A Digital Recorder for Mass Spectra

Abstract

As a mass spectrum, is scanned, the maximum value of each peak is stored in a capacitor Then the difference between the stored voltage and the lesser voltage seen after the scan has proceeded down the side of the peak operates a peak detector, which in turn initiates measurement of the stored peak height by a digital voltmeter At the same time the mass is determined by measuring the ion accelerating voltage with a modified self balancing potentiometer equipped with a shaft position digitizer.