Electron Gun Short-Circuiting Mechanism for Safe Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electron gun conditioning methods require users to manually switch high voltages on and off, leading to time-consuming operations and safety risks when accessing high-voltage parts within the electron microscope.
Innovation Solution
An electron gun equipped with a short-circuiting mechanism that includes switch members and a drive unit, allowing for the emitter and electron gun electrodes to be short-circuited at the same potential as the applied high voltage, enabling safe and efficient conditioning without the need for frequent high-voltage switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electrode switch is operated using the operating member from the outside of the electron microscope, then the user can access the high-voltage part, but the user must switch the high voltage OFF which takes several hours leading to large time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the short-circuiting mechanism with switch members) that allows the user to operate the electrode switch from the outside of the electron microscope without needing to access the high-voltage part directly. The drive unit acts as a mediator to transmit the operating force from the operating member to the switch members, enabling safe and quick operation without high-voltage switching.
2Ease of operation
If the electrode switch is operated using the operating member, then the user can control the switch, but the user must switch high voltage OFF which creates safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the short-circuiting mechanism with switch members) that allows the user to operate the electrode switch from the outside of the electron microscope without needing to access the high-voltage part directly. The drive unit acts as a mediator to transmit the operating force from the operating member to the switch members, enabling safe and quick operation without high-voltage switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the switching mechanism into multiple components: the operating member outside the high-voltage region, the drive unit that transmits motion, and the switch members inside the high-voltage region. This segmentation allows the user to control the electrode switch from a safe distance without exposing themselves to high-voltage hazards.
3Ease of operation
If manual high-voltage switching is performed, then the electrode switch can be operated, but the operation takes several hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the short-circuiting mechanism with switch members) that allows the user to operate the electrode switch from the outside of the electron microscope without needing to access the high-voltage part directly. The drive unit acts as a mediator to transmit the operating force from the operating member to the switch members, enabling safe and quick operation without high-voltage switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The short-circuiting mechanism is pre-configured with switch members that can quickly establish or break electrical connections. The operating member is designed to transmit motion efficiently, allowing the user to perform the switching action in a matter of seconds rather than hours, dramatically improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electron gun includes an emitter, an electron gun electrode, and a short-circuiting mechanism for setting the emitter and the electron gun electrode at the same potential. The short-circuiting mechanism includes a first switch member provided with a first switch electrode that is connected to the emitter and a second switch electrode that is connected to the electron gun electrode, a second switch member provided with a third switch electrode, and a drive unit that operates at least one of the first switch member and the second switch member to switch between a state in which the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode are in contact with the third switch electrode and a state in which the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode are separated from the third switch electrode. The short-circuiting mechanism has the same potential as a predetermined voltage.