Peelable Protective Film for Optical Element Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The replacement of optical elements in laser processing heads and fiber optic cable connectors is challenging due to the risk of particle contamination, which can lead to beam quality deterioration and system failure.
Innovation Solution
An optical element mounted in a mount, such as a protective glass, mirror, or lens, is covered by a protective film that adheres to the mount's end face via adhesive surfaces. The film has lateral projections for handling and peeling, ensuring it does not adhere to the optical element. This design prevents particles from reaching the optical element during replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical element is mounted without a protective film, then the replacement process is simpler, but particles from ambient air fall onto the optical element causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The protective film is applied to the optical element before mounting, creating a protective barrier in advance. This preliminary action prevents particles from falling onto the optical element during the replacement process, while the film includes a lateral projection that allows for easy gripping and removal without complicating the mounting operation.
2Reliability
If the protective film adheres to the optical element, then the film provides protection, but the film cannot be easily removed and may leave residue
Solution Approach 1:
The protective film has different adhesive properties in different regions: the area covering the optical element is non-adhesive to prevent bonding, while the lateral projection area has adhesive properties for gripping. The film is adhered to the mount via adhesive surfaces only in specific locations, allowing easy removal from the optical element while maintaining protection during handling.
3Reliability
If the protective film covers the entire optical element, then maximum protection is achieved, but the film becomes difficult to handle and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The protective film is divided into functional segments: a non-adhesive area covering the optical element for protection, and a lateral projection area for gripping and handling. This segmentation allows the film to provide maximum protection while remaining easy to handle and remove, as the lateral projection can be gripped without risking damage to the optical element.
4Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive surfaces are used to attach the film to the mount, then the film remains secure during replacement, but the adhesive may leave residue on the optical element
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive surfaces are extracted from the area covering the optical element and relocated to the lateral projection area and the mount interface. This allows the film to be securely attached to the mount during replacement without leaving adhesive residue on the optical element, as the adhesive is confined to areas that do not contact the optical surface.
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 protective film effectively prevents contamination of the optical element during replacement, ensuring high cleanliness and preventing particle-induced failures in laser processing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a protective film (4) which is adhered to an end face (5) of the mount (2) surrounding the optical element (1) via at least one adhesive surface (8)
Data Source
Figure 1a~3
Figure 4a~6
AI summary
According to the invention, in an optical element (1) mounted in a socket (2), a side (3) of the optical element (1) is at least partially, and in particular completely, covered by a protective film (4) which is adhered to an end face (5) of the socket (2) surrounding the optical element (1) via at least one adhesive surface (8), and the protective film (4) has a lateral projection (6) for handling the optical element (1) and for peeling the protective film (4) off the socket (2).