Transparent Cable with Curved Coating for Concealed Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductor wires in cables, particularly those used for power supply, are conspicuous even when the cable coating is made transparent due to the large diameter required for high current transmission, making them difficult to hide in aesthetic installations like wall-mounted electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A cable design featuring two metal conductor wires arranged in parallel with a transparent or translucent coating that has a curved upper surface and plane bottom surface, with side faces that refract light to make the conductor wires invisible from certain angles, allowing the cable to appear transparent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the coating is made transparent to hide the cable, then the cable becomes inconspicuous, but the conductor wires inside remain conspicuous due to their large diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the upper surface of the coating, transforming it from a flat surface to a convex curved surface. This curvature causes light refraction that redirects light beams away from the conductor wires, making them invisible from above. The curved surface acts as an optical element that manipulates light paths to hide the underlying metal structures while maintaining the transparent appearance of the coating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the coating material and the geometric parameters of the surface (from flat to curved with specific radius of curvature). By optimizing these parameters, the coating achieves the desired optical effect where light is refracted in a specific pattern that conceals the conductor wires. The curvature radius and material refractive index are carefully selected to achieve maximum hiding effect.
2Power
If the conductor wire diameter is increased to handle high current, then power transmission capability is improved, but the wire becomes more conspicuous and harder to hide
Solution Approach 1:
The curved transparent coating acts as an intermediary element between the viewer and the conductor wires. Instead of trying to reduce the conductor wire diameter (which would compromise power transmission), the patent introduces this optical intermediary that manipulates light paths. The coating with its specific curvature serves as a mediator that allows the large-diameter wires to remain functionally adequate while appearing invisible from certain viewing angles.
3Ease of operation
If a flat-shaped cable is used to arrange along wall surface, then installation ease is improved, but the cable remains visible and inconspicuous appearance is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the flat overall cable shape for easy wall arrangement but introduces curvature to the upper surface of the coating. This combination allows the cable to conform to wall surfaces while the curved surface optically hides the conductor wires. The cable retains its practical installation advantages while achieving the desired aesthetic appearance through the curved surface design.
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 cable effectively conceals the metal conductor wires, providing an aesthetically pleasing, inconspicuous appearance when installed, enhancing the design of electronic devices by making the wiring system appear as if it has no visible cables.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam incident on the curved surface from a direction vertical to a plane at least including the two metal conductor wires is refracted by the curved surface and does not pass through the two metal conductor wires
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a cable including two metal conductor wires, and a coating that is made of a transparent material or a translucent material, covers the two metal conductor wires in a state of being arranged in parallel at an interval, and is shaped in a manner that one of two surfaces existing along a direction substantially parallel to a direction between the two metal conductor wires is a plane and the other surface is a curved surface with a convex cross section.