The invention relates to acquisition techniques for time-of-flight mass spectra with ionization of the analyte substances by matrix assisted laser desorption. The host may include at least one host central processing unit to execute at least one host operating system. The sensor tag may be based on passive RFID, or other passive devices that are powered by RF energy and that communicate with the powering source by backscatter, inductive coupling or reflected energy. Respective optical output ports of the output side switching element are provided with a group of output side optical deflection elements consisting of two optical deflection elements.