Ionization Monitoring Device and Method

摘要

An air ionization monitoring device 200 and method is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the air ionization monitoring device 200 comprises an ion source 202 adapted to emit ions 204 and a capacitor 208 including a first conductor 210 arranged to be exposed to the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202, and a second conductor 212 arranged to be shielded from the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202. The monitoring device 200 further includes a commutation circuit 234 operable between a first configuration for charging the capacitor 208 to a first predefined voltage, and a second configuration for using the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202 to discharge the capacitor 208 for a predefined time resulting in the capacitor 208 having a second voltage. The device 200 is configured to use the first and second voltages to determine an ionic current of the emitted ions.

主权项

1. An air ionization monitoring device comprising
an ion source adapted to emit ions; a capacitor including a first conductor arranged to be exposed to the ions emitted by the ion source, and a second conductor arranged to be shielded from the ions emitted by the ion source; and a commutation circuit operable between a first configuration for charging the capacitor to a first predefined voltage, and a second configuration for using the ions emitted by the ion source to discharge the capacitor for a predefined time resulting in the capacitor having a second voltage, the device using the first and second voltages to determine an ionic current of the emitted ions.