	US 11,749,519 B2
	Space-time buffer for ion processing pipelines
Philip M. Remes, Livermore, CA (US); and Michael W. Senko, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Thermo Finnigan LLC, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by THERMO FINNIGAN LLC, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/406,710.
Application 17/406,710 is a continuation of application No. 16/711,263, filed on Dec. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,114,293.
Prior Publication US 2021/0384026 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01J 49/42 (2006.01); H01J 49/00 (2006.01)

CPC H01J 49/4225 (2013.01) [H01J 49/009 (2013.01); H01J 49/427 (2013.01); H01J 49/4265 (2013.01)]

9 Claims

1. A method for analyzing components of a sample comprising:

generating ions from a sample using an ion source;

separating ions into a plurality of ion groups using an ion separator;

combining at least a portion of a plurality of trapping regions of a space-time buffer into a larger trap region;

filling the larger trap region with at least one of the plurality of ion groups;

splitting the larger trap region into individual trapping regions each containing a portion of the ions of the at least one of the plurality of ion groups;

ejecting ions from the trapping regions; and

analyzing the ions using a mass analyzer.