Toroidal Ion Trap Using Cylindrical Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional toroidal ion trap mass analyzers face challenges in miniaturization due to complex hyperbolic electrode surfaces, which lead to field defects and difficulties in manufacturing, resulting in reduced ion storage capacity and performance.

Innovation Solution

The use of cylindrical and planar electrodes in an asymmetric arrangement to create electric fields that compensate for toroidal curvature, facilitating high precision manufacturing and miniaturization, while maintaining or improving detection capabilities and operating conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hyperbolic electrode surfaces are used in conventional toroidal ion traps, then ion trapping performance is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion trapping performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cylindrical electrodes as a simplified copy or approximation of the ideal hyperbolic electrode surfaces. Instead of manufacturing complex hyperbolic shapes, the invention employs easily manufacturable cylindrical geometries that replicate the essential trapping functionality, thereby resolving the contradiction between performance and manufacturability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the electrodes from hyperbolic to cylindrical shapes. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining adequate trapping performance through careful optimization of the cylindrical electrode dimensions and spacing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If hyperbolic electrode surfaces are used to correct field defects, then ion ejection accuracy improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion ejection accuracyVSAvoidelectrode surface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cylindrical electrodes serve as a practical copy that achieves adequate ion ejection accuracy without requiring the high manufacturing precision needed for hyperbolic surfaces. The simplified geometry tolerates broader manufacturing variations while maintaining functional performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Volume of moving object

If analyzer size is reduced for miniaturization, then power requirements and vacuum demands decrease, but manufacturing of hyperbolic surfaces becomes even more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyzer sizeVSAvoidhyperbolic surface fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies cylindrical electrodes as a manufacturable alternative to hyperbolic surfaces in miniaturized devices. This copying approach enables miniaturization without the compounding manufacturing difficulties that would arise from fabricating small-scale hyperbolic surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses cylindrical curvature instead of hyperbolic curvature, replacing a complex double-curved surface with a simpler single-curved surface that is much easier to manufacture at small scales while maintaining the essential trapping geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of manufacture

If cylindrical electrodes are used instead of hyperbolic surfaces, then manufacturing ease and miniaturization improve, but electric field uniformity may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidelectric field uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameters of the cylindrical electrode system (dimensions, spacing, voltage) to achieve adequate electric field uniformity for mass analysis. By carefully selecting these parameters, the invention maintains functional performance while benefiting from the manufacturing advantages of cylindrical geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances ion storage capacity, allows for miniaturization, and optimizes electric field shapes, leading to improved detection and reduced power requirements, while maintaining high sensitivity and resolution.

Implementation Method 1

The use of cylindrical and planar electrodes in an asymmetric arrangement to create electric fields that compensate for toroidal curvature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

because the radio frequency (RF) trapping voltage is inversely proportional to the square of the analyzer radial dimension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRF trapping: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8642955B2Toroidal ion trap mass analyzer with cylindrical electrodes

Publication Date: 2014.02.04 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIV

AI summary

A combination of electrodes that are cylindrical and an asymmetric arrangement of cylindrical and planar electrodes are used to create electric fields that compensate for toroidal curvature in a toroidal ion trap, the design lending itself to high precision manufacturing and miniaturization, converging ion paths that enhance detection, higher pressure operation, and optimization of the shape of the electric fields by careful arrangement of the electrodes.