Ultra-Short Fiber Image Inverter Glass Composition for Clear Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The fabrication of fiber optic image inverters with ultra-short twisters faces challenges such as resolution loss, reduced transmittance, and image distortion due to compression of the twisting area, which affects the optical properties and structural integrity, making it difficult to achieve miniaturization and weight reduction for helmet night-vision devices.

Innovation Solution

A specific glass composition for the surrounding fiber is developed, comprising SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, SrO, ZnO, TiO2, CeO2, MgF2, and CaF2, with controlled refractive index and thermal properties to enhance tensile strength and prevent devitrification, ensuring high resolution and clarity in the fiber optic image inverter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the twisting area of fiber optic image inverter is compressed to reduce height and weight, then miniaturization and weight reduction are achieved, but resolution loss at edge, reduced transmittance, and image distortion occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of fiber optic image inverterVSAvoidresolution at edge
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass composition (adding Al2O3 to 3-7 wt%, B2O3 to 2-8 wt%, and specific amounts of ZnO, TiO2, and rare earth oxides) and processing parameters (heating temperature 1000-1200°C, twisting time 1-10 minutes, twisting speed 1-10 rpm) to achieve the desired balance between miniaturization and optical performance. The composition parameters are optimized to maintain tensile strength and prevent devitrification during the compression process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite glass materials with multiple components including SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, ZnO, TiO2, and rare earth oxides (CeO2, La2O3, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, Gd2O3). This composite composition provides enhanced mechanical strength, controlled refractive index, and resistance to devitrification, enabling the fiber to maintain optical performance during the ultra-short twisting process that reduces height to 15mm or less.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Length of moving object

If the twisting area is compressed to reduce size, then the height is reduced to 15mm or less, but structural deformation and optical property degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of fiber optic image inverterVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters by optimizing glass composition with high Al2O3 (3-7 wt%) and B2O3 (2-8 wt%) content, which significantly increase the strain point temperature and tensile strength. The processing parameters are also optimized: heating temperature 1000-1200°C, twisting time 1-10 minutes, and twisting speed 1-10 rpm. These parameter changes enable the fiber to withstand the compression and maintain structural integrity at ultra-short heights of 15mm or less.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite glass material system combines SiO2 network formers with Al2O3, B2O3, ZnO, TiO2, and rare earth oxides to create a material with enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability. This composite structure prevents structural deformation during the ultra-short twisting process, maintaining reliability even when height is reduced to 15mm or less through compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If the glass composition is optimized to prevent devitrification and enhance tensile strength, then manufacturing complexity increases, but optical performance is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical qualityVSAvoidglass composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific composition parameters: Al2O3 (3-7 wt%), B2O3 (2-8 wt%), ZnO (1-3 wt%), TiO2 (0.5-2 wt%), and rare earth oxides (0.1-1 wt% each). These parameter ranges are carefully selected to achieve the desired balance between preventing devitrification, enhancing tensile strength, and controlling refractive index. The processing parameters (heating 1000-1200°C, twisting 1-10 minutes at 1-10 rpm) are also optimized to match the composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures that the fiber optic image inverter with ultra-short twister maintains high resolution and clarity, prevents structural deformation, and facilitates the miniaturization of helmet night-vision devices by reducing weight and size without compromising optical performance.

Implementation Method 1

A specific glass composition for the surrounding fiber is developed, comprising SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, SrO, ZnO, TiO2, CeO2, MgF2, and CaF2, with controlled refractive index and thermal properties to enhance tensile strength and prevent devitrification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDevitrification prevention: Vitrification

Implementation Method 2

A specific glass composition for the surrounding fiber is developed, comprising SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, SrO, ZnO, TiO2, CeO2, MgF2, and CaF2, with controlled refractive index and thermal properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion control: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

Fiber optic image inverter, as a core optical component in the helmet night-vision device, is a photoelectric imaging component with excellent properties and has characteristics of large numerical aperture, high light-transmission efficiency, high resolution, authentic and clear in image transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4582842B1Optical fiber image inverter with ultra-narrow twisted fiber area and preparation method therefor and application thereof, and related composition
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 CHINA BUILDING MATERIALS ACADEMY CO LTD
  • EP4582842B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4582842B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4582842B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application discloses a method for fabricating a fiber optic image inverter with ultra-short twister, and application, belongs to the field of fabrication of fiber optic image transmission elements and solves the problem that the fiber optic image inverter with ultra-short twister is difficult to fabricate. The method includes: drawing a glass rod with a low refractive index and a high strain point temperature into a surrounding pipe fiber; drawing a glass rod with a high refractive index and a high transmittance into a filling glass fiber, and then drawing into a casing pipe absorption fiber; uniformly surrounding an outer side of a cladding glass pipe with the surrounding pipe fiber, and matching a core glass rod and the cladding glass pipe to be drawn into a mono fiber; and then performing fabrication of a multi fiber, fabrication of a multi-multi fiber, heat press fusion and twisting operation in sequence; wherein the heating body in the ultra-short high-temperature twisting heating furnace has a width ranging from 3 mm to 4 mm; and a distance from the heating body of the heating furnace to the surface of a fiber optic image inverter block ranges from 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm, and twisting operation time ranges from 2 minutes to 9 minutes. The fiber optic image inverter with ultra-short twister with a high resolution and a high contrast and clear imaging is obtained and applied in a low-light-level image intensifier.