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US 8,410,704 B1Granted
Ionization device
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames Edward Cooley, Sameer Kothari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ionization devices that have at least two modes of ionization, and that can switch between these two modes of operation, are described. Illustratively, the ionization devices can switch between a photoionization (PI) mode and a combined mode of electroionization (EI) and PI (EI/PI mode).
Claims20
An ionization device, comprising:
- a plasma source configured to generate a plasma, the plasma comprising light, plasma ions and plasma electrons;
- a plasma deflection device disposed between the plasma source and the ionization region;
- and
- an electron acceleration device disposed between the plasma source and an ionization region, the plasma deflection device and the electron acceleration device being configured to establish a first electric field during a first time interval and to establish a second electric field during a second time interval, wherein the first electric field substantially prevents plasma electrons and plasma ions from entering the ionization region while allowing the light to reach the ionization region, and the second electric field substantially prevents plasma ions from entering the ionization region, while allowing the light to reach the ionization region.
1 more element
A method of exposing a sample gas in an ionization region to an ionization source, the method comprising:
- generating a plasma comprising light, plasma ions and plasma electrons;
- establishing a first electric field during a first time interval to substantially prevent plasma electrons and plasma ions from entering the ionization region while allowing the light to reach the ionization region;
- establishing a second electric field during a second time interval to accelerate plasma electrons toward the ionization region and to substantially prevent plasma ions from entering the ionization region while allowing the light to reach the ionization region;
- and
- delivering the sample gas to the ionization region.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.