Abstract: A data acquisition system for a TOF mass spectrometer comprises a processing module and a data collection module. The processing module generates a stream of data comprising, for each respective transient of a first scan, a set of time-intensity related parameter pairs. For each new set of data, the data collection module reads out a previous set of data from a previous memory bank, merges that previous set of data with the new set of data, and writes that latest merged set of data into a memory bank other than the previous memory bank. The data acquisition system provides a convenient way to merge sequential sets of time-intensity related parameter pairs for respective transients as a stream of data for a first scan is generated.

Abstract: A data acquisition system for a TOF mass spectrometer comprises a processing module and a data collection module. The processing module generates a stream of data comprising, for each respective transient of a first scan, a set of time-intensity related parameter pairs. For each new set of data, the data collection module reads out a previous set of data from a previous memory bank, merges that previous set of data with the new set of data, and writes that latest merged set of data into a memory bank other than the previous memory bank. The data acquisition system provides a convenient way to merge sequential sets of time-intensity related parameter pairs for respective transients as a stream of data for a first scan is generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring data from a mass spectrometer and its transmission to a computer system including a data acquisition engine, a network interface and a throughput optimization module which includes a ring buffer and a protocol stack. A compression engine may be provided between the acquisition engine and the ring buffer. The ring buffer is configured as a number of segments containing portions of memory matching the size of data words from the acquisition engine. When a segment is full of data corresponding to the words, or is partially full and has received data containing an end of scan marker, the number of words in the segment is written into a header word in the segment and the data in that segment are moved to the protocol stack. Subsequent data is received by the next segment in the buffer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring data from a mass spectrometer and its transmission to a computer system including a data acquisition engine, a network interface and a throughput optimization module which includes a ring buffer and a protocol stack. A compression engine may be provided between the acquisition engine and the ring buffer. The ring buffer is configured as a number of segments containing portions of memory matching the size of data words from the acquisition engine. When a segment is full of data corresponding to the words, or is partially full and has received data containing an end of scan marker, the number of words in the segment is written into a header word in the segment and the data in that segment are moved to the protocol stack. Subsequent data is received by the next segment in the buffer.