Patent ID: 6580068
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of time dispersive spectroscopy, comprising:a) ionizing a sample to produce ionized molecules; b) modulating the flow of ionized molecules into a drift region of a spectrometer; c) detecting the ionized molecules at a detector, and producing an ion detection signal; d) directing said ion detection signal into a commutator, said commutator comprising a high speed switch; e) modulating the high speed switch between a first state and a second state to provide a modulated ion detection signal, said high speed switch gating the ion detection signal by passing the ion detection signal when said high speed switch is in said first state or blocking the ion detection signal when said high speed switch is in said second state; and f) assaying the chemical constituents of the sample from the modulated ion detection signal.