Microdevice for gas and vapor sensing
First Claim
1. A microdevice for gas and vapor sensing, comprising:
- an electrically conductive substrate having an electrical insulator layer on a surface thereof, the insulator layer having an opening therethrough exposing a portion of said surface;
electrically conducting member in contact with said insulator layer and in covering relation to said opening, said member, said insulator layer and said portion of said surface defining an ionization chamber;
means for flowing gas through said ionization chamber;
means for applying a voltage difference between said substrate and said member; and
means for measuring the current flowing between said substrate and said member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention a microdevice 10 is set forth for gas sensing. The microdevice 10 includes a conductive substrate 12 having an insulator layer 14 on a surface 16 thereof, the insulator layer 14 having an opening 18 therethrough exposing a portion 20 of the surface 16. A conducting member 22 is in contact with the insulator layer 14. The member 22, the insulator layer 14 and the portion 20 of the surface 16 define an ionization chamber 28. Gas can flow through the ionization chamber 28. A potential difference is applied between the substrate 12 and the member 22. The current flowing between the substrate 12 and the member 22 is measured. A microdevice 10 as disclosed herein uses very little power and has very high sensitivity.
13 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A microdevice for gas and vapor sensing, comprising:
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an electrically conductive substrate having an electrical insulator layer on a surface thereof, the insulator layer having an opening therethrough exposing a portion of said surface; electrically conducting member in contact with said insulator layer and in covering relation to said opening, said member, said insulator layer and said portion of said surface defining an ionization chamber; means for flowing gas through said ionization chamber; means for applying a voltage difference between said substrate and said member; and means for measuring the current flowing between said substrate and said member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A microdevice for gas and vapor sensing, comprising:
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an electrically conductive substrate having a substrate surface; an electrically conducting member having a member surface generally parallel to said substrate surface; an electrical insulator sandwiched between and abutting said substrate surface and said member surface, said insulator having an opening therethrough exposing facing portions of said substrate and member surfaces, said insulator and said facing portions of said substrate and member surfaces defining an ionization chamber; means for flowing gas through said chamber; means for applying a sufficient voltage difference between said substrate and said member to provide a voltage gradient therebetween of at least about 104 V/cm and to cause a current to flow between said substrate and said member; and means for measuring the current flowing between said substrate and said member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification