Patent ID: 6236156
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A micro vacuum pump executing a pumping action by ionizing a gas, comprising:a first conductive substrate;protrusions attached to said first conductive substrate;an insulator layer on said first conductive substrate;a gate electrode on said insulator layer and surrounding said protrusions;a second conductive substrate spaced apart from said first conductive substrate and opposing said gate electrode at a predetermined distance;a gas ion generating means for generating a positive gas ion from a gas molecule located within a space defined between said first conductive substrate and said second conductive substrate, said gas ion generating means including an electric source providing a positive potential to said first conductive substrate to cause field electrolytic dissociation of gases in a vicinity of said protrusions resulting in the creation of positively charged gas ions, the freeing of electrons from the gases, and the capture of the freed electrons by said protrusions; andan adsorbing means for adsorbing said gas ion on the surface of said second conductive substrate, said adsorbing means including an electric source providing a negative potential to said second conductive substrate, the negative potential selected to be lower than the positive potential of said first conductive substrate and to attract and absorb the positively charged gas ions on the surface of said second conductive substrate.