Optical Coupling Body with Removable Holding Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical coupling bodies for optoelectronic devices and vehicle windows face challenges during service, as the gel-like silicone coupling medium forms strong bonds with both components, making removal difficult and requiring extensive effort, and often necessitating complete device replacement.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting optical coupling body with a holding frame that connects to the optically effective surfaces via form-fitting or chemically bonded silicone materials, allowing for easy assembly and replacement, featuring a pre-assembled unit with a protective film and elastic sealing elements, and optionally multi-layered silicone structures for enhanced stability and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the coupling medium forms an intimate connection with the vehicle window and optoelectronic device, then optical coupling performance is improved, but serviceability and ease of replacement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body is divided into two separable parts: the holding frame with mounting elements and the coupling medium. This segmentation allows the coupling medium to maintain intimate contact with both surfaces for optimal optical coupling, while the holding frame can be independently removed for service operations without destroying the coupling medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding frame acts as an intermediary component between the optoelectronic device and the vehicle window. It provides mechanical support and mounting functionality, allowing the coupling medium to focus solely on optical coupling without bearing mechanical loads, thereby maintaining both performance and serviceability.
2Reliability
If the coupling medium is pressed onto the vehicle window to ensure optical contact, then optical coupling quality is improved, but residue removal effort and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting function is extracted from the coupling medium and transferred to the holding frame. The coupling medium only needs to provide optical coupling without mechanical support duties, reducing the pressure and contact area required, thereby minimizing residues and simplifying cleanup operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the holding frame is integrated with the optoelectronic device housing, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of replacement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The holding frame is designed as a separate component with mounting elements that can be independently attached to the optoelectronic device. This segmentation provides structural stability during operation while enabling easy removal and replacement of the coupling body without affecting the device housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding frame is designed as a universal mounting structure that can be applied to different optoelectronic devices and vehicle window configurations. The mounting elements provide adaptable attachment options while maintaining structural integrity during use.
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 cost-effective and simplified service operations by allowing the coupling body to be easily removed and replaced without damaging the optoelectronic device, reducing the need for complete device replacement and minimizing residue removal efforts.
Implementation Method 1
The silicone material can be connected to the holding frame in a form-fitting manner by appropriately shaping the inner edge surface or, alternatively or additionally, by means of chemical bonding forces.
Implementation Method 2
The silicone material can be connected to the holding frame in a form-fitting manner by appropriately shaping the inner edge surface
Implementation Method 3
The latter can be achieved, for example, by surface treatment of the inner edge surface, for example by corona treatment
Implementation Method 4
by dissolving the surface with a solvent
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
An optical coupling body is described for coupling of an optical-electronic apparatus to a vehicle windshield, with a transparent coupling medium made of a silicone material, which is surrounded by a perimeter edge of a mounting frame, wherein the mounting frame is produced as a separate part not bonded to a part of the housing of the optical-electronic apparatus, wherein the inner edge surface of the mounting frame is designed in such a manner that the silicone material is held in a friction lock and/or by chemical bonding, wherein the material of the coupling medium is selected, depending on the shape and the size of the mounting frame, so that the coupling medium is shape-stable even without additional bracing across the surface tensioned by the mounting frame, and wherein the mounting frame can be coupled to a part of the optical-electronic apparatus, so that at the same time, the coupling body comes to rest against an optically active surface of the optical-electronic apparatus. In an additional embodiment, a transparent carrier surface is cut within the mounting frame, wherein the material of the transparent coupling medium rests on both sides against the carrier surface.