US4996422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mass spectrometer
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1989-06-01
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2009-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A mass spectrometer, including an evacuable vessle, mass separation means provided in the evacuable vessel for separating ions in accordance with the mass thereof, and ion detection means provided in the evacuable vessel for detecting ions emitted from the mass separation means to convert the emitted ions into an electric signal, in which the ion detection means includes an electron-multiplier for detecting positive ions and a photo-multiplier for detecting negative ions. According to this mass spectrometer, positive ions can be detected at high sensitivity, and negative ions are readily detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhiro Mitsui
- 👤 Keiji Hasumi
- 👤 Shinichiro Watase
- 👤 Katsumi Kuriyama
- 👤 Kazuo Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/02; H01J49/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: an evacuable vessel; mass separation means provided in the evacuable vessel for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions; and ion detection means provided in the evacuable vessel for detecting ions emitted from the mass separation means to convert the emitted ions into an electric signal; wherein the ion detection means includes an electron-multiplier for detecting positive ions and a photo-multiplier for detecting negative ions; and wherein deflection means for varying an ion trajectory is disposed between the mass separation means and the ion detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: an evacuable vessel; mass separation means provided in the evacuable vessel for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions; and ion detection means provided in the evacuable vessel for detecting ions emitted from the mass separation means to convert the emitted ions into an electric signal; wherein the ion detection means includes an electron-multiplier for detecting positive ions and a photo-multiplier for detecting negative ions; and wherein deflection means for varying an ion trajectory is disposed between the mass separation means and the ion detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: mass separation means for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions and emitting the separated ions, wherein the emitted ions comprise at least one of positive ions and negative ions; electron-multiplier means for detecting positive ions emitted from the mass separation means; and photo-multiplier means for detecting negative ions emitted from the mass separation means; wherein the electron-multiplier means detects the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum positive ion detecting position; and wherein the photo-multiplier means detects the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum negative ion detecting position; the mass spectrometer further comprising: ion deflection means for deflecting the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum positive ion detecting position, and for deflecting the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum negative ion detecting position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: mass separation means for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions and emitting the separated ions, wherein the emitted ions comprise at least one of positive ions and negative ions; electron-multiplier means for detecting positive ions emitted from the mass separation means; and photo-multiplier means for detecting negative ions emitted from the mass separation means; wherein the electron-multiplier means detects the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum positive ion detecting position; and wherein the photo-multiplier means detects the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum negative ion detecting position; the mass spectrometer further comprising: ion deflection means for deflecting the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum positive ion detecting position, and for deflecting the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum negative ion detecting position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: an evacuable vessel; mass separation means provided in the evacuable vessel for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions; and ion detection means provided in the evacuable vessel for detecting ions emitted from the mass separation means to convert the emitted ions into an electric signal; wherein the ion detection means includes an electron-multiplier for detecting positive ions and a photo-multiplier for detecting negative ions; the mass spectrometer further comprising: means provided on the outside of the evacuable vessel for moving the electron-multiplier and the photo-multiplier within the evacuable vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: an evacuable vessel; mass separation means provided in the evacuable vessel for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions; and ion detection means provided in the evacuable vessel for detecting ions emitted from the mass separation means to convert the emitted ions into an electric signal; wherein the ion detection means includes an electron-multiplier for detecting positive ions and a photo-multiplier for detecting negative ions; the mass spectrometer further comprising: means provided on the outside of the evacuable vessel for moving the electron-multiplier and the photo-multiplier within the evacuable vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein the electron-multiplier and the photo-multiplier are moved in a direction perpendicular to the trajectory of neutral particles emitted from the on separation means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein deflection means for varying an ion trajectory is disposed between the mass separation means and the ion detection means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 3, wherein deflection means for varying an ion trajectory is disposed between the mass separation means and the ion detection means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: mass separation means for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions and emitting the separated ions, wherein the emitted ions comprise at least one of positive ions and negative ions; electron-multiplier means for detecting positive ions emitted from the mass separation means; and photo-multiplier means for detecting negative ions emitted from the mass separation means; wherein the electron-multiplier means detects the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum positive ion detecting position; and wherein the photo-multiplier means detects the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum negative ion detecting position; the mass spectrometer further comprising: moving means for moving the electron-multiplier means to the optimum positive ion detecting position, and for moving the photo-multiplier means to the optimum negative ion detecting position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
A mass spectrometer comprising: mass separation means for separating ions in accordance with the mass of the ions and emitting the separated ions, wherein the emitted ions comprise at least one of positive ions and negative ions; electron-multiplier means for detecting positive ions emitted from the mass separation means; and photo-multiplier means for detecting negative ions emitted from the mass separation means; wherein the electron-multiplier means detects the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum positive ion detecting position; and wherein the photo-multiplier means detects the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means at an optimum negative ion detecting position; the mass spectrometer further comprising: moving means for moving the electron-multiplier means to the optimum positive ion detecting position, and for moving the photo-multiplier means to the optimum negative ion detecting position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 7, wherein the mass separation means also emits neutral particles, and wherein the moving means moves the electron-multiplier means and the photo-multiplier means in directions perpendicular to a trajectory of the neutral particles emitted from the mass separation means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 7, further comprising ion deflection means for deflecting the positive ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum positive ion detecting position, and for deflecting the negative ions emitted from the mass separation means to the optimum negative ion detecting position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 9, wherein the mass separation means also emits neutral particles, and wherein the moving means moves the electron-multiplier means and the photo-multiplier means in directions perpendicular to a trajectory of the neutral particles emitted from the mass separation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mass spectrometer according to claim 10, further comprising evacuable vessel means, wherein the mass separation means, the electron-multiplier means, the photo-multiplier means, and the ion deflection means are disposed inside the evacuable vessel means, and wherein the moving means is disposed outside the evacuable vessel means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |