Stacked-Plate Ion Guide for Radial Confinement and Lower Voltage Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ion guiding devices, such as quadrupole ion guides, face challenges in manufacturing precision, high voltage requirements, and interference issues, making them expensive and difficult to maintain, while stacked ring ion guides lack effective radial confinement.
Innovation Solution
An ion guiding device with axially stacked plates, where each plate is formed of electrically isolated conductive portions allowing separate AC/RF voltages, enabling better focussing and reducing interference risks, while maintaining the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of stacked ring ion guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If quadrupole ion guides are used to provide better focussing and radial confinement, then ion confinement is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements and voltage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is segmented into multiple axially stacked plates, each plate being a separate, manufacturable component. This segmentation allows each plate to be manufactured independently with standard precision, avoiding the need for high-precision manufacturing of entire quadrupole assemblies. The segmented structure also enables modular assembly and easier maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple conductive portions that can be manufactured as inexpensive, replaceable components. Rather than requiring expensive, high-precision quadrupole rods, the invention uses simpler conductive elements that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, reducing both initial cost and maintenance complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If quadrupole ion guides are used to provide better focussing, then radial confinement is improved, but voltage requirements and interference risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical system is segmented into multiple independent voltage sources, one for each plate. This segmentation isolates voltage interference to local regions rather than affecting the entire ion guide system. Each plate can be controlled independently, reducing the risk of system-wide interference and breakdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked plate structure acts as an intermediary between the voltage sources and the ion beam. By distributing the voltage application across multiple intermediate plates rather than using direct quadrupole rods, the system reduces voltage interference and breakdown risks while maintaining effective ion confinement.
3Ease of manufacture
If stacked ring ion guides are used to simplify construction and reduce cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but radial confinement capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each plate in the stacked structure has conductive portions strategically positioned to create localized electric fields that provide radial confinement. This local quality approach allows simple plate construction while achieving effective ion confinement through carefully designed conductive portion placement on each individual plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the traditional planar stacked ring structure to a three-dimensional stacked plate structure with conductive portions extending in multiple directions. This dimensional change enables effective radial confinement similar to quadrupoles while maintaining the manufacturing simplicity of stacked components.
4Quantity of substance
If quadrupole ion guides are used to focus more ions through an aperture, then ion transmission capacity is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is divided into multiple axially stacked plates that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation reduces device complexity by allowing modular construction, easier maintenance, and replacement of individual plates without affecting the entire system, while still achieving high ion transmission capacity.
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 design allows for more complex confining fields, improved ion confinement, and the ability to implement travelling waves, resulting in a compact, efficient, and cost-effective ion guiding device with enhanced radial confinement.
Implementation Method 1
each axial plate is formed of first and second electrically isolated conductive portions, allowing first and second AC or RF voltages to be separately maintained on each plate
Implementation Method 2
The resulting quadrupole field generally provides better focussing, i.e. focusses ions closer to the central axis
Implementation Method 3
axial fields can be applied across a portion of the device... allows the implementation of travelling wave techniques, where ions are driven along the length of the ion guide by translating a series of axial potential wells
Implementation Method 4
The extensions are shaped and arranged relative to each other such that when the electrodes are interleaved, the region between the extensions defines an opening... allowing first and second AC or RF voltages to be separately maintained on each plate... The resulting quadrupole field generally provides better focussing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an ion guide comprising a plurality of axially stacked plates, wherein at least some or all of said plates comprise: a first electrically conductive portion; and a second electrically conductive portion, wherein the second electrically conductive portion is electrically isolated from the first electrically conductive portion, the first and second electrically conductive portions being shaped and arranged relative to each other so as to define an opening through which ions are axially transmitted in use; wherein, in use, a first AC or RF voltage is applied to the first electrically conductive portion and a second AC or RF voltage is applied to the second electrically conductive portion in order to confine ions radially within said opening. The first and second electrically conductive portions (1, 2) may be separately formed and interleaved within the ion guide to define the plates. Alternatively the first (41, 43) and second (42, 44) electrically conductive portions may be printed onto a common substrate (4).