Abstract: Improvements are provided in the detection of atmospheric vapors by ionizing them near ambient pressure, and analyzing them as ions. Lowest detection limits of parts per quadrillion (ppq) concentrations are enabled by a combination of improvements, including the use of a filter to remove occasional intense signal from explosive particles. Several sources of chemical background are identified and solutions for their reduction or elimination are presented. Gains in response time may be achieved by operating at elevated temperature. When the ionizer is an electrospray source, the use of high boiling point solvents is indicated. An increased selectivity is achieved by operating a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) in series with a mass spectrometer. However, ppq sensitivities require various improvements in the DMA system including a special coupling to the ionizer, controlling the temperature in the DMA pump circuit, avoidance of induction on the DMA electrodes from heating devices, etc.

Abstract: An automotive safety device, specifically, an automobile safety device that assists drivers to remain in their proper driving lane when driving a moving vehicle. One embodiment of the present invention can include a flat planar body member, a plurality of light emitting members connected to the planar body member, wherein the light emitting members are configured in a predetermined arrangement, a power source electronically connected to the light emitting members, and a selectively engageable dimmer switch electronically connected to the power source and the light emitting members. The plurality of light emitting members can be configured in an angled position such that when the planar body member is positioned on the dashboard of a motor vehicle, between a steering wheel and a windshield of the motor vehicle, the reflection of the light emitting members appears to project outwardly in a straight line in front of the windshield.

Abstract: An automotive safety device, specifically, an automobile safety device that assists drivers to remain in their proper driving lane when driving a moving vehicle. One embodiment of the present invention can include a flat planar body member, a plurality of light emitting members connected to the planar body member, wherein the light emitting members are configured in a predetermined arrangement, a power source electronically connected to the light emitting members, and a selectively engageable dimmer switch electronically connected to the power source and the light emitting members. The plurality of light emitting members can be configured in an angled position such that when the planar body member is positioned on the dashboard of a motor vehicle, between a steering wheel and a windshield of the motor vehicle, the reflection of the light emitting members appears to project outwardly in a straight line in front of the windshield.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in the detection of atmospheric vapors by ionizing them near ambient pressure, and analyzing them as ions. Lowest detection limits of parts per quadrillion (ppq) concentrations are enabled by a combination of improvements, including the use of a filter to remove occasional intense signal from explosive particles. Several sources of chemical background are identified and solutions for their reduction or elimination are presented. Gains in response time may be achieved by operating at elevated temperature. When the ionizer is an electrospray source, the use of high boiling point solvents is indicated. An increased selectivity is achieved by operating a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) in series with a mass spectrometer. However, ppq sensitivities require various improvements in the DMA system including a special coupling to the ionizer, controlling the temperature in the DMA pump circuit, avoidance of induction on the DMA electrodes from heating devices, etc.

Abstract: A method for fast and accurate recognition of species contained in trace amounts in complex mixtures such as ambient air or biological fluids is taught based on the use in tandem of one or several differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) and possibly also a mass spectrometer (MS), all arranged in series. The two DMAs operate in different regions of the ion drag versus drift velocity curve (for instance, linear versus nonlinear regions), hence separating according to more than one independently discriminating parameters of the ion. Very high discrimination can be achieved even with a single stage of mass spectrometric separation by selecting a narrow range of ions with the DMA, and analyzing them in the MS, first without fragmentation, and then with fragmentation. This process does not require necessarily a tandem MS when fragmentation takes place in the inlet region of the MS.

Abstract: A method for fast and accurate recognition of species contained in trace amounts in complex mixtures such as ambient air or biological fluids is taught based on the use in tandem of one or several differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) and possibly also a mass spectrometer (MS), all arranged in series. The two DMAs operate in different regions of the ion drag versus drift velocity curve (for instance, linear versus nonlinear regions), hence separating according to more than one independently discriminating parameters of the ion. Very high discrimination can be achieved even with a single stage of mass spectrometric separation by selecting a narrow range of ions with the DMA, and analyzing them in the MS, first without fragmentation, and then with fragmentation. This process does not require necessarily a tandem MS when fragmentation takes place in the inlet region of the MS.

Abstract: A method for fast and accurate recognition of species contained in trace amounts in complex mixtures such as ambient air or biological fluids is taught based on the use in tandem of one or several differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) and possibly also a mass spectrometer (MS), all arranged in series. The two DMAs operate in different regions of the ion drag versus drift velocity curve (for instance, linear versus nonlinear regions), hence separating according to more than one independently discriminating parameters of the ion. Very high discrimination can be achieved even with a single stage of mass spectrometric separation by selecting a narrow range of ions with the DMA, and analyzing them in the MS, first without fragmentation, and then with fragmentation. This process does not require necessarily a tandem MS when fragmentation takes place in the inlet region of the MS.

Abstract: A method for fast and accurate recognition of species contained in trace amounts in complex mixtures such as ambient air or biological fluids is taught based on the use in tandem of one or several differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) and possibly also a mass spectrometer (MS), all arranged in series. The two DMAs operate in different regions of the ion drag versus drift velocity curve (for instance, linear versus nonlinear regions), hence separating according to more than one independently discriminating parameters of the ion. Very high discrimination can be achieved even with a single stage of mass spectrometric separation by selecting a narrow range of ions with the DMA, and analyzing them in the MS, first without fragmentation, and then with fragmentation. This process does not require necessarily a tandem MS when fragmentation takes place in the inlet region of the MS.