Focused Ion Beam Diffractive Structures on Gemstone Facets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for enhancing the optical properties of gemstones, such as diamonds, are inconsistent and costly due to the handmade nature of natural stones and the difficulty in achieving consistent light performance improvement through diffraction gratings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the fabrication of diffractive structures on gemstones using a focused ion beam, with a metallic coating to dissipate charges and subsequent heating to remove ion material residue, allowing for predictable and repetitive high-volume manufacturing with reduced complexity and cost, while optimizing light performance by identifying and applying diffractive structures to specific high-optical-value regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handmade methods are used to apply diffraction gratings on natural diamonds, then optical properties can be enhanced, but consistency and reliability of light performance improvement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual/mechanical methods with automated focused ion beam (FIB) technology to mill diffraction gratings on diamond surfaces. This substitution enables precise, repeatable fabrication of gratings with controlled parameters (depth, pitch, width), ensuring consistent optical performance enhancement across different diamonds while eliminating the variability inherent in handmade processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies grating parameters (depth, pitch, width, orientation) based on diamond characteristics (cut, clarity, color, carat weight) to optimize optical performance. By controlling these parameters through automated FIB processing rather than manual methods, the system achieves reliable and consistent light performance improvement across different gemstones.
2Illumination intensity
If diffraction gratings are applied to enhance optical properties, then brilliance and fire are improved, but grating marks become visible on diamond facets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies diffraction gratings selectively to specific high-optical-value regions on diamond facets rather than entire surfaces. By localizing the grating application to areas that maximize brilliance and fire while minimizing visible marks, the system optimizes the ratio of optical enhancement to visual defectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses focused ion beam (FIB) technology, which employs ion streams analogous to pneumatic/hydraulic systems, to precisely mill gratings with controlled depth and geometry. This enables creation of gratings that diffract light effectively for enhanced brilliance while maintaining sufficient transparency to reduce visible grating marks.
3Manufacturing precision
If focused ion beam is used to mill diffractive structures, then manufacturing precision and repeatability are improved, but ion material residue is deposited on the structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a two-step FIB process: first milling the grating structure, then using a second FIB pass or complementary etching step to remove ion material residue (such as gallium) deposited during fabrication. This extraction of the harmful residue while preserving the precisely milled grating structure maintains manufacturing precision and repeatability while eliminating the visual defects caused by residue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing steps (such as thermal field annealing or chemical vapor deposition) between FIB milling steps to remove or neutralize ion material residue. These intermediary processes act as mediators that eliminate the harmful residue while preserving the precisely fabricated grating structure, maintaining both manufacturing precision and visual quality.
4Reliability
If diffractive structures are applied to all facets, then optical performance is maximized, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies diffraction gratings selectively to specific high-optical-value regions on selected facets rather than uniformly across all facets. This localized approach maintains high optical performance by concentrating gratings where they provide maximum benefit while reducing total grating count, thereby decreasing manufacturing time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by applying gratings to only the necessary number of facets (often 2-4 out of 8 pavilion facets) rather than all facets. This partial application achieves sufficient optical performance enhancement without the excessive manufacturing time and complexity that would result from treating all facets, optimizing the balance between performance and productivity.
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 approach enables consistent and cost-effective enhancement of optical properties like brilliance, fire, and scintillation in gemstones by strategically applying diffractive structures to specific facets, improving light performance and reducing visibility of grating marks, thus increasing the retail value and customer appeal of gemstones.
Implementation Method 1
milling the diffractive structures on the facets of the gemstone by using a focused ion beam
Implementation Method 2
heating the gemstone with the fabricated diffractive structures in a container to reduce an amount of the ion material residue in the gemstone
Implementation Method 3
A thickness of the metallic coating can be controlled such that the metallic coating is thick enough to dissipate charges caused by the focused ion beam
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and systems for fabricating diffractive structures on gemstones for high optical performance are provided. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a plurality of gemstone characteristics of a gemstone, determining that the gemstone exhibits each of the plurality of gemstone characteristics within a respective predetermined range, identifying a diffractive structure setting associated with a combination of the respective predetermined ranges for the plurality of gemstone characteristics, and fabricating diffractive structures on the gemstone according to the diffractive structure setting.