265 results about "Dc potential" patented technology

An improved tube for accepting gas-phase ions and particles contained in a gas by allowing substantially all the gas-phase ions and gas from an ion source at or greater than atmospheric pressure to flow into the tube and be transferred to a lower pressure region. Transport and motion of the ions through the tube is determined by a combination of viscous forces exerted on the ions by the flowing gas molecules and electrostatic forces causing the motion of the ions through the tube and away from the walls of the tube. More specifically, the tube is made up of stratified elements, wherein DC potentials are applied to the elements so that the DC voltage on any element determines the electric potential experience by the ions as they pass through the tube. A precise electrical gradient is maintained along the length of the stratified tube to insure the transport of the ions. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving the sensitivity of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometers when coupled to atmospheric and above atmospheric pressure ionization sources. An alternate embodiment of this invention applies an AC voltage to one or more of the conducting elements in the laminate.

An improved ion source and portable analyzer for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a reagent source at atmospheric or intermediate pressure, having a remote source of reagent ions generated by direct or alternating currents, separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a stratified array of elements, each element populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for transferring reagent ions from the remote source into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and / or ionic sample forming ionic species. The resulting ionic species are then introduced into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when gas and liquid chromatographic separation techniques or probes containing samples are coupled to atmospheric and intermediate pressure photo-ionization, chemical ionization, and thermospray ionization sources.

A method for monitoring a select analyte in a sample in an electrochemical system. The method includes applying to the electrochemical system a time-varying potential superimposed on a DC potential to generate a signal; and discerning from the signal a contribution from the select analyte by resolving an estimation equation based on a Faradaic signal component and a nonfaradaic signal component.

A multipole ion guide capable of incorporating a plurality of ion sources (i.e., MALDI, ESI, EI / CI, etc.) to provide and analyze ions in a mass analyzer (i.e., ICR, TOF, quadrupole, etc.) has been designed. Such multipole ion guides comprise an array of pairs of parallel conducting rods (i.e., 3 pair, 4 pair, 5 pair, etc.), each pair being equally spaced from one another, with the array being bound on its top and bottom as well as its ends by DC electrodes. The ion guide then utilizes RF / DC potentials to accept ions from any of a multitude of ion sources to facilitate their transmission through differentially pumped regions to a high pressure mass analysis region.

An improved ion source for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a reagent source at atmospheric or intermediate pressure, having a remote source of reagent ions separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a stratified array of elements, each element populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for transferring reagent ions from the remote source into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and / or ionic sample forming ionic species. The resulting ionic species are then introduced into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when gas and liquid chromatographic separation techniques are coupled to atmospheric and intermediate pressure photo-ionization, chemical ionization, and thermospray ionization sources.

An improved lens for collecting and focusing dispersed charged particles or ions having a stratified array of elements at atmospheric or near-atmospheric pressure, each element having successively smaller apertures forming a tapered terminus, wherein the electrostatic DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for focusing ions through the stratified array for introducing charged particles and ions into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when coupled to both high and low electrostatic field atmospheric pressure ionization sources.

In large PV power plants, grounding of individual PV modules may lead to problems. The present invention overcomes such problems. The basis for the invention is a PV power plant comprising one or more PV generators, each comprising a PV string and an inverter with a DC input and an AC output. The PV string comprises at least one PV module and is electrically connected to the DC input of the inverter. The inverter comprises means for controlling the DC potential at the DC input depending on the DC potential at the AC output. The AC outputs of the inverters are coupled in parallel. The novel feature of the invention is that the PV power plant further comprises an offset voltage source, which controls the DC potential at the AC outputs. Thereby, the DC potential at the DC input will be indirectly controlled, and it is thus possible to ensure that the potentials with respect to ground at the terminals of the PV modules are all non-negative or all non-positive without grounding the PV modules. Ground loops can be avoided, and there is no need for the use of transformer-based inverters.

An improved ion source for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a reagent source at sub-atmospheric or intermediate pressure, having a remote source of reagent ions separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a barrier, comprised of alternating laminates of metal and insulator, populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each metal laminate necessary for transferring reagent ions from the remote source into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and / or ionic sample forming ionic species. The resulting ionic species are then introduced into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when gas and liquid chromatographic separation techniques are coupled to sub-atmospheric and intermediate pressure photo-ionization, chemical ionization, and thermal-pneumatic ionization sources.

An improved ion source and means for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a remote reagent chemical ionization source (R2CIS) at atmospheric or intermediate pressure is described. The R2CIS is under electronic control and can produce positive, negative, or positive and negative reagent ions simultaneously. This remote source of reagent ions is separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a stratified array of elements, each element populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for transferring reagent ions from the R2CIS into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and / or ionic sample forming sample ionic species. The resulting sample ionic species are then introduced into a mass spectrometer, ion mobility spectrometer or other sensor capable of detecting the sample ions. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when gas and liquid chromatographic separation techniques are coupled to atmospheric and intermediate pressure photo-ionization, chemical ionization, and thermospray ionization sources; and improving the sensitivity of chemical detectors or probes.

Apparatus and methods are provided for trapping, manipulation and transferring ions along RF and DC potential surfaces and through RF ion guides. Potential wells are formed near RF-field generating surfaces due to the overlap of the radio-frequency (RF) fields and electrostatic fields created by static potentials applied to surrounding electrodes. Ions can be constrained and accumulated over time in such wells. During confinement, ions may be subjected to various processes, such as accumulation, fragmentation, collisional cooling, focusing, mass-to-charge filtering, spatial separation ion mobility and chemical interactions, leading to improved performance in subsequent processing and analysis steps, such as mass analysis. Alternatively, the motion of ions may be better manipulated during confinement to improve the efficiency of their transport to specific locations, such as an entrance aperture into vacuum from atmospheric pressure or into a subsequent vacuum stage.

A method of approximating an ion energy distribution function (IEDF) at a substrate surface of a substrate, the substrate being processed in a plasma processing chamber. There is included providing a first voltage value, the first voltage value representing a value of a first voltage that represents a DC potential (VDC) at the substrate surface. There is also included providing a peak low frequency RF voltage value (VLFRF(PEAK)) during plasma processing, the peak low frequency RF voltage (VLFRF(PEAK)) value representing a peak value of a low frequency RF voltage (VLFRF) supplied to the plasma processing chamber. There is further included providing a computing device configured to compute the IEDF from the first voltage value and the peak low frequency RF voltage value (VLFRF(PEAK)) in accordance with f⁡(E)≡(ⅆVLFⅆt)-1,wherein VLF⁡(t)=[(VLFRF⁡(PEAK)-Vdc2)1 / 2-(VLFRF⁡(PEAK)-Vdc8)1 / 2⁢sin⁢⁢ω⁢⁢t]2.

An electronic circuit, a digital audio component, an interface system and a method for streaming PDM data from or to at least one audio element are provided. The electronic circuit comprises a VDD connection for receiving a VDD potential, a GND connection for receiving a potential numerically lower than said VDD potential, a CLK connection for receiving a clock signal having a high and a low part, a DATA connection for communicating said PDM data to or from a host and / or another such electronic circuit, an L / R connection for receiving a DC potential designating whether to communicate substantially synchronously with said high part or said low part of said clock signal. The electronic circuit further comprises an I / O circuit configured for communicating control data via said L / R connection.

An air filtration system includable in and for HVAC equipment includes one or more intense field dielectric filter units and a field charging unit retained in a support structure or cabinet by a removable door which includes control circuitry and contactors engageable with corresponding contact members on a filter unit and the field charging unit for supplying high voltage DC potential to the respective units. Each filter unit includes a filter core comprising a stacked array of filter elements formed of dielectric sheets interconnected by elongated spaced apart ribs forming flow passages. The field charging unit and the filter units are removable from the support or cabinet for cleaning or replacement by opening or removing the door. An interlock switch and a field shorting mechanism are actuated during servicing or replacement of the system components.

A circuit includes a first source for providing an alternating electric field, a directional circuit connected to the first source for providing an alternating electric field by a transmission conductor there being no conductive return path provided back from the directional circuit to the first source for providing an alternating electric field. The directional circuit being a loop circuit which includes one or more circuit elements causing the loop circuit to be asymmetric to current flow; the directional circuit having no continuous connective path to earth ground, or battery ground, the directional circuit thereby developing a DC potential in response to the alternating electric field which is self referencing between a relatively high potential output and a relatively lower potential output. One or more loads connected to the directional circuit, the one or more loads also not having a continuous conductive path to earth ground or a battery ground. The load is not provided with a continuous connection to earth ground, or battery ground.

A mass spectrometer capable of analyzing a wide mass range with high sensitivity and high mass accuracy. A mass spectrometer has an ionization source generating ions; an ion transfer optics transferring the ions; a first linear trap accumulating the ions and ejecting the ions in the specific mass range; a second linear trap having an end electrode disposed at the exit end ejecting the ions to change a DC potential gradient relative to a DC potential of the end electrode and trapping the ions ejected from the first linear trap to repeatedly eject them in pulse form; a time-of-flight mass spectrometer accelerating the ions ejected from the second linear trap in the orthogonal direction to detect them; and a controller changing the time duration of the ions in which the ions are ejected from the second linear trap or delay time from the completion of ejection to application of an accelerating voltage of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to the mass range of the ions ejected from the first linear trap to the second linear trap.

A multi-level power converter is disclosed. The converter includes a DC power source having N (N is an Integer more than two)-level voltage potentials, and a plurality of switching legs connected in parallel to the DC power source. The switching leg has switching elements in series connection, and clamp diodes connected between intermediate DC potential terminals to middle points of the switching legs. The converter is provided with a control means for supplying gate pulses to the switching elements, and a supervising means for supervising every switching element to output a failure signal. The converter further includes a logic operating means for detecting an over-current failure of main circuit elements to output a device fault signal using the failure signals An operation of the logic operating means at least includes AND condition of at least two failure signals to output the device fault signal.

A method for processing a substrate in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The substrate is disposed above a chuck and surrounded by an edge ring. The edge ring is electrically isolated from the chuck. The method includes providing first RF power to the chuck. The method also includes providing an edge ring RF voltage control arrangement. The edge ring RF voltage control arrangement is coupled to the edge ring to provide second RF power to the edge ring resulting in the edge ring having an edge ring potential. The method further includes generating a plasma within the plasma processing chamber to process the substrate. The substrate is being processed while the edge ring RF voltage control arrangement is configured to cause the edge ring potential to be substantially equal to a DC potential of the substrate while processing the substrate.

The invention relates to two-dimensional quadrupole systems along whose axis an axial DC field is superimposed. The invention involves coating the hyperbolic or cylindrical surfaces of quadrupole systems with thin insulating layers and metal films thereupon and generating axial potential gradients or saddle ramps using appropriate electrical supply of DC potentials and superimposed RF voltages to the metal films. Systems of this type can be used in a plurality of ways, ranging from mass filters with high transmission to fragmentation cells with extremely low ion losses.

The invention discloses a DC converter with high voltage input and low-voltage large current output, comprising a main circuit and a control circuit. The main circuit is composed of n-numbered modules with the same structure, the input ends of the n-numbered modules are connected with the output ends thereof in parallel, each module is of a preceding or succeeding stage structure, wherein the preceding stage is a non-isolated DC converter, and the succeeding stage is an isolated DC potential transformer. The control circuit comprises a three-ring control circuit, synchronously staggered frequency dividing circuits among the modules, and a voltage open-loop control circuit, wherein the three-ring control circuit comprises a succeeding stage output filter inductive current equalizing outer ring, a succeeding stage output middle ring and a succeeding stage output filter inductive current inner ring. The convertor is applied to circumstances with high voltage input and low-voltage large current output, and has the advantages of small volume, high efficiency and high reliability.

There is provided an over-sampling D / A converter which has a mute function for fixing an average DC potential of an analog output signal to a predetermined potential, and comprises a SIGMA DELTA modulator for receiving a multibit digital signal to which a DC offset value is added and then outputting a one-bit non-return-to-zero signal, a signal generator for receiving the non-return-to-zero signal and the clock signal, then generating a return-to-zero signal which is a logical multiplication of the non-return-to-zero signal and the clock signal and a complementary signal of the return-to-zero signal which is a logical addition of the non-return-to-zero signal and an inverted signal of the clock signal, and then adding the return-to-zero signal to the complementary signal of the return-to-zero signal to thus output a polar-return-to-zero signal, and an analog filter for receiving the polar-return-to-zero signal and then outputting an analog signal. Accordingly, because an average DC potential of an output signal at the time of the mute operation-ON is set substantially equal to the average DC potential of the output signal at the time of the mute operation-OFF, variation in the average DC potential in the output signal due to ON / OFF of the mute operation can be prevented. As a result, generation of audible click noises can be prevented.

In a plasma processing apparatus, a member for propagating high frequency from a high frequency power supply and / or to which the high frequency is applied. A power feed rod is electromagnetically shielded between a matching unit and a bottom plate of a chamber by a coaxial cylindrical conductor connected to a ground potential. A surface potential system disposed in an appropriate distance from the power feed rod in radius direction is installed in the cylindrical conductor, and measures in a non-contact state the electrostatic surface potential of the power feed rod through electrostatic capacitance and provides a controller with a surface potential detection signal including surface potential measurement value information. The controller performs a required signal processing or operation processing on the basis of the surface potential detection signal from the surface potential system, thereby obtaining the measurement value of the DC potential on the power feed rod.

A method for processing a substrate in a plasma processing chamber. The substrate is disposed above a chuck and surrounded by an edge ring while the edge ring being electrically isolated from the chuck. The method includes providing RF power to the chuck and providing a edge ring DC voltage control arrangement. The edge ring DC voltage control arrangement is coupled to the edge ring to provide first voltage to the edge ring, with the edge ring potential being one of a positive potential, a negative potential and a ground. The method further includes generating a plasma within the plasma processing chamber to process the substrate. The substrate is processed while the edge ring DC voltage control arrangement is configured to cause the edge ring potential to be less than a DC potential of the substrate in an embodiment and to be substantially equal to the DC potential of the substrate in another embodiment.

A method of introducing and ejecting ions from an ion entry / exit device is disclosed. The ion entry / exit device has at least two arrays of electrodes. The device is operated in a first mode wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays in a first direction such that a potential barrier moves along the at least one array in the first direction and drives ions into and / or out of the device in the first direction. The device is also operated in a second mode, wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays in a second, different direction such that a potential barrier moves along the array in the second direction and drives ions into and / or out of the device in the second direction.

The invention relates to a means and a method for the manipulation of ions. Specifically, the invention teaches a multipole device consisting of a multitude of electrodes which are of such a geometry that the proper application of RF and DC potentials between the electrodes will result in the transmission of a broad range of m / z ions through the device. The electrodes may be arranged in such a way that it also can be operated so as to select a narrow range of m / z ions for transmission through the device.

A monolithically integratable circuit arrangement is provided, which has at least one inductor, formed as a conductor loop, and at least one capacitor, connected to the conductor loop. According to the invention, the circuit arrangement comprises (a) at least one first conductor loop placed in at least one first metallization level and having a first DC terminal for applying a first DC potential, (b) at least one second conductor loop placed in at least one second metallization level and having a second DC terminal for applying a second DC potential, (c) at least one metal-isolator-metal capacitor with a capacitor plate, which is placed in a third metallization level between the first and second metallization level, and (d) at least one metallic connecting means placed between the capacitor plate and the first conductor loop, said means which connects the capacitor plate in an electrically conducting manner to the first conductor loop. The invention relates furthermore to an integrated circuit having a circuit arrangement of this type.

Disclosed is a high voltage inverter for converting DC power to AC power with one or more AC output phases. The inverter has for each AC output phase an AC input phase circuit comprising first and second cold cathode field emission controllable electron tubes of triode, tetrode or pentode structure. Each electron tube has a first input node for connection to a high voltage DC potential in excess of 20 KV and a second input node for connection to ground. First electron tube is serially connected between a first end of a primary winding and ground, and second electron tube is serially connected between a second end of the primary winding and ground. Control circuitry controls the electron tubes so that the first and second electron tubes alternatively conduct so as to alternately bring the first and then second end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of ground.

A multipole ion guide capable of incorporating a plurality of ion sources (i.e., MALDI, ESI, EI / CI, etc.) to provide and analyze ions in a mass analyzer (i.e., ICR, TOF, quadrupole, etc.) has been designed. Such multipole ion guides comprise an array of pairs of parallel conducting rods (i.e., 3 pair, 4 pair, 5 pair, etc.), each pair being equally spaced from one another, with the array being bound on its top and bottom as well as its ends by DC electrodes. The ion guide then utilizes RF / DC potentials to accept ions from any of a multitude of ion sources to facilitate their transmission through differentially pumped regions to a high pressure mass analysis region.

The invention relates to a method for damping the kinetic energy of ions in ion cells filled with collision gas and with an exit aperture to drain the ions out of the cell. The invention uses a conditioning cell with an adjustable DC potential which decreases towards the exit aperture to compress the phase volume of the ions by damping their kinetic energies, collecting the ions after thermalization in the spatial potential minimum thus created and letting them drain away relatively slowly through a central potential minimum in the exit aperture system. This facilitates the production of very fine, highly parallel ion beams which consist of almost monoenergetic ions. In particular, the method can also be coupled with a fragmentation of the ions.