1. A detection apparatus comprising:
a sample inlet;
an arrangement for ionizing molecules entering the apparatus via the inlet;
a drift region in which an electrical field is established to draw ions away from the ionizing arrangement to an asymmetric field region in which the ions are subject to an asymmetric field for detection;
a source of dry gas arranged to supply dry gas to the drift region at a location between its ends such that, for a first part of the path along the drift regions, ions travel against the flow of the dry gas and, for a second part of the path along the drift region, the ions travel with the flow of the dry gas.
2. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drift region comprises:
a plurality of electrode plates spaced from one another along the direction of travel of the ions.
3. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrode plates are arranged parallel with one another and each have an aperture therein through which the ions travel along the drift region.
4. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the asymmetric field region comprises:
two FAIMS plates extending parallel to the direction of travel and a detector located beyond the FAIMS plates so as to detect ions passing through the two FAIMS plates.
5. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sample inlet comprises:
a membrane permeable to the analyte, or a pinhole, or a capillary inlet.
6. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the detection apparatus is also arranged to supply dry gas to a location adjacent the inlet.
7. A method of detecting an analyte substance comprising the steps of:
introducing molecules of the substance via an inlet;
ionizing molecules of the sample;
drifting the ions formed by means of an electrical field in a direction away from the inlet and against the flow of a dry gas:
subsequently drifting the ions in the same direction with the flow of the dry gas:
subsequently admitting the ions to a region of a transverse electrical field so as to separate different ion species from one another; and
detecting some of the ion species.
8. A method as defined in claim 7, additionally comprising:
supplying dry gas adjacent an inside of the inlet.
9. A detection apparatus comprising:
a housing having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, said outlet end being located downstream from said inlet end;
a sample inlet located in said housing at said inlet end;
an ionization source located in said housing proximate said inlet end, said ionization source ionizing molecules of an analyte entering said housing through said sample inlet;
a drift region located downstream from said ionization source, said drift region having an electrical field located therein which draws ions away from said ionizing source and toward an asymmetric field region located downstream from said drift region;
a source of dry gas, a first portion of which is supplied to the drift region at a location intermediate the ends thereof such that for a first part of the path along the drift region ions travel against the flow of the dry gas, and for a second part of the path along the drift region the ions travel with the flow of the dry gas;
wherein said ions passing through said asymmetric field region are separated into different ion species with a first plurality of ion species being neutralized and a second plurality of ion species continuing downstream from said asymmetric field region toward said outlet end of said housing; and
a detector located downstream of said asymmetric field region which detects said second plurality of ion species.
10. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said drift region is established by a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart electrode plates each having a coaxial aperture extending therethrough, said apertures being axially aligned with an axis extending from said inlet end of said housing to said outlet end of said housing, said plurality of electrode plates being located downstream from said ionization source and upstream from said asymmetric field region.
11. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 10, additionally comprising:
a voltage source that is arranged to apply successively higher voltages to said electrode plates ranging from the lowest voltage on the most upstream one of said electrode plates to the highest voltage on the most downstream one of said electrode plates.
12. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said first portion of said dry gas is provided to said drift region at a location intermediate a pair of said electrode plates.
13. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first portion of said dry gas is provided to said drift region at a location intermediate the furthest downstream of said electrode plates and the one of said electrode plates plated adjacent to said furthest downstream of said electrode plates.
14. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said asymmetric field region is established by a pair of closely-spaced-apart FAIMS plates extending parallel to an axis extending from said inlet end of said housing to said outlet end of said housing.
15. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 14, additionally comprising:
a voltage source that is arranged to apply an asymmetric alternating voltage superimposed on a DC compensation voltage across said pair of FAIMS plates, said DC compensation voltage being selected such that said first plurality of ion species are attracted to one or other of said pair of FAIMS plates where they are neutralized.
16. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 9 additionally comprising:
a membrane covering said sample inlet, said membrane allowing molecules of an analyte of interest to enter said housing, but preventing larger molecules, particles, and the like from entering said housing.
17. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein a second portion of said dry gas is provided to said housing at a location adjacent said sample inlet.
18. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said dry gas has an first outlet from said housing at a location that is longitudinally intermediate the locations at which said first and second portions of said dry gas are supplied to said detection apparatus.
19. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said dry gas has a second outlet from said housing at said outlet end of said housing.
20. A detection apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first portion of said dry gas flows both downstream towards said asymmetric field region, and upstream towards said sample inlet.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bicycle operating device comprising:
a first operating unit including a clamp portion for attaching the bicycle operating device to a bicycle and a first operating member;
a second operating unit including a housing and a second operating member; and
a connecting member including a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, the first attachment portion being detachably attached to an outwardly facing surface of the clamp portion of the first operating unit by a first adjustable connection, and the second attachment portion being detachably attached to the second operating unit by a second adjustable connection,
the first adjustable connection being configured and arranged to change a relative position of the connecting member with respect to the clamp portion in a first direction, the first adjustable connection providing angular adjustment in the first direction with respect to a center axis of a band part of the clamp portion,
the second adjustable connection being configured and arranged to change a relative position of the connecting member with respect to the second operating unit in a second direction that is different from the first direction,
the second attachment portion further including a recess receiving a protruding rib provided on the second operating unit and extending in the second direction to provide linear adjustment in the second direction with respect to the center axis of the band part of the clamp portion, the protruding rib forming a one-piece unitary structure with the second operating unit, the second attachment portion of the connecting member further including a fastener attached to the second operating unit, the fastener intersecting with the recess of the second attachment portion.
2. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein
the first operating unit is a brake operating unit, and the second operating unit is a shift operating unit.
3. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein
the outwardly facing surface is formed on the band part of the clamp portion of the first operating unit.
4. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein
the outwardly facing surface is formed on the band part of the clamp portion and is curved, and the first attachment portion of the connecting member has a curved mounting surface that mates with the outwardly facing surface of the band part of the clamp portion such that the outwardly facing surface and the curved mounting surface cooperate together to form at least part of the first adjustable connection.
5. The bicycle operating device according to claim 4, wherein
the first attachment portion of the connecting member includes an opening in the curved mounting surface with a fastener having a shaft disposed in the opening, and the band part of the clamp portion includes a hole that receives the shaft of the fastener such that the fastener, the opening and the hole cooperate together to further form at least part of the first adjustable connection.
6. The bicycle operating device according to claim 3, wherein
the first adjustable connection includes a fastener that attaches the first attachment portion of the connecting member to the band part of the clamp portion, and the fastener is further arranged to tighten the band part.
7. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein
the second attachment portion of the connecting member includes a slot arranged in a linear direction parallel to the center axis of the clamp portion, and the fastener has a shaft disposed in the slot and attached to the second operating unit, the slot and the fastener cooperating together to further form at least part of the second adjustable connection.
8. The bicycle operating device according to claim 3, wherein
the outwardly facing surface of the band part of the clamp portion is curved, and the first attachment portion of the connecting member has a curved mounting surface that mates with the outwardly facing surface of the band part of the clamp portion such that the outwardly facing surface and the curved mounting surface cooperate together to form at least part of the first adjustable connection.
9. The bicycle operating device according to claim 8, wherein
the first attachment portion of the connecting member includes an opening in the curved mounting surface with a first fastener having a shaft disposed in the opening, and the band part of the clamp portion includes a hole that receives the shaft of the first fastener such that the first fastener, the opening and the hole cooperate together to further form at least part of the first adjustable connection.
10. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein
the first adjustable connection includes a first fastener that attaches the first attachment portion of the connecting member to the band part of the clamp portion, and the first fastener is further arranged to tighten the band part.
11. The bicycle operating device according to claim 10, wherein
the outwardly facing surface is formed on the band part of the clamp portion and is curved, and the first attachment portion of the connecting member has a curved mounting surface that mates with the outwardly facing surface of the band part of the clamp portion such that the outwardly facing surface and the curved mounting surface cooperate together to form at least part of the first adjustable connection.
12. The bicycle operating device according to claim 11, wherein
the second attachment portion of the connecting member includes a slot arranged in a linear direction parallel to the center axis of the clamp portion, and the fastener of the second attachment portion has a shaft disposed in the slot and attached to the second operating unit, the slot and the second fastener cooperating together to further form at least part of the second adjustable connection.
13. The bicycle operating unit connector according to claim 7, wherein
the slot intersects with the recess of the second attachment portion.
14. The bicycle operating unit connector according to claim 1, wherein
the recess opens to at least two distinct surfaces of the second attachment member.
15. The bicycle operating unit connector according to claim 1, wherein
the protruding rib is disposed on the second operating unit at a location spaced from the connecting member with respect to the second direction in at least one attachment position of the second attachment portion.
16. The bicycle operating unit connector according to claim 1, wherein
the protruding rib extends in the second direction for a greater distance than the fastener extends in the second direction.