Ion Source Assembly with Integral Alignment Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ion and electron sources in devices like mass spectrometers often become contaminated, leading to poor performance and analysis errors due to accumulation of unwanted species, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a source assembly with a housing featuring integral alignment features that couple with a terminal lens to align and retain source components, allowing for tool-less assembly and easy disassembly for cleaning, thereby preventing contamination and ensuring proper operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional source assemblies are used without integral alignment features, then assembly requires tools and complex procedures, but disassembly for cleaning becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The source assembly is divided into separable components (source housing, terminal lens, source components) that can be easily detached from each other. The integral alignment features enable tool-less assembly and disassembly by providing self-aligning mechanical interfaces between components, allowing rapid separation for cleaning without requiring complex tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral alignment features are designed to automatically guide and align components during assembly without requiring external tools or complex adjustment procedures. The features self-align the source components with the terminal lens, enabling users to perform assembly and disassembly operations easily and quickly.
2Reliability
If source components are tightly secured to prevent contamination, then alignment precision is maintained, but disassembly for cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The source assembly uses separable components connected through integral alignment features that provide both secure retention and easy separation. The mechanical interfaces are designed to hold components firmly during operation to prevent contamination, while allowing straightforward disassembly for cleaning by simply releasing the alignment feature engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between source components and terminal lens transitions from a static, permanently fixed state to a dynamic, easily reversible state. The integral alignment features enable the assembly to be quickly transformed from a secured configuration (preventing contamination) to a disassembled configuration (enabling cleaning), and back again.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment methods are used for source components, then alignment precision can be achieved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integral alignment features are pre-formed on the source housing and terminal lens during manufacturing. These features automatically perform the alignment function when components are assembled, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations during assembly. The alignment geometry is built into the components themselves, ensuring precision without adding procedural complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2D
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AI summary
An assembly comprising:a housing (606) comprising a first integral alignment feature; anda source assembly comprising source components (608a, 608b. 608c, 609) and a terminal lens (610) configured to focus a beam, wherein the terminal lens comprises a second integral alignment feature, wherein the source assembly is constructed and arranged to couple to the housing when the first integral alignment feature is coupled to the second integral alignment feature to align the terminal lens with the source components in the housing and retain the source components in the housing, and wherein the first integral alignment feature engages the second integral alignment feature to retain the source assembly to the housing upon circumferential rotation of the terminal lens.