Abstract: A vehicle entertainment and accessory control system (10) is disclosed. The control system (10) provides a plurality of touchscreens (12,14,16) that present user interfaces (38,62) concurrently with video windows (40,64). The user interfaces (38,62) enable users to control various entertainment components, such as a video display (22) and a speaker (24), as well as other vehicle accessories, such as an intercom (28). The entertainment components are controlled via a universal infrared controller (20). A master touchscreen (12) enables a user to control access to the system (10) via a plurality of passenger touchscreens (14,16) by disabling or limiting the use of the passenger touchscreens (14,16).

Abstract: A MALDI sample plate 1 is disclosed which comprises a metallic substrate 2 having a circular groove or moat 3. A hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 is applied to the substrate 2 and a central portion 5 of the substrate 2 is laser etched which roughens the surface of the substrate 2. A thin polystyrene layer is then applied to the polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 and the central portion 5.

Abstract: A MALDI sample plate 1 is disclosed which comprises a metallic substrate 2 having a circular groove or moat 3. A hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 is applied to the substrate 2 and a central portion 5 of the substrate 2 is laser etched which roughens the surface of the substrate 2. A thin polystyrene layer is then applied to the polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 and the central portion 5.

Abstract: A system for disseminating information over a wide area network includes a central caching unit for storing data to be made available over the wide area network. Local access give users access to the wide area network. Distributed caching units associated with the local access nodes for store cacheable material. A satellite communications system establishes satellite communications between the central caching unit and the local caching units for the transfer of cacheable material from the central caching unit to the local units. A router at the local access nodes routes packets from users to a destination address. The router includes local routing tables containing the addresses of material cached at the associated local node and responds to routing requests for locally cached material by directing the requests to the local cache.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates. The anode is permanently magnetized and electrons emitted from the microchannel plates preferably spiral around lines of magnetic field towards the anode.

Abstract: An ion detector 7 for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a microchannel plate 8 which receives ions 12 at an input surface and releases secondary electrons 16 from an output surface. A detecting device 9 having a detecting surface is arranged to receive at least some of the electrons 16 emitted by the microchannel plate 8. The area of the detecting surface is substantially greater than the area of the output surface of the microchannel plate 8.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein a relatively energetic pulse of ions having a relatively narrow spread of mass to charge ratios are ejected from a quadrupole ion trap and received in an ion trap upstream of a Time of Flight mass analyser. The ions are collisionally cooled within the ion trap and are pulsed out of the ion trap and into an extraction region of the Time of Flight mass analyser without substantially exciting the ions. This enables improved operation with the Time of Flight mass analyser. According to another embodiment, parent ions are fragmented and the resulting fragment ions are stored in two ion traps having different low mass cut-offs. The trapping system enables MS/MS experiments to be performed with a very high duty cycle.

Abstract: A scented magazine blow-in which is improved by adding an additional flap to a known rectangular blow-in. An additional flap, which may have an arbitrary shape, is adhered to a rectangular flap or body. The additional flap may carry information, such as promotional information, and can be printed to have a unique or interesting appearance. The additional flap can have a container or holder, such as an envelope, which may hold a sample of a product. The additional flap may have a fold, possibly held closed by a scented adhesive, and the additional flap may cover the container or holder.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein the experimentally determined mass to charge ratios of ions are reported together with an error band for each mass to charge ratio determination. The error band may, for example, reflect a 95% probability or confidence that the real, true, actual or accepted mass to charge ratio of the ion lies within the error band. By accurately determining the error band the possible candidate ions in a database can be accurately restricted whilst also guarding against over restriction.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion trap wherein ions which have been temporally separated according to their mass to charge ratio or ion mobility enter the ion trap. Once at least some of the ions have entered the ion trap, a plurality of ion trapping regions are created along the length of the ion trap in order to fractionate the ions. Alternatively, the ions may be received within one or more axial trapping regions which are translated along the ion trap with a velocity which is progressively reduced to zero.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an electric field region L2 wherein a time-varying electric field is applied thereto. In a mode of operation a pulse of ions 3 comprising ions having different mass to charge ratios passes through the electric field region L2 and the electric field is varied with time such that at least some of the ions 3 having different mass to charge ratios subsequently arrive at the extraction or acceleration region 10 of a Time of Flight mass analyser at substantially the same time.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a microchannel plate 8 which receives ions 12 at an input surface and releases electrons 16 from an output surface. A detecting device is arranged to receive at least some of the electrons 16 emitted from the microchannel plate 8. The detecting device receives electrons 16 on a first portion of the detecting device at a first time t1 and receives electrons 16 on a second different portion of the detector at a second later time t2. Time-varying electric and/or magnetic fields are applied between the microchannel plate 8 and the detecting device to guide electrons 16 emitted from the microchannel plate onto different regions of the detecting device in a time varying manner.

Abstract: An ion detector 7 for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a microchannel plate 8 which receives ions 12 at an input surface and releases secondary electrons 16 from an output surface. A detecting device 9 having a detecting surface is arranged to receive at least some of the electrons 16 emitted by the microchannel plate 8. The area of the detecting surface is substantially greater than the area of the output surface of the microchannel plate 8.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising at least first and second ion traps which are arranged in series. A relatively high AC or RF voltage is applied to the electrodes forming the first ion trap in order to improve the trapping of energetic or high mass to charge ratio ions. The relatively high AC or RF voltage applied to the first ion trap also has the effect of raising the low mass cut-off of the first ion trap. The second ion trap, arranged downstream of the first ion trap, is arranged to have a lower low mass cut-off than the first ion trap, and hence ions which are not trapped in the first ion trap are trapped in the second ion trap.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a mass selective ion trap such as a 3D quadrupole field ion trap upstream of a pusher electrode of an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyzer. According to a first embodiment bunches of ions are released from the ion trap and the pusher electrode is energised after a delay time which is progressively varied. According to a second embodiment ions are released from the ion trap in reverse order of mass to charge ratio with the ions having the largest mass to charge ratio being released first. By appropriate release of the ions from the ion trap it is possible to ensure that substantially all of the ions arrive at the pusher electrode at substantially the same time. According to both embodiments it is possible to achieve a duty cycle approaching 100% across a large range of mass to charge ratios.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates. The anode preferably has a smaller diameter than the microchannel plates and is preferably arranged at a distance of at least 15 mm from the microchannel plates. One or more focusing lenses may be provided intermediate the microchannel plates and the anode. The anode preferably comprises two portions separated by an electrically insulated layer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a mass selective ion trap such as a 3D quadrupole field ion trap upstream of a pusher electrode of an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser. According to a first embodiment bunches of ions are released from the ion trap and the pusher electrode is energized after a delay time which is progressively varied. According to a second embodiment ions are released from the ion trap in reverse order of mass to charge ratio with the ions having the largest mass to charge ratio being released first. By appropriate release of the ions from the ion trap it is possible to ensure that substantially all of the ions arrive at the pusher electrode at substantially the same time. According to both embodiments it is possible to achieve a duty cycle approaching 100% across a large range of mass to charge ratios.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion trap ion source wherein a microtitre sample or target plate forms part of one end-cap electrode.