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Publication Number
US-11262331-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
An ion filter for filtering ions in a gas sample. The ion filter has a first ion channel for filtering ions from a target chemical in the gas sample. The ion filter has a second ion channel for filtering ions from the target chemical in the gas sample. The second ion channel is separated from the first ion channel. A temperature control region is in thermal contact with the first and second ion channels for controlling a difference in temperature between the first and second ion channels. A method of filtering ions from a target chemical in a gas sample is also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an ion filter for filtering ions from a target chemical in a gas sample using a first ion channel and a second ion channel that are separated from each other and operated at different temperatures. A temperature control region is in thermal contact with both channels to control a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature while the gas sample passes through the first and second ion channels simultaneously.
The temperature control region comprises a thermal insulator between the first and second ion channels for maintaining the difference in the first temperature and the second temperature. Each ion channel is located within a single electrode layer, providing a construction in which the first and second ion channels are integrated within the same electrode layer.
The disclosure further explains that operating separated channels at different controlled temperatures enables simultaneous multi-temperature, including dual-temperature, measurement for chemical identification. By reducing overlap in E_C:E_D spectral peak trajectories associated with dispersion field and compensation field, the system supports ion mobility measurements that separate chemical signatures across the channels.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims that cover both an ion filter apparatus and a corresponding method. Across the independent claims, the coverage is centered on separated first and second ion channels at different controlled temperatures, with temperature difference control using a temperature control region in thermal contact and a thermal insulator between channels, while simultaneously passing the gas sample through both channels in a single electrode layer construction.
Separated first and second ion channels with controlled temperature difference
An ion filter comprising a first ion channel for filtering ions at a first temperature; a second ion channel separated from the first ion channel for filtering ions at a second temperature; and a temperature control region in thermal contact with the first and second ion channels for controlling a difference in the first temperature and the second temperature between the first and second ion channels.
Single electrode layer containing both ion channels
An ion filter wherein a single electrode layer is provided and each ion channel is located within the single electrode layer.
Thermal insulator between separated channels for maintaining temperature difference
An ion filter wherein the temperature control region comprises a thermal insulator between the first and second ion channels for maintaining the difference in the first temperature and the second temperature.
Simultaneous gas passage through both temperature-separated channels
An ion filter wherein the gas sample passes through the first ion channel and the second ion channel simultaneously.
Simultaneous method filtering with thermal contact temperature difference control
A method comprising passing a gas sample through a first ion channel for filtering at a first temperature and passing the gas sample through a second ion channel separated from the first at a second temperature, with controlling a difference in the first temperature and the second temperature by a temperature control region in thermal contact with the first and second ion channels.
Method thermal insulator maintaining temperature difference in single electrode layer
The method wherein each of the first and second ion channels is located within a single electrode layer, and wherein the temperature control region comprises a thermal insulator between the first and second ion channels for maintaining the difference in the first temperature and the second temperature.
Method simultaneously passing gas through separated channels
The method wherein the gas sample is passed through the first and second ion channels simultaneously.
The independent claim set consistently requires separated first and second ion channels operated at different controlled temperatures, with a temperature control region in thermal contact and a thermal insulator that maintains the temperature difference while the gas sample is passed simultaneously through both channels within a single electrode layer.
Stated Advantages
Enables simultaneous dual-temperature or multi-temperature measurement for chemical identification.
Reduces overlap in E_C:E_D spectral peak trajectories for improved separation of chemical signatures.
Documented Applications
An ion mobility spectrometry system including an ionizer and a detector that processes and detects an output from the ion filter.
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