Ion generator and fine particle sensor including the same

Abstract

An ion generator may be configured to generate ions within a fluid passage that is at least partly defined by an electrical insulator, where the ion generator may include: a discharge electrode placed within the fluid passage; a ground electrode placed in a vicinity of the discharge electrode; and a power source configured to intermittently apply a predetermined discharge voltage to the discharge electrode with respect to the ground electrode. The power source may be configured to apply a base voltage to the discharge electrode with respect to the ground electrode during at least part of a time period after applying the discharge voltage, the base voltage having an opposite polarity to the discharge voltage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.