Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Bruker Daltonics, Inc.

David Deford

Urs Steiner

Richard Clayton Walker

James L Bertsch

Roy P Moeller

Noah Goldberg

David Kaz

Shahrzad Jalali Mazlouman

A high-voltage (HV) power supply outputs an output voltage based on a control signal produced by a dual analog/digital feedback loop. The control signal is determined at least in part by an error amplifier that receives a measurement signal, proportionally attenuated from the output voltage, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) output signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) also receives the measurement signal and transmits it in digitized form to a digital processor. The digital processor calculates a digital DAC data signal based on the measurement signal, and on a digital set-point input signal corresponding to a set-point voltage value of the output voltage desired to be outputted from the high-voltage source. A DAC receives the DAC data signal and converts it to the DAC output signal transmitted to the error amplifier.

Dual feedback loop for precision high voltage power supply

Precision high voltage power supply with dual feedback loop

A system and method for detecting energetic particles include a detector onto which the particles are impinged. An output signal from the detector, indicative of the energy of the particles, is directed by an AC-coupler to a measurement device to determine particle characteristics such as mass and/or abundance. The detector is selectively couplable to positive or negative bias voltages, and in one embodiment is differentially biased to eliminate ringing due common-mode excitation. The AC-coupler has capacitively-coupled input and output terminals that are embedded in a transmission line structure including capacitances that in some embodiments serve as the sole energy storage component in order to reduce the effects of parasitic inductance found in conventional detection circuits. In some embodiments, a pulse compensation network is provided, to reduce undershoot and ringing due to remote installation of the AC-coupler caused by reflection of low frequency components blocked by the AC-coupler.

AC-coupled system for particle detection

In one embodiment, a high voltage power supply includes a DC voltage input, a converter for converting a DC voltage at the DC voltage input to an AC voltage, a booster for boosting the AC voltage to a boosted AC voltage, a rectifier in DC isolation from the DC voltage input, the rectifier operable to convert the boosted AC voltage to a high DC voltage at an isolated rectifier output, a high voltage DC output for outputting the high DC voltage, a voltage control input, and an error circuit coupled to the voltage control input and operable to reduce variation in the high DC voltage by driving a return side of the isolated rectifier output in response to feedback based on the high DC voltage.

Precision high voltage power supply utilizing feedback through return side output

An AC coupler for transmitting high-frequency components of a wideband signal includes a signal conductor and a shielding structure arranged as a transmission line. The signal conductor includes a conductive element and a capacitor configured to block direct current (DC) components of the wideband signal while transmitting high-frequency alternating current (AC) components of the wideband signal. The shielding structure is configured for conducting at least the AC components of the wideband signal while confining electric fields and currents in the shielding structure substantially to a region proximate to the signal conductor. The shielding structure has a width substantially greater than a width of the signal conductor. The difference between the shielding structure width and the signal conductor width may be substantially greater than an offset distance between the signal conductor and the shielding structure.

Alternating current (AC) coupler for wideband AC signals and related methods

An ion detection system for detecting ions whose velocity varies during an operating cycle. The ion detection system includes a dynode electron multiplier (e.g., a microchannel plate (MCP)) having a bias voltage input, and a bias voltage source to apply a bias voltage to the bias voltage input of the dynode electron multiplier. With a fixed bias voltage applied to its bias voltage input, the dynode electron multiplier has a gain dependent on the velocity of ions incident thereon. The bias voltage applied by the bias voltage source to the bias voltage input of the dynode electron multiplier varies during the operating cycle to reduce the dependence of the gain of the dynode electron multiplier on the velocity of the ions incident thereon.

Ion detector response equalization for enhanced dynamic range

Methods and systems to compensate for distortions created by dynamic voltage applied to an electron multiplier used in mass spectrometry. An electron multiplier has a cathode end accepting ion flow, an opposite emitter end and an interior surface. The electron multiplier produces an electron output from ions colliding with the interior surface. A variable power supply has a voltage output coupled to the cathode end and the emitter end of the electron multiplier. The voltage output changes dynamically to adjust the electron output from the electron multiplier. An anode is located in proximity to the electron multiplier. An electrometer is coupled to the anode in proximity to the electron multiplier to measure the current generated by the electron output. A low pass filter circuit is coupled to the emitter end to the ground of the electrometer to attenuate emitter voltage changes. A bias circuit is coupled to the emitter end to stabilize emitter to anode voltage difference.

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Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

David Deford