Patent ID: 6747271
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An ion detector in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for detecting a first ion arrival signal and a second ion arrival signal, comprising:a first electron multiplier with a first gain for producing a first group of electrons in response to said first ion arrival signal and for producing a second group of electrons in response to said second ion arrival signal; a first anode for receiving said first group of electrons and for not receiving said second group of electrons, thereby producing a first output signal in response to said first ion arrival signal; a second electron multiplier with a second gain greater than said first gain for producing a third group of electrons in response to said second group of electrons but not in response to said first group of electrons; a second anode for receiving said third group of electrons, thereby producing a second output signal in response to said second ion arrival signal; and, detection circuitry connected to said first anode and said second anode for providing time-of-arrival information for said first ion arrival signal and said second ion arrival signal based on said first output signal and said second output signal.