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:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2000
Timothy J. Cornish, Catonsville, MD (US);
Harry K. Charles, Laurel, MD (US);
Paul D. Wienhold, Baltimore, MD (US);
The John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
A novel technique utilizing the precision of printed circuit board design and the physical versatility of thin, flexible substrates is disclosed to produce a new type of ion reflector. A precisely defined series of thin conductive strips (traces) are etched onto a flat, flexible circuit board substrate. Preferably, the thin conductive strips are further apart at one end of the substrate and get increasingly closer towards the other end of the substrate. The flexible substrate is then rolled into a tube to form the reflector body, with the conductive strips forming the rings of the ion reflector. The spacing between the traces, and hence the ring spacing, can be readily varied by adjusting the conductor pattern on the substrate sheet during the etching process. By adjusting the spacing between the rings, the characteristics of the field created by the reflectron can be easily customized to the needs of the user.