Particle Beam Sample Fastening for Clean Cryogenic Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for fastening frozen objects to manipulators in particle beam apparatuses often result in contamination of multiple surfaces, insecure connections, and difficulties in further examination due to the deposition of precursors on cold surfaces, and the removal of vitrified ice is not sufficient for secure attachment.

Innovation Solution

A method using a particle beam to ablate and reapply material from a conductive material unit to the boundary region between the object and the manipulator, ensuring a secure and contamination-free connection, with the material unit being made of copper or other suitable metals for effective redeposition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a precursor is fed to fasten a frozen object to a manipulator by deposition, then the object can be attached to the manipulator, but multiple surfaces (manipulator, object holder, object) become contaminated with deposited precursor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidsurface contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful deposition process is extracted and replaced by a localized ablation-redeposition process that confines material transfer to the boundary region only, preventing contamination of other surfaces while maintaining attachment security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The particle beam acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables material transfer from the object to the manipulator through controlled ablation and redeposition, replacing the direct precursor deposition method and allowing precise spatial control of the attachment process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If vitrified ice is removed to fasten the object to the manipulator, then some attachment is achieved, but the connection remains insecure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment process simplicityVSAvoidattachment security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment process changes from simple ice removal to controlled material ablation and redeposition, altering the physical state and distribution of material at the boundary region to create secure mechanical interlocking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Material is preliminarily ablated from the object surface and redeposited at the boundary region before final attachment, preparing a suitable material structure that ensures secure connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If precursor deposition is used to fasten the object, then attachment is achieved, but further examination becomes difficult due to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidexamination difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment process creates localized material changes only at the boundary region between object and manipulator, leaving the rest of the object surface clean and accessible for further examination while providing secure attachment at the interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method provides a secure, contamination-free connection between the frozen object and the manipulator, allowing for effective movement and examination without contaminating the manipulator or object holder, and enables quick and reliable attachment.

Implementation Method 1

use the particle beam for ablation of material of the material unit and/or application of material to the material unit and/or to the manipulator and/or to the object in the boundary region between the object and the manipulator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Implementation Method 2

electrons are emitted by the object (so-called secondary electrons) and electrons of the primary electron beam are back scattered (so-called back scattered electrons). The secondary electrons and back scattered electrons are detected and used for image generation.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSecondary electron emission:

Implementation Method 3

electrons of the primary electron beam are back scattered (so-called back scattered electrons)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBack scattering:

Implementation Method 4

an objective lens for focusing the light beam onto the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic lens focusing:

Data Source

PatentUS20240038484A1Fastening an object to a manipulator and/or to an object holder in a particle beam apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH

AI summary

Fastening an object to a movable manipulator and/or an object holder in a particle beam apparatus and moving the object in the particle beam apparatus includes fastening a material unit, configured to hold an object, to the manipulator using a particle beam, fastening the object to the material unit using the particle beam, and, using the manipulator and/or an object stage, moving the object fastened to the material unit. A computer program product has program code which can be loaded into a processor and which, when executed, controls a particle beam apparatus to fasten a material unit, configured to hold an object, to the manipulator using a particle beam, fasten the object to the material unit using the particle beam, and, using the manipulator and/or an object stage, move the object fastened to the material unit.