Ceramic Mirror Rib Structure for Lightweight, Easy Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mirror manufacturing processes for astronomical telescopes require separate steps for reinforcing the mirror member, making it difficult to easily manufacture the mirror.

Innovation Solution

A mirror design featuring a ceramic body with recessed portions and ribs on the back surface, including tapered side surfaces to facilitate easy mold removal and reduce weight, allowing for simplified manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If separate reinforcement structures are added to the mirror member, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemirror strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement ribs are integrated directly into the mirror member body during the same molding process, merging the reinforcement structure and the mirror member into a single unified component. This eliminates separate manufacturing steps for creating and attaching reinforcement elements, thereby improving strength while avoiding increased manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement ribs are formed during the initial molding process of the mirror member, before the mirror surface is later processed. This preliminary formation of reinforcement structures allows the strength-enhancing features to be built-in from the start, avoiding subsequent complex assembly operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Weight of moving object

If the mirror member is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemirror weightVSAvoidmirror strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly thickening the entire mirror member, reinforcement ribs are strategically placed only in specific locations where structural support is needed. This localized reinforcement approach adds minimal weight while effectively improving strength in critical areas, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength enhancement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If complex reinforcement structures are added to improve strength, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemirror strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement structure is segmented into simple rib-like protrusions rather than complex continuous forms. These segmented, geometrically simple features are easier and cheaper to mold while still providing effective reinforcement, thus improving strength without increasing manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4067949B1mirror

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 KYOCERA CORP

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AI summary

A mirror (1) includes a mirror surface (3a) provided on a front surface (3) of a body portion (2), having a plate shape and made of ceramics, a recessed portion (6) formed on a back surface (4) of the body portion (2), and a rib (7) provided along edges of the recesses (6) and including a tapered side surface (7b1, 7b2, 7b3).