Michael M Teeter

US Patent:

20210104393, Apr 8, 2021

Filed:

Apr 2, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/500149

Inventors:

- Webster TX, US
John Daniel DEBORD - Houston TX, US
Stephen DAVILA - Pearland TX, US
Offie Lee DRENNAN - League City TX, US
Michael TEETER - Webster TX, US

International Classification:

H01J 49/16
H05H 1/34
G01N 27/623
H01J 27/26

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for ionizing a surface. In one implementation, an ionization source may include a microhollow cathode plasma or micro cavity plasma (MCP)-based ion source having a cavity and generating a plasma. A gas stream may pass through the cavity and transport the plasma. The source may further include one or more conductive electrodes located downstream from the MCP and configured to have a potential relative to the MCP such that positive and negative ions included in the plasma are carried through the electrodes by the gas stream. In another implementation, a mixer may mix a dopant (e.g. water) with the gas stream (e.g. air) entering the discharge. The disclosure also relates to a surface ionization probe.