Ceramic Optical System Support Resolving Weight-Strength Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical measuring devices face challenges with mechanical resilience, thermal stability, electromagnetic compatibility, manufacturing accuracy, and assembly stress due to limitations in materials like steel, aluminum, magnesium, and plastic, which fail to meet all desired requirements simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic optics carrier produced using the ceramic injection molding process, made from materials like Al2O3 or Al2O3/ZrO3, offering high strength, low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and excellent adhesiveness, which addresses the limitations of previous materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel is used for the optics carrier, then mechanical strength and thermal stability are improved, but weight increases and electromagnetic compatibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ceramic materials (alumina Al2O3, aluminum oxide/zirconium oxide Al2O3/ZrO3) that combine the mechanical strength and thermal stability of metals with the low weight and electromagnetic insulation properties of non-metals. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by providing a single material that simultaneously delivers high strength, low weight, and electromagnetic compatibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If steel is used for the optics carrier, then thermal stability is improved, but electromagnetic compatibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Ceramic materials provide both high thermal stability (low thermal expansion coefficient) and electrical insulation properties in a single material, eliminating electromagnetic interference while maintaining thermal stability. This resolves the contradiction between thermal stability and electromagnetic compatibility.
3Weight of moving object
If plastic is used for the optics carrier, then weight is reduced and electromagnetic compatibility is improved, but mechanical strength and thermal stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Ceramic materials achieve a superior balance by providing high mechanical strength comparable to or exceeding metals, while maintaining low weight similar to plastics. The ceramic composition (alumina, aluminum oxide/zirconium oxide) inherently provides both light weight and high strength, resolving the contradiction between weight and mechanical strength.
4Weight of moving object
If die-cast aluminum or magnesium is used for the optics carrier, then weight is reduced, but mechanical strength and manufacturing precision worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Ceramic materials enable high-precision manufacturing through injection molding processes, achieving manufacturing accuracy comparable to steel while maintaining low weight. The ceramic injection molding process produces complex geometries with tight tolerances, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and manufacturing precision.
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 ceramic optics carrier provides superior mechanical and thermal resilience, ensures electromagnetic compatibility, reduces assembly stress, and maintains high manufacturing accuracy, enhancing the overall performance and longevity of optical measuring devices.
Implementation Method 1
It is therefore desirable that the material has, on the one hand, high thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 2
on the other hand, a low coefficient of thermal expansion
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an optical system support (1, 1'), especially for an optical measuring device (M), comprising a base (2) on which means for fixing an electro-optical transceiver system are provided, the optical system support (1, 1') being a ceramic optical system support.