Miniaturized Ion Pump Using Ring Magnets for Portable Vacuum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ion pumps are large, heavy, and inefficient, with high power consumption, making them difficult to move and not suitable for portable vacuum applications, and they often require many insulators that can emit gases, reducing vacuum quality and limiting their use in various vacuum chambers.

Innovation Solution

A portable vacuum carrying system utilizing a miniaturized ion pump with a cylindrical casing as a negative electrode and surrounding ring-like magnets to create three-dimensional magnetic fields, reducing size and weight, and using batteries for power, along with a movement mechanism for magnets and a casing made of lightweight materials like aluminum with titanium, to enhance efficiency and portability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional ion pumps use tabular permanent magnets arranged in parallel across a cuboid container, then the magnetic fields are unidirectional, but the spaces in the ion pumps are not effectively utilized and the device becomes large and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveion pump sizeVSAvoidmagnetic field distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement of tabular magnets to a three-dimensional configuration using ring-like magnets positioned at multiple heights along the cylindrical axis. This spatial reconfiguration creates multidirectional magnetic fields that effectively utilize the entire ion pump volume, resolving the contradiction between compact size and magnetic field versatility.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a composite structure combining cylindrical permanent magnets with soft magnetic materials arranged in alternating patterns. This composite configuration generates both radial and axial magnetic field components, achieving effective three-dimensional magnetic field distribution while maintaining a compact cylindrical form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional ion pumps use many insulators such as ceramics to obtain insulation between electrodes, then insulation is achieved, but gases are emitted from ceramics etc., lowering a degree of vacuum

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum qualityVSAvoidgas emission from insulators
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes traditional ceramic insulators from the electrode structure and replaces them with a magnetic field-based separation mechanism. The cylindrical negative electrode and ring-like magnets create magnetic confinement that eliminates the need for physical insulating barriers, thereby preventing gas emission from insulator materials and improving vacuum quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention substitutes mechanical insulators (ceramics) with a magnetic field system for electrode separation. The radial and axial magnetic fields generated by the ring-like magnets provide the necessary isolation between electrodes without requiring physical insulating materials, thus eliminating gas emission from ceramics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional ion pumps are made large and heavy, then they can maintain vacuum, but they cannot be moved easily and power consumption is large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum maintenance capabilityVSAvoidion pump weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ion pump into modular components: a cylindrical casing, segmented ring-like magnets positioned at different heights, and electrode structures. This segmentation allows for a compact cylindrical design that reduces overall weight while maintaining vacuum capability through the distributed magnetic field configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters from a cuboid container to a cylindrical form factor, and transitions from tabular to ring-like magnet shapes. These parameter changes enable a more space-efficient design with reduced volume and weight, while the three-dimensional magnetic field configuration maintains effective vacuum maintenance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If conventional ion pumps use unidirectional magnetic fields, then the structure is simple, but the spaces in the ion pumps are not effectively utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field structureVSAvoidspace utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic magnetic field characteristics by positioning ring-like magnets at multiple heights along the cylindrical axis, creating magnetic fields that vary in both radial and axial directions. This dynamic field configuration effectively utilizes the three-dimensional space within the ion pump while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 system allows for easy transportation of samples in a vacuum environment while maintaining high vacuum quality, supporting use in various vacuum chambers with reduced weight and power consumption, and improved magnetic field efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

electrons are spirally moved by means of a magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

residual gas molecules are collided with electrons that are spirally moving and are ionized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

the ionized molecules sputter the cathode electrode to adsorb onto the surfaces of the anode electrode or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSputtering: Sputtering

Implementation Method 4

permanent magnets each having the same shape and character are located in the direction of the same magnetic pole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2112678B1Vacuum conveyance system
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 NAT INST OF INFORMATION & COMM TECH
  • EP2112678B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP2112678B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2112678B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable vacuum carrying system. The above-mentioned problem is solved by a vacuum carrying system comprising an ion pump (6) comprising a casing (1), a positive electrode (2) provided in the casing (1), a negative electrode (3) fixed to the inner wall of the casing (1) and located on the circumference of the positive electrode (2), magnets (4) placed so as to surround the circumference of the negative electrode (3), and a connection part (5) for connecting the casing (1) to other device.