Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for delivering ions from a grounded electrospray assembly to a vacuum chamber

US6998605B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
17References
44Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 2000
Grant dateFeb 14, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 25, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J49/045
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber. The apparatus comprises an ionization chamber, an ionization region within the ionization chamber, a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage and a vacuum chamber, wherein the ionization chamber communicates with the vacuum chamber through the vacuum interface. Sample is introduced into the ionization chamber from an electrospray assembly at approximately ground potential. Two electrodes are provided within the chamber such that three electric fields are generated, a first field extending from the electrospray assembly to the first electrode, a second field extending from the second electrode to the first electrode, and a third field extending from the second electrode to the vacuum interface. Ions are forced to travel through the fields in order before entering the vacuum chamber. In addition, the invention provides a method of delivering ions to a vacuum chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.