Patent ID: 9324552
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G01N,H01J

Claim Text:
1. A periodic field differential mobility analyzer apparatus for separating and identifying ionic analytes, comprising: a series of elongated parallel channels, each channel having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, each channel enclosed between first and second parallel walls, each first wall being formed from first and second electrode plates arranged to provide a slit opening in the first wall, each second wall being formed from third and fourth electrode plates arranged to provide a slit opening in the second wall, wherein the first and third electrode plates enclosing a channel oppose each other and the second and fourth electrode plates enclosing a channel oppose each other, wherein adjacent channels share electrode plates of one wall in common, wherein the channels are in fluid communication through the slit openings in each wall, and wherein the slit openings in each of the channels are aligned; a pump operable to force gas in laminar flow along each of the series of parallel channels, wherein the gas flows through and exits each channel separately and is not recirculated; a first voltage drop applied between the first and second electrode plates of the first wall of each channel providing an electric field E a second voltage drop applied between the first and third electrode plates of each channel providing an electric field E an ion source arranged exterior to the channels for directing ionic analytes into an ion source slit of the wall of the channel farthest upstream with respect to the electric field E a detector slit, wherein the detector slit is upstream from the ion source slit with respect to the direction of gas flow, and wherein the slit openings in each of the channels are aligned in a predetermined angle relative to the direction perpendicular to the walls of the channels so that the detector slit and the ion source slit are at opposite ends of the retarding potential wall.