Patent ID: 8693161
Filing Date: 2014-04-08
Classification: H01J,H01T,H05F

Abstract:
1. A gas ionization apparatus for converting a non-ionized gas stream that defines a downstream direction into an ionized gas stream, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving the non-ionized gas stream and for delivering the ionized gas stream to the target; at least one ionizing electrode for producing charge carriers in the non-ionized gas stream in response to the provision of an ionizing signal having a cycle T with positive and negative portions, wherein the charge carriers comprise clouds of electrons, positive ions and negative ions that convert the non-ionized gas stream into the ionized gas stream, and wherein the electron cloud is produced during a time Tnc of the negative portion of the ionizing signal; means for monitoring the charge carriers in the ionized gas stream, at least a portion of the means for monitoring being located downstream of the means for producing charge carriers by a distance L, and the time Tnc being less than or equal to a time Te that it takes the electron cloud produced during the time Tnc to move downstream by the distance L; means for monitoring the non-ionized gas stream; and means, at least partially responsive to the means for monitoring the non-ionized gas stream, for controlling the ionizing signal.