Mass spectrometer pure hardware instinct control system and method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of mass spectrometer pure hardware instinct management and control system and method, the safety control of mass spectrometer, timing control, data processing core logic are realized by pure hardware circuit, core logic parameter and operating parameter are solidified in one-time nonvolatile memory, and cannot be modified in running process.System contains multiple pure hardware function modules, and the whole process management and control of mass spectrometer are completed by coordination between each module.The application solves the problem that the safety is poor, the response speed is slow and the reliability is low caused by the dependence of existing mass spectrometer control on software system, realizes nanosecond level safety decision and whole process pure hardware autonomous management and control, and significantly improves the safety, reliability and automation degree of mass spectrometer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry analysis technology, and in particular to a purely hardware-based, instinctive control system and method for mass spectrometers. Background Technology

[0002] A mass spectrometer is a large, precision scientific instrument. Its normal operation requires a complex control system to manage multiple subsystems, including the vacuum system, ion source, mass analyzer, detector, and sample introduction system. These subsystems require precise timing coordination and strict safety interlocks. Failure or misoperation in any part can damage the instrument or even endanger the personal safety of the operators.

[0003] Current mass spectrometer control systems generally adopt a "central processing unit + embedded software" architecture: the central processing unit or microcontroller runs an embedded operating system and application software, controlling the operation of each subsystem through various bus interfaces. All control logic, safety interlocks, and timing controls are implemented in software.

[0004] This traditional software management architecture has the following fatal flaws: First, the security risks are extremely high. The software system contains inherent vulnerabilities and backdoors. Attackers can tamper with the software code and bypass security interlocks through network intrusion, physical interface access, and other methods, thereby illegally operating dangerous components such as the high-voltage system and vacuum system of the instrument, leading to damage to the instrument or even personal injury or death. This risk is particularly prominent in some application areas involving national and public safety.

[0005] Second, the response speed is slow, making it impossible to achieve nanosecond-level real-time control. Software control requires multiple steps such as instruction reading, decoding, and execution, with response times typically ranging from microseconds to milliseconds. For some rapid control processes in mass spectrometers that require nanosecond-level responses, such as ion gate control and collision cell timing control, software control cannot meet the requirements.

[0006] Third, the software system suffers from low reliability and is prone to failure. It is susceptible to crashes, memory overflows, deadlocks, and other malfunctions, which can lead to data loss and instrument damage during critical analysis processes. Furthermore, the system's complex operating state makes troubleshooting and fault location difficult, resulting in high maintenance costs.

[0007] Fourth, the level of automation is low, requiring manual intervention. Existing software control systems typically require operators to perform extensive parameter settings and manual intervention, failing to achieve fully autonomous, end-to-end automated operation. In unattended online monitoring scenarios, this issue severely limits the application of mass spectrometers. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art and provide a pure hardware-based control system and method for mass spectrometers. It completely abandons the traditional "central processing unit + software" architecture and uses pure hardware circuits to realize all the core control functions of the mass spectrometer. All control logic and parameters are fixed at the factory and no software is required during operation. This fundamentally solves the problems of poor security, slow response speed and low reliability of the prior art.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A pure hardware-based intrinsic control system for a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The core logic of the mass spectrometer's safety control, timing control, and data processing is all implemented by pure hardware circuits. The core logic parameters and operating parameters are fixed in a one-time non-volatile memory and cannot be modified during operation. The system includes multiple pure hardware functional modules, which work together to complete the entire process control of the mass spectrometer. It also includes a recording unit with fixed one-time non-volatile memory. It does not contain any adaptive control algorithms based on real-time signal quality feedback.

[0010] Furthermore, the system does not have a central processing unit, microcontroller, or digital signal processor; all control logic is stored in a fixed format.

[0011] Furthermore, the pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware signal processing module that directly extracts the core physical features of the ion signal.

[0012] Furthermore, the pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware quality analysis and control module, and the PID control parameters are permanently stored in a one-time non-volatile memory.

[0013] Furthermore, the pure hardware quality analysis and control module is also equipped with an RF voltage limit circuit and an overshoot detection circuit.

[0014] Furthermore, the pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware safety adjudication module, which performs three checks on key operations of the mass spectrometer.

[0015] Furthermore, a pure hardware scanning timing control module is also provided.

[0016] Furthermore, a vacuum monitoring redundant circuit and a vacuum stability confirmation unit are also provided.

[0017] Furthermore, it is equipped with circuits to resist abnormal circuit disturbances and hardware data protection circuits. Beneficial effects

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: 1. Extremely high security, fundamentally eliminating security risks. All control logic in this invention is implemented entirely in hardware, without any software or programmable logic devices, thus eliminating software vulnerabilities and backdoors. All control parameters and safety thresholds are permanently stored in a one-time, non-volatile memory at the factory and cannot be modified during operation. This fundamentally eliminates the possibility of malicious attacks and unauthorized operations, ensuring the mass spectrometer operates safely under all circumstances. Simultaneously, the pure hardware safety adjudication module and the emergency stop hardwired connection circuit provide dual safety protection, enabling a nanosecond-level response to safety events and maximizing the protection of personnel and equipment safety.

[0019] 2. Extremely fast response speed, achieving nanosecond-level real-time control. This invention employs pure hardware circuitry to implement all control functions, reducing control response delay to the nanosecond level. This enables the mass spectrometer to perform previously impossible rapid control processes, such as nanosecond-level ion gate control and precise collision cell timing control, greatly expanding the functionality and application range of the mass spectrometer. Simultaneously, the extremely fast response speed also improves the instrument's control accuracy and stability, enhancing the quality of analytical results.

[0020] 3. Extremely high reliability and long mean time between failures (MTBF). Pure hardware circuits eliminate the uncertainties of software crashes, freezes, and memory overflows, resulting in a mean time between failures (MTBF) several orders of magnitude higher than software systems. Furthermore, this invention employs redundant design, anti-interference design, and fault self-detection design, enabling long-term stable operation under complex environmental conditions. This is of particular significance for online monitoring mass spectrometers requiring 24-hour continuous operation and unattended field monitoring mass spectrometers.

[0021] 4. Extremely high degree of automation, achieving fully autonomous operation throughout the entire process. The system of this invention can autonomously complete the entire process, including power-on initialization, system self-test, automatic calibration, sample analysis, data processing, system cleanup, and shutdown, according to the factory-preset procedures, without any manual intervention. This significantly reduces the professional requirements for operators, minimizes the possibility of human error, and improves work efficiency. Simultaneously, the system can automatically detect and handle various abnormal situations, ensuring the continuity and reliability of the analysis process.

[0022] 5. Low maintenance cost and long service life The system structure of this invention is simple and highly integrated, requiring no complex software systems for maintenance and upgrades. All parameters are fixed at the factory, eliminating the need for complex parameter settings and calibrations by the user. This significantly reduces instrument maintenance workload and operating costs, extending the instrument's lifespan. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments.

[0025] The mass spectrometer's pure hardware-based intrinsic control system disclosed in this invention is integrated into the mass spectrometer's dedicated control chip and serves as the core control unit of the mass spectrometer. The entire system consists of pure hardware circuitry and one-time non-volatile memory, and does not contain any central processing unit, microcontroller, digital signal processor, or programmable logic device. All control logic is implemented through combinational logic circuits and sequential logic circuits.

[0026] The one-time non-volatile memory uses a fuse-type one-time programmable memory. All control logic, operating parameters, safety thresholds, timing parameters, and calibration data are fixed at the factory by blowing a fuse once using a dedicated device. Once fixed, this data cannot be modified, erased, or rewritten throughout the entire lifecycle of the device. The system also has a dedicated one-time non-volatile memory recording unit for storing critical operational information and abnormal event information. This recorded information is also unmodifiable, providing a reliable basis for troubleshooting and accountability.

[0027] The system comprises multiple independent yet collaborative pure hardware functional modules, primarily including a pure hardware signal processing module, a pure hardware quality analysis and control module, a pure hardware safety adjudication module, and a pure hardware scan timing control module. These modules communicate and coordinate with each other via a pure hardware state machine, jointly achieving full-process control of the mass spectrometer.

[0028] The pure hardware signal processing module consists of purely analog circuitry. It directly receives the ion signal output from the detector and performs feature extraction of the ion signal within the analog signal domain, including functions such as automatic range switching, dark current subtraction, baseline subtraction, peak shape detection, and peak overlap detection. This module does not involve analog-to-digital converter sampling or digital signal processing, resulting in extremely low signal processing latency.

[0029] The pure hardware mass spectrometer mass analyzer control module includes a pure hardware PID control unit and an electric field parameter table stored in a one-time non-volatile memory. The PID control unit generates precise radio frequency (RF) and DC voltages based on the electric field parameter table to drive the mass spectrometer's mass analyzer. The PID control parameters are permanently stored in the one-time non-volatile memory, eliminating the need for external dynamic adjustment channels and ensuring control stability and safety. The module also includes an RF voltage limit circuit and an overshoot detection circuit to prevent damage to the mass analyzer from excessive voltage or voltage overshoot.

[0030] The pure hardware safety adjudication module is the core of the system's safety, performing rigorous three checks on every critical operation of the mass spectrometer: vacuum compliance check, temperature compliance check, and power supply compliance check. Only when all three checks pass is the corresponding operation permitted. If any check fails, the hardware immediately locks the corresponding operation and records the relevant information to a one-time non-volatile memory recording unit. The system also features an independent emergency stop hardwired circuit; the emergency stop button is directly connected to the control terminals of each high-voltage power supply via a separate physical line, enabling emergency stop under any circumstances.

[0031] The pure hardware scan timing control module precisely controls the scan timing of the mass spectrometer based on the scan mode parameters stored in a disposable non-volatile memory. It can quickly switch between various scan modes such as full scan, selected ion monitoring, and multiple reaction monitoring. During the switching between different scan modes, an ion cleaning period is automatically inserted. The cleaning duration is stored in the disposable non-volatile memory to ensure that there is no cross-interference between different scan modes.

[0032] The vacuum monitoring redundant circuit employs two completely independent vacuum detection units operating synchronously, comparing the detection values ​​of the two units in real time. A calibration prompt is issued when the deviation between the two values ​​exceeds the threshold stored in the one-time non-volatile memory. The vacuum stability confirmation unit continuously monitors the vacuum level, only allowing the high-voltage power supply to be turned on when the vacuum level remains within a safe range for a set period, ensuring the safe operation of the instrument.

[0033] The circuitry's anti-circuit disturbance design employs a triple-modular redundancy design for critical storage units, ensuring data stability through parallel voting among the three units. This circuit also monitors the operating current of each power domain in real time; when current changes exceed a fixed threshold, it immediately cuts off the corresponding power supply to prevent the fault from escalating. The hardware data protection circuit generates verification information for all raw signal data and synchronously stores it in the recording unit of a one-time non-volatile memory, ensuring data integrity and immutability.

[0034] After the system is powered on, the pure hardware timing unit autonomously completes initialization, comprehensive self-test, and automatic calibration operations according to the procedures embedded in the one-time non-volatile memory. Upon receiving an analysis task, the pure hardware safety adjudication module verifies its validity before automatically initiating the analysis process. During scanning, ion signal processing and mass axis calibration are performed through pure hardware circuitry. In the event of an anomaly, the pure hardware circuitry executes tiered handling procedures according to pre-defined rules, from alarm prompts to automatic shutdown, ensuring the safety of the instrument and personnel.

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A purely hardware-based, intrinsically controlled mass spectrometer system, characterized in that: The core logic of the mass spectrometer's safety control, timing control, and data processing is all implemented by pure hardware circuits. The core logic parameters and operating parameters are fixed in a one-time non-volatile memory and cannot be modified during operation. The system contains multiple pure hardware functional modules, and the modules work together to complete the entire process control of the mass spectrometer. It also features a recording unit with a one-time non-volatile memory for storing critical operation and abnormal event information; it does not contain any adaptive control algorithms based on real-time signal quality feedback.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system does not have a central processing unit, microcontroller, or digital signal processor. All control logic is fixed and stored, and no dynamically adjusted software or programmable logic participates in its operation.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware signal processing module. This module is composed of a pure analog circuit to form an ion signal feature extraction unit, which directly extracts the core physical features of the ion signal without going through analog-to-digital converter sampling and digital signal processing. It can realize at least one of the following functions: automatic range switching, dark current subtraction, baseline subtraction, peak shape detection, and peak overlap detection.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware quality analysis and control module, which contains a pure hardware PID control unit and an electric field parameter table stored in a one-time non-volatile memory. The PID control unit generates radio frequency voltage and DC voltage based on the electric field parameter table to drive the mass spectrometer mass analyzer. The PID control parameters are stored in the one-time non-volatile memory and have no external dynamic adjustment channel.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pure hardware quality analysis and control module is also equipped with an RF voltage limiting circuit and an overshoot detection circuit; the RF voltage limiting circuit limits the RF voltage to the safe upper limit range of the one-time non-volatile memory; when the overshoot detection circuit detects that the voltage change rate exceeds the one-time non-volatile memory solidification threshold, it automatically inserts a damping delay period.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pure hardware functional module includes a pure hardware safety adjudication module, which performs three checks on the critical operations of the mass spectrometer: vacuum compliance check, temperature compliance check, and power supply compliance check. If any check fails, the corresponding operation is locked by hardware, and the relevant information is recorded to a recording unit that is permanently stored in a one-time non-volatile memory. An emergency stop hard-wired connection circuit is also provided, and the emergency stop button is directly connected to the control terminal of each high-voltage power supply through an independent line.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is also equipped with a pure hardware scanning timing control module, which can quickly switch between full scan, ion monitoring, and multi-reaction monitoring modes based on the scanning mode parameters fixed in the one-time non-volatile memory; during the switching between different scanning modes, an ion cleaning period is automatically inserted, and the cleaning duration is fixed in the one-time non-volatile memory.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is also equipped with a vacuum monitoring redundant circuit, which uses two independent vacuum detection units to work synchronously and compare the detection values ​​in real time. When the value deviation exceeds the threshold of the one-time non-volatile memory, a calibration prompt is issued. It is also equipped with a vacuum stability confirmation unit, which allows the high-voltage power supply to be turned on only when the vacuum level is continuously within a safe range within a set period of time.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is also equipped with an anti-circuit abnormal disturbance circuit and a hardware data protection circuit; the anti-circuit abnormal disturbance circuit adopts a redundant design for key storage units and ensures data stability through parallel voting of multiple units; it monitors the operating current of each power domain in real time, and cuts off the corresponding power supply when the current change exceeds the fixed threshold. The hardware data protection circuit generates verification information for the original signal data and synchronously stores it in a recording unit that is permanently stored in a one-time non-volatile memory. Key operation information is retained throughout the process and cannot be modified.

10. A purely hardware-based, instinctive control method for a mass spectrometer, characterized in that, The specific steps of applying the system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 are as follows: after the system is powered on, the pure hardware timing unit autonomously completes the initialization, self-test, and calibration operations according to the process of being fixed by a one-time non-volatile memory; after receiving the analysis task, the analysis process is started after being verified and approved by the pure hardware security adjudication module. During the scanning process, ion signal processing and mass axis calibration are completed through pure hardware circuitry; when an abnormality is detected, the pure hardware circuitry performs graded treatment operations according to the solidified rules.