Flexible Optical Substrate Stress Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible substrates used as optical substrates face issues with stress concentration when bent or stretched, leading to degradation of optical characteristics and potential damage, especially with multi-layered structures or concavo-convex shapes, limiting their flexibility and structural strength.

Innovation Solution

A flexible optical substrate design featuring unitary elastic structures with a film-like resin material, including a central portion and strips connected to it, allows for stress distribution by changing curvatures and arrangements, enabling flexible stretching and bending without concentrating stress on specific points, and can incorporate a sealing resin layer for enhanced handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible substrate is bent or stretched, then flexibility is improved, but stress concentration occurs leading to degradation of optical characteristics and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidoptical characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into multiple unitary elastic structures, each comprising a central portion and strips. This segmentation allows stress to be distributed across multiple independent units rather than concentrated in a single continuous structure, enabling flexibility while maintaining optical characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate have different properties: the central portions maintain optical functionality while the strips provide elastic deformation capability. The strips act as dedicated stress-absorbing elements that can change curvature locally without affecting the optical quality of the central regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If multi-layered structures or concavo-convex shapes are used, then structural strength is improved, but stress concentration increases when bent or stretched

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-layered structure is segmented into discrete unitary elastic structures with clearances between them. This prevents stress from propagating continuously through the layers, allowing each unit to deform independently and reducing overall stress concentration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate uses thin film-like resin materials that inherently provide flexibility. The unitary elastic structures are formed from these flexible films, allowing the entire structure to bend and stretch without the rigid stress concentration problems associated with traditional multi-layered constructions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If flexible resin materials are used, then flexibility is improved, but structural strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate combines flexible resin materials with a specific unitary elastic structure configuration. The composite of the flexible resin material and the engineered elastic structure provides both the desired flexibility and sufficient structural strength, overcoming the limitation of using flexible materials alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The strips in the unitary elastic structures can change curvature during deformation. This curvature change allows the flexible material to distribute stress more effectively, maintaining structural integrity even with inherently flexible resin materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 flexible optical substrate reduces the likelihood of damage and maintains optical characteristics by distributing stress evenly, allowing for a large stretch rate and high elasticity, enabling the use of less flexible resin materials without reducing structural strength.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the unitary elastic structures has a clearance. Two adjacent unitary elastic structures are linked by at least part of the strips of the two adjacent unitary elastic structures.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9678272B2Flexible optical substrate

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible optical substrate allows incident light or optical signals to be propagated or transmitted the flexible optical substrate. The flexible optical substrate includes unitary elastic structures. Each of the unitary elastic structures includes a film-like resin material that has a central portion and one or more strips provided outwardly of the central portion. One end of each of the one or more strips is connected to the central portion. Each of the unitary elastic structures has a clearance. Two adjacent unitary elastic structures are linked by at least part of the strips of the two adjacent unitary elastic structures.