Lenticular Printed Material for Multi-Language Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Displaying character information in multiple languages on a limited surface, such as a business card, results in reduced legibility due to the need for smaller character sizes, and existing solutions like electronic displays are bulky and costly.

Innovation Solution

A lenticular printed material with a lenticular lens and image that switches languages based on observation angle, allowing for high legibility without reducing character size or increasing the card's size, and can be produced at a low cost without the need for electronic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If character information is displayed in multiple languages on a limited surface, then the quantity of information is improved, but the legibility of characters deteriorates due to reduced character size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of informationVSAvoidlegibility of characters
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies lenticular lens technology to transform the display from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional optical structure. Multiple language character strings are arranged in different depth layers within the lenticular image, allowing them to be displayed simultaneously on a limited surface area while maintaining their original sizes. When viewed through the lenticular lens, different languages appear at different depths, enabling high legibility while displaying multiple languages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the display area into multiple segments corresponding to different languages, with each language's character strings arranged in separate regions. The lenticular image is constructed with these segmented language regions positioned at different depths, allowing each language to be displayed with adequate character size while maintaining the ability to switch between languages through angle-based selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If electronic displays are used to show multiple languages, then the legibility is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to bulkiness and electronic components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelegibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses optical copying through the lenticular lens system to display multiple language versions of character information. Instead of using electronic displays for each language, the physical arrangement of character strings in the lenticular image allows optical selection of different languages based on viewing angle. This eliminates the need for electronic components while maintaining clear display of multiple languages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic display systems with an optical-mechanical lenticular lens system. The language switching function is achieved through passive optical principles rather than active electronic control. The lenticular lens structure physically directs light from different character string layers to the viewer's eye based on viewing angle, eliminating the need for electronic components, power sources, and complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If character size is reduced to fit multiple languages, then the quantity of information is improved, but the readability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of informationVSAvoidreadability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the conflict between quantity of information and readability by utilizing the depth dimension created by the lenticular lens system. Multiple language character strings are positioned at different depths within the lenticular image structure. This allows each language to be displayed with full character size when selected, while multiple languages can coexist in the limited surface area by occupying different depth positions. The viewing angle determines which depth layer is brought into focus, ensuring high readability of the selected language.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables clear display of multiple languages on a single sheet without bulkiness, maintaining legibility and reducing production costs, making it suitable for business cards and other applications.

Implementation Method 1

a lenticular lens 12 in which a plurality of convex lenses are arranged in parallel; and a lenticular image 14 which is disposed on a side opposite to a semicylindrical surface of each convex lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3300918B1Lenticular printed material
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3300918B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3300918B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP3300918B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a lenticular printed material including: a lenticular lens in which a plurality of convex lenses respectively having a semicylindrical surface are arranged in parallel; and a lenticular image which is disposed on a side opposite to the semicylindrical surface of each convex lens and includes character information to be displayed in a plurality of languages independently from each other, in which the languages for displaying the character information are switched between one another according to an observation angle in a case where the lenticular image is observed through the lenticular lens.