Patent ID: 8809767

Claim:
A method of mass spectrometry comprising: obtaining a first signal output from an ion detector over an acquisition time period which is divided into n time periods or time windows wherein n is more than one; digitising the first signal output from the ion detector to produce a first digitised signal; determining a second differential or a second difference of said first digitised signal; determining the arrival time T 1 of one or more first ions from said second differential or said second difference of said first digitised signal; determining the intensity I 1 of said one or more first ions; digitising a second signal output from said ion detector to produce a second digitised signal; determining a second differential or a second difference of said second digitised signal; determining the arrival time T 2 of one or more second ions from said second differential or said second difference of said second digitised signal; determining the intensity I 2 of said one or more second ions; determining whether the determined arrival time T 2 of said one or more second ions falls within a time period or time window, of the n time periods or time windows, within which the determined arrival time T 1 of said one or more first ions falls, wherein if it is determined that the determined arrival time T 2 of said one or more second ions falls within said time period or time window within which the determined arrival time T 1 of said one or more first ions falls, regardless of the difference between T 1 and T 2 , then said method further comprises: (i) determining a weighted mathematical average arrival time T′ of said one or more first ions T 1 and said one or more second ions T 2 ; or (ii) determining the combined intensity I′ of said one or more first ions I 1 and said one or more second ions I 2 ; and combining data from said first and second digitised signals to provide a mass spectrum with peaks or to provide a histogram.