Mirror Unit Stepped Holder for Laser Light Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light source devices with reflective mirrors experience adhesive deterioration due to laser light, leading to loss of parallelism and potential mirror detachment from the holder.

Innovation Solution

A mirror unit design featuring a mirror holder with contact areas and adhesive fixing areas, including steps and wall portions, to secure reflective mirrors, using thermally conductive adhesives that enhance bonding and heat dissipation, preventing adhesive deterioration and mirror detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive is applied to bond reflective mirrors to the mirror holder, then the mirrors are fixed in position, but the adhesive deteriorates due to laser light transmission through the mirrors causing them to fall off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemirror fixation reliabilityVSAvoidadhesive service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding function is divided into two separate mechanisms: mechanical support through the stepped structure and adhesive bonding through the adhesive member. This segmentation allows each mechanism to perform its specialized function - the stepped structure provides light-shielded mechanical support while the adhesive provides chemical bonding, together solving the reliability and durability problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stepped structure acts as an intermediary between the mirror and the adhesive member. It provides a mechanical support structure that positions the mirror while shielding the adhesive from laser light, allowing the adhesive to bond effectively without direct light exposure that would cause deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the back surface of the reflective mirror is bonded to the mirror holder, then the mirror is fixed, but the parallelism of multiple mirrors cannot be maintained due to bonding tilt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemirror fixationVSAvoidmirror parallelism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stepped structure is pre-formed on the mirror holder to provide precise mechanical positioning of the mirrors before adhesive bonding occurs. This preliminary mechanical support ensures that mirrors are held in the correct parallel positions during the bonding process and maintains this alignment after bonding, solving the parallelism problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the mirror holder serve different functions: the stepped portions provide mechanical support and positioning for parallelism, while the adhesive fixing areas provide bonding. This local differentiation of functions allows each region to optimize its specific role, with the stepped structure ensuring precision and the adhesive ensuring fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If adhesive is applied in the central area to fix the mirror, then bonding strength is achieved, but adhesive deterioration from transmitted laser light causes mirror detachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidlaser light effect on adhesive

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful laser light is extracted or removed from the adhesive bonding area by using the stepped structure to shield it. The adhesive is placed in recessed areas that are not directly exposed to transmitted laser light, effectively removing the harmful factor from the adhesive's environment while maintaining bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmitted laser light, which would normally harm the adhesive, is converted into a beneficial positioning mechanism. The light passes through the mirror and reflects off the stepped structure, which then provides mechanical support and positioning that indirectly protects the adhesive from direct light exposure while maintaining the bonding function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Ensures the parallelism of reflective mirrors and prevents them from falling off due to adhesive deterioration, maintaining optical axis stability and improving cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive member for bonding and fixing the reflective mirrors to the mirror holder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

using thermally conductive adhesives that enhance bonding and heat dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11454372B2Mirror unit and light source device having the same

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 USHIO INC

AI summary

A mirror unit includes a plurality of reflective mirrors, a mirror holder on which the plurality of reflective mirrors are disposed and an adhesive member to bond and fix the reflective mirrors to the mirror holder. The mirror holder has a contact area where the reflective mirrors are to be in contact and a step in a direction away from the reflective mirror with respect to the contact area. The step has an adhesive fixing area on which an adhesive member is mounted.