Electrode Standoff Isolator Geometry Against Conductive Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ion-optics components in ion beam systems face challenges such as high divergence, aberration, and contamination issues due to the deposition of gaseous phase filament material, leading to electrical losses and shorting, which complicates the reliable operation of neutron beam systems like those used in cancer radiation therapy.

Innovation Solution

The development of contaminant-resistant insulative structures with a novel geometry, including overhanging ribs and cupped sections, which reduce the deposition of conductive layers on insulative surfaces, ensuring extended operational life and maintaining electrical insulation while allowing ion beam passage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insulative structures are used in ion-optics components, then electrical insulation is provided, but conductive layers form on surfaces due to filament material deposition, leading to electrical losses and shorting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical insulation reliabilityVSAvoidconductive layer deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative structure is divided into multiple segments or sections, each with specific geometric features. This segmentation allows different surface areas to be optimized for different functions: some areas provide insulation while others are designed to minimize contamination deposition, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining electrical insulation and preventing conductive layer formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces geometric features such as overhanging ribs and cupped sections that create shadowed regions. These three-dimensional structures utilize spatial dimensionality to block the path of filament material, preventing deposition on critical insulative surfaces by creating protected zones that are not directly exposed to the contaminant source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If ion beam extraction is performed from plasma boundary surface, then ion beam generation is achieved, but high divergence and aberration occur due to space charge effects and magnetic dipole separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion beam generationVSAvoidbeam parallelism

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ion-optics component is positioned immediately at the plasma boundary surface where ion extraction occurs. By performing the focusing action at the very beginning of beam formation, the component preemptively corrects divergence and aberration before they can significantly degrade beam quality, enabling stable parallel beam extraction despite space charge effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If ion-optics component is placed close to beam formation region, then compact design and high focusing power are achieved, but component is more exposed to filament material contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent compactnessVSAvoidfilament material deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different surface areas of the ion-optics component are designed with different geometric properties. Critical surfaces that are exposed to filament material are given specific geometries (such as overhanging ribs or cupped sections) that minimize deposition, while other surfaces maintain standard insulative properties. This local differentiation allows the component to be compact and close to the beam formation region without suffering excessive contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

These structures effectively prevent the formation of conductive layers on insulative surfaces, enhancing the reliability and longevity of ion-optics components by minimizing contamination and electrical losses, thus supporting stable operation of neutron beam systems.

Implementation Method 1

The flux of neutral and ionized particles (e.g., evaporated from the filament) towards electrically insulative (non-conductive) surfaces within the ion optics components (e.g., standoff isolation) forms an electrically conductive layer on the mount surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The temperature of the filaments within an ion source is sufficient for evaporation of the filament material, which in turn leads to diffusion of the gaseous phase filament material into the region of any ion optics components located immediately downstream of the source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS11894212B2Systems, devices, and methods for contaminant resistant insulative structures

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 TAE TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relate to an electrode standoff isolator. An example electrode standoff isolator includes a plurality of adjacent insulative segments positioned between a proximal end and a distal end of the electrode standoff isolator. A geometry of the adjacent insulative is configured to guard a surface area of the electrode standoff isolator against deposition of a conductive layer of gaseous phase materials from a filament of an ion source.