Atomic Oven Cartridge Loading for Vacuum-Side Beam Generation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional atomic ovens require disassembly of vacuum components for refilling or replacing the atom source, complicating the operation and hindering miniaturization and power efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An atomic beam generation device with a cartridge system that allows insertion and removal of the atom source through an access port on the atmosphere side, featuring a temperature adjustment mechanism and a press mechanism for stable installation, enabling simple refilling without disassembling vacuum components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the atomic oven uses a conventional reservoir structure for atom source, then the atomic beam can be generated, but the device size and heater power increase, hindering miniaturization and power saving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidatom source quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The atomic oven is divided into a reusable main body and a replaceable cartridge containing the atom source. This segmentation allows the atom source to be refilled by simply replacing the cartridge, eliminating the need to disassemble the vacuum chamber while enabling miniaturization of the main body structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge containing the atom source is designed as a disposable or refillable component. When the atom source is depleted, the entire cartridge is replaced rather than refilling the original reservoir, simplifying the refilling process and enabling compact design of the permanent structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If the atomic oven is designed with a sealed vacuum structure, then vacuum stability is maintained, but refilling with atom source requires disassembly of vacuum components, complicating operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling operationVSAvoidvacuum chamber structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a permanent vacuum-maintained main body and a replaceable cartridge. The cartridge can be loaded with atom source outside the vacuum environment, then inserted through a vacuum seal, allowing refilling without disassembling vacuum components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A vacuum-sealed access port or loading mechanism acts as an intermediary, allowing the cartridge to be inserted into the vacuum chamber without breaking the vacuum seal. This mediator enables simple refilling operation while maintaining vacuum integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the atom source reservoir is enlarged to increase atom source quantity, then the atomic beam flux is improved, but the device size and heater power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatom source quantityVSAvoidheater power

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The atom source is contained in a disposable cartridge that can be pre-filled with optimized quantities of atom source. This allows the main body to remain compact with minimal heater power requirements, while the cartridge can be replaced to restore atom source supply without energy-intensive modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easy replacement and refilling of the atom source, enhancing operational simplicity and supporting miniaturization and power efficiency of atomic beam generation devices.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts a temperature of the atom source accommodated in the cartridge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4296797B1Atom beam generation device, physical package, optical lattice clock physical package, atomic clock physical package, atomic interferometer physical package, quantum information processing device physical package, and physical package system

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 JEOL LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

An atomic oven (40) includes a cartridge (200) and a main body (220). The cartridge (200) includes: a holder (202) that accommodates an atom source; and a capillary nozzle (204). The main body (220) includes: a housing (226) in which the cartridge (200) is installed; a button heater (228); an access opening (222a) for removing the cartridge (200) from the main body (220) and placing the cartridge into the main body (220), the access opening (222a) being provided on the atmosphere side, which is outside the main body (220); and a passage from the access opening (222a) to the housing (226). The cartridge (200) is inserted into the main body (220) through the access opening (222a) and is installed in the housing (226). The atom source is heated by the button heater (228), whereby atomic gas generated from the atom source is emitted as an atom beam to the vacuum side, which is outside the main body (220).