TY - JOUR

T1 - An open source isolated data acquisition with trigger pulse generation for ion mobility spectrometry

AU - Kobelt, Tim

AU - Lippmann, Martin

AU - Nitschke, Alexander

AU - Kielhorn, Lou

AU - Zimmermann, Stefan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - Ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are used in a wide variety of applications, including trace gas detection in safety and security applications, but also in more analytical applications, e.g., in medicine or food quality monitoring. Consequently, IMS are often coupled with other separation techniques and laboratory equipment, requiring synchronization between the external equipment and the IMS electronics. In addition, IMS and the associated electronics are becoming increasingly complex due to ongoing instrumental developments. In this work, we present an open source data acquisition hardware tailored to the requirements of advanced IMS, but also applicable to other applications. The data acquisition hardware provides trigger pulses for synchronized operation of the IMS ion gate or external devices. In addition, the data acquisition hardware allows for parallel digitalization using two isolated 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADC) with up to 250 kilosamples per second. The galvanically isolated trigger input ensures a synchronized start of the IMS measurements, particularly when connecting external instrumentation such as a gas chromatograph. Furthermore, due to the isolated ADCs, the hardware allows great flexibility in defining the ground potential of the instrument setup.

AB - Ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are used in a wide variety of applications, including trace gas detection in safety and security applications, but also in more analytical applications, e.g., in medicine or food quality monitoring. Consequently, IMS are often coupled with other separation techniques and laboratory equipment, requiring synchronization between the external equipment and the IMS electronics. In addition, IMS and the associated electronics are becoming increasingly complex due to ongoing instrumental developments. In this work, we present an open source data acquisition hardware tailored to the requirements of advanced IMS, but also applicable to other applications. The data acquisition hardware provides trigger pulses for synchronized operation of the IMS ion gate or external devices. In addition, the data acquisition hardware allows for parallel digitalization using two isolated 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADC) with up to 250 kilosamples per second. The galvanically isolated trigger input ensures a synchronized start of the IMS measurements, particularly when connecting external instrumentation such as a gas chromatograph. Furthermore, due to the isolated ADCs, the hardware allows great flexibility in defining the ground potential of the instrument setup.

KW - Data acquisition

KW - Ion mobility spectrometry

KW - Optical isolation

KW - Pulse generation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207751115&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00600

DO - 10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00600

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85207751115

VL - 20

JO - HardwareX

JF - HardwareX

SN - 2468-0672

M1 - e00600

ER -