Radially Segmented Ion Guide for Axial Misalignment Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Charged particle analysis instruments face issues with axial misalignment between stages and components, leading to deviations in charged particle transmission, where particles may not exit along the central axis but instead with radial offsets and angular deviations, necessitating control to focus particles towards the central axis.
Innovation Solution
A radially segmented charged particle guide with controllable electrically conductive segments and a control circuit to create an electric field, allowing charged particles to be redirected from one axial path to another relative to the central axis, ensuring they exit along a desired path within or between stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If axial transmission is used without radial focusing, then the device structure is simple, but charged particles exhibit radial offsets and angular deviations from the central axis
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is divided into multiple radially segmented electrodes (e.g., 4, 6, or 8 segments) arranged circumferentially around the central axis. Each segment can be independently controlled by separate voltage sources, allowing selective activation to create focused electric fields that redirect charged particles toward the central axis, thereby correcting radial offsets and angular deviations without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
Different radial segments of the ion guide are assigned different voltage potentials based on the specific misalignment conditions. By applying higher voltages to segments adjacent to where particles are deviating, localized electric fields are created that exert corrective forces on the charged particles, enabling precise control over particle trajectories while maintaining overall structural simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If radially segmented electrodes with separate voltage control are implemented, then charged particle focusing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially segmented electrode structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the ion guide structure and the focusing mechanism. The same segmented electrodes used for guiding ions axially are also used for radial focusing by applying appropriate voltage patterns, eliminating the need for separate focusing components and reducing overall device complexity despite the segmented design
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage applied to each radial segment is dynamically adjustable based on real-time detection of particle positions and misalignment conditions. Control circuits continuously monitor particle trajectories and modify segment voltages accordingly, enabling adaptive focusing that maintains high precision while using a relatively simple control architecture that can be integrated into existing mass spectrometer control systems
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 focuses charged particles along a selected axis, maximizing their transmission efficiency into or out of charged particle analysis stages, even when initial paths are misaligned, thereby improving the overall performance of charged particle analysis systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one control circuit configured to control the at least one voltage source to supply selected voltages to each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments to create an electric field within opening defined therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A charged particle guide includes a plurality of electrically conductive segments radially spaced apart from one another about an opening defined axially through the segments, wherein the opening defines a central axis passing centrally and axially therethrough such that charged particles are received at one end of the opening and pass through an opposite end of the opening, at least one voltage source configured to produce and supply separate voltages to each of the segments, and at least one control circuit configured to control supply of selected voltages to the segments to create an electric field within the opening configured to cause charged particles entering the one end of the opening along a first axial path relative to the central axis to exit the opposite end of the opening along a second axial path relative to the central axis, wherein the first and second axial paths are not collinear.