Color Developing Structure with Concave-Convex Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color developing structures using multilayer films struggle with reduced visibility of specific wavelength ranges due to transmission and reflection of light other than the intended wavelength, leading to inefficient color observation across wide angles and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A color developing structure featuring a concave-convex layer with a reflective or antireflection layer, where the convex surface has a pattern of strip portions with widths less than the incident light wavelength and standard deviations of lengths greater than widths, enhancing light diffusion and reflection in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a multilayer film is laminated on a flat surface to reflect specific wavelengths, then color development is achieved, but visibility is reduced due to transmission and reflection of other wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reflective surface into multiple discrete convex portions with different shapes and sizes. Each convex portion reflects light of specific wavelengths, creating segmented spectral reflection that improves the purity and visibility of the desired color while reducing unwanted wavelength transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the substrate are given different local optical properties through varying the shape, size, and distribution of convex portions. This allows specific areas to reflect specific wavelengths preferentially, enhancing color development while controlling unwanted reflections through localized structural optimization.
2Illumination intensity
If a multilayer film structure is used to achieve structural color, then color development is possible, but the structure becomes complex and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential color-generating function from complex multilayer film structures and implements it through simpler convex portions formed directly on the substrate. This eliminates the need for multiple alternating high and low refractive index layers while maintaining structural color effects, thereby reducing structural complexity and production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple convex portions that can be manufactured using cost-effective techniques such as embossing or molding, replacing expensive multilayer film deposition processes. These simpler structures achieve comparable or superior color development while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Illumination intensity
If light is reflected by a flat multilayer film, then specific wavelengths are reflected, but light diffusion in multiple directions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses convex portions with curved surfaces instead of flat reflecting surfaces. The curved geometry of each convex portion causes incident light to reflect in multiple directions depending on the viewing angle, thereby expanding the angular range of observation while maintaining strong reflected light intensity across different orientations.
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
This configuration achieves good color development and light diffusion in multiple directions, reducing production costs and enabling more vivid color observation across a wide angular range without the need for numerous layers, thus improving designability and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
structural colors developed by fine structures are visible due to the action of optical phenomena, such as diffraction, interference, and scattering of light
Implementation Method 2
structural colors due to multilayer film interference are generated in such a manner that, in a multilayer film in which adjacent thin films have different refractive indices, light reflected on each interface of the multilayer film interferes
Implementation Method 3
structural colors developed by fine structures are visible due to the action of optical phenomena, such as diffraction, interference, and scattering of light
Data Source
AI summary
A color developing structure that exhibits good color development and ensures a desired transmittance while diffusing reflected light in multiple directions. A color developing structure includes a concave-convex layer in which a first surface has a concave-convex structure, and a reflective layer formed on the first surface to extend along the concave-convex structure. A convex surface of the concave-convex structure has a first pattern composed of a plurality of strip portions in plan view. The strip portion has a width in a first direction and a length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The width is smaller than the wavelength of the incident light, and a standard deviation of the lengths of the plurality of strip portions is larger than a standard deviation of the widths.