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US 11,456,166 B2Granted
Amplifier amplitude control for a mass spectrometer
AssigneeThermo Finnigan LLC
InventorJohnathan Wayne Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to a component of a mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes a component and a resonant circuit to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal applied to the component. An amplitude control circuit can be inductively coupled with inductors of the resonant circuit to selectively discharge energy from the resonant circuit and, therefore, adjust the amplitude of the signal in particular situations.
Claims20
A mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a component of the mass spectrometer;
- a resonant circuit configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) signal applied to the component, the resonant circuit having a first resonant inductor used to store energy for generating the first RF signal at a first amplitude;
- an amplitude control circuit having a first amplitude control inductor that is inductively coupled with the first resonant inductor, and having a first diode that is coupled with the first amplitude control inductor;
- and
- a controller circuit configured to transfer energy from the first resonant inductor to the first amplitude control inductor to adjust the first RF signal from the first amplitude to a second amplitude by changing an operational state of the first diode.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a component for a mass spectrometer configured to manipulate ions by generating an oscillating electric field;
- a resonant circuit configured to store energy using a first resonant inductor and use the energy to generate a signal applied to the component to generate the electric field;
- and
- an amplitude control circuit configured to transfer energy from the first resonant inductor using a first amplitude control inductor to adjust an amplitude of the signal applied to the component.
1 more element
A method of operating a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- applying a voltage at a cathode of a diode;
- applying a radio frequency (RF) signal having a first amplitude to a component for a mass spectrometer via a resonant circuit having a resonant circuit inductor;
- applying a voltage to an anode of the diode via inductive coupling of the resonant circuit and the anode of the diode;
- and
- discharging energy from the resonant circuit to adjust the first amplitude of the RF signal applied to the component to a second amplitude based on the inductive coupling and the voltages applied at the cathode and the anode of the diode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.