Real-time control of ion detection with extended dynamic range

A method for controlling an ion detector comprising:

• receiving one or more ion input signals at the ion detector;
• converting the one or more ion signals into one or more electrical detector output signals;
• reading one or more of the detector output signals;
• reading one or more values of a drive voltage applied to the ion detector;
• based on at least one of the detector output signals and at least one of the drive voltage values read during a first time period, acquiring a data point indicative of an intensity of at least one of the received ion input signals, wherein acquiring includes scaling the detector output signal based on the drive voltage value read during the first time period;
• and
• based on at least one of the detector output signals and at least one of the drive voltage values read during a second time period asynchronous relative to the first time period, regulating the drive voltage to operate the ion detector at a gain optimal for the intensity of at least one of the received ion input signals, wherein regulating includes determining whether a value for the gain correlated to the drive voltage value read during the second time period is optimal for the ion input signal intensity and, if it is determined that the gain is not optimal, adjusting the drive voltage to provide the optimal gain.

An ion detector controller comprising:

• first circuitry configured to apply a drive voltage to an ion detector;
• second circuitry configured to receive electrical detector output signals from the ion detector proportional to ion input signals received by the ion detector;
• and
• third circuitry in signal communication with the first circuitry and the second circuitry configured to acquire a data point indicative of an intensity of at least one of the received ion input signals and, asynchronously with acquiring the data point, regulate the drive voltage applied to the ion detector to operate the ion detector at a gain optimal for the intensity of at least one of the received ion input signals.