Multideflector

Abstract

A method and apparatus to direct ions away from their otherwise intended or parallel course. Deflectors are used to establish electric fields in regions through which ions are to pass. With such electric fields, ions may be deflected to a desired trajectory. According to the present invention, a multideflector, in the form of a series of bipolar plates spaced evenly across the ion beam path, is used as an ion deflector.A multideflector, including at least three bipolar deflection plates each of which includes a pair of electrically conducting electrodes separated from one another by an insulator, where each electrically conducting electrode in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a uniform lengthwise curvature and the electrically conducting electrodes in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes are parallel with one another, with each of the electrically conducting electrodes of the at least three bipolar deflection plates being energized to a potential, with each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates having a first electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a first potential and a second electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a second potential, the first potential and the second potential are of opposite polarities.

1. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer comprising:
 a deflector for deflecting an ion from an ion path consisting of more than two plates arranged across said ion path in such a way that, during a given passage through said deflector, said ion must pass between two and only two adjacent plates; and    a detector for detecting said ion;    wherein each of said plates is energized to a potential.    
     
     
       2. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein said deflector is formed by a series of conductive plates. 
     
     
       3. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of said conductive plates is metallic. 
     
     
       4. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein said deflector deflects substantially all ions away from said ion path. 
     
     
       5. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein said detector is responsive to the number of ions not deflected away from said ion path. 
     
     
       6. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein said ions are deflected away from said ion path along a plurality of directions. 
     
     
       7. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 6  wherein said mass deflector is formed by a series of conductive plates. 
     
     
       8. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein said deflector is used as a mass selector. 
     
     
       9. An improved time of flight mass spectrometer according to  claim 1  wherein at least of said plates is energized to a positive potential and another of said plates is energized to a negative potential. 
     
     
       10. A multideflector for analyzing ions in a time of flight mass spectrometer comprising:
 an ion source;    an ion detector;    a flight tube for transporting ions formed within said ion source; and    a gate disposed along said flight tube;    wherein said ion source produces ions capable of travel along said flight tube, and wherein said detector detects the presence of said ions; and    wherein said gate is formed by a series of metal plates arranged across said flight tube in such a way that, during a given passage through said multideflector, said ions must pass between two and only two adjacent plates, said plates being aligned to deflect substantially all ions away from the direction of ion propagation along said flight tube.    
     
     
       11. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein at least one of said plates is conductive. 
     
     
       12. A multideflector according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of said conductive plates is metallic. 
     
     
       13. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein said gate deflects said ions into a plurality of directions. 
     
     
       14. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein said ion source includes a laser. 
     
     
       15. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein a data acquisition system is used to measure the time of flight of ions from said ion source to said detector. 
     
     
       16. A multideflector according to  claim 15  wherein a multiplicity of detectors are used. 
     
     
       17. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein a reflector is used to alter the path of ions away from said direction of propagation. 
     
     
       18. A multideflector according to  claim 10  wherein a gate is used to select ions based on mass. 
     
     
       19. A mass selector for use in a time of flight instrument comprising:
 a flight tube;    a gate; and    an ion source;    wherein said ion source produces ions that travel through said flight tube, and wherein said gate impedes the travel of said ions by deflecting said ions into at least two directions.    
     
     
       20. A mass selector according to  claim 19  wherein said gate is formed of a plurality of metal plates, of which at least one of said metallic plates is energized. 
     
     
       21. A mass selector according to  claim 19  which includes a computer controller. 
     
     
       22. A mass selector according to  claim 21  wherein said computer controller includes means to vary voltages applied to said gate. 
     
     
       23. A multideflector, comprising:
   at least three bipolar deflection plates each of which comprises a pair of electrically conducting electrodes separated from one another by an insulator, wherein each electrically conducting electrode in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a uniform lengthwise curvature, and further wherein the electrically conducting electrodes in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes are parallel with one another, wherein each of the electrically conducting electrodes of the at least three bipolar deflection plates is energized to a potential, and further wherein each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates has a first electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a first potential and a second electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a second potential, wherein the first potential and the second potential are of opposite polarities.     
     
     
       24. The multideflector of  claim 23 , wherein a thickness of each electrically conducting electrode of each pair of electrically conducting electrodes is on an order of  0 . 1  mm. 
     
     
       25. The multideflector of  claim 23 , wherein each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates is curved. 
     
     
       26. The multideflector of  claim 23 , wherein the at least three bipolar deflection plates are placed adjacent and parallel to one another, and further wherein each electrically conducting electrode in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes is situated adjacent to, and has a polarity opposite from, an electrically conducting electrode of an adjacent pair of electrically conducting electrodes. 
     
     
       27. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates is separated from an adjacent bipolar deflection plate by a same distance. 
     
     
       28. The multideflector of  claim 27 , wherein each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates is curved. 
     
     
       29. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein a distance between adjacent bipolar deflection plates of the at least three bipolar deflection plates varies as a function of a position within the multideflector. 
     
     
       30. The multideflector of  claim 27 , wherein each electrically conduction electrode of each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a potential which is held constant. 
     
     
       31. The multideflector of  claim 27 , wherein each electrically conduction electrode of each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a potential which is varied as a function of time. 
     
     
       32. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein each electrically conduction electrode of each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a potential which is held constant. 
     
     
       33. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein each electrically conduction electrode of each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a potential which is varied as a function of time. 
     
     
       34. The multideflector of  claim 27 , wherein each pair of electrically conducting electrodes for the at least three bipolar deflection plates has a potential which varies for each bipolar deflection plate for the at least three bipolar deflection plates. 
     
     
       35. The multideflector of  claim 27 , wherein a length of adjacent bipolar deflection plates of the at least three bipolar deflection plates varies as a function of a position within the multideflector. 
     
     
       36. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein each pair of electrically conducting electrodes for the at least three bipolar deflection plates has a potential which varies for each bipolar deflection plate for the at least three bipolar deflection plates. 
     
     
       37. The multideflector of  claim 26 , wherein a length of adjacent bipolar deflection plates of the at least three bipolar deflection plates varies as a function of a position within the multideflector.