The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2014
Applicant:
Micromass Uk Limited, Wilmslow, GB;
Inventors:
David Gordon, Manchester, GB;
Daniel James Kenny, Knutsford, GB;
Richard Barrington Moulds, Stockport, GB;
Assignee:
Micromass UK Limited, Wilmslow, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01J 49/24 (2006.01); F04C 28/02 (2006.01); F04C 28/00 (2006.01); G01L 19/08 (2006.01); G01N 27/62 (2006.01); H01J 49/00 (2006.01); H01J 49/06 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01J 49/24 (2013.01); F04C 28/00 (2013.01); F04C 28/02 (2013.01); G01L 19/08 (2013.01); G01N 27/622 (2013.01); H01J 49/0013 (2013.01); F04B 2205/112 (2013.01); H01J 49/067 (2013.01);
Abstract
A mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed comprising means for detecting a blockage in an inlet orifice arranged between an ion source and a vacuum chamber. The blockage is detected as a result of a reduction in pressure within the vacuum chamber. This change in pressure is detected indirectly by monitoring the amount of power that a vacuum pump is using, the amount of current that a vacuum pump is drawing, the temperature of a vacuum pump or a region in proximity to the vacuum pump, or the flow rate of gas out of a vacuum pump.