Electron Beam Filament Break Detection via Segmented Current Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electron beam radiation devices cannot detect broken filaments during maintenance, as changes in electric current values are not evident, and they fail to specify which filaments are broken.

Innovation Solution

An electron beam detecting device with conductors corresponding to each filament, measuring and comparing current values to determine abnormal conditions, allowing for the identification of broken filaments even outside of operational periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If total electric current measurement is used, then detection of filament breaks is possible, but identification of specific broken filaments becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreak detectionVSAvoidfilament identification information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement system into multiple independent channels, each associated with specific filaments through dedicated conductors. When a break occurs, the measuring instrument in the affected channel detects the current change, and the system can identify which specific filament or group of filaments is broken by tracing the conductor-back electrode-filament relationship, thus preserving filament identification information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces conductors as intermediary elements that electrically connect specific filaments to measuring instruments. These conductors act as mediators that carry current information from individual filaments to the measurement system, enabling the identification of broken filaments by detecting which conductor's current measurement is affected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If multiple conductors and measuring instruments are added to detect individual filaments, then filament identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilament identification capabilityVSAvoidnumber of conductors and measuring instruments
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the filament array into multiple groups, with each group having its own conductor and measuring instrument. This segmentation strategy reduces the number of measurement channels compared to individually measuring each filament, while still enabling identification of broken filaments within each group, thus balancing detection capability with device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables the detection and specification of broken filaments during maintenance, ensuring accurate monitoring and maintenance without disassembling the device, and maintaining efficient electron beam irradiation.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of filaments 25 which radiate thermal electrons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal electron emission: Thermionic Emission

Implementation Method 2

a measuring unit 48 measuring a current value flowing through each of the conductors 46

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP2894639B1Electron beam radiation device
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 SHIBUYA IND CO LTD
  • EP2894639B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2894639B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2894639B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An electron beam detecting device detects a state of an electron beam radiated by an electron beam radiation device. A plurality of wire electrodes 46, which are conductors, are disposed corresponding to a plurality of filaments 25, the wire electrodes being electrically insulated from each other, in the area in which the electron beams are radiated. The electrical current flowing through each of the wire electrodes 46 is measured by an electric current measuring instrument (measuring unit) 48. A CPU (determining unit) 49 determines the radiation level of the electron beams by receiving a signal output by the electric current measuring instrument 48. The CPU 49 judges that when the measuring instrument 48 measures a decrease of the current value, an abnormal condition exists in the filament 25 corresponding to the conductor with the lower current value.