Patent ID: 9653278
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: H01J

Claim:
1. A linear ion trap, comprising: a. a plurality of elongate electrodes (“outer electrodes”), each having a longitudinal axis that is aligned with a central longitudinal axis, the plurality of elongate electrodes being spaced apart from one another and disposed about that central longitudinal axis to form a quadrupole; b. an elongate electrode (“central electrode”) that is aligned with and disposed along the central longitudinal axis and positioned between the plurality of elongate electrodes that form a quadrupole; and c. circuitry coupled to the outer electrodes suitable for driving the central electrode and the plurality of outer electrodes so as to selectively trap ions within a region defined between the central electrode and the outer electrodes, the ions around the central electrode, by applying (i) to the outer electrodes an RF-varying potential such that each pair of outer electrodes disposed opposite one another vis-a-vis the central longitudinal axis is at an RF-varying potential to each other pair of outer electrodes disposed opposite one another vis-a-vis that axis, and (ii) to the central electrode at least one of a DC voltage and an RF-varying voltage.