Ion Optic Alignment via Integrally Machined Manifold
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of ion optical assemblies in mass spectrometers with multiple vacuum stages is complex, leading to reduced positional accuracy and increased maintenance time due to the need for multiple mechanical interfaces and complex sealing, which affects the performance and cost of production.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometer design featuring a manifold with integrally machined reference surfaces that minimizes the number of interfaces between the manifold and ion optical assemblies, allowing for precise and reproducible alignment of these assemblies, even across different vacuum chambers, using supports and electrodes attached to the manifold for alignment and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mechanical interfaces are used to mount ion optical assemblies in separate vacuum chambers, then the mass spectrometer can accommodate multiple vacuum stages, but the alignment precision and positional accuracy of ion optical assemblies deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple vacuum chambers into a single integrated vacuum chamber, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical interfaces between chambers. This single-chamber design allows ion optical assemblies to be mounted on a common manifold with integrally machined reference surfaces, thereby maintaining high alignment precision while still accommodating multiple vacuum stages through internal partitioning rather than separate chamber connections.
2Stress or pressure
If multiple mechanical interfaces and complex sealing are used to separate vacuum chambers, then different vacuum pressures can be maintained, but the device complexity and maintenance time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vacuum chambers into one integrated vacuum chamber, reducing the number of mechanical interfaces and sealing requirements. Internal partition walls within the single chamber allow different vacuum pressure zones to be maintained without requiring multiple external chamber connections, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing maintenance needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mechanical interfaces are used for mounting ion optical assemblies, then flexibility in assembly configuration is improved, but the positional accuracy and alignment reproducibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple mounting interfaces into a single integrated manifold structure with integrally machined reference surfaces. This unified mounting system provides consistent, high-precision reference planes for all ion optical assemblies, eliminating cumulative alignment errors that would arise from multiple separate mechanical interfaces while maintaining configuration flexibility through the manifold's integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer has a manifold and at least one ion optical assembly that is composed of a support and electrodes attached to the support. The support is aligned to at least one reference surface machined integrally with the manifold such that the number of interfaces between the reference surface of the manifold and the electrodes is minimized. With such a design the positional and/or alignment precision of ion optical assemblies in a mass spectrometer can be improved.