Timepiece Faceplate Asperities for Light Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timepiece faceplates struggle to achieve both exceptional optical transmission and aesthetic appearance, particularly with metal films, which often result in low productivity, high manufacturing costs, and aesthetic flaws due to wrinkling and tearing issues, especially with thin metal films.
Innovation Solution
A timepiece faceplate design featuring a first plate member with asperities arranged in a concentric circle pattern and a second plate member with linear asperities, both optimized for optical transmission and aesthetic appeal, using plastic materials with high transmittance and refractive indices to enhance light reflection and scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a metal film is used to improve aesthetic appearance, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but optical transmission deteriorates due to the need for low opening ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous coating layer on the plastic substrate that allows light transmission while providing a metal-like aesthetic appearance. The porous structure enables light to pass through while the surface morphology creates the desired visual effect, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and optical transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining plastic substrate with a porous coating layer. This composite material approach allows the faceplate to achieve both the aesthetic qualities desired from metal films and the optical transmission properties of transparent materials, eliminating the need for metal films with openings.
2Shape
If a metal film is adhered to plastic substrate to improve aesthetic appearance, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to wrinkling
Solution Approach 1:
The porous coating layer is formed directly on the plastic substrate through coating processes, eliminating the separate metal film adhesion step. This direct formation approach prevents wrinkling and surface defects associated with adhering metal films, while still achieving the desired aesthetic appearance through the porous surface structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the fragile metal film with a durable porous coating layer that is integral to the plastic substrate. This eliminates the need for careful adhesion procedures and quality control associated with metal film application, simplifying manufacturing and improving yield.
3Shape
If a thin metal film is used to improve aesthetic appearance, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The porous coating layer is formed as an integral part of the plastic substrate, creating a robust structure that cannot tear like thin metal films. The coating layer maintains aesthetic appearance while providing the structural integrity and durability of the underlying plastic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of plastic substrate with porous coating layer combines the durability and flexibility of plastic with the aesthetic qualities of metal-like surfaces. This eliminates the reliability issues of thin metal films while maintaining visual appeal.
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 design achieves exceptional optical transmission and aesthetic appearance, reducing manufacturing flaws and costs while ensuring high-quality feel and mechanical strength, suitable for solar timepieces and portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a face (second face) 112 of the first plate member 11 facing toward the second plate member 12 is provided with asperities 113 which reflect and scatter light impinging on a face (first face) 111 on the opposite side
Implementation Method 2
a face (second face) 112 of the first plate member 11 facing toward the second plate member 12 is provided with asperities 113 which reflect and scatter light impinging on a face (first face) 111 on the opposite side
Implementation Method 3
a face (second face) 122 on the opposite side of the second plate member 12 from a face (first face) 121 which faces toward the first plate member 11 is provided with asperities 123 which reflect and scatter light impinging on the face (first face) 121
Implementation Method 4
a face (second face) 122 on the opposite side of the second plate member 12 from a face (first face) 121 which faces toward the first plate member 11 is provided with asperities 123 which reflect and scatter light impinging on the face (first face) 121
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
To offer a timepiece faceplate having exceptional transmission of light as well as exceptional aesthetic appearance, and to offer a timepiece provided with the timepiece faceplate. A timepiece faceplate 1 of the invention is provided with a first plate member 11 comprising a material having an optical transmission property, and a second plate member 12 comprising a material having an optical transmission property. A face 112 of the first plate member 11, which faces the second plate member 12, is provided with fine asperities 113 having a function of reflecting and scattering light impinging thereon from a face 111 on an opposite side of the face 112 of the first plate member 11, and a face 122 on the side opposite a face 121 of the second plate member 12, which faces the first plate member 11, is provided with fine asperities 123 having a function of reflecting and scattering light impinging thereon from the face 121 facing the first plate member 11.