Micro-Patterned Lens Coating for UV-Stable Water Repellency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera lenses for vehicles and IT devices fail to maintain superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties under UV exposure and wet conditions for an extended period, leading to reduced visibility and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A lens design featuring a protruding pattern with a water-repellent layer, adhesive layer, and optional anti-reflective coating, where the surface has a 20% or more space area ratio of grooves and protrusions with a height of 2 μm or more, and a difference in lengths of 20 μm or more, enhancing contact angles to 130° or higher.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water-repellent coating layer is formed on a lens surface, then superhydrophobic properties are achieved, but the coating loses its properties after UV exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the lens surface into multiple protrusions and grooves, creating a micro-patterned structure. This segmentation provides mechanical interlocking that anchors the water-repellent coating, preventing UV-induced delamination while maintaining superhydrophobic properties
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the lens substrate, micro-patterned structure, adhesive layer, and water-repellent coating into a composite multi-layer system. Each layer contributes specific functions: the micro-pattern provides mechanical anchoring, the adhesive layer ensures strong bonding, and the water-repellent coating provides superhydrophobic properties, together achieving long-term UV resistance
2Reliability
If the groove area ratio is increased to maintain superhydrophobicity, then contact angle increases, but lens transmission area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies micro-patterns only in specific regions where water-repellent properties are needed, rather than uniformly across the entire lens surface. This localized application maintains superhydrophobicity at critical areas while preserving lens transmission area in optical paths
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the groove width, depth, and spacing parameters to achieve the desired contact angle while minimizing area loss. By carefully controlling these geometric parameters, the design balances superhydrophobic performance with optical transmission requirements
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 lens maintains superhydrophobicity with contact angles above 130° for over 1,750 hours, ensuring stable vision and safety in wet conditions, particularly for automotive and portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a water-repellent layer disposed on the surface of the lens portion... maintains superhydrophobicity with contact angles above 130°
Implementation Method 2
The phenomenon of wetting or dewetting on a surface... the amount of water droplets that may be accommodated on the surface is determined based on a contact angle
Data Source
AI summary
A lens includes a lens portion having a protruding pattern formed on a surface thereof including a plurality of protrusions and grooves, and a water-repellent layer disposed on the surface of the lens portion, wherein, when an average area of the grooves per 1 mm2 on the surface of the lens is referred to as a space area ratio, the space area ratio is 20% or more.