Edge-Curing Device Using Cylindrical Lens and Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED devices emit radiation over a broad target region due to their Lambertian nature, leading to over-curing of sensitive items outside the intended target area during edge-curing processes, as the light spreads out quickly in the widthwise direction, making it difficult to maintain a narrow beam width for precise curing.
Innovation Solution
An edge-curing device comprising a cylindrical lens and an integrated aperture, aligned symmetrically with a linear array of light-emitting elements, focuses the radiation into a narrow beam width by collimating and redirecting the light through the aperture, reducing over-curing and enhancing precision in edge-curing applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional LED devices are used for edge-curing, then the curing process can be performed with simple Lambertian emitters, but the light spreads out quickly in the widthwise direction causing over-curing of sensitive items outside the target region
Solution Approach 1:
A cylindrical lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the Lambertian LED emitter and the workpiece. The cylindrical lens focuses the divergent light into a narrow beam width while maintaining the simplicity of the LED source, thereby achieving precise beam control without over-curing sensitive areas outside the target region.
2Manufacturing precision
If a cylindrical lens is used to reduce angular spread of light, then the beam width is reduced, but the light diverges beyond the bounds of the narrow beam width target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cylindrical lens that focuses light in one dimension (widthwise) while maintaining control in the orthogonal dimension. This dimensional selectivity allows the light to be confined to a narrow beam width precisely at the target plane without excessive divergence beyond the target bounds, addressing the harmful spillover effect.
3Manufacturing precision
If the aperture is positioned directly adjacent to the cylindrical lens emitting face, then the light is focused within a narrow beam width, but the alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is positioned directly adjacent to the emitting face of the cylindrical lens, creating a localized region of high optical quality where the light is focused into a narrow beam width. This local optimization of the optical path reduces the overall alignment precision requirements for the entire system while achieving the desired focusing effect.
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 confines the irradiance to a narrow target region, reducing over-curing and allowing for more precise and efficient curing of workpieces, with the ability to adjust the aperture size for various applications, including retrofitting existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical lens, positioned between the linear array of light-emitting elements and the aperture... light emitted from the linear array of light-emitting elements and passing through the cylindrical lens is emitted from the emitting face and focused by the aperture
Implementation Method 2
the aperture spans the length of the cylindrical lens and is positioned directly adjacent to an emitting face of the cylindrical lens, and light emitted from the linear array of light-emitting elements and passing through the cylindrical lens is emitted from the emitting face and focused by the aperture within a beam width centered about the longitudinal plane
Implementation Method 3
a linear array of light-emitting elements, a cylindrical lens, and an aperture, each aligned symmetrically about a longitudinal plane in a housing... light emitted from the linear array of light-emitting elements
Data Source
AI summary
An edge-curing device may comprise a cylindrical lens, a linear array of light-emitting elements, and an aperture, each aligned symmetrically about a longitudinal plane in a housing, wherein the cylindrical lens is positioned between the linear array of light-emitting elements and the aperture, the aperture spans the length of the cylindrical lens and is positioned directly adjacent to an emitting face of the cylindrical lens, and light emitted from the linear array of light-emitting elements and passing through the cylindrical lens is emitted from the emitting face and focused by the aperture within a beam width centered about the longitudinal plane.