Patent ID: 7709787
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting ionized compounds in a gaseous mixture comprising: (a) a chamber through what a gaseous mixture containing the ionized compounds is passed; (b) an electric field created in the chamber by placing conductive or semi-conductive elements at both inlet and outlet ends of the chamber, each of said elements connected to an electric voltage source; (c) dividing the chamber into at least two regions by placing at least one permeable conductor or semi-conductor across the chamber connected to a voltage source which is different from the voltage source connected to said elements, thereby creating an abrupt change (or step) in electric field strength so that the field strength in a region of the chamber on one side of the divider is significantly different from the electric field strength in the region of the chamber on the other side of the divider while maintaining the electric field parallel in each of the regions.