Sealed Ion Beam Sample Container for Atmospheric Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion beam processing systems expose samples to the atmosphere during loading, processing, and transfer, leading to sample deterioration, especially for sensitive materials like lithium used in electric vehicle batteries.
Innovation Solution
An ion beam processing system with a sample container that forms a sealed space using a detachable cover portion and a window for visual inspection, allowing samples to be aligned and processed without atmospheric exposure, and a shield plate to control the ion beam irradiation area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sample is exposed to the atmosphere during loading and transfer, then the processing system can operate with simple open structure, but the sample quality deteriorates due to atmospheric exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealed sample container that maintains an inert atmosphere (vacuum or inert gas) to prevent atmospheric exposure of the sample during loading, processing, and transfer. This resolves the contradiction by creating a protected environment that preserves sample quality while allowing the processing system to operate with relatively simple structure.
2Reliability
If a sealed sample container is used to prevent atmospheric exposure, then sample quality is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing system into separate functional modules: a sealed sample container for protecting the sample, a sample chamber for ion beam processing, and a transfer mechanism. This segmentation allows the sealed container to be designed independently with minimal complexity, while maintaining sample quality protection throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary transfer mechanism that operates in vacuum or inert gas atmosphere to move the sealed sample container between the loading port and the sample chamber. This intermediary system maintains the sealed environment during transfer, preventing atmospheric exposure while avoiding direct mechanical contact that would compromise sample integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the cover portion is mounted from outside the sample chamber, then the sealing operation is simplified, but the sample may be exposed to atmosphere during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sample container with a pre-assembled sealed structure where the cover portion is attached to the container body in a controlled environment before entering the sample chamber. This preliminary sealing action ensures the sample is protected from atmospheric exposure during the mounting operation, while the simplified external mounting mechanism maintains ease of operation.
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
Prevents sample quality deterioration by maintaining a sealed environment throughout processing and analysis, ensuring accurate and undamaged sample cross-sections, particularly beneficial for lithium-ion battery components.
Implementation Method 1
an ion source (10) that produces an ion beam (B)
Implementation Method 2
processing a sample (S) mounted on a sample stage (30) by irradiating the sample (S) with an ion beam (B)
Data Source
AI summary
An ion beam processing system (100) processes the sample (S) mounted on a sample stage (30) by irradiating the sample with an ion beam in a sample chamber (2). The system has a sample container (20) including a cover portion (26) formed to be detachably mountable to a base portion (24), the sample stage (30) on which the container (20) is detachably mountable, and cover mounting/dismounting apparatus (40) for mounting and dismounting the cover portion (26) from outside the sample chamber (2).