Compact Mass Spectrometer Using Elevated Gas Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mass spectrometers are large, power-hungry, and require specialized training to operate, limiting their portability and practicality for applications like on-the-spot security scanning and medical diagnostics due to their need for low gas pressures and high resolution.
Innovation Solution
Compact mass spectrometers with a single mechanical pump maintaining gas pressures between 1.3 kPa and 13 kPa, using efficient ion sources like glow discharge and capacitive discharge, and detectors like Faraday cups, which allow for lower power consumption and portability while providing sufficient resolution for chemical identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mass spectrometers operate at low gas pressures to achieve high resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase due to the need for multiple vacuum pumps and specialized components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameter from conventional low pressure (vacuum) to elevated pressure (1.3-13 kPa), enabling the use of a single mechanical pump instead of multiple vacuum pumps and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for chemical identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex vacuum pump systems and specialized low-pressure components from conventional mass spectrometers by operating at elevated pressures, retaining only the essential single mechanical pump and core mass spectrometry components
2Measurement precision
If conventional mass spectrometers use high-power components to maintain low pressure and achieve high resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the operating pressure parameter to elevated levels (1.3-13 kPa), the patent eliminates the need for high-power vacuum pump systems and associated components, dramatically reducing overall power consumption while maintaining sufficient resolution for chemical identification applications
3Measurement precision
If conventional mass spectrometers are designed for high resolution and low pressure operation, then measurement precision is improved, but weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameter to elevated levels, enabling the use of lighter components such as a single mechanical pump instead of multiple vacuum pumps, thereby reducing overall device weight and volume while maintaining sufficient measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes heavy and bulky vacuum pump systems and specialized low-pressure components from conventional mass spectrometers by operating at elevated pressures, retaining only the essential single mechanical pump and core components, thus reducing device weight and volume
4Measurement precision
If conventional mass spectrometers require specialized training to operate, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a substance identification system with a database that automatically identifies substances based on detected mass spectra, reducing the need for specialized operator training and interpretation skills while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual interpretation process (requiring specialized training) with an automated computational identification system using databases and algorithms, maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation
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
The compact design enables portable, low-power operation with reduced size and power consumption, facilitating on-the-spot chemical identification and hazard assessment without the need for advanced training, suitable for various applications including security scanning and medical diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
a single mechanical pump maintaining gas pressures between 1.3 kPa and 13 kPa
Implementation Method 2
using efficient ion sources like glow discharge and capacitive discharge
Implementation Method 3
molecules or particles are excited or ionized, and these excited species often break down to form ions
Implementation Method 4
using efficient ion sources like glow discharge and capacitive discharge
Implementation Method 5
detecting ions generated by the ion source according to a mass-to-charge ratio of the ions
Implementation Method 6
detectors like Faraday cups, which allow for lower power consumption and portability
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D~1E
AI summary
Mass spectrometers and methods for measuring information about samples using mass spectrometry are disclosed. The mass spectrometers include an ion source, an ion trap, an ion detector, and a gas pressure regulation system, where during operation of the mass spectrometers, the gas pressure regulation system is configured to maintain a gas pressure of between 100 mTorr and 100 Torr in at least two of the ion source, the ion trap, and the ion detector, and the ion detector is configured to detect ions generated by the ion source according to a mass-to-charge ratio of the ions.