US3767914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Continuous injection mass spectrometer
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract The inventive mass spectrometer operates with an inhomogeneous oscillatory electric field and operates with the continuous injection of charged particles into the electric field. Particles of all species are acted upon by the field, and some of the species ultimately are detected to produce an output which is random with respect to the phase of the oscillatory field. Appropriate parameters of the electric field are varied so that ions of some species bunch up and produce output pulses which are above the random output caused by the detection of the other species which do not bunch. Detection of these pulses and their relationship to the phase of oscillation of the electric field uniquely identifies the bunched species in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio. Different species can be identified by properly readjusting the electric field parameters to cause bunching of the different species.
Inventors
- 👤 R Mueller
- 👤 J Carrico
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/02; H01J49/10; H01J49/14; H01J49/147; H01J49/26; H01J49/34; H01J49/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for identifying charged particles comprising: an evacuable vessel having three mutually perpendicular axes; means for creating a dynamic electric field within said vessel, said dynamic field constantly varying along at least one axis of said vessel so that the fields along the individual axes are individually defined and are individually dependent upon the varying parameters of said dynamic field, said dynamic field differently acting upon different species of charged particles in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio of said charge particles so that at least one species of charged particles having particular mass-to-charge ratios is caused to temporally group together and other species of charged particles having other mass-to-charge ratios are randomly dispersed through said dynamic field; means for continuously injecting charged particles into said dynamic field; means for continuously detecting said temporally grouped charged particles at the time said charged particles are so temporally grouped; and means responsive to the varyinG parameters of said dynamic field and the means detecting said charged particles for producing an output specifically identifying the temporally grouped charged particles having said at least one particular mass-to-charge ratio.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for identifying charged particles comprising: an evacuable vessel having three mutually perpendicular axes; means for creating a dynamic electric field within said vessel, said dynamic field constantly varying along at least one axis of said vessel so that the fields along the individual axes are individually defined and are individually dependent upon the varying parameters of said dynamic field, said dynamic field differently acting upon different species of charged particles in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio of said charge particles so that at least one species of charged particles having particular mass-to-charge ratios is caused to temporally group together and other species of charged particles having other mass-to-charge ratios are randomly dispersed through said dynamic field; means for continuously injecting charged particles into said dynamic field; means for continuously detecting said temporally grouped charged particles at the time said charged particles are so temporally grouped; and means responsive to the varyinG parameters of said dynamic field and the means detecting said charged particles for producing an output specifically identifying the temporally grouped charged particles having said at least one particular mass-to-charge ratio.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said varying parameters are: an A.C. amplitude component, an A.C. frequency, and a D.C. magnitude, and said particular specie of charged particles is grouped at a particular phase relationship with respect to said dynamic field so that said particular phase relationship uniquely identifies said at least one mass-to-charge ratio for a particular set of said varying parameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system of claim 2 further including means for individually, or collectively in selected combinations, changing said varying parameters to cause said particular specie of charged particles to temporally group within said dynamic field so that the detection of said grouped particles results in a pulse output, and charged particles having said other mass-to-charge ratios results in a random output, said pulse output rising above said random output enabling identification of said grouped charged particles in accordance with the phase relationship between said pulse output and said A.C. amplitude component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said axes are defined as X, Y, and Z axes and the axis of propagation of said charged particles is said Z axis; and said dynamic field is generally defined by the equation: V(X, Y, t) f(t)( Alpha X2 + Beta Y2) where: X and Y are the axes along which said field varies t time f(t) the time variation of said A.C. and D.C. components of said electric field Alpha , Beta constants obeying the relationship Alpha + Beta 0
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the paths followed by charged particles along the said three axes are defined by: the X axis path being: d2x/d2 + ((4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + (4e Vac/m omega 2 R2) cos 2 epsilon ) X 0 the Y axis path being: d2y/d epsilon 2 + ( 4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2 + 4e Vac/m omega 2R2 cos 2 epsilon ) Y 0 the Z axis path being: d2Z/d epsilon 2 0 where: 2 epsilon omega t 2 pi ft where f is the frequency of oscillation and t is the time e/m mass-to-charge ratio of charged particle R radius along X and Y axes Vdc static component of the dynamic electric field Vac alternating component amplitude of the dynamic electric field x distance along X axis y distance along Y axis
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one axis is three orthogonal axes defined as X, Y, and Z axes and the axis of propagation of said charged particles is said Z axis; and said dynamic field is generally defined by the equation: V(X,Y,t) (Vdc + Vac cos omega t) ( Alpha X2 + Beta Y2) where: X and Y are the axes along which said field varies t time Vdc said D.C. component Vac said A.C. amplitude component omega 2 pi ft wherein ''''f'''' is said A.C. frequency Alpha , Beta constants obeying the relationship Alpha + Beta 0.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the paths followed by charged particles along the said three axes are defined by: the X axis path being: d2x/d epsilon 2 + ((4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + (4e Vac/m omega 2 R2) cos 2 epsilon ) X 0 the Y axis path being: d2y/d epsilon 2 + ((4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + 4e Vac/m omega 2 R2 cos 2 epsilon ) Y 0 the Z axis path being: d2z/d epsilon 2 0 where: 2 epsilon omega t 2 pi ft e/m mass-to-charge ratio R radius along X and Y axes
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said output pulses occur at a rate of one per cycle of said A.C. frequency; and further including means for determining the phase relationship of said output pulses with respect to said A.C. component to determine the mass-to-charge ratio of a particular specie of charged particle and accordingly explicitly identify said particular specie of charged particle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: evacuable container means retaining electric field structure means capable of supporting an electric field; means for introducing an unknown fluid to be analyzed into said container; means for generating a varying electric field along said electric field structure, said electric field being inhomogeneous so that the electric field existing at one point along an axis of said field at a particular point in time is different from the field existing at all other points along said axis at said particular point in time; means for producing ions from molecules of said unknown fluid; means for continuously injecting said ions into said electric field, said electric field differently operating on said ions in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio of said ions and in accordance with the varying parameters of said electric field so that ions of one mass-to-charge ratio are temporally bunched within said field and ions of other mass-to-charge ratios are randomly spatially dispersed within said electric field; means for detecting ions of all mass-to-charge ratios egressing from said electric field, said spatially dispersed ions causing a random output and said temporally bunched ions causing a pulse output which rises above said random output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: evacuable container means retaining electric field structure means capable of supporting an electric field; means for introducing an unknown fluid to be analyzed into said container; means for generating a varying electric field along said electric field structure, said electric field being inhomogeneous so that the electric field existing at one point along an axis of said field at a particular point in time is different from the field existing at all other points along said axis at said particular point in time; means for producing ions from molecules of said unknown fluid; means for continuously injecting said ions into said electric field, said electric field differently operating on said ions in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio of said ions and in accordance with the varying parameters of said electric field so that ions of one mass-to-charge ratio are temporally bunched within said field and ions of other mass-to-charge ratios are randomly spatially dispersed within said electric field; means for detecting ions of all mass-to-charge ratios egressing from said electric field, said spatially dispersed ions causing a random output and said temporally bunched ions causing a pulse output which rises above said random output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The spectrometer of claim 9 wherein the mass-to-charge ratio of said bunched ions is indicated by the phase relationship between said pulse output and said electric field; and further including means for measuring said phase relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The spectrometer of claim 10 wherein said electric field has an A.C. component and a D.C. component, and different mass-to-charge ratios can be bunched by varying the amplitude of said A.C. component, the frequency of said A.C. component, the magnitude of said D.C. component, or any combination thereof so that all species of ions formed from said unknown fluid can be detected by selectively varying said electric field and measuring the phase relationship of the output pulses with respect to the phase of said A.C. component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the electric potential distribution of said electric field with respect to orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes is defined by the relationship: V(X, Y, t) (Vdc + Vac cos omega t) ( Alpha X2 + Beta Y2) where: t time Vdc said D.C. magnitude Vac said A.C. amplitude component omega t 2 pi ft (f said A.C. component frequency) Alpha and Beta constants obeying the relationship Alpha + Beta 0 and wherein said Z axis is the propagation axis of said ions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the paths followed by charged particles along the said three axes are defined by: the X axis path being: d2x/d2 + ( (4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + (4e Vac/m omega 2 R2) cos 2 epsilon ) X 0 the Y axis path being: d2y/d epsilon 2 + (4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2 + 4e Vac/m omega 2 R2 cos 2 epsilon ) Y 0 the Z axis path being: d2z/d epsilon 2 0 where: 2 epsilon omega t 2 pi ft e/m mass-to-charge ratio R radius along X and Y axes
Claim 16
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of analyzing an unknown gas by determining the mass-to-charge ratios of molecules composing the gas including the steps of: forming ions from all species of molecules composing said gas; continuously injecting said ions into a dynamic electric field having variable parameters including a variable A.C. amplitude, a variable A.C. frequency, and a variable D.C. component; the variation of said parameters affecting the phase relationship of ions with respect to said A.C. amplitude; selectively adjusting said variable parameters to cause one specie of ion to temporally group within said field and other species of ions to remain randomly dispersed within said field; detecting said dispersed ions as a random output and said grouped ions as a pulse output rising above said random output; and measuring the phase relationship between said pulse output and said A.C. amplitude.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of analyzing an unknown gas by determining the mass-to-charge ratios of molecules composing the gas including the steps of: forming ions from all species of molecules composing said gas; continuously injecting said ions into a dynamic electric field having variable parameters including a variable A.C. amplitude, a variable A.C. frequency, and a variable D.C. component; the variation of said parameters affecting the phase relationship of ions with respect to said A.C. amplitude; selectively adjusting said variable parameters to cause one specie of ion to temporally group within said field and other species of ions to remain randomly dispersed within said field; detecting said dispersed ions as a random output and said grouped ions as a pulse output rising above said random output; and measuring the phase relationship between said pulse output and said A.C. amplitude.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 14 further including the steps of: readjusting at least one of said parameters to cause a different specie of ion to temporally group and said one grouped specie to disperse; and measuring the phase relationship between pulses caused by said different specie and said A.C. amplitude to identify said different specie.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the steps of claim 15 are repeated for all species of ions formed from said unknown gas so that all gases composing said unknown gas are uniquely identified.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
188 words
A mass spectrometer for analyzing an unknown gas by use of the mass-to-charge ratio of the molecules composing said unknown gas independently of a direct measurement of time-of-flight comprising: an evacuable chamber for receiving a sample of said unknown gas; means for producing different species of ions from different species of said molecules; means for producing an electric field, said electric field accelerating and decelerating ions in a manner dependent upon the mass-to-charge ratio of said ions and the value of variable parameters of said field; said parameters being the amplitude of an A.C. component of said field, the frequency of said A.C. component, and the magnitude of a D.C. component of said field; means for selectively independently adjusting at least one of said variable parameters to cause ions of a particular mass-to-charge specie to temporally group within said electric field and other species of ions to remain dispersed within said electric field so that said grouped ions cause a detectable output the phase of which with respect to said A.C. amplitude component is indicative of said particular mass-to-charge ratio to uniquely identify one specie of unknown molecules.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
188 words
A mass spectrometer for analyzing an unknown gas by use of the mass-to-charge ratio of the molecules composing said unknown gas independently of a direct measurement of time-of-flight comprising: an evacuable chamber for receiving a sample of said unknown gas; means for producing different species of ions from different species of said molecules; means for producing an electric field, said electric field accelerating and decelerating ions in a manner dependent upon the mass-to-charge ratio of said ions and the value of variable parameters of said field; said parameters being the amplitude of an A.C. component of said field, the frequency of said A.C. component, and the magnitude of a D.C. component of said field; means for selectively independently adjusting at least one of said variable parameters to cause ions of a particular mass-to-charge specie to temporally group within said electric field and other species of ions to remain dispersed within said electric field so that said grouped ions cause a detectable output the phase of which with respect to said A.C. amplitude component is indicative of said particular mass-to-charge ratio to uniquely identify one specie of unknown molecules.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the electric potential distribution of said electric field is defined with respect to orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes, and wherein said Z axis is the propagation axis of said ions; said electric field being defined by the relationship: V(X, Y, t) (Vdc + Vac cos omega t) ( Alpha X2 + Beta Y2) where: t time Vdc said D.C. magnitude Vac said A.C. amplitude component omega t 2 pi ft (f said A.C. Component frequency) Alpha and Beta constants obeying the relationship Alpha + Beta 0
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
The spectrometer of claim 18 wherein the paths followed by charged particles along the said three axes are defined as: the X axis path being: d2x/d epsilon 2 + ( (4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + (4e Vac/m omega 2 R2) cos 2 epsilon ) X 0 the Y axis path being d2Y/d epsilon 2 + ( (4e Vdc/m omega 2 R2) + (4e Vac/m omega 2 R2) cos 2 epsilon ) Y 0 the Z axis path being: d2z/d epsilon 2 0 where: 2 epsilon omega t 2 pi ft e/m mass-to-charge ratio R radius along X and Y axes Vdc static component of the dynamic electric field Vac alternating component amplitude of the dynamic electric field x distance along X axis y distance along Y axis
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |