The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 13, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 14, 1997
Alan L. Rockwood, Provo, UT (US);
Larry J. Davis, Provo, UT (US);
Jeffrey L. Jones, Provo, UT (US);
Edgar D. Lee, Provo, UT (US);
LECO Corporation, Orem, UT (US);
Abstract
The present invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for utilizing inherently insulative material, such as the glass and epoxy resins used in construction of printed circuit boards, for construction of components in a time of flight mass spectrometer. By using printed circuit board materials, the present invention can take advantage of fabrication techniques for providing circuit traces on surfaces, from one side to another as a via, or embedded within the printed circuit material so as to be covered except where necessary to be exposed to make contact with other electrical devices. Embedded circuit traces also enable capacitive coupling to AC energy while maintaining electrical and physical isolation. Consequently, the present invention enables both invasive and non-invasive access to pressure and vacuum chambers.