Sensor apparatus and method for use with gas ionization systems
Inventors
BLACK, MIKE • Hart, Matthew • Somerville, John • Taylor, Alastair • Manasi, Iva • Allsworth, Max
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9400261-B2
Publication Date
2016-07-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An ion mobility gas detector apparatus including a detector core, an inlet gas path, an exhaust gas path, a source of diluent gas, and at least one or more sensors for measuring temperature, pressure and humidity of gas streams. Further included is a mixing mechanism adapted to mix at least first and second gas streams in response to one or more sensor measurements. A controller is provided for applying drive signals to the detector core.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an ion mobility gas detector apparatus that detects and compensates ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity by controlling inlet and recirculation gas flows. A diluent gas source is used with one or more flow controllers to mix and adjust gas streams in response to measurements from at least one of temperature, pressure and humidity sensors.
The system uses sensor measurements to perform pressure compensation that transforms detector data into Townsend-like units. Humidity estimation and compensation include use of reactant ion peak information to support calibration and clean-down through recirculation and sensor-head humidity estimation, and humidity compensation by changing dilution ratio to a reference value.
To improve spectral fidelity, the invention mitigates charge buildup and charge mirroring by controlling scan parameter symmetry and employing a filtration strategy. It also describes detector electrode perforation and reflector-field concepts, a low-power event-triggered discrimination mode, and monitoring of RF waveform parameters, with the detector integrated into a chip package with an integrated filter/detector.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides an ion mobility gas detector apparatus comprising an inlet gas path and exhaust gas path, a diluent gas source, temperature/pressure/humidity sensors, a mixing mechanism that mixes gas streams in response to sensor measurements, and a controller applying drive signals to a detector core. Four inventive features are identified across the claims coverage, with dependent claims refining FAIMS operation and compensation behavior.
Ion mobility gas detector with diluent mixing responsive to temperature, pressure and humidity sensors
An ion mobility gas detector apparatus comprising a detector core, an inlet gas path, an exhaust gas path, a source of diluent gas, at least one or more sensors for measuring at least one of temperature, pressure and humidity of gas streams, a mixing mechanism adapted to mix at least first and second gas streams in response to one or more sensor measurements, and a controller for applying drive signals to the detector core.
Field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry detector
The ion mobility gas detector is a Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry detector.
Transforming FAIMS spectra into Townsend-like units
Compensation is defined as transforming FAIMS spectra into Townsend units or dimensionally similar units.
Humidity compensation by changing dilution ratio to a reference value
Humidity compensation is performed by measuring humidity at the apparatus inlet and/or detector core and changing the dilution ratio to bring humidity in the detector core to a specified reference value.
Detector electrode perforations with a defined diameter range
Perforations have a diameter within a range of 50 to 1000 microns.
Overall claim coverage centers on an ion mobility gas detector apparatus that mixes gas streams using a diluent gas source under control of temperature, pressure, and humidity sensor measurements, with a controller applying drive signals to a detector core. The claims further define FAIMS operation, transformation into Townsend units, humidity compensation by dilution ratio adjustment, and detector-electrode perforation diameter constraints.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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