Circuit for generating a voltage waveform
First Claim
1. A mass spectrometer including:
- a circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node; and
a load capacitance to which the output node of the circuit is connected so that, in use, the load capacitance receives a voltage waveform generated by the circuit;
wherein the circuit includes;
a first voltage rail connected to the output node via a first voltage rail switch;
a second voltage rail connected to the output node via second voltage rail switch;
an anchor node connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and
a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the first voltage rail switch, the second voltage rail switch, and the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance;
wherein the control unit of the circuit is configured to control the circuit to operate according to a control method including;
opening the bidirectional switch and closing the first voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of the first voltage rail;
causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the second voltage rail by opening the first voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance;
opening the bidirectional switch and closing the second voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of the second voltage rail; and
causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the first voltage rail by opening the second voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; and
wherein the control unit is configured to change a frequency at which the switching voltage waveform switches between the voltage of the first voltage rail and the voltage of the second voltage rail.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node. The circuit includes a voltage rail connected to the output node via a voltage rail switch; an anchor node 5 connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the voltage rail switch and the bidirectional switch so that, if a load capacitance is connected to the output node, a resonant circuit is established between the inductor 10 and the load capacitance. The circuit may be included in an apparatus for use in processing charged particles, e.g. for use in performing mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry.
15 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A mass spectrometer including:
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a circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node; and a load capacitance to which the output node of the circuit is connected so that, in use, the load capacitance receives a voltage waveform generated by the circuit;
wherein the circuit includes;a first voltage rail connected to the output node via a first voltage rail switch; a second voltage rail connected to the output node via second voltage rail switch; an anchor node connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the first voltage rail switch, the second voltage rail switch, and the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; wherein the control unit of the circuit is configured to control the circuit to operate according to a control method including; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the first voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of the first voltage rail; causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the second voltage rail by opening the first voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the second voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of the second voltage rail; and causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the first voltage rail by opening the second voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; and wherein the control unit is configured to change a frequency at which the switching voltage waveform switches between the voltage of the first voltage rail and the voltage of the second voltage rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling a mass spectrometer, wherein the mass spectrometer includes a circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node and a load capacitance to which the output node of the circuit is connected so that, in use, the load capacitance receives a voltage waveform generated by the circuit, the circuit including:
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a first voltage rail connected to the output node via a first voltage rail switch; a second voltage rail connected to the output node via a second voltage rail switch; an anchor node connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the first voltage rail switch, the second voltage rail switch, and the bidirectional switch so that, if a load capacitance is connected to the output node, a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; wherein the method includes a controlling the circuit to operate according to a control method that includes; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the first voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of the first voltage rail; causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards a voltage of the second voltage rail by opening the first voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the second voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at the voltage of the second voltage rail; and causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the first voltage rail by opening the second voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance, wherein the method also includes changing a frequency at which the switching voltage waveform switches between the first voltage and the second voltage.
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9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions configured to control a mass spectrometer, wherein the mass spectrometer includes a circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node and a load capacitance to which the output node of the circuit is connected so that, in use, the load capacitance receives a voltage waveform generated by the circuit, the circuit including:
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a first voltage rail connected to the output node via a first voltage rail switch; a second voltage rail connected to the output node via a second voltage rail switch; an anchor node connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the first voltage rail switch, the second voltage rail switch, and the bidirectional switch so that, if a load capacitance is connected to the output node, a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to control the circuit to operate according to a control method that includes; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the first voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at a voltage of a first voltage rail causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards a voltage of the second voltage rail by opening the first voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance; opening the bidirectional switch and closing the second voltage rail switch so that the output node is clamped at the voltage of the second voltage rail; and causing the voltage at the output node to swing towards the voltage of the first voltage rail by opening the second voltage rail switch and closing the bidirectional switch so that a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance, wherein the computer-executable instructions are also configured to change a frequency at which the switching voltage waveform switches between the first voltage and the second voltage.
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Specification