Time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Details Time-of-flight mass spectrometer Time-of-flight mass spectrometer

1998-10-30

2001-10-09

Anderson, Bruce C. (Department: 2881)

Radiant energy

Ionic separation or analysis

Ion beam pulsing means with detector synchronizing means

C250S3960ML

Reexamination Certificate

active

06300625

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer having a closed orbit formed by plural.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When ions are accelerated by an electric field, ions having smaller masses are more easily accelerated, while ions having greater masses are less easily accelerated. A time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer is an instrument for performing mass analysis by measuring the differences in flight time (i.e., the time taken for ions to reach the ion detector) by making use of the principle described above.
In a TOF mass spectrometer, as the ion flight distance increases, ion mass differences tend to produce greater flight time differences. Therefore, one method of improving the resolution of the instrument is to increase the flight distance.
One known method for achieving both increase of flight distance and miniaturization of the instrument is to cause the direction of flight of ions to make a U-turn, using electric fields, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer having a closed orbit formed by plural. The flight distance is increased by knocking ions into and out of the closed orbit. At the same time, the instrument is made smaller.
This object is achieved by a TOF mass spectrometer comprising a closed orbit formed by plural, an entrance path for knocking ions into the closed orbit and an exit path for taking the ions from the closed orbit.
In one feature of the invention, electrodes producing the forming the closed orbit are provided with holes to permit the ions to enter and leave the closed orbit.
In another feature of the invention, auxiliary electric fields forming the entrance path and the exit path for the closed orbit are formed in a free flight space within the closed orbit.
In a further feature of the invention, the are switched off when the ions are knocked into and out of the closed orbit.
Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the description thereof, which follows.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4754135 (1988-06-01), Jackson
patent: 4774408 (1988-09-01), Gohlke
patent: 5363008 (1994-11-01), Hiramoto et al.
patent: 6013913 (2000-01-01), Hanson

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