Laser-Resistant Masking Plate for Sharp Tactile Grid Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating tactilely detectable raster elements on substrates using laser radiation face challenges in maintaining precise contour and achieving the required height of grid elements, often resulting in blurred transitions and material bursting due to high energy input.
Innovation Solution
The use of a masking plate resistant to laser radiation with through-holes or a guide tube to control the foaming of substrate material, ensuring the formation of tactilely detectable grid elements with sharp edges and controlled height by limiting the expansion to the through-hole or guide tube cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If high energy input is applied to foam the substrate material to achieve the required height of grid elements, then the height of grid elements is improved, but material bursting occurs at the exposed point
Solution Approach 1:
The masking plate creates local quality differentiation by allowing laser energy to act only through specific through-holes, concentrating the foaming action precisely where grid elements are needed while protecting surrounding areas from excessive energy input that would cause bursting
Solution Approach 2:
The masking plate serves as an intermediary element between the laser beam and the substrate material, controlling and mediating the energy transfer to achieve controlled foaming without material bursting
2Length of stationary object
If high energy input is applied to foam the substrate material to achieve the required height of grid elements, then the height of grid elements is improved, but the transition from grid element to substrate surface becomes blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The masking plate with through-holes creates local quality differentiation, confining the foaming action to precise locations and producing sharp-edged transitions between grid elements and the substrate surface, eliminating blurred boundaries
Solution Approach 2:
The masking plate is positioned on the substrate before laser irradiation, preliminarily defining the boundaries and shape of grid elements, which ensures sharp edges are formed during the foaming process
3Device complexity
If the laser beam is used to create tactilely detectable grid elements directly on the substrate, then the process is simple, but it is very complex to maintain precise contour and dimensional accuracy of the grid elements
Solution Approach 1:
The masking plate acts as an intermediary tool that maintains precise contours and dimensional accuracy of grid elements during laser foaming, while the overall process remains relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The masking plate is positioned on the substrate before laser irradiation, preliminarily defining the boundaries and shape of grid elements, which ensures sharp edges are formed during the foaming process
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 allows for the creation of tactilely detectable grid elements with sharp-edged transitions and controlled height, requiring less energy input and improving the precision and detectability of the raster elements.
Implementation Method 1
locally foaming the substrate material with a laser beam from a laser source
Implementation Method 2
the plastic material of the substrate foams locally due to the interaction with the intense laser radiation
Implementation Method 3
This macroscopically visible foaming is caused by a change in or destruction of the polymer structure, by oxidation processes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a masking plate resistant to laser beams, an arrangement and a method for producing at least one tactilely detectable raster element (102) of a raster (104) on or in a substrate (100).The method comprises the steps of providing the substrate (100) from a substrate material and locally foaming the substrate material (100) with a laser beam (106) from a laser source (108), whereby the at least one grid element (102) of the grid (104) is produced, wherein a) a masking plate (110) which is resistant to the laser beam (106) is applied to the substrate (100) before the at least one grid element (102) is produced, which masking plate has at least one through-hole (112) adapted to the grid element (102), wherein the local foaming of the substrate material takes place through the at least one through-hole (112) of the masking plate (110); or wherein b) a guide tube serving to guide the laser beam (106) is placed on the substrate (100), wherein the raster element (102) is produced by the local foaming of the substrate material through the guide tube.