Outer source assembly and associated components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12327718-B2
Application number	US-202418816188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2024
Priority date	Jun 1, 2018
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A lens assembly for an outer source of a mass spectrometer, the assembly comprising: a housing; a plurality of lens elements, each lens element comprising a radially extending electrically conductive protrusion, the lens elements being linearly arranged in the housing such that the protrusions are aligned with one another, and an interface connector having a plurality of sockets to receive the protrusions therein and create an electrical connection between the protrusions and sockets. A housing for a resistance temperature detector is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lens assembly for an outer source of a mass spectrometer, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of lens elements; and
a plurality of spacers, interspersed between the lens elements to form a lens stack with a spacer between each neighbouring pair of lens elements,
wherein each of the lens elements and spacers comprise opposing first and second axial faces and,
wherein at least one axial face of a lens element or spacer comprises one of a pair of complementary keying features and the opposing axial face of a neighbouring spacer or lens element comprises the other of the pair of complementary keying features, wherein the pair of complementary keying features are uniquely positioned in each lens element and/or spacer.

2. A lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly further comprises a housing, the lens stack being arranged in the housing.

3. A lens assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the lens elements and/or spacers are only receivable in the housing in a single orientation and sequence.

4. A lens assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each lens element comprises a radially extending electrically conductive protrusion, the lens elements being linearly arranged in the housing such that the radially extending electrically conductive protrusions are aligned with one another.

5. A lens assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a slot extending longitudinally for slidably receiving the radially extending electrically conductive protrusions of each lens element during assembly.

6. A lens assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the positioning of each complementary keying feature on a respective one of the lens elements and spacers relative to the protrusions of the lens element is unique to each of the lens elements and spacers.

7. A lens assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the lens assembly further comprises an interface connector having a plurality of sockets to receive the protrusions therein and create an electrical connection between the protrusions and sockets.

8. A lens assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the lens elements each comprise at least a generally planar flange, the outer circumference of each flange comprising at least one flat portion.

9. A lens assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the lens elements are arranged in the housing such that the flat portions of the lens element are substantially aligned with one another.

10. A lens assembly according to claim 8 , wherein an inner surface of the housing is shaped with a corresponding flat portion against which the flat portion of at least one of the lens elements is configured to engage and align.

11. A lens assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the positioning of each complementary keying feature on a respective one of the lens elements and spacers relative to the flat portion of the lens element is unique to each of the lens elements and spacers.

12. A lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of complementary keying features comprises a keying protrusion and a keying recess.

13. A lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the lens elements are colour coded and/or provided with numerical and/or alphabetical indicia such that a user is prompted to assemble the lens assembly in a predetermined order.

Assignees

• Micromass Ltd

Inventors

• Booth Alastair
• Chua Alvin
• Chen Carl
• Dawber Marcus
• Ngo Pham Hoang Vu
• Ngo William
• Ong Dennis
• Tyldesley-Worster Richard
• Rangan Arvind
• Rocha Steven

Classifications

• H01J49/067 Primary

  Ion lenses, apertures, skimmers · CPC title

• H01J49/068 Primary

  Mounting, supporting, spacing, or insulating electrodes · CPC title

• H01J49/10

  Ion sources; Ion guns · CPC title

• G01N27/62 Primary

  by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosols; by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode · CPC title