Patent ID: 6680476
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A mass spectrometer comprising:a clock for generating a series of clock pulses; an ion accelerator for generating an ion pulse in response to a start signal; a register for storing a register value that is incremented on each of said clock pulses; an ion detector, spatially separated from said accelerator, for generating an ion measurement indicative of the ions striking said detector during each of said clock pulses; a memory having a plurality of data values at locations specified by said register value; a filter for receiving said ion measurements and generating output measurement values corresponding to each ion measurement, said filter setting said output measurement value to a predetermined baseline value if said filter determines that said ion measurement is noise and said filter setting said output measurement value to said ion measurement otherwise; and an adder, responsive to said clock signal, for forming the sum of said data value specified by said register value and said output measurement value and storing said sum in said memory at said location corresponding to said register value.