3D Stacked Ion Optical Systems for Compact Mass Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time-of-flight mass spectrometers face challenges in achieving high mass resolution and accuracy while maintaining a compact size, as elongating the flight distance requires large device enlargement and is difficult to design and manage ion optical systems that prevent ion divergence and temporal broadening.
Innovation Solution
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer with tandemly connected basic ion optical systems on different planes, forming a three-dimensional structure that ensures temporal focusing of ions regardless of initial position, angle, and energy, allowing for elongation of flight distance without increasing the installation area, using sector-shaped electric fields to create non-loop and loop orbits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the flight distance is elongated to enhance mass resolution, then mass resolution is improved, but the device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar ion optical system to a three-dimensional configuration by stacking multiple basic ion optical systems on different planes. This dimensional change allows the flight path to be elongated through vertical stacking rather than horizontal extension, thereby improving mass resolution without proportionally increasing the device's footprint area.
Solution Approach 2:
The ion optical system is divided into multiple identical or similar basic ion optical systems that can be independently designed and then stacked together. Each basic system contributes a portion of the total flight distance, and by segmenting the overall system into these modular units, the patent achieves extended flight path length while maintaining a compact overall device structure through efficient spatial arrangement.
2Measurement precision
If the number of sector-shaped electric fields is increased to elongate the flight distance, then mass resolution is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The complex ion optical system is segmented into multiple identical or similar basic ion optical systems. Each basic system contains a manageable number of sector-shaped electric fields, and by repeating these standardized modules, the patent achieves the required total flight distance without designing an overly complex single-pass system. This modular segmentation simplifies the design process and makes the overall system more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Each basic ion optical system is designed as a universal module that performs the same function (accelerating and focusing ions) and can be replicated multiple times. This universality allows the patent to achieve extended flight distance by simply stacking identical modules rather than designing increasingly complex variations, thereby reducing design complexity while maintaining improved mass resolution.
3Measurement precision
If ions are made to fly along a loop orbit to elongate the flight distance, then mass resolution is improved, but the ion beam may diverge and sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a planar loop orbit that requires ions to travel in a closed circular path, the patent stacks basic ion optical systems on different planes to create a three-dimensional flight path. This dimensional change allows ions to travel in straight or gently curved paths through multiple stages without the need for tight loop configurations, thereby maintaining ion beam focus and sensitivity while still achieving extended flight distance for improved mass resolution.
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 configuration enables high mass accuracy and resolution while keeping the device compact, simplifying the design by focusing ions on a plane and efficiently using three-dimensional space, ensuring a long flight distance and maintaining high detection sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of basic ion optical systems in each of which an ion inlet, an ion outlet, and a flight orbit are provided on a plane, the flight orbit being formed by electric fields including a plurality of sector-shaped electric fields
Implementation Method 2
ions having the same mass satisfy a time-focusing condition at the ion outlet
Implementation Method 3
the mass of an ion is generally calculated from the time of flight which is obtained by measuring a period of time required for the ion to fly over a fixed distance
Data Source
AI summary
A basic ion optical system (2) in which the temporal focusing of ions is ensured includes a plurality of sector-shaped electrodes (11, 12, 13, and 14), an ion injection slit (15), and an ion ejection slit (16), which are placed on the same plane. A plurality of basic ion optical systems (2) are placed in such a manner as to be mutually separated at predetermined intervals in the direction approximately orthogonal to their planes. The ion ejection slit (16) of the lower-stage basic ion optical system (2) and the ion injection slit (15) of the next-stage basic ion optical system (2) are connected to each other via another basic ion optical system (3) in which the temporal focusing of the ions is ensured. Accordingly, the flight distance can be elongated while assuredly achieving the temporal focusing of the ions as an entire ion optical system (1), and a three-dimensional space can be efficiently utilized to compactify the ion optical system (1).