Micromass UK Limited

Waters Technologies Corporation

Kenneth Russell Worthington

Richard Barrington Moulds

David Gordon

Martin Raymond Green

Daniel James Kenny

David John Langridge

Peter Carney

Paul McIver

John Garside

John Richard Garside

James Paul Harrison

Eliot Powell

Paul Hough

Alistar Schofield

An ion-optical device comprising: a plurality of electrodes (); a first AC voltage supply (); and a transformer () having: a toroidal core (); a primary winding () connected to the AC voltage supply () and passing through the aperture within the toroidal core (); and at least one secondary winding () wound around the toroidal coreand electrically connected to multiple ones of said plurality of electrodes.

Transformer for applying an ac voltage to electrodes

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion optics device housing having one or more external electrical connectors () provided thereon. An ion optics device () is arranged inside the ion optics device housing, the ion optics device () comprising one or more electrodes for manipulating ions, the one or more electrodes being electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors () provided on the ion optics device housing. A voltage supply housing () is provided having one or more external electrical connectors provided thereon. One or more voltage supplies are arranged inside the voltage supply housing (), the one or more voltage supplies being in electrical communication with the one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing. The one or more external electrical connectors provided on the voltage supply housing are directly physically and electrically connected to the one or more external electrical connectors () provided on the ion optics device housing.

Mass spectrometer

An ion confinement device () comprising: a plurality of electrodes arranged and configured for confining ions when an AC or RF voltage is applied thereto; and at least one inductive ballast (), each ballast connected to at least some of said electrodes so as to form a resonator circuit therewith.

Ion confinement device

A method of operating a quadrupole device is disclosed. The method comprises operating the quadrupole device in a first mode of operation, wherein ions within a first mass to charge ratio range are selected and/or transmitted by the quadrupole device, and operating the quadrupole device in a second mode of operation, wherein ions within a second different mass to charge ratio range are selected and/or transmitted by the quadrupole device. In the first mode of operation, the quadrupole device is operated in a normal mode of operation wherein a main drive voltage is applied to the quadrupole device, or in a first X-band or Y-band mode of operation wherein a main drive voltage and two or more auxiliary drive voltages are applied to the quadrupole device. In the second mode of operation, the quadrupole device is operated in a second X-band or Y-band mode of operation wherein a main drive voltage and two or more auxiliary drive voltages are applied to the quadrupole device.

Quadrupole devices

A voltage supply system for supplying an RF voltage to an RF resonant load comprising an ion-optical component of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The system comprises a Direct Digital Synthesizer ('DDS') arranged and adapted to output an RF voltage. The voltage supply system is arranged and adapted: (i) to vary the frequency of the RF voltage output by the Direct Digital Synthesizer, (ii) to determine a first resonant frequency of the RF resonant load comprising the ion-optical component, and (iii) to determine whether or not the generation of an RF voltage at the first resonant frequency by the Direct Digital Synthesizer would also result in the generation of a spur frequency close to the first resonant frequency. If it is determined that a spur frequency would be generated close to the first resonant frequency then the voltage supply system is further arranged and adapted: (iv) to consult a look-up table comprising one or more preferred frequencies, and (v) to direct the Direct Digital Synthesizer to generate an RF voltage at a second frequency which corresponds with one of the preferred frequencies from the look-up table, wherein the second frequency is different to said first resonant frequency.

High frequency voltage supply control method for multipole or monopole analysers

A voltage supply system for supplying an RF voltage to an RF resonant load comprising an ion-optical component of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The system comprises a Direct Digital Synthesiser ('DDS') arranged and adapted to output an RF voltage. The voltage supply system is arranged and adapted: (i) to vary the frequency of the RF voltage output by the Direct Digital Synthesiser, (ii) to determine a first resonant frequency of the RF resonant load comprising the ion-optical component, and (iii) to determine whether or not the generation of an RF voltage at the first resonant frequency by the Direct Digital Synthesiser would also result in the generation of a spur frequency close to the first resonant frequency. If it is determined that a spur frequency would be generated close to the first resonant frequency then the voltage supply system is further arranged and adapted: (iv) to consult a look-up table comprising one or more preferred frequencies, and (v) to direct the Direct Digital Synthesiser to generate an RF voltage at a second frequency which corresponds with one of the preferred frequencies from the look-up table, wherein the second frequency is different to said first resonant frequency.

A capacitor assembly () for measuring the level of radio frequency voltage in a mass spectrometer. The assembly () includes an RF sensing capacitor () with first and second capacitor plates (), a rectifying circuit () and a vacuum housing feedthrough (), all of which are mounted within a vacuum enclosure of the mass spectrometer. The first capacitor plate () is adapted for connection to a voltage source and mounted within the enclosure by first insulating spacers (). The second capacitor plate () is nested within the first insulating spacers () and mounted within the enclosure by second insulating spacers (). The rectifying circuit () is electrically connected to the second capacitor plate () and to the vacuum housing feedthrough ().

Capacitor assembly for a mass spectrometer

A method of producing high frequency high amplitude AC voltages with control of the phase angle between outputs from a plurality of generators having individual DC current controlled variable inductors which method comprises controlling the timing of the circuit to allow inputs at the same frequency to have their phase angle preserved. All the outputs are phase locked and synchronized to a common external timed signal and programmed to the same output frequency.

Growing community of inventors

Cheshire, United Kingdom

Kenneth Russell Worthington