Optical Cover Coating With Integrated Heating and Antireflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR covers face issues with snow accumulation and condensation that hinder near-infrared laser transmission due to moisture, and existing solutions with heating layers increase the number of coating layers, reducing transmittance.
Innovation Solution
A single-layer cover integrating metal fine wires for heating and a moth-eye structure for antireflection, reducing the number of layers and improving transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heating layer is added to the inner coating to eliminate condensation and snow accumulation, then the anti-condensation function is improved, but the number of coating layers increases and transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and antireflection function into a single integrated layer. The metal fine wires provide heating to eliminate condensation, while the moth-eye structure provides antireflection properties. This merging eliminates the need for separate heating layer and antireflection layers, maintaining high transmittance while achieving both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The single inner coating layer performs multiple functions: it provides heating through metal fine wires to prevent condensation and snow accumulation, provides antireflection through the moth-eye structure, and maintains optical transmittance. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making one layer serve multiple purposes rather than requiring separate layers for each function.
2Reliability
If multiple coating layers are used to provide heating and antireflection functions separately, then functional requirements are met, but the production process becomes more complex and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating layer and antireflection layer into a single integrated inner coating layer. The metal fine wires are embedded within the same layer that contains the moth-eye structure, eliminating the need for separate deposition processes and reducing manufacturing steps. This simplifies production while maintaining both heating and antireflection functions.
3Reliability
If multiple coating layers are used to provide heating and antireflection functions separately, then functional requirements are met, but the number of layers increases and transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and antireflection function into a single integrated layer. The metal fine wires provide heating to eliminate condensation, while the moth-eye structure provides antireflection properties. This merging eliminates the need for separate heating layer and antireflection layers, maintaining high transmittance while achieving both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The single inner coating layer performs multiple functions: it provides heating through metal fine wires to prevent condensation and snow accumulation, provides antireflection through the moth-eye structure, and maintains optical transmittance. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making one layer serve multiple purposes rather than requiring separate layers for each function.
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 solution enhances transmittance by reducing interface reflection and production complexity while maintaining heating functionality, enabling an affordable optical device cover.
Implementation Method 1
a heating function and an antireflection function are achieved in a single layer... metal fine wire placed on a light source side of the cover substrate
Implementation Method 2
an antireflection layer that embeds and covers the metal fine wire... the reduction in the number of layers reduces interface reflection and improves transmittance
Data Source
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AI summary
When a heating layer is provided on an inner coating of an optical device cover, the number of layers of the coating increases, and the transmittance decreases. A cover according to the disclosed technology is an optical device cover that transmits light emitted by a light source to the outside, and includes a cover substrate, a metal fine wire placed on the light source side of the cover substrate, and an antireflection layer that embeds and covers the metal fine wire. In other words, the disclosed technology achieves a heating function and an antireflection function in a single layer, reducing the number of layers in the inner coating.