Mass Spectrometer Circuit Board Climate Control for Mass Axis Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass spectrometric instruments face issues with mass axis drift due to temperature and humidity changes, leading to shorter element life, increased maintenance, and operational costs, with insufficient consideration given to self-heating and humidity effects on electric elements.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometric instrument with a power supply control unit that regulates humidity and temperature of supplied gas to stabilize the environment for electric elements, using a gas supply unit, humidity controller, and Peltier cooling to maintain consistent conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grounded-type temperature sensing element is used to control heating, then electrical insulation is secured, but temperature response time increases and temperature overshoot occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temperature sensing element that directly contacts the circuit board without requiring electrical insulation, acting as an intermediary that provides accurate temperature feedback while avoiding the insulation delay problem. This mediator enables fast thermal coupling and rapid response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the heating control method with direct temperature sensing and feedback control, substituting the mechanical heating approach with a controlled thermal management system that responds quickly to temperature changes without overshoot.
2Measurement precision
If heating elements are mounted on the circuit board to control temperature, then mass axis drift is reduced, but element life decreases due to continuous heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or controlled heating cycles rather than continuous heating, allowing the circuit board to reach and maintain target temperature while reducing cumulative thermal stress on elements, thereby extending their operational life while maintaining mass axis stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temperature feedback from the temperature sensing element to control heating activation, enabling precise temperature maintenance with minimal heating input, which reduces thermal degradation and extends element life while preventing mass axis drift.
3Reliability
If non-grounded temperature sensing element is used, then electrical insulation is provided, but device size increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical insulation requirement from the temperature sensing element selection, using a grounded-type sensor that directly contacts the circuit board for thermal coupling while eliminating the need for insulation structures, thereby reducing device size and complexity.
4Measurement precision
If heating is used to control temperature, then mass axis drift is compensated, but maintenance cost increases due to shorter element life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control using temperature sensing to minimize heating duration and intensity, reducing thermal stress on heating elements and extending their lifespan, thereby lowering maintenance costs while maintaining mass axis stability through precise temperature control.
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
This solution reduces the influence of environmental temperature and humidity, preventing mass axis drift and extending the life of electric elements, thereby reducing maintenance and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a Peltier cooling unit (1052) that cools the circuit board (1011, 1012)
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensing element for the electric element
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a technique, which reduces influence of not only environmental temperature but also environmental humidity, thereby preventing shortening of life of each electric element forming a power supply of a mass spectrometric instrument. The disclosure therefore provides a mass spectrometric instrument including: a circuit board on which electric elements are disposed; a gas supply unit; and a mechanism that controls humidity and temperature of gas supplied from the gas supply unit and applies the gas with the humidity and temperature controlled to at least part of the circuit board.