Cloaking Device Using Non-Planar Mirrors to Redirect Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloaking devices for vehicle pillars rely on complex metamaterials or video technology, which are cumbersome and inefficient in making pillars appear transparent, thereby reducing blind spots.
Innovation Solution
A cloaking device with non-planar boundary planes and half mirrors that redirect light around a vehicle pillar, creating the illusion of transparency by reflecting and transmitting polarized light, allowing an observer to see through the pillar without the pillar's presence being visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If metamaterials or video technology are used to make vehicle pillars transparent, then visibility through the pillar is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloaking device is divided into multiple boundary planes (first, second, third, and fourth CR boundary planes) that are positioned at different orientations. Each boundary plane contains mirror surfaces that work together to redirect light, breaking down the complex cloaking function into manageable segmented components rather than using a single complex metamaterial structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Mirror surfaces are introduced as intermediary elements between the light source and the observer. These mirrors redirect light paths around the cloaked region, serving as simple optical mediators that achieve the transparency effect without requiring complex metamaterials or electronic video systems.
2Illumination intensity
If cloaking devices with multiple boundary planes and half mirrors are used, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses standard optical components (mirrors and half mirrors) that are commercially available and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rather than requiring custom-designed metamaterials. These components can be produced using conventional manufacturing techniques and assembled into the cloaking device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves the cloaking effect by changing the orientation and positioning parameters of simple mirror surfaces rather than requiring complex material property changes. By adjusting the angles and positions of the boundary planes and half mirrors, the light redirection function is achieved through geometric parameters rather than material composition.
3Illumination intensity
If video cameras and display screens are used to create transparency illusion, then visibility is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cloaking device uses passive optical components (mirrors and half mirrors) that automatically redirect light without requiring power sources, cameras, or display screens. The system serves itself by utilizing the natural behavior of light reflection and refraction, eliminating the need for external energy input to operate the cloaking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces active electronic systems (cameras and display screens that require power) with passive optical systems (mirrors and half mirrors). This substitution eliminates the need for electrical power, electronic processing, and complex control systems while achieving the same visual transparency effect through optical physics.
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 solution effectively reduces blind spots by creating an image of objects on the other side of the vehicle pillar, providing a clear view without the need for sophisticated electronics or metamaterials, thus enhancing visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
Light reflected from an object on one side of the cloaking device is redirected around the CR
Implementation Method 2
Each of the half mirrors may be selected from a p-polarization half mirror or an s-polarization half mirror
Data Source
AI summary
A cloaking device includes cloaking region boundary planes oriented non-planar to each other, each of the cloaking region boundary planes having an outward facing mirror surface and an inward facing opaque surface. The cloaking device includes a cloaking region bounded at least partially by the inward facing opaque surfaces of the cloaking region boundary planes. Half mirrors are spaced apart from and generally parallel to the outward facing mirror surfaces such that a half mirror is spaced apart from and generally parallel to each outward facing mirror surface. Light from an object on an object-side of the cloaking device is directed around an article within the cloaking region and forms an image on an image-side of the cloaking device such the article appears transparent to an observer looking towards the object.