Patents by Inventor Marc Gonin

Marc Gonin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080217528
    Abstract: An ion guide chamber comprising a gas-tight elongate chamber, at least one first electrode for generating a field for transporting ions along the elongate chamber and at least one second electrode for generating a field for focusing ions within the elongate chamber. The elongate chamber, e. g. constituted by a glass tube, comprises a resistive structure extending substantially along a main axis of the chamber, whereas the first electrode is constituted by the resistive structure. Furthermore, the second electrode is arranged outside the elongate chamber. Having the RF electrodes arranged outside the vacuum chamber, provides a mechanically simple solution as well as insuring that contamination of the RF electrodes to the analyte gas cannot occur. This allows for a cost-saving design of the RF electrodes and with the corresponding voltages outside the chamber, preferably at atmospheric pressure or high vacuum, avoids discharges within the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: TOFWERK AG
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Katrin Fuhrer
  • Publication number: 20080149825
    Abstract: An apparatus for mass analysis of ions comprises a high current ion source, in particular an ion source providing at least 5 million ions/s, preferably at least 50 million ions/s, at an output of the ion source, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of ions transmitted from the ion source and a filter for segmenting incoming ions according to their m/q ratio into a first group of ions and into a second group of ions. The filter is coupled to the ion source and the filter and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer are arranged in such a way that the ions of the first group are transmitted to the mass spectrometer and that the ions of the second group are not transmitted to the mass spectrometer. Furthermore, the filter is designed in such a way that the second group consists of ions belonging to one or several narrow bands of m/q. The apparatus allows for analyzing minor compound ions generated by the high current ion source with good selectivity, undisturbed by major compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: TOFWERK AG
    Inventors: Viatcheslav Ivanovich KOZLOVSKI, Katrin FUHRER, Marc GONIN
  • Patent number: 7365313
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ionwerks
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas F. Egan, William Burton, J. Albert Schultz, Valerie E. Vaughn, Steven Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7291834
    Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Valeri V. Raznikov, Katrin Fuhrer, J. Albert Schultz, Michael I. McCully
  • Publication number: 20070018113
    Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Valeri Raznikov, Katrin Fuhrer, J. Schultz, Michael McCully
  • Patent number: 7164122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved ion mobility spectrometer and method for the analysis of chemical samples. The improvements are realized in the optimization of resolution and sensitivity. Increases in sensitivity are realized by preserving a narrow spatial distribution of migrating ions through the use of periodic/hyperbolic field focusing. Use of a plurality of drift cells and a new RF field focusing interface are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, J. Albert Schultz
  • Patent number: 7145134
    Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Valeri Raznikov, Katrin Fuhrer, J. Albert Schultz, Michael I. McCully
  • Publication number: 20060192111
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas Egan, William Burton, J. Schultz, Valerie Vaughn, Steven Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7084393
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas F. Egan, William Burton, J. Albert Schultz, Valerie Vaughn, Steven Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7084395
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments for monitoring fast processes using an interleaved timing scheme and a position sensitive detector are described. The combination of both methods is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Kent J. Gillig, Thomas F. Egan, Michael I. McCully, J. Albert Schultz
  • Patent number: 7060973
    Abstract: A new detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is disclosed. This detection scheme allows extending the dynamic range of spectrometers operating with a counting technique (TDC). The extended dynamic range is achieved by constructing a multiple anode detector wherein the individual anodes detect different fractions of the incoming particles. Different anode fractions are achieved by varying the size, physical location, and electrical/magnetic fields of the various anodes. An anode with a small anode fraction avoids saturation and allows an ion detector to render an accurate count of ions even for abundant species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Gonin
  • Patent number: 7019286
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments for monitoring fast processes using an interleaved timing scheme and a position sensitive detector are described. The combination of both methods is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Kent J. Gillig, Thomas Egan, Michael I. McCully, John A. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20050189486
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved ion mobility spectrometer and method for the analysis of chemical samples. The improvements are realized in the optimization of resolution and sensitivity. Increases in sensitivity are realized by preserving a narrow spatial distribution of migrating ions through the use of periodic/hyperbolic field focusing. Use of a plurality of drift cells and a new RF field focusing interface are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6909090
    Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Ionwerks
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Valeri Raznikov, Katrin Fuhrer, J. Albert Schultz, Michael I. McCully
  • Publication number: 20050127289
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments for monitoring fast processes using an interleaved timing scheme and a position sensitive detector are described. The combination of both methods is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Kent Gillig, Thomas Egan, Michael McCully, J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6897437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved ion mobility spectrometer and method for the analysis of chemical samples. The improvements are realized in the optimization of resolution and sensitivity. Increases in sensitivity are realized by preserving a narrow spatial distribution of migrating ions through the use of periodic/hyperbolic field focusing. Additionally, novel combinations and configurations of components are used to simultaneously maintain a well defined ion packet and preserve sample throughput to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ionwerks
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Kent J. Gillig, Marc Gonin, David H. Russell, John A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6888130
    Abstract: An improved electrostatic ion trap mass spectrometer based on two reflectrons and Fourier Transform analysis is disclosed. An ensemble of ions with a kinetic energy falling into a certain range will do isochronous oscillations in this reflectron trap. The image charge transient of those oscillations is processed with a data acquisition system similar to those used in FT-MS to get a mass spectrum. Various application-specific ion extractors, ion storage prior to extraction, MS/MS techniques and MSn techniques are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Marc Gonin
  • Publication number: 20050040325
    Abstract: A new detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is disclosed. This detection scheme allows extending the dynamic range of spectrometers operating with a counting technique (TDC). The extended dynamic range is achieved by constructing a multiple anode detector wherein the individual anodes detect different fractions of the incoming particles. Different anode fractions are achieved by varying the size, physical location, and electrical/magnetic fields of the various anodes. An anode with a small anode fraction avoids saturation and allows an ion detector to render an accurate count of ions even for abundant species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Marc Gonin
  • Publication number: 20050006577
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas Egan, William Burton, J. Schultz, Valerie Vaughn, Steven Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20040217275
    Abstract: A detection scheme for time-of-flight mass spectrometers is described that extends the dynamic range of spectrometers that use counting techniques while avoiding the problems of crosstalk. It is well known that a multiple anode detector capable of detecting different fractions of the incoming particles may be used to increase the dynamic range of a TOFMS system. However, crosstalk between the anodes limits the amount by which the dynamic range may be increased. The present invention overcomes limitations imposed by crosstalk by using either a secondary amplification stage or by using different primary amplification stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gonin, Valeri Raznikov, Katrin Fuhrer, J. Albert Schultz, Michael I. McCully