Electro-wetting Spectacles Single Cavity Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current color-changing spectacles based on electro-wetting principles face issues with reduced maximum transmittance due to black matrix layers and reflection from driving circuits, leading to sub-optimal visual effects and a 'fishnet pattern' phenomenon that limits field of view and increases manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a lens with a first and second portion separated by a cavity, surrounded by an elastic frame with a colored liquid and electrodes, allowing for automatic or manual adjustment of light transmittance without multiple sub-cavity structures, using capillary forces and a control device to optimize liquid positioning and reduce surface tension effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple sub-cavity structures are used for color-changing spectacles, then the light transmittance is reduced due to black matrix layers and driving circuit reflection, but the color-changing function is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sub-cavity structures into a single integrated cavity that houses the colored liquid. This eliminates the need for multiple separate electro-wetting cells, removing the black matrix layers and driving circuits that caused light reflection and reduced transmittance. The single cavity design maintains the color-changing function while significantly improving optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic black matrix layers and driving circuit components from the optical path by using a single cavity design. The colored liquid directly contacts the lens surface without intervening opaque structures, thereby eliminating light absorption and reflection issues while preserving the electro-wetting color-changing mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sub-cavity structures with driving circuits are used, then the color-changing function is achieved, but the 'fishnet pattern' phenomenon occurs and field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple discrete electro-wetting cells into a single continuous cavity filled with colored liquid, the patent eliminates the grid-like 'fishnet pattern' that appeared at the boundaries between sub-cavities. The unified structure provides a seamless optical surface that maintains full field of view while enabling color-changing functionality across the entire lens area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional electro-wetting structures are used, then the color-changing function is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by merging multiple separate electro-wetting cell assemblies into a single cavity structure. This simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the number of components that need to be assembled, and eliminates the need for multiple black matrix layers and separate driving circuits, thereby lowering overall production costs while maintaining the color-changing function.
4Illumination intensity
If colored liquid is used for color-changing, then the visual effects are improved, but the response speed is reduced due to liquid movement and surface tension effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single cavity into multiple regions using hydrophobic dielectric films positioned at specific locations. These films act as barriers that guide and accelerate colored liquid movement between regions, reducing the distance the liquid must travel and minimizing surface tension effects. This segmentation strategy maintains excellent visual effects while significantly improving response speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hydrophobic dielectric films as intermediary structures within the single cavity. These films serve as mediators that control colored liquid distribution and movement, enabling faster transitions between color states by reducing the liquid travel distance and preventing surface tension from slowing down the response. The intermediary films maintain optical quality while enhancing response speed.
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 solution enhances light transmittance, improves visual experience by eliminating wiring-related issues, reduces manufacturing costs, and increases response speed while avoiding the 'fishnet pattern' phenomenon, providing optimal visual effects across varying light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
spectacles based on electro-wetting principles
Implementation Method 2
a distance between the first portion and the second portion is configured to generate a capillary force for driving the colored liquid
Implementation Method 3
a first hydrophobic dielectric film disposed on an inner surface of the frame
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to spectacles. The spectacles include a lens including a first portion and a second portion disposed opposite each other and a first cavity between the first portion and the second portion, a frame surrounding the lens and supporting the lens, a colored liquid disposed in the interior space, a first hydrophobic dielectric film disposed on an inner surface of the frame, a first electrode disposed between the inner surface of the frame and the first hydrophobic dielectric film, and a second electrode disposed in the interior space and in contact with the colored liquid. The frame has a second cavity defined by an inner surface of the frame. The second cavity is in communication with the first cavity to form an interior space.