Level-Line Moiré on Curved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating moiré effects on curved surfaces do not yield high-quality results, as they fail to maintain the continuity of the underlying geometry, leading to poor visual contrast and dynamic behavior of moiré shapes when viewed from different angles.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing level-line moirés on curved surfaces by creating a curved revealing layer with a grating of cylindrical lenses or transparent lines superposed with a curved base layer, where the base layer is shifted in proportion to the elevation profile, ensuring a constant angular field of view and intensity gradient, resulting in high-quality, dynamically beating moiré patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing methods are used to create moiré effects on curved surfaces, then the fabrication process is simple, but the visual contrast and dynamic behavior of moiré shapes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the spacing between adjacent grating lines across different regions of the curved surface. The spacing is locally adjusted based on the surface curvature and viewing angle requirements, ensuring that each region maintains optimal moiré contrast and dynamic behavior tailored to its specific geometric characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly addresses curved surfaces by adapting the grating structure to follow the curvature of the underlying surface. The grating lines are arranged to conform to the curved geometry, and the spacing between lines is modified according to the local curvature radius, enabling high-quality moiré effects on spherical, cylindrical, or other curved geometries
2Manufacturing precision
If the base layer is not shifted in proportion to elevation profile, then the fabrication is easier, but the moiré pattern contrast and recognizability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the base layer according to the elevation profile before the final assembly. The base layer is shifted in proportion to the elevation values in advance, ensuring that when the revealing layer is superimposed, the moiré fringes automatically align to represent the elevation contours with high contrast and recognizability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a scaled or transformed version of the elevation profile in the base layer positioning. The base layer pattern is copied and shifted according to the elevation data, allowing the moiré interference pattern to reproduce the topographic information with enhanced visibility and measurement precision
3Manufacturing precision
If the angular field of view is not constant, then the device structure is simpler, but the moiré intensity profile and visual quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the grating spacing, orientation, and curvature radius as functions of position on the curved surface. These parameters are modified to compensate for variations in viewing angle, ensuring that the angular field of view remains constant across different regions, which maintains uniform moiré intensity and visual quality throughout the structure
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 method achieves high-quality, recognizable moiré patterns with consistent contrast and dynamic evolution of shapes when tilted, maintaining the general aspect of the moiré image, suitable for various decorative and security applications.
Implementation Method 1
a curved revealing layer made of a grating of sampling lines such as cylindrical lenses
Implementation Method 2
The superposition results in a message, motif or image that can be animated by having the revealing layer sampling successive positions of the base layer
Data Source
AI summary
Moiré is an appealing visual effect observable when two or more repetitive patterns are superposed. We introduce a method for designing and fabricating level-line moirés on curved surfaces. These moiré shapes are obtained by superposing a partly absorbing or partly light deviating curved base layer and a curved revealing layer formed by a grating of transparent lines or cylindrical lenses. The distances between base layer and revealing layer are adapted to the locally varying distances between successive transparent lines or cylindrical lenses of the curved revealing layer grating. We demonstrate the quality of our method by rendered simulations and by fabrication. The resulting level-line moiré display devices can be manufactured using different fabrication techniques, from multi-material 3D printing to molding.