Method of data dependent control
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorsMartin Raymond Green, Keith Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising obtaining first data at a first time and/or location and second data at a second subsequent time and/or location. A future trend or rate of change in the data is predicted from the first and second data. An attenuation factor of an attenuation device is adjusted in response to the predicted future trend or rate of change in the data so as to maintain operation of a detector or detector system within the dynamic range of the detector or detector system and/or to prevent saturation of the detector or detector system.
Claims16
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- (i) obtaining first intensity data at a first time or location and second intensity data at a second subsequent time or location;
- (ii) predicting a future trend or rate of change of intensity of a signal delivered to a mass spectrometer from said first and second intensity data, wherein said mass spectrometer comprises an attenuation device;
- and
- (iii) adjusting the transmission of ions by adjusting an attenuation factor of said attenuation device in response to said predicted future trend or rate of change so as to:
- limit space charge effects in an ion trap or ion mobility separation device;
- or control the build-up of contamination on a lens element of the mass spectrometer;
- or control the maximum data rate through downstream high speed electronics.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an attenuation device;
- a control system arranged and adapted:
- (i) to obtain first intensity data at a first time or location and second intensity data at a second subsequent time or location;
- (ii) to predict a future trend or rate of change of intensity of a signal delivered to the mass spectrometer from said first and second intensity data;
- and
- (iii) to adjust the transmission of ions by adjusting an attenuation factor of said attenuation device in response to said predicted future trend or rate of change so as to:
- limit space charge effects in an ion trap or ion mobility separation device of mass the spectrometer;
- or control the build-up of contamination on a lens element of the mass spectrometer;
- or control the maximum data rate through downstream high speed electronics of the spectrometer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.