Patents by Inventor Paul V. Foley

Paul V. Foley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Quadrupole mass spectrometer
    Patent number: 5302827
    Abstract: A quadrupole mass spectrometer includes means for measuring total ion current having an electron repeller cage disposed about an electron source filament. The electron repeller cage repels electrons emitted by the electron source filament, urging them away from both the repeller and the filament, while also attracting positive ions. When the positive ions contact the electron repeller cage, a current is induced that is measured at the electron repeller cage. The measured current represents total ion current transmitted through the spectrometer. Thus, the need to include a total pressure measurement plate to measure total ion current is eliminated, and since the ion-exposed surface area of the electron repeller cage is greater than the ion-exposed surface area of the total pressure measurement plate, the invention provides improved total pressure measurement sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul V. Foley
  • Quadrupole mass spectrometer
    Patent number: RE35701
    Abstract: A quadrupole mass spectrometer includes means for measuring total ion current having an electron repeller cage disposed about an electron source filament. The electron repeller cage repels electrons emitted by the electron source filament, urging them away from both the repeller and the filament, while also attracting positive ions. When the positive ions contact the electron repeller cage, a current is induced that is measured at the electron repeller cage. The measured current represents total ion current transmitted through the spectrometer. Thus, the need to include a total pressure measurement plate to measure total ion current is eliminated, and since the ion-exposed surface area of the electron repeller cage is greater than the ion-exposed surface area of the total pressure measurement plate, the invention provides improved total pressure measurement sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul V. Foley