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US 2003/0226964 A1Published application
Time dispersive spectrometer using digital switching means
AssigneeSandia National Laboratories
InventorsEdward E. Tarver III, William F. Siems
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described for time dispersive spectroscopy. In particular, a modulated flow of ionized molecules of a sample are introduced into a drift region of an ion spectrometer. The ions are subsequently detected by an ion detector to produce an ion detection signal. The ion detection signal can be modulated to obtain a signal useful in assaying the chemical constituents of the sample.
Claims20
A method of time dispersive spectroscopy, comprising:
- ionizing a sample to produce ionized molecules;
- modulating the flow of ionized molecules into a drift region of a spectrometer,;
- detecting the ionized molecules at a detector, and producing an ion detection signal;
- directing said ion detection signal into a commutator, said commutator comprising high a speed digital switch;
- modulating the digital switch between a first state and a second state to provide a modulated ion detection signal, said digital switch acting to gate the ion detection signal by passing the ion detection signal when said digital switch is in said first state or blocking the ion detection signal when said digital switch is in said second state;
- and
- assaying the chemical constituents of the sample from the modulated ion detection signal.
4 more elements
A time-dispersive spectrometer, comprising:
- means for ionizing a sample;
- means for modulating the flow of ions into a drift region of the spectrometer;
- an ion detector for detecting the ions after they have traversed the drift region, said ion detector producing an ion detection signal;
- and
- means for modulating the ion detection signal, wherein said modulation means comprises a high speed digital switch alternating between first and second states, and wherein said ion detection signal is passed when said high speed switch is in said first state or blocked when said high speed switch is in said second state.
2 more elements
A method of time dispersive spectroscopy, comprising:
- ionizing a sample to provide a flow of ions comprising said sample;
- modulating the flow of ions into a drift region of a spectrometer
- obtaining an ion detection signal representative of differing velocities of constituents of said sample;
- modulating the ion detection signal, wherein said modulation means comprises a high speed digital switch;
- and
- assaying the constituents of the sample.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.