Analytical instruments using a pseudorandom array of sources, such as a micro-machined mass spectrometer or monochromator
First Claim
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1. An analytical device comprising:
- a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension;
a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources, anda dispersion element positioned in a path between at least one of the plurality of sources and at least one of the sensors to disperse the output of at least one of the plurality of sources,wherein the dispersion element comprises a magnetic assembly positioned to create a magnetic field in the path between at least one of the plurality of sources and at least one of the sensors to disperse the output of at least one of the plurality of sources.
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Abstract
Novel methods and structures are disclosed herein which employ pseudorandom sequences to spatially arrange multiple sources in a pseudorandom source array. The pseudorandom source array can replace the single source in analytical instruments relying on spatial separation of the sample or the probe particles/waves emitted by the sources. The large number of sources in this pseudorandom source array enhances the signal on a position sensitive detector. A mathematical deconvolution process retrieves a spectrum with improved signal-to-noise ratio from the detector signal.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An analytical device comprising:
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a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension; a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources, and a dispersion element positioned in a path between at least one of the plurality of sources and at least one of the sensors to disperse the output of at least one of the plurality of sources, wherein the dispersion element comprises a magnetic assembly positioned to create a magnetic field in the path between at least one of the plurality of sources and at least one of the sensors to disperse the output of at least one of the plurality of sources. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An analytical system comprising:
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a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension; a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources; and a computer coupled to the detector assembly to receive detector signals therefrom corresponding to the output of the plurality of sources sensed by the number of sensors, the computer programmed to process the detector signals via a deconvolution algorithm, wherein the computer is programmed to process the detector signals via a deconvolution algorithm by; constructing a detector signal matrix from the detector signals; multiplying the detector signal matrix by a deconvolution matrix to produce a spectrum matrix; and truncating the spectrum matrix after the first L elements to produce a pseudorandom spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An analytical system comprising:
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a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension; a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources; and a computer coupled to the detector assembly to receive detector signals therefrom corresponding to the output of the plurality of sources sensed by the number of sensors, the computer programmed to process the detector signals via a deconvolution algorithm, wherein the number of sensors in the detector assembly is equal to N+L−
1 where N is the number of sources and L is the length of a spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An analytical system comprising:
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a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources spatially arrayed in at least a first dimension; a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources; and a computer coupled to control activation of the sources in a spatially pseudo-random order in at least a first dimension, wherein the computer is coupled to control activation of the sources in a spatially pseudo-random order in at least a first dimension by; activating successive ones of the plurality of sources with a respective pseudo-random number of unactivated sources between each respective pair of the activated sources in the array. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An analytical device, comprising
means for activating a number of pseudo-randomly arrayed ion sources to produce output; -
a detector coupled to detect output produced by the pseudo-randomly arrayed ion sources and to produce detector signals corresponding to the detected output; and means for deconvoluting the detector signals to produce a pseudorandom spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An analytical device comprising:
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a source assembly comprising a plurality of sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension; and a detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources, wherein each of the plurality of sources is an ion emitter source and the detector comprises an array of particle detectors. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A mass spectrometer, comprising:
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an ion source assembly comprising a plurality of ion sources, the sources spatially arrayed pseudo-randomly in at least a first dimension; an ion detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the ion detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources; and a computer coupled to the detector assembly to receive detector signals therefrom corresponding to the output of the plurality of ion sources sensed by the number of sensors, the computer programmed to process the detector signals via a deconvolution algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
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an ion source assembly comprising a plurality of ion sources spatially arrayed in at least a first dimension; an ion detector assembly spaced from the source assembly, the ion detector assembly comprising a number of sensors sensitive to an output of the plurality of sources; and a computer coupled to control activation of the ion sources in a spatially pseudo-random order in at least a first dimension, wherein the computer is coupled to control activation of the ion sources in a spatially pseudo-random order in at least a first dimension by; activating successive ones of the plurality of sources with a respective pseudo-random number of unactivated sources between each respective pair of the activated sources in the array. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification