Lipid-Treated Polymer Substrates for Stable IR Sensor Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymer substrates used in sensor windows of computing devices suffer from reduced infrared transmissivity due to factors like finger touches and spills, leading to inaccurate sensor readings and aging-related degradation.
Innovation Solution
Applying a lipid coating to the polymer substrate followed by a heat-treatment process to modify the molecular structure, increasing infrared transmissivity and enhancing the reliability of sensor windows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polymer substrate is used in sensor windows, then it provides basic infrared transmissivity, but its transmissivity degrades over time due to finger touches, sebum, and spills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a fluorinated silane coating to the polymer substrate surface before the substrate is installed in the sensor window. This preliminary surface treatment creates a hydrophobic and oleophobic barrier that prevents contamination from finger touches, sebum, and spills from adhering to the surface, thereby maintaining stable IR transmissivity over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluorinated silane molecules that form a low-energy surface coating. This coating repels contaminants (turning the harmful effect of potential contamination into a beneficial self-cleaning effect), where the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties actively prevent adhesion of oils and greases, maintaining optical performance
2Measurement precision
If the polymer substrate surface is left untreated, then the manufacturing process is simple, but IR transmission levels decrease due to surface contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The fluorinated silane coating is applied during the manufacturing process before the substrate is assembled into the sensor window. This preliminary surface treatment ensures that the substrate maintains high IR transmission levels throughout its service life by preventing surface contamination that would otherwise attenuate the IR signal
3Reliability
If a lipid coating is applied and heat-treated, then IR transmissivity increases and stability improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a fluorinated silane coating and then performs heat treatment to modify the molecular structure and enhance the coating's properties. The heat treatment process optimizes the cross-linking and adhesion of the coating to the polymer substrate, creating a more durable and stable surface treatment that maintains IR transmissivity over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the polymer substrate with a fluorinated silane coating layer. This composite material approach integrates the benefits of both materials: the polymer provides bulk mechanical properties and basic IR transmissivity, while the fluorinated silane coating provides surface protection against contamination and enhances long-term stability
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 process improves infrared transmissivity and accuracy of sensor readings by stabilizing the polymer substrate against variations caused by touch and spills, reducing measurement errors and extending the substrate's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
performing a heat-treatment process on the coated polymer substrate to modify a molecular structure of the coated polymer substrate and increase transmissivity (or another optical property) of radiation (e.g., light, IR radiation) passing through the polymer substrate
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes electromagnetic radiation (EMR) transmissive polymer substrates and techniques for producing EMR transmissive polymer substrates by pre-treating polymer substrates with at least one lipid. In aspects, the EMR transmissive polymer substrates are infrared (IR) transmissive polymer substrates and the techniques described are for producing IR transmissive polymer substrates. In general, disclosed techniques include applying a coating of at least one lipid to at least one surface of a polymer substrate and then performing a heat-treatment process on the coated polymer substrate. The techniques may also include performing a cooling process on the polymer substrate after the heat-treatment process.