Printed Circuit Ion Mirror with Compensating Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometers and electrostatic ion traps face performance issues due to ion mirror misalignments and limited precision in manufacturing, which affect isochronicity and ion packet confinement, particularly when using printed circuit boards (PCBs) for electrode construction.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ion mirror with a compensating electric field region that includes equipotential field lines diverging, converging, or curving along the Z-direction, allowing for electrode misalignment compensation and improved ion trajectory control, using PCBs for electrode construction with adjustable voltage supplies to generate a wedge-shaped electric field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard PCB technology is used for ion mirror manufacturing, then manufacturing cost and ease of fabrication are improved, but manufacturing precision and electrode flatness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A compensating electrode is introduced as an intermediary element between the PCB ion mirror and the ion beam. This compensating electrode generates a corrective electric field that compensates for the geometric imperfections and misalignments inherent in PCB-manufactured ion mirrors, thereby enabling the use of lower-precision manufacturing techniques while maintaining analytical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters (voltage distribution) of the compensating electrode to dynamically adjust and compensate for geometric imperfections in the ion mirror. By varying the voltage applied to the compensating electrode, the system can correct for manufacturing variations without requiring higher manufacturing precision
2Reliability
If ion mirrors are manually aligned to high precision, then isochronicity and ion packet confinement are improved, but device complexity and alignment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating electrode enables the ion mirror system to self-correct for misalignments and geometric imperfections. Rather than requiring manual alignment procedures, the system automatically compensates for errors through the corrective electric field generated by the compensating electrode, simplifying the overall device complexity and reducing alignment time
Solution Approach 2:
The compensating electrode acts as a feedback mechanism that counteracts the effects of misalignment. By monitoring and correcting for geometric imperfections in real-time through electrical field adjustment, the system maintains reliable ion packet confinement without requiring complex mechanical alignment procedures
3Manufacturing precision
If higher precision manufacturing methods are used for ion mirrors, then electrode flatness and parallelism are improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, high-precision manufacturing processes with a more economical approach using standard PCB technology. The compensating electrode serves as a cost-effective solution that corrects for the lower precision of PCB manufacturing, making the overall system more economical while achieving the required performance
Solution Approach 2:
The compensating electrode serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between low-cost PCB manufacturing and high-performance ion mirror requirements. This intermediary element enables the use of inexpensive manufacturing methods while maintaining the precision and performance characteristics of high-end ion mirrors
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 enables the use of lower precision technologies for ion mirror manufacturing, such as PCBs, while maintaining high isochronicity and resolving ion packet tilts, resulting in improved mass spectrometer performance and resolution.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electrodes and voltage supplies connected thereto that are configured to generate an electric field region that reflects ions in a first dimension (X-dimension)
Implementation Method 2
electrodes and voltage supplies connected thereto that are configured to generate an electric field region that reflects ions
Implementation Method 3
at least a first compensating part of the electric field region through which ions travel in use has equipotential field lines that diverge, converge or curve as a function of position along a second, orthogonal dimension (Z-direction)
Data Source
AI summary
Improved ion mirrors (10) are proposed for multi-reflecting TOF MS and electrostatic traps at various analyzer topologies. Ion mirrors (10) are constructed of printed circuit boards (11) with improved precision and flatness. To compensate for the remaining geometrical imperfections of mirror electrodes there are proposed electrode sets (17) and field structures in the ion retarding region for electronically adjusting of the ion packets time fronts, for improving the ion injection into the analyzer and for reversing the ion motion in the drift direction.