Optical Brighteners for Transparent Substrate Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transparent substrates are difficult to reliably scan using laser profilometry due to absorption or transmission of the laser beam, resulting in reduced signal availability for accurate depth mapping, particularly in polymeric materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical enhancement component, such as optical brighteners, into the build material to enhance optical emission, such as fluorescence or scattering, which improves the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio during optical scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser profilometry is used to scan transparent substrates, then the scanning process can be performed, but the laser beam is absorbed or transmitted through the sample, reducing the reflected light signal and resulting in inaccurate depth maps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical brighteners to transparent substrates to modify their optical properties. These brighteners absorb UV light and emit visible blue light through fluorescence, transforming the substrate's interaction with light from transparent/absorptive to highly reflective in the visible spectrum, thereby enabling accurate laser scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The optical brightener acts as an intermediary substance between the laser scanning system and the transparent substrate. It mediates the interaction by converting UV radiation to visible light and providing a reflective surface that enhances the backscattered signal detected by the sensor, solving the problem of insufficient light reflection from transparent materials
2Measurement precision
If optical brighteners are added to build material to enhance optical emission, then the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio improve during optical scanning, but the material composition becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the build material by incorporating optical brighteners that change the material's interaction with light. This parameter change transforms the material from optically transparent to optically active (fluorescent and scattering), significantly enhancing the optical signal for scanning while maintaining the material's structural properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining the base build material with optical brightener additives. This composite approach integrates the functional properties of both components: the structural characteristics of the build material and the optical enhancement properties of the brighteners, achieving both mechanical integrity and improved scan detectability
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 use of optical enhancement components significantly enhances the optical scanning process by increasing the strength and quality of the optical signal emitted from the material, leading to more accurate surface profiling and material property determination.
Implementation Method 1
Elements not naturally present in the material used for fabrication are introduced in the additives in order to increase fluorescence, scattering or luminescence
Implementation Method 2
Elements not naturally present in the material used for fabrication are introduced in the additives in order to increase fluorescence, scattering or luminescence
Implementation Method 3
Transparent substrates are difficult to reliably scan using laser profilometry due to the laser beam being absorbed in or passing through the sample
Data Source
AI summary
An approach to improving optical scanning increases the strength of optical reflection from the build material during fabrication. In some examples, the approach makes use of an additive (or a combination of multiple additives) that increases the received signal strength and/or improves the received signal-to-noise ratio in optical scanning for industrial metrology. Elements not naturally present in the material are introduced in the additives in order to increase fluorescence, scattering or luminescence. Such additives may include one or more of: small molecules, polymers, peptides, proteins, metal or semiconductive nanoparticles, and silicate nanoparticles.