MCP Detector Ring Member for Time Response Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The stability of the time response characteristic in MCP detectors is degraded due to external potential sources, particularly in downsized devices where maintaining sufficient distance between the MCP detector and the housing inner wall is challenging, leading to waveform distortion and overshoot in the signal output.

Innovation Solution

The MCP unit incorporates a restriction structure that includes a ring member to separate the acceleration electrode and anode from the surrounding space, restricts electron movement, controls potential differences, and adjusts electron trajectories to suppress secondary electron emission, thereby reducing the influence of external potential sources and stabilizing the time response characteristic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the MCP detector is downsized to reduce device volume, then the volume of the detector is reduced, but the distance between the MCP detector and housing inner wall becomes insufficient, causing waveform distortion and overshoot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetector volumeVSAvoidtime response characteristic stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detector is divided into separate functional regions: the MCP unit with acceleration electrode and anode, and the housing space. The ring member creates a physical partition that isolates the electric field generation region from the housing, allowing compact overall design while maintaining stable time response characteristics through regional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ring member is introduced as an intermediary component between the anode and the housing inner wall. This ring member with through-holes serves as a barrier that prevents direct interaction between the electric field and the housing, eliminating waveform distortion while enabling compact detector design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the distance between anode and housing inner wall is increased to prevent waveform distortion, then the time response characteristic stability is improved, but the overall detector volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime response characteristic stabilityVSAvoiddetector volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The detector space is segmented into a compact MCP unit and the housing space, with the ring member creating a clear boundary. This segmentation allows the electric field region to be compact while the ring member provides sufficient effective distance from the housing, resolving the contradiction between size and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ring member extends in the radial dimension perpendicular to the electron flight path, providing electrical isolation from the housing without increasing the axial length of the detector. This dimensional approach maintains compact overall volume while ensuring stable time response characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a ring member with through-holes is added to separate the acceleration electrode and anode from surrounding space, then the influence of external potential sources is reduced and time response stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime response characteristic stabilityVSAvoiddetector structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ring member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical isolation from the housing, maintains the electric field configuration, allows electron passage through its through-holes, and structurally supports the anode. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity despite adding a component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The ring member is implemented as a thin-walled structure with through-holes that provides effective electrical isolation without requiring substantial material or complex construction. This thin-film approach minimizes the added complexity while achieving the isolation function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively reduces waveform distortion and overshoot, achieving a stable time response characteristic independent of external environmental factors, even in compact designs, by confining secondary electrons within the MCP unit's space between the acceleration electrode and anode.

Implementation Method 1

when charged particles are injected into the MCP group 2, the MCP group 2 emits a large number of electrons (secondary electrons multiplied in each of the MCPs) in accordance therewith

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSecondary electron emission: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the acceleration electrode 5 and anode 4 are set at respective minus potentials higher than the OUT electrode 3... the acceleration electrode 5... having a function to accelerate secondary electrons emitted from the MCP group 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric field acceleration: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP2720251B1MCP unit, MCP detector, and time-of-flight mass spectrometer
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
  • EP2720251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2720251B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2720251B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An MCP unit of the present invention has a triode structure with a structure to achieve a desired time response characteristic independent of restrictions from a channel diameter of MCP, and is provided with an MCP group, a first electrode, a second electrode, an anode, and an acceleration electrode. Particularly, the MCP unit further comprises a ring member between the acceleration electrode and the anode, as s restriction structure for confining reflected electrons emitted from the anode in response to incidence of secondary electrons from the MCP group, within a space between the acceleration electrode and the anode.