Patent ID: 8026475

Claim:
An ion gate apparatus for controlling the transmission of ion pulses between an origin and a destination, comprising: a first split gate having a front end facing the origin and a back end opposite to the origin comprising: a first electrode; and a second electrode separated from the first electrode so as to form a first aperture therebetween, the first aperture extending a length L 1 between the first split gate front and back ends; a second split gate having a front end facing the origin and a back end opposite to the origin disposed adjacent to the first split gate at a distance d from the first split gate and comprising: a third electrode portion; and a fourth electrode separated from the third electrode so as to form a second aperture therebetween, the second aperture extending a length L 2 between the second split gate front and back ends; a first voltage source electrically connected to said first electrode and to said second electrode and operable to apply a variable voltage across said first and second electrodes; a second voltage source electrically connected to said third electrode and to said fourth electrode and operable to apply a variable voltage across said third and fourth electrodes; and a controller electrically connected to said first voltage source and to said second voltage source, wherein d<L 1 and d<L 2 .