Electrostatic Ion Pulse Generation Without Magnetic Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating, storing, and releasing ions from a residual gas atmosphere are inefficient due to high equipment costs, magnetic field requirements, production of multiply ionized ions, and energy distribution issues, which complicate downstream analytical processes and increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a permeable anode with a negative space charge distribution to ionize and store ions, eliminating the need for magnetic fields and focusing electrodes, and allowing for the generation of singly charged ions with a thermal energy distribution, independent of residual gas pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-energy electron beams are used for ion generation, then ionization efficiency is improved, but device complexity and magnetic field requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic electron beam focusing system with an electrostatic field-based ionization mechanism. Electrons are thermionically emitted and accelerated through a simple electrode structure without requiring complex magnetic lenses or coils, thereby substituting a complex electromagnetic system with a simpler electrostatic one while maintaining ionization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electron energy parameter from high-energy ( >15 kV) to low-energy (500-1000 V) regime. This parameter change allows ionization to occur through a different mechanism that does not require magnetic field confinement, thus reducing device complexity while still achieving effective ion generation
2Manufacturing precision
If high magnetic field strengths are used for electron beam focusing, then beam focus is improved, but space requirements and shielding needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes magnetic focusing with electrostatic field confinement. A simple electrode structure creates an electric field that confines and directs electrons without requiring magnetic lenses, coils, or associated shielding, dramatically reducing the device footprint and eliminating magnetic shielding requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the magnetic field generation components (coils, magnets, shielding) from the system entirely. By using electrostatic fields instead, the design removes the entire magnetic subsystem, reducing space requirements and simplifying the overall device architecture
3Productivity
If high emission currents are used for ion generation, then ion production rate is improved, but power consumption and heat input increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters to use low-energy electrons (500-1000 V) with moderate emission currents instead of high-energy electrons with high currents. This parameter change reduces the power consumption (P=IV) significantly while maintaining effective ionization through the electrostatic field mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the high-power electron beam system with a low-power electrostatic ionization system. The electrostatic field enables ionization at much lower power levels, reducing both electrical power consumption and heat generation in the vacuum chamber
4Productivity
If high-energy electrons are used for ionization, then ionization capability is improved, but molecular fragmentation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electron energy parameter from high-energy to low-energy regime (500-1000 V). This parameter change ensures that electrons have sufficient energy to ionize gas molecules but not enough energy to fragment them, preserving molecular integrity while maintaining ionization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the high-energy impact ionization mechanism with a gentler electrostatic field-based ionization. The electrostatic field accelerates electrons to optimal ionization energies without the excessive energies that cause molecular fragmentation, thereby preserving the integrity of ionized molecules
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 solution enables efficient ion generation and storage with reduced power consumption, maintaining molecular integrity, and providing a stable ion distribution for accurate analysis across varying pressures.
Implementation Method 1
an electron source (1) for releasing electrons
Implementation Method 2
the particles of the residual gas atmosphere are ionizable due to the negative space charge and form an attractive potential for the generated positive ions
Implementation Method 3
a spatial potential distribution attractive for the generated positive ions and forming a storage area for the positive ions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3D
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and to a method for generating, storing, and liberating ions from a residual gas atmosphere, comprising an electron source for liberating electrons, an anode that is permeable to the electrons liberated by the electron source and has a negative spatial charge distribution, formed by the electrons, within an ion storage chamber at least partly surrounded by the anode, and a pulse electrode, isolated electrically from the anode, for extracting the ions from the storage chamber, wherein there are no further electrodes within the ion storage chamber and the ion storage chamber has a spatial potential distribution that is attractive to the ions generated by ionization of the residual gas atmosphere exclusively on the basis of the negative spatial charge distribution produced by the electrons, and stores ions.