Patent ID: 7846241

Claim:
A particulate matter detecting apparatus comprising: a detecting apparatus main body having a cavity that is formed through the detecting apparatus main body; a particle charging section that can charge particulate matter that has entered the cavity through one end of the cavity; a collection section that can collect the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section and measure the amount of the particulate matter; and an ion wind generation section that allows the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section to flow toward the other end of the cavity, wherein the particle charging section, the collection section, and the ion wind generation section are provided inside the cavity in this order from said one end, and wherein the detecting apparatus main body includes a purification electrode and a purification ground electrode that are disposed so that the cavity is positioned between the purification electrode and the purification ground electrode, and a silent discharge can be generated inside the cavity using the purification electrode and the purification ground electrode to remove the particulate matter that adheres to the inner wall surface of the cavity.