Electrode Standoff Isolator Geometry for Contaminant Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ion-optics components in ion beam systems fail to simultaneously meet the requirements of compactness, high focusing power, thermal load resistance, and stable operation across a wide range of extracted currents, leading to issues with contaminant deposition on insulative structures which causes electrical losses, shorting, or arcing.

Innovation Solution

The development of contaminant-resistant insulative structures with a novel geometry, featuring a plurality of adjacent insulative segments with overhanging ribs and controlled curvature, which reduces the surface area susceptible to deposition of conductive layers from gaseous phase filament materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insulative structures are used in ion-optics components, then electrical insulation is provided, but contaminant deposition forms conductive layers causing electrical losses, shorting, or arcing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical insulation reliabilityVSAvoidcontaminant deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative structure is divided into multiple adjacent insulative segments positioned between proximal and distal ends of the electrode standoff isolator. This segmentation creates a geometry that reduces the continuous surface area exposed to contaminant deposition, thereby maintaining electrical insulation reliability despite the presence of contaminants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulative segments feature asymmetric geometry with overhanging ribs and controlled curvature that creates shadow regions. These asymmetric features strategically reduce the surface area subjected to direct contaminant flux from the filament, minimizing conductive layer formation while preserving insulation function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Productivity

If ion source filaments operate at high temperature for ion beam generation, then ion beam production is enabled, but filament material evaporates and deposits on insulative structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion beam generationVSAvoidfilament material deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts or removes the vulnerable insulative surface areas from the direct path of evaporated filament material by using overhanging ribs and strategic positioning of insulative segments. This creates shadow regions where contaminant deposition is minimized, allowing the filament to operate at high temperature without excessive material loss on insulative structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of evaporated filament material into a beneficial geometric feature by designing insulative segments whose shape and positioning cause the contaminant flux to naturally shadow certain areas. The deposition that would normally be harmful is redirected or concentrated on areas that do not compromise insulation function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Length of moving object

If ion-optics components are placed close to the beam formation region for compactness, then focusing power is improved, but exposure to contaminant flux increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent compactnessVSAvoidcontaminant exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses the contradiction by adding geometric dimensionality through overhanging ribs and three-dimensional positioning of insulative segments. This creates shadow regions in multiple dimensions that protect surfaces from contaminant flux, allowing compact placement near the beam formation region without proportionally increasing exposure to harmful deposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 proposed solution effectively extends the operational period and usage of insulative structures by minimizing contaminant deposition, ensuring reliable electrical insulation, and maintaining the ion beam's integrity during transport.

Implementation Method 1

surface area of the electrode standoff isolator that is less subjected to deposition of a conductive layer of gaseous phase materials from a filament of an ion source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12283454B2Systems, devices, and methods for contaminant resistant insulative structures

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 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.