
Dec. 12, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1988
Wolfgang Knauer, Malibu, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for producing a beam of ionized clusters includes a source that emits a beam of clustered and unclustered atoms through a nozzle and a cold cathode ionizer that ionizes the clusters. The ionizer is positioned in close proximity to the nozzle and the beam as it is emitted from the nozzle. A plasma is formed in the beam adjacent the nozzle when secondary electrons emitted from the cathode are accelerated and injected into the beam, resulting in the ionization of atoms and clusters. The cathode is preferably formed, at least in part, of a material that efficiently emits secondary electrons when impacted by ionized atoms extracted from the plasma to impact against the cathode, and the secondary electrons are injected into the plasma to renew the process. The ionized clusters remain in the beam and proceed to their target.