Patent ID: 7098462

Claim:
An apparatus for ionizing gases and airborne particulates, comprising: at least one geometrically asymmetric electrode pair in any orientation, wherein electrodes in the electrode pair are spatially separated at no more than three millimeters; wherein the electrodes are comprised of an at least one type of electrically conductive material, wherein the at least one type of electrically conductive material includes, but is not limited to, metal, silicon, graphite, electrically conductive liquid, and electrically conductive gas; at least one type of electrically insulating material separating the electrodes, wherein the electrically insulating material includes, but is not limited to, glass, ceramic, plastic, oil, and gas; and at least one gaseous medium encapsulating the electrodes, wherein the gaseous medium includes, but is not limited to, nitrogen and oxygen; wherein the plurality of electrodes, the electrically insulating material, and the encapsulating gaseous medium form a miniature corona discharge based ionizer.