Mass spectrometer and method of determining mass-to-charge ratio of ion
US6949738B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/0027
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a time of flight mass spectrometer having a spiral flight path, whose mass resolution can be appropriately changed with respect to the analysis object or other factor without any complicated alteration or addition of the mechanical construction. In a specific form of the invention, the mass spectrometer includes deflecting electrodes 20-23 located between semi-cylindrical electrodes 11 and 12 for making ions fly along a spiral path. The deflecting electrodes 20-23 generate deflecting electric fields for shifting the ions in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical electrodes 11 and 12. The voltage applied to the deflecting electrodes 20-23 is changed according to the mass resolution required. The deflecting electric fields are generated or removed with the change of the voltage, which makes the ions fly either along a spiral path or in the same loop orbit. The flight distance of the ions can be controlled as desired by regulating the voltage so that the ions fly in the loop orbit an appropriate number of times. Thus, the mass resolution can be arbitrarily controlled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.