Patent classifications
H01J49/02
ION DETECTOR
An ion detector includes a microchannel plate configured to generate secondary electrons upon reception of ions incident thereon and multiply and output the generated secondary electrons; a plurality of electron impact-type diodes configured to have effective regions narrower than an effective region of the microchannel plate, receive the incident secondary electrons output from the microchannel plate, and multiply and detect the incident secondary electrons; a focus electrode configured to be disposed between the microchannel plate and the electron impact-type diodes and focus the secondary electrons toward the electron impact-type diodes; and a voltage supply part configured to apply a drive voltage to each of the plurality of electron impact-type diodes.
PRECISION HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY WITH DUAL FEEDBACK LOOP
A high-voltage (HV) power supply outputs an output voltage based on a control signal produced by a dual analog/digital feedback loop. The control signal is determined at least in part by an error amplifier that receives a measurement signal, proportionally attenuated from the output voltage, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) output signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) also receives the measurement signal and transmits it in digitized form to a digital processor. The digital processor calculates a digital DAC data signal based on the measurement signal, and on a digital set-point input signal corresponding to a set-point voltage value of the output voltage desired to be outputted from the high-voltage source. A DAC receives the DAC data signal and converts it to the DAC output signal transmitted to the error amplifier.
Quadrupole devices
A method of operating a quadrupole device is disclosed that comprises operating the quadrupole device in a first mode of operation, and operating the quadrupole device in a second mode of operation. Operating the quadrupole device in the first mode of operation comprises applying one or more first voltages to the quadrupole device such that the quadrupole device is operated in an initial stability region and such that at least some ions are stable within the quadrupole device. Operating the quadrupole device in the second mode of operation comprises applying one or more second voltages to the quadrupole device such that the quadrupole device is operated in a different stability region and such that at least some of the ions that were stable within the quadrupole device in the first mode of operation are stable within the quadrupole device in the second mode of operation.
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
To acquire a mass spectrum for a wide mass range, a normal analysis execution controlling unit controls components to repeatedly perform measurement while changing setting m/z by a predetermined m/z at a time, and a mass spectrum summarizing processing unit summarizes data pieces each obtained by each time of measurement to generate the mass spectrum. Radio-frequency voltage applied to an ion guide and the like is changed based on the setting m/z. The radio-frequency voltage for the setting m/z is determined using a table in which a relationship between a position on an axis between upper and lower limits of the mass range and the radio-frequency voltage is substantially the same regardless of the mass range.
MASS SPECTROMETER
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion optics device housing having one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided thereon. An ion optics device (301) is arranged inside the ion optics device housing, the ion optics device (301) comprising one or more electrodes for manipulating ions, the one or more electrodes being electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided on the ion optics device housing. A voltage supply housing (1717) is provided having one or more external electrical connectors provided thereon. One or more voltage supplies are arranged inside the voltage supply housing (1717), the one or more voltage supplies being in electrical communication with the one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing. The one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing are directly physically and electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided on the ion optics device housing.
MASS SPECTROMETER
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion optics device housing having one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided thereon. An ion optics device (301) is arranged inside the ion optics device housing, the ion optics device (301) comprising one or more electrodes for manipulating ions, the one or more electrodes being electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided on the ion optics device housing. A voltage supply housing (1717) is provided having one or more external electrical connectors provided thereon. One or more voltage supplies are arranged inside the voltage supply housing (1717), the one or more voltage supplies being in electrical communication with the one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing. The one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing are directly physically and electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors (1719) provided on the ion optics device housing.
ION DETECTOR
A dual-mode ion detector for a mass and/or ion mobility spectrometer comprising a first conversion electrode (20) that is maintained, in use, at a negative potential and arranged for converting incident positive ions (32) into secondary electrons (34), and a second conversion electrode (22) that is maintained, in use, at a positive potential and arranged for converting incident negative ions (42) into secondary positive ions (44) and/or secondary electrons (74). The detector also comprises an electron detecting surface (26) and an entrance electrode (24) for drawing ions into the ion detector. The ion detector is switchable between a first mode for detecting positive ions and a second mode for detecting negative ions.
Apparatus and Methods for Ion Manipulation Having Improved Duty Cycle
An apparatus for ion manipulation having improved duty cycle includes first and second separation regions separated by a switch that alternates between guiding ions to each of the separation regions. The separation regions separate the ions based on mobility over respective time periods that at least partially overlap. The apparatus can additionally or alternatively include a pre-separation region that filters ions prior to accumulating ions, thus allowing an accumulation region to accumulate for a longer time period. The apparatus can additionally or alternatively include a plurality of gates along the separation region(s) to simultaneously filter a plurality of ion packets sequentially released into the separation region(s). Methods for ion manipulation having improved duty cycle involve separating ions on two separation regions over first and second time periods that at least partially overlap, pre-filtering ions prior to accumulation and separation, and/or simultaneously filtering a plurality of ions packets are also provided.
Time-of-flight mass spectrometry device
A time-of-flight mass spectrometry device, includes: a flight tube: a flight tube power supply that applies a voltage to the flight tube; and a noise reduction circuit that is connected to a flight tube voltage portion which lies between the flight tube and the flight tube power supply, wherein: the noise reduction circuit inverts and amplifies an input voltage from an input end of the noise reduction circuit, and feeds inverted and amplified voltage back to the flight tube voltage portion through an output end.
TIME-FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
Apparatus and method for processing an image-charge/current signal for an ion(s) undergoing oscillatory motion within an ion analyser apparatus. The method comprises: obtaining a recording of the image-charge/current signal (20a-20e) in the time domain. Then, by a signal processing unit, a value for the period (T) of a periodic signal component is determined within the recorded signal. Subsequently, the recorded signal is segmented into a number of successive time segments [0;T] of duration corresponding to the period (T). These lime segments are then co-registered in a first time dimension (t.sub.1) defining the period (T). The co-registered time segments are then separated along a second time dimension (t.sub.2) transverse to the first time dimension (t.sub.1). This generates a stack of time segments collectively defining a 2-dimensional (2D) function. The 2D function varies both across the stack in the first time dimension and along the stack in the second time dimension.