METHOD FOR GENERATING A LAYOUT OF ELECTRODES FOR AN ION GUIDE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating a layout of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path. For generating the layout of electrodes, a layout path corresponding to said the path is assumed and the layout of electrodes is generated along the layout path. The layout of electrodes and the layout path are in reference to a global reference system, wherein the layout of electrodes includes at least two layout subunits which are arranged in succession along the layout path, wherein each one of the at least two layout subunits is of one of at least one layout subunit type. The method includes defining the at least one layout subunit type, wherein each one of the at least one layout subunit type includes type information, the type information being adopted by each layout subunit of the respective one of the at least one layout subunit type. The type information includes a subunit electrode layout of at least one subunit electrode, the subunit electrode layout being in reference to a subunit reference system, wherein in the subunit electrode layout, each one of the at least one subunit electrode has a local position in the subunit reference system and is assigned to a class of electrodes, wherein the respective class of electrodes is associated with a type of voltage pattern to be applied to the electrodes belonging to the respective the class of electrodes. Furthermore, the type information includes a layout subunit position identifier for identifying a position of the subunit electrode layout in the global reference system. The method includes building up at least one segment of the layout of electrodes by assigning to each one of the at least two layout subunits one of the at least one layout subunit type and positioning each one of the at least two layout subunits at a respective position along the layout path.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A method for generating a layout of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, said ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in said layout of electrodes along said ion path for transporting said ions along said ion path, wherein for generating said layout of electrodes, a layout path corresponding to said ion path is assumed and said layout of electrodes is generated along said layout path, wherein said layout of electrodes and said layout path are in reference to a global reference system, wherein said layout of electrodes includes at least two layout subunits which are arranged in succession along said layout path, wherein each one of said at least two layout subunits is of one of at least one layout subunit type, a) wherein said method includes defining said at least one layout subunit type, wherein each one of said at least one layout subunit type includes type information, said type information being adopted by each layout subunit of the respective one of said at least one layout subunit type, wherein said type information includes a subunit electrode layout of at least one subunit electrode, said subunit electrode layout being in reference to a subunit reference system, wherein in said subunit electrode layout, each one of said at least one subunit electrode has a local position in said subunit reference system and is assigned to a class of electrodes, wherein the respective class of electrodes is associated with a type of voltage pattern to be applied to the electrodes belonging to the respective said class of electrodes, wherein said type information includes a layout subunit position identifier for identifying a position of said subunit electrode layout in said global reference system, b) wherein said method includes building up at least one segment of said layout of electrodes by assigning to each one of said at least two layout subunits one of said at least one layout subunit type and positioning each one of said at least two layout subunits at a respective position along said layout path.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type includes a layout subunit orientation identifier for identifying an orientation of said subunit electrode layout in said global reference system and for orienting each layout subunit of the respective one of said at least one layout subunit type relative to said layout path at a position where the respective of said layout subunit is to be positioned or is positioned along said layout path.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type indicates a course of a layout path segment in reference to said subunit reference system, wherein for each one of said at least two layout subunits of the respective layout subunit type, when the respective one of said at least two layout subunits is positioned at the respective said position along said layout path, said course of said layout path segment forms a segment of said layout path.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said at least one subunit electrode of said subunit electrode layout of said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type is assigned to a class of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a DC voltage.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said at least one subunit electrode of said subunit electrode layout of said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type is assigned to a class of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having a frequency.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said class of electrodes being associated with said type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having a frequency includes a phase identifier referring to a reference phase of the respective of said periodic voltage pattern.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein in the layout of electrodes, at least two or at least three subunit electrodes are assigned to different classes of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having a same frequency wherein each of said different classes of electrodes associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having said same frequency includes a different phase identifier referring to a different reference phase of the respective of said periodic voltage pattern.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein in the layout of electrodes, two or of said at least three subunit electrodes assigned to different classes of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having said same frequency are assigned to two different classes of electrodes, wherein the respective said two different classes of electrodes include phase identifiers referring to reference phases differing by about 180° from each other.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein in the layout of electrodes, at least three of said at least three subunit electrodes assigned to different classes of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having said same frequency are traveling-wave-electrodes and assigned to different classes of electrodes, wherein the respective classes of electrodes include phase identifiers referring to different reference phases and are subsumable into a same superclass of traveling-wave electrodes.

26. The method according to claim 17, wherein said subunit electrode layout of said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type is a multiple electrode layout of at least two or at least three subunit electrodes.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein by defining a global wiring layout for wiring said electrodes of said layout of electrodes, said global wiring layout being in reference to said global reference system.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type includes a subunit wiring layout for wiring said at least one subunit electrode of said subunit electrode layout of the respective said type information, said subunit wiring layout being in reference to said subunit reference system.

29. A method for manufacturing an arrangement of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path comprising said electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes along said ion path for transporting said ions along said ion path, wherein said layout of electrodes is generated with the method according to claim 17 and wherein said arrangement of electrodes is manufactured based on said layout of electrodes.

30. A method for generating an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path comprising electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes along said ion path for transporting said ions along said ion path, wherein said layout of electrodes for said ion guide for transporting said ions along said ion path is generated with said method according to claim 17.

31. A method for manufacturing an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path by generating said ion guide with the method according to claim 30 and by subsequently manufacturing said ion guide.

32. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to claim 17.

33. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said at least one subunit electrode of said subunit electrode layout of said type information of at least one of said at least one layout subunit type is assigned to a class of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having a radio frequency.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein in the layout of electrodes, two or of said at least three subunit electrodes assigned to different classes of electrodes being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having said same frequency are assigned to two different classes of electrodes, wherein the respective said two different classes of electrodes include phase identifiers referring to reference phases differing by 180° from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0097] The drawings used to explain the embodiments show:

[0098] FIG. 1 a layout of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path, the layout of electrodes being generated with the method according to the invention,

[0099] FIG. 2a, b an illustration of a layout subunit type used in the method according to the invention,

[0100] FIG. 3 the layout of electrodes of FIG. 1, wherein the electrodes of the layout of electrodes are shown in dashed lines and wherein additionally a global wiring layout for wiring the electrodes of the layout of electrodes is shown,

[0101] FIG. 4 a simplified schematic view of an arrangement of electrodes with electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes of FIG. 1 and wired with the global wiring layout of FIG. 3 on a printed circuit board,

[0102] FIG. 5 a simplified schematic view of an ion guide comprising two printed circuit boards of FIG. 4,

[0103] FIG. 6 another layout of electrodes generated with the method according to the invention,

[0104] FIG. 7 an illustration of a second layout subunit type used in the method according to the invention,

[0105] FIG. 8 an illustration of yet another layout of electrodes generated with the method according to the invention,

[0106] FIG. 9 an illustration of a third layout subunit type used in the method according to the invention,

[0107] FIG. 10a, b, c illustrations of a fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit type used in the method according to the invention,

[0108] FIG. 11a, b illustration of a fifth layout subunit type used in the method according to the invention, once as initially defined and once as modified during execution of the method.

[0109] In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0110] FIG. 1 shows a layout of electrodes 1 for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes 1 along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path. Thereby, the ion path has an ion path start position, an ion path end position, an ion path course and an ion path transport direction.

[0111] The layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 has been generated with the method according to the invention. In the method according to the invention, a layout path 70 corresponding to the ion path is assumed. Thus, the layout path 70 has a layout path start position 71 corresponding to the ion path start position, a layout path end position 72 corresponding to the ion path end position, a layout path course 73 corresponding to the ion path course and a layout path transport direction 74 corresponding to the ion path transport direction.

[0112] The layout of electrodes 1 is generated along the layout path 70. Thereby, the layout of electrodes 1 and the layout path 70 are in reference to a global reference system, wherein the layout of electrodes 1 includes at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 which are arranged in succession along the layout path 70, wherein each one of the at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 is of one of at least one layout subunit type 20.

[0113] In the exemplary layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1, the layout of electrodes 1 includes in total four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 which are all of the same layout subunit type 20 which is illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0114] In the following, the method is explained further on the example of the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Later on, further possible variants of the method are explained in the context of other layouts of electrodes 101 and layout subunit types 120.

[0115] The method for generating the layout of electrodes 1 includes defining at least one layout subunit type 20, wherein the layout subunit type 20 includes type information which is adopted by each layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the at least one layout subunit type 20.

[0116] The type information includes a subunit electrode layout of at least one subunit electrode 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, wherein the subunit electrode layout is in reference to a subunit reference system. In this subunit electrode layout, each one of the at least one subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 has a local position, a shape and a size in the subunit reference system and is assigned to a class of electrodes, wherein the respective class of electrodes is associated with a type of voltage pattern to be applied to the electrodes belonging to the respective class of electrodes.

[0117] The type information further includes a layout subunit position identifier 28 for identifying a position of the subunit electrode layout in the global reference system. In the present example, this layout subunit position identifier 28 is a point in the subunit electrode layout.

[0118] The method further includes building up at least one segment of the layout of electrodes by assigning to each one of the at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 one of the at least one layout subunit type 20 and positioning each one of the at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 at a respective position along the layout path 70.

[0119] As mentioned already, the four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 are of the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. This layout subunit type 20 is defined with its type information as follows: The subunit electrode layout of the type information is a multiple electrode layout of fifteen subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 in total. Thereby, the subunit electrode layout is arranged in a plane which corresponds to the plane of FIG. 2a. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2a, the type information of the layout subunit type 20 includes a layout subunit orientation identifier 27 for identifying an orientation of the subunit electrode layout in the global reference system and for orienting each layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the layout subunit type 20 relative to the layout path 70 at a position where the respective layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 is to be positioned or is positioned along the layout path 70. In the present example, layout subunit orientation identifier 27 is arranged along a course of a layout path segment in reference to the subunit reference system. Thus, the type information of the layout subunit type 20 indicates the course of the layout path segment in reference to the subunit reference system, wherein the course of the layout path segment forms a segment of the layout path 70 when a layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the layout subunit type 20 is positioned at its position along the layout path 70 and oriented properly with respect to the layout path 70 at its position along the layout path 70.

[0120] The subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 of the subunit electrode layout of the layout subunit type 20 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b are assigned to different classes of electrodes. When looking in the plane of the electrode layout in a direction perpendicular to the layout subunit orientation identifier 27, on each end of the subunit electrode layout, a subunit electrode 21.1, 21.2 is arranged. These two subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2 are assigned to a same class of electrodes. The voltage pattern associated with this class of electrodes is a constant DC voltage. The purpose of these two subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2 is to confine the ions to a space between them. For simplicity reasons, these two subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2 are thus referred to as lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.1, 21.2. The other subunit electrodes 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 of the subunit electrode layout of the type information of the layout subunit type 20, 120 are assigned to classes of electrodes each being associated with a type of voltage pattern being a periodic voltage pattern having a frequency and including a phase identifier referring to a reference phase of the respective of the periodic voltage pattern.

[0121] When starting at a first one of the two lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.1 and going through the subunit electrode layout in the direction perpendicular to the layout subunit orientation identifier 27 to the second one of the two lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.2, the further subunit electrodes 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are arranged as follows:

[0122] First, there is a subunit electrode 22.1 arranged which extends over a length of the subunit electrode layout in the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. This subunit electrode 22.1 is referred to as first lateral confinement AC electrode 22.1. Second, there are three subunit electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3 arranged one after the other along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. These three subunit electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3 are referred to as first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3. Third, there is a subunit electrode 23.1 arranged which extends over a length of the subunit electrode layout in the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. This subunit electrode 23.1 is referred to as second lateral confinement AC electrode 23.1. Fourth, there are further three subunit electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 arranged one after the other along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. These three subunit electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 are referred to as second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3. Fifth, there is a subunit electrode 22.2 arranged which extends over a length of the subunit electrode layout in the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. This subunit electrode 22.2 is referred to as third lateral confinement AC electrode 22.2. Sixth, there are three subunit electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 arranged one after the other along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. These three subunit electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are referred to as third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3. Seventh, there is a subunit electrode 23.2 arranged which extends over a length of the subunit electrode layout in the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 27. This subunit electrode 23.2 is referred to as fourth lateral confinement AC electrode 23.2.

[0123] Thereby, the first and the third lateral confinement AC electrodes 22.1, 22.2 are both assigned to a same first class of electrodes which is associated to a periodic voltage pattern with a first radio frequency and a first maximum amplitude and which includes a phase identifier referring to a first reference phase of the respective of the periodic voltage pattern. Furthermore, the second and the fourth lateral confinement AC electrodes 23.1, 23.2 are both assigned to a same second class of electrodes which is associated to a periodic voltage pattern with the first radio frequency and the first maximum amplitude but which includes a phase identifier referring to a second reference phase which differs by 180° of the first reference phase. Thereby, the first radio frequency is in a range from 500 kHz to 5 MHz. In variants, the first radio frequency is in a range from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, from 250 kHz to 50 MHz, from 500 kHz to 50 MHz, from 100 kHz to 5 MHz, or from 250 kHz to 5 MHz, respectively. Thus, when operating an arrangement of electrodes arranged in the subunit electrode layout, the first, second, third and fourth lateral confinement AC electrodes 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2 generate a pseudopotential repelling the ions and thus preventing the ions of approaching layout too closely the plane of the subunit electrode layout.

[0124] The first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, the second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 and third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are all assigned to classes of electrodes which are subsumable into a same superclass of traveling-wave-electrodes. These classes of electrodes are all associated with periodic voltage pattern having a same second frequency and a same second amplitude. Thereby, the second frequency is in a range from 1 kHz to 100 kHz. In a variant, the second frequency is in a range from 1 kHz to 80 kHz. In another variant, the second frequency is in a range from 10 kHz to 80 kHz. In other variants however, the second frequency is in a range from 1 kHz to 50 MHz, from 1 kHz to 5 MHz, from 1 kHz to 500 kHz, from 1 kHz to 100 kHz, from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, from 250 kHz to 50 MHz, from 500 kHz to 50 MHz, from 100 kHz to 5 MHz, from 250 kHz to 5 MHz, or from 500 kHz to 5 MHz.

[0125] The group of the first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, the group of the second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 and the group of the third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are organised in the same way. The first one of the three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 25.1, 26.1 seen along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27 is assigned to a class of electrodes having a phase identifier referring to a third reference phase. The second one of the three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.2, 25.2, 26.2 seen along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27 is assigned to a class of electrodes associated having a phase identifier referring to a fourth reference phase. The third one of the three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.3, 25.3, 26.3 seen along the layout subunit orientation identifier 27 is assigned to a class of electrodes having a phase identifier referring to a fifth reference phase. Thereby, the fifth reference phase is 120° behind the fourth reference phase, while the fourth reference phase is 120° behind the third reference phase. Thus, each group of the group of the first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, the group of the second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 and the group of the third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 is a group of conveying electrodes as described in EP 3 561 853 A1. Even more, in each group of the group of the first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, the group of the second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 and the group of the third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, the three traveling-wave-electrodes are assigned to classes of electrodes subsumable into the same superclass of traveling-wave-electrodes and are arranged sequentially along the layout path segment for enabling generating a traveling wave along the layout path segment, the traveling wave having a wavelength corresponding to a length of the layout subunit type 20 measured along the layout path segment of the layout subunit type 20. Thus, each group of the group of the first three traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, the group of the second three traveling-wave-electrodes 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 and the group of the third three traveling-wave-electrodes 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 is arranged in a subunit wavelength unit extending over an area having a length measured along the layout path segment of the layout subunit type 20, wherein this length is the wavelength of the traveling wave. As the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises the four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the layout subunit type 20, at each of the four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, the subunit wavelength unit of the respective layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 forms a global wavelength subunit in the layout of electrodes 1. As will be shown later in the context of FIGS. 8, 9, 10a, 10b, 10c, 11a and 11b, these global wavelength subunits in the layout of electrodes 1 can be generated with a different procedure.

[0126] In contrast to FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b shows the subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 of the subunit electrode layout of the layout subunit type 20 in dashed lines. Furthermore, FIG. 2b shows a subunit wiring layout 29 as given by the type information of the layout subunit type 20. This subunit wiring layout 29 is for wiring the at least one subunit electrode 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 of the subunit electrode layout, the subunit wiring layout 29 being in reference to the subunit reference system. Thereby, the subunit wiring layout 29 describes connections of those of the subunit electrodes 21.1, 21.2, 22.1, 22.2, 23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 which are assigned to the same class of electrodes.

[0127] Furthermore, the subunit wiring layout 29 provides for each class of electrodes present in the subunit electrode layout a connection point 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 30.5, 30.6 at a local position in the respective of the subunit reference system. These connection points 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 30.5, 30.6 are for connecting the subunit wiring layout 29 into a global wiring layout 2. Thus, when building up the at least one segment of the layout of electrodes 1 by assigning to each one of the at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 one of the at least one layout subunit type 20 and positioning each one of the at least two layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 at a respective position along the layout path 70, the respective of the subunit wiring layouts 29 are connected into the global wiring layout 2 by using the respective connection point 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 30.5, 30.6 when defining the global wiring layout 2.

[0128] FIG. 3 shows the layout of electrodes 1 of FIG. 1, wherein the electrodes of the layout of electrodes 1 are shown in dashed lines. In contrast to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows additionally the global wiring layout 2 in reference to the global reference system.

[0129] As visible in FIG. 3, the global wiring layout 2 describes a connection of all electrodes of the layout of electrodes 1 which are assigned to the same class of electrodes. Thereby, the global wiring layout 2 provides for each class of electrodes present in the global wiring layout 2 a connection point 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 for connecting the electrodes of the respective class of electrodes with a voltage source for applying the voltage pattern associated to the respective class of electrodes to the respective electrodes.

[0130] For manufacturing an arrangement of electrodes 80 arranged in the layout of electrodes 1 and wired with the global wiring layout 2, the layout of electrodes 1 and the global wiring layout 2 are provided in a codification for manufacturing a printed circuit board carrying electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes 1 and wired in the global wiring layout. This codification is in a known script format used by the manufacturing machine for manufacturing the printed circuit board.

[0131] FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic view of an arrangement of electrodes 80 with electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes 1 and wired with the global wiring layout 2 on a printed circuit board 81. This arrangement of electrodes 80 has been manufactured with a method for manufacturing an arrangement of electrodes 80 for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path comprising the electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes 1 along said ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path, wherein the layout of electrodes 1 is generated with the above described method for generating the layout of electrodes 1 for the ion guide for transporting ions along the ion path and wherein the arrangement of electrodes 80 is manufactured based on the layout of electrodes 1.

[0132] FIG. 5 shows a simplified schematic view of an ion guide 90 comprising two printed circuit boards 91, 92. These printed circuit boards 91, 92 are each arranged in a plane and are arranged parallel to each other at a distance from each other. Between the two printed circuit boards 91, 92, the ion path 60 is arranged. Thereby, the two printed circuit boards 91, 92 are identical to the printed circuit board 81 shown in FIG. 4 and have been generated and manufactured with the methods described above for the printed circuit board 81. Thus, the ion guide 90 has been generated with a method for generating an ion guide 90 for transporting ions along an ion path 60 comprising electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes 1 along the ion path 60 for transporting the ions along the ion path 60, wherein the layout of electrodes 1 for the ion guide 90 for transporting the ions along the ion path 60 is generated with the above described method for generating the layout of electrodes 1 for the ion guide 90 for transporting ions along the ion paths 60. Thereby, the ion path 60 and the corresponding layout path 70 have been defined first and the layout of the electrodes 1 has been generated with the method for generating the layout of electrodes 1 second.

[0133] The ion guide 90 has been manufactured by a method for manufacturing an ion guide 90 for transporting ions along an ion path 60 by generating the ion guide 90 with the method for generating an ion guide 90 for transporting ions along an ion path 60 comprising electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes 1 along the ion path 60 for transporting the ions along the ion path 60 and by subsequently manufacturing the ion guide 90. Thereby, when manufacturing the ion guide 90, the arrangement of electrodes 80 for the ion guide 90 has been manufactured with the above described method for manufacturing an arrangement of electrodes 80 for an ion guide 90 for transporting ions along an ion path 60 comprising the electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes 1 along the ion path 60 for transporting the ions along the ion path 60, wherein the arrangement of electrodes 80 has been manufactured based on the layout of electrodes 1 and has been manufactured with the above described method for manufacturing the arrangement of electrodes 1 for the ion guide 90 for transporting ions along an ion path 60 comprising the electrodes arranged in a layout of electrodes 1 along said ion path 60 for transporting the ions along the ion path 60.

[0134] All these above described methods are advantageously employed in a computer program product. This is obtained with a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the respective method.

[0135] FIG. 6 shows another layout of electrodes 101 generated with the method according to the invention, wherein the layout of electrodes 101 is for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes 101 along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path. In this embodiment, the ion path has two different ion path start positions, a junction and an ion path end position. Arrangements of electrodes with this layout of electrodes 101 can be manufactured and incorporated in an ion guide as described above.

[0136] When generating the layout of electrodes 101 shown in FIG. 6, a layout path 170 corresponding to the ion path is assumed. Thus, the layout path 170 has a first layout path start position 171.1 corresponding to the first ion path start position, a second layout path start position 171.2 corresponding to the second ion path start position, a layout path end position 172 corresponding to the ion path end position, a layout path course 173 corresponding to the ion path course and a layout path transport direction 174 corresponding to the ion path transport direction. Furthermore, the layout path 170 provides a junction 175. In this junction 175, a first branch 176.1 of the layout path 170 which comes from the first layout path start position 171.1 merges with a second branch 176.2 of the layout path 170 which comes from the second layout path start position 171.2. From this junction 175, a third branch 176.3 of the layout path 170 leads to the layout path end position 172.

[0137] The layout of electrodes 101 shown in FIG. 6 includes in total six layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.5, 110.6 which are of the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Furthermore, the layout of electrodes 101 shown in FIG. 6 includes three layout subunits 111.1, 111.2, 111.3 of a second layout subunit type 120. This second layout subunit type 120 is illustrated in FIG. 7. It is in most parts identical to the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. As only difference, the second layout subunit type 120 however provides a subunit electrode layout without lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.1, 21.2 and consequently a subunit wiring layout with no wiring of any lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.1, 21.2.

[0138] As shown in FIG. 6, when starting from the first layout path start position 171.1 and following the first branch 176.1 of the layout path 170 to the junction 175 and subsequently following the third branch 176.2 of the layout path 170 to the layout path end position 172, there are first three layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3 of the layout subunit type 20 of FIGS. 2a, 2b arranged along a straight horizontal line. After the third of these layout subunits 110.3, a fourth layout subunit 111.1 of the second layout subunit type 120 is arranged, wherein this fourth layout subunit 111.1 is rotated by 90° clockwise as compared to the first three layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3. Thus, the layout path 170 provides a kink at the position of the fourth layout subunit 111.1.

[0139] After the fourth layout subunit 111.1, a fifth and a sixth subunit layout 111.2, 111.3, both of the second layout subunit type 120 are arranged on a straight line downwards from the fourth layout subunit 111.1, this fifth and sixth subunit layout 111.2, 111.3 being oriented in the same orientation as the fourth layout subunit 111.1. On this straight line downwards, after the sixth layout subunit 111.3, a seventh layout subunit 110.6 of the layout subunit type 20 of FIGS. 2a, 2b is arranged in the same orientation as the fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit 111.1, 111.2, 111.3, leading to the layout path end position 172.

[0140] In the layout of electrodes 101 shown in FIG. 6, the junction 175 of the layout path 170 is arranged in the area of the fifth and sixth layout subunit 111.2, 111.3. Thereby, the second branch 176.2 of the layout path 170 starting from the second layout path start position 171.2 is arranged parallel to the beginning of the first branch 176.1 of the layout path 170. It starts with an eighth and a ninth layout subunit 110.4, 110.5 of the layout subunit type 20 of FIGS. 2a, 2b being oriented in the same orientation as the first three layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3. Thereby, the ninth layout subunit 110.5 connects to the fifth and sixth layout subunit 111.2, 111.3, somewhat shifted upwards from the centre of the sixth layout subunit 111.3. Thereby, the second branch 176.2 of the layout path 170 enters at the height of the sixth layout subunit 111.3 into previously described the vertical part of the layout path 170 to form the junction 175.

[0141] This way, a segment of the layout of electrodes 101 is built up by assigning to each one of the nine layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.5, 110.6, 111.1, 111.2, 111.3 one of the two layout subunit types 20, 120, orienting each one of the nine layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.5, 110.6, 111.1, 111.2, 111.3 and positioning each one of the nine layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.6, 111.1, 111.2, 111.3 at a respective position along the layout path 170.

[0142] After having built this segment of the layout of electrodes 101, the three gaps along the layout path 170 with no lateral confinement DC electrode, a corresponding lateral confinement DC electrode 130.1, 130.2, 130.3 is arranged. These lateral confinement DC electrodes 130.1, 130.2, 130.3 are assigned to the same class of electrodes as the lateral confinement DC electrodes 21.1, 21.2 of the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b. Thus, when defining the global wiring layout of the layout of electrodes 101 shown in FIG. 6, the lateral confinement DC electrodes 130.1, 130.2, 130.3 are connected with the lateral confinement DC electrodes of the respective layout subunits 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.5, 110.6.

[0143] FIG. 8 shows yet another layout of electrodes 201 according to the invention for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes 201 along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path. Thereby, the ion path and the layout path 70 are the same as the ones used in the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1. As well, the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8 is very similar to the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1. However, the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8 comprises lateral confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 which extend along the entire layout of electrodes 201. This difference as compared to the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 where four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 are arranged consecutively along the layout path 70 and where each of the four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 comprises lateral confinement DC electrodes and lateral confinement AC electrodes extending over a length of the respective layout subunit 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 is due to the fact that the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8 has been generated with a different procedure with the help of differently defined layout subunit types 220.1, 220.2, 220.3, 220.4, 220.5. These layout subunit types 220.1, 220.2, 220.3, 220.4, 220.5 are illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10a, 10b, 10c, 11a and 11b and described in the following.

[0144] In FIG. 9, a third layout subunit type 220.1 used to generate the layout of electrodes 201 of FIG. 8 is shown. This third layout subunit type 220.1 includes a layout subunit orientation identifier 227.1 and a layout subunit position identifier 228.1 like the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. Furthermore, the third layout subunit type 220.1 of FIG. 9 includes lateral confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 arranged and positioned relative to the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.1 and the layout subunit position identifier 228.1 in the same way as the corresponding electrodes are in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. However, these lateral confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 are shorter measured along the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.1 than the ones of first layout subunit type 20 of FIG. 2a. Nonetheless, the type information of the third layout subunit type 220.1 shown in FIG. 9 includes a subunit wiring layout which describes connections of those of the subunit electrodes 221.1, 221.2, 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 which are assigned to the same class of electrodes and provides for each class of electrodes present in the subunit electrodes layout a connection point, similar to the subunit wiring layout 29 described in the context of FIG. 2b.

[0145] In FIG. 10a, a second layout subunit type 220.2 used to generate the layout of electrodes 201 of FIG. 8 is shown. This fourth layout subunit type 220.2 includes a layout subunit orientation identifier 227.2 and a layout subunit position identifier 228.2 like the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. Furthermore, the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 of FIG. 10a includes three traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 225.1, 226.1 arranged and positioned relative to the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.2 and the layout subunit position identifier 228.2 in the same way as the first traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 25.1, 26.1 of the three groups of traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. These traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 225.1, 226.1 of the fourth subunit layout type 220.2 illustrated in FIG. 10a have a same size and shape as the corresponding electrodes in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a and are as well assigned to the class of electrodes having a phase identifier referring to the third reference phase. The type information of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 furthermore includes a subunit wiring layout which describes a connection of the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 225.1, 226.1 and provides a connection point, similar to the subunit wiring layout 29 described in the context of FIG. 2b.

[0146] In FIG. 10b, a fifth layout subunit type 220.3 used to generate the layout of electrodes 201 of FIG. 8 is shown. This fifth layout subunit type 220.3 includes a layout subunit orientation identifier 227.3 and a layout subunit position identifier 228.3 like the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. Furthermore, the fifth layout subunit type 220.3 of FIG. 10b includes three traveling-wave-electrodes 224.2, 225.2, 226.2 arranged and positioned relative to the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.3 and the layout subunit position identifier 228.3 in the same way as the second traveling-wave-electrodes 24.2, 25.2, 26.2 of the three groups of traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. These traveling-wave-electrodes 224.2, 225.2, 226.2 of the fifth subunit layout type 220.3 illustrated in FIG. 10b have a same size and shape as the corresponding electrodes in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a and are as well assigned to the class of electrodes having a phase identifier referring to the fourth reference phase. The type information of the fifth layout subunit type 220.3 furthermore includes a subunit wiring layout which describes a connection of the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.2, 225.2, 226.2 and provides a connection point, similar to the subunit wiring layout 29 described in the context of FIG. 2b.

[0147] In FIG. 10c, a sixth layout subunit type 220.4 used to generate the layout of electrodes 201 of FIG. 8 is shown. This sixth layout subunit type 220.4 includes a layout subunit orientation identifier 227.4 and a layout subunit position identifier 228.4 like the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. Furthermore, the sixth layout subunit type 220.4 of FIG. 10c includes three traveling-wave-electrodes 224.3, 225.3, 226.3 arranged and positioned relative to the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.4 and the layout subunit position identifier 228.4 in the same way as the third traveling-wave-electrodes 24.3, 25.3, 26.3 of the three groups of traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a. These traveling-wave-electrodes 224.3, 225.3, 226.3 of the sixth subunit layout type 220.4 illustrated in FIG. 10c have a same size and shape as the corresponding electrodes in the subunit layout type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a and are as well assigned to the class of electrodes having a phase identifier referring to the fifth reference phase. The type information of the sixth layout subunit type 220.4 furthermore includes a subunit wiring layout which describes a connection of the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.3, 225.3, 226.3 and provides a connection point, similar to the subunit wiring layout 29 described in the context of FIG. 2b.

[0148] Similar to the traveling-wave-electrodes 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 of the layout subunit type 20 shown in FIG. 2a, the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 224.2, 224.3, 225.1, 225.2, 225.3, 226.1, 226.2, 226.3 of the fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit type 220.2, 220.3, 220.4 are all assigned to classes of electrodes subsumable into the same superclass of traveling-wave-electrodes.

[0149] In FIGS. 11a and 11b, the procedure is illustrated with which the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8 has been generated. As illustrated in FIG. 11a, first, a subunit layout 210.1 of the third layout subunit type 220.1 and a subunit layout 210.2 of the fourth layout subunit types 220.2 are positioned with their layout subunit orientation identifiers 227.1. 227.2 and layout subunit position identifiers 228.1, 228.2 coinciding at a position of a layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 and a layout subunit position identifier 228.5, respectively, of a seventh layout subunit type 220.5 newly defined from the two subunit layout 210.1, 210.2 of the third and fourth layout subunit type 220.1, 220.2. Thereby, the subunit wiring layouts of the third and fourth layout subunit type 220.1, 220.2 are incorporated into the subunit wiring layout of the seventh subunit wiring layout 220.5.

[0150] Subsequently, the definition this seventh layout subunit type 220.5 is modified. Namely, a length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 measured along the layout orientation identifier 227.5 is adjusted as desired. Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 11b, the lengths of the confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 measured along the layout orientation identifier 227.5 are adjusted according to the modified length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5. At the same time, the lengths of the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 225.1, 226.1 of the second layout subunit 210.2 of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 are maintained. As soon as the length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 measured along the layout orientation identifier 227.5 is sufficient to add a layout subunit 210.3 of the fifth layout subunit type 220.3 with its layout subunit position identifier 228.3 and its layout subunit orientation identifier 227.3 coinciding with the layout subunit position identifier 228.5 and layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5, a fifth layout subunit 210.3 of the fifth layout subunit type 220.3 with its traveling-wave-electrodes 224.2, 225.2, 226.2 and its subunit wiring layout is added to the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 with its layout subunit position identifier 228.3 and its layout subunit orientation identifier 227.3 coinciding with the layout subunit position identifier 228.5 and layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5. Thus, in the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 seen along the layout orientation identifier 227.5, there are now first traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 225.1, 226.1 having a phase identifier referring to the third reference phase and second traveling-wave-electrodes 224.2, 225.2, 226.2 having a phase identifier referring to the fourth reference phase.

[0151] With further increasing length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5, the lengths of the confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 measured along the layout orientation identifier 227.5 are adjusted further, and as soon as the length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 allows, a further layout subunit 210.4 of the sixth layout subunit type 220.4 with its traveling-wave-electrodes 224.3, 225.3, 226.3 and its subunit wiring layout is added to the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 with its layout subunit position identifier 228.4 and its layout subunit orientation identifier 227.4 coinciding with the layout subunit position identifier 228.5 and layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5. Thus, the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 now corresponds to the layout subunit type 20 illustrated in FIG. 2a and includes the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 224.2, 224.3, 225.1, 225.2, 225.3, 226.1, 226.2, 226.3 of the fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit type 220.2, 220.3, 220.4 assigned to classes of electrodes subsumable into the same superclass of traveling-wave-electrodes. Consequently, the traveling-wave-electrodes 224.1, 224.2, 224.3, 225.1, 225.2, 225.3, 226.1, 226.2, 226.3 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 are now arranged sequentially along the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 for enabling generating a traveling wave along the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5, the traveling wave having a wavelength corresponding to a length of the layout subunit type 20 measured along the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5.

[0152] As this procedure of increasing the length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 is continued, the lengths of the confinement DC electrodes 221.1, 221.2 and lateral confinement AC electrodes 222.1, 222.2, 223.1, 223.2 are increased further as described before. After adding the layout subunit 210.4 of the sixth layout subunit type 220.4, again a layout subunit 210.5 of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 is added as soon as the length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 allows. Thereby, the traveling-wave-electrodes and the subunit wiring layout of the layout subunit 210.5 of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 are appended at a same distance from the traveling-wave-electrodes of the layout subunit 210.4 of the sixth layout subunit type 220.4 as the traveling-wave-electrodes of the layout subunit 210.4 of the sixth layout subunit type 220.4 are distanced from the traveling-wave-electrodes of the layout subunit 210.3 of the fifth layout subunit type 220.3. Thus, the newly added layout subunit 210.5 of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 is positioned with its subunit layout orientation identifier 227.2 oriented parallel to the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5. However, the layout subunit position identifier 228.2 of the layout subunit 210.5 of the fourth layout subunit type 220.2 is moved by one wavelength from the layout subunit position identifier 228.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 in the direction of the layout subunit orientation identifier 227.5 of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5.

[0153] Ultimately, the length of the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 reaches the length of the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8. At this length, the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 includes the layout subunit 210.1 of the third layout subunit type 220.1 illustrated in FIG. 9 with an amended length and includes the sequence of the layout subunits 210.2, 210.3, 210.4, 210.5, 210.6, 210.7, 210.8, 210.9, 210.10, 210.11, 210.12, 210.13 of the fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit types 220.2, 220.3, 220.4 repeated four times like the traveling-wave-electrodes are repeated four times in the layout of electrodes 1 shown in FIG. 1 due to the sequential arrangement of the four layout subunits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 of the layout subunit type 20 of FIG. 2a. Thus, the layout of electrodes 201 shown in FIG. 8 is one large layout subunit of the modified seventh layout subunit type 220.5. The above described method of modifying the seventh layout subunit type 220.5 based on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth layout subunit type 220.1, 220.2. 220.3, 220.4 is advantageously implemented in a computer program product. This is obtained with a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the respective method.

[0154] The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. Different variants and variations in the methods as well as in the layouts of electrodes, designs of the ion guides and manufacturing procedures are possible. Furthermore, the ion guides can be generated and manufactured with different layouts of electrodes than described above.

[0155] In summary, it is to be noted that a method for generating a layout of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path is provided, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes along the ion path, that enables a simple and easy way for obtaining a flawless layout of electrodes, enabling a proper functionality of the ion guide.