Patent ID: 8680481
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A detection apparatus for detecting charged particles comprising: a secondary particle generator for generating secondary charged particles in response to receiving incoming charged particles; a photon generator for generating photons in response to receiving the secondary charged particles generated by the secondary particle generator; a photon detector for detecting the photons generated by the photon generator and for generating a high gain output based on the detected photons; a charged particle detector for receiving and detecting the secondary charged particles generated by the secondary particle generator and for generating a low gain output based on the detected secondary charged particles, the charged particle detector comprising an electrode for receiving the secondary charged particles, and the electrode comprising a conductive material associated with the photon generator; and a computer configured to combine the outputs from the charged particle detector and the photon detector to form a high dynamic range mass spectrum, wherein combining comprises using the high gain output to form the high dynamic range mass spectrum for data points in the mass spectrum where the high gain output is not saturated and using the low gain output to form the high dynamic range mass spectrum for data points in the mass spectrum where the high gain output is saturated.