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. 22, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2008
Terry M. Marta, White Bear Lake, MN (US);
Fouad Nusseibeh, Champlin, MN (US);
Adam Dewey Mcbrady, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Michael Rhodes, Richfield, MN (US);
Terry M. Marta, White Bear Lake, MN (US);
Fouad Nusseibeh, Champlin, MN (US);
Adam Dewey McBrady, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Michael Rhodes, Richfield, MN (US);
Honeywell International Inc., Morristown, NJ (US);
Abstract
A micro discharge device (MDD) ionizer and a method for fabricating the MDD ionizer are disclosed. The MDD ionizer includes a dielectric barrier having a first open end connected to an electrically conductive capillary tube and a second open end connected to a sample collection capillary tube. A circular high voltage electrode can be positioned around the dielectric barrier in close linear proximity to the conductive capillary tube and sealed by a non-conductive epoxy. A plasma discharge can be formed in a flow path through the dielectric barrier when an AC potential is applied between the high voltage electrode and the electrically conductive capillary tube utilizing an electronic controller. Such a plasma discharge in the flow path of the sample achieves soft ionization of gaseous sample molecules. The high pressure region generally occurs in the plasma region (where the ionization occurs). The ions thus are drawn (i.e., pushed or pulled) toward the high vacuum region located downstream where the detector(s) can be located.