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:
Nov. 09, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2007
Mahadevan Krishnan, Oakland, CA (US);
Kristi Wilson, El Cerrito, CA (US);
Kelan Champagne, Alameda, CA (US);
Jason D. Wright, San Mateo, CA (US);
Andrew N. Gerhan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Mahadevan Krishnan, Oakland, CA (US);
Kristi Wilson, El Cerrito, CA (US);
Kelan Champagne, Alameda, CA (US);
Jason D. Wright, San Mateo, CA (US);
Andrew N. Gerhan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Alameda Applied Sciences Corp., San Leandro, CA (US);
Abstract
A Liquid Metal Ion Thruster (LMIT) has a substrate having a plurality of pedestals, one end of the pedestal attached to the substrate, and the opposing end of the pedestal having a tip, the pedestals having grooves and the substrate also having grooves coupled to each other and to a source of liquid metal. An extractor electrode positioned parallel to the substrate and above the pedestal tips provides an electrostatic extraction field sufficient to accelerate ions from the tips of the pedestals through the extractor electrode. A series of focusing electrodes with matching apertures provides a flow of substantially parallel ion trajectories, and an optional negative ion source provides a charge neutralization to prevent space charge spreading of the exiting accelerated ions. The assembly is suitable for providing thrust for a satellite while maintaining high operating efficiencies.