Patent ID: 7057170

Claim:
A solid state ion gauge for analyzing a sample gas having multiple gas constituents, comprising: a first and a second mutually opposing substrate of semiconductor material separated a predetermined distance so as to form an elongated intermediate gas ionizing cavity region and including an open side inlet for feeding a sample of gas to be analyzed into said gas ionizing cavity region; a source of electrons located on a surface of said first substrate facing a surface of said second substrate; a collector of electrons, opposing said source of electrons, located on said surface of said second substrate; an ion anode pad located on said surface of the first substrate adjacent said source of electrons; a gate electrode located in a space between the source of electrons and the collector of electrons; an ion anode located on the surface of said second substrate adjacent said collector of electrons; an ion detector located at one end of said first substrate for receiving ions generated in the gas ionizing region when electrons from said source of electrons travel through said sample of gas toward said collector of electrons and collide with molecules of the gas sample; an ion deflector located on said second substrate for moving ions in the gas ionizing region toward the ion detector; and, first and second magnet elements respectively located on said first and second substrates for generating a magnetic field across and through the gas ionizing region for controlling a travel path of electrons through the ionizing region when generating ions of the gas sample.