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. 15, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 11, 1997
David H Holkeboer, Byron Center, MI (US);
Leybold Inficon Inc., E. Syracuse, NY (US);
Abstract
A miniaturized ion source for a mass spectrometer includes a anode and a focus plate whose interior surfaces form an ionization volume for a retained gas sample. Molecules of the gas sample are ionized by electrons, and the resulting ions are concentrated and converged through an exit aperture in the focus plate to the entrance of an ion analyzer, such as a quadrupole mass filter. Preferably, at least one of the anode and the focus plate includes a curved interior surface which converges the formed ions into a focused beam for directing into the ion analyzer. In addition, the thickness of the exit aperture of the focus plate and or the setback of the focus plate relative to the anode ensures that no line of sight exists between the interior surface of the anode from which ion-forming electrons can scatter into the adjacent ion analyzer.