Optical Prism With Tilted Surfaces To Deflect Back Reflections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In optical data communication using modulated light beams, existing prisms suffer from back reflections that reduce the energy of the light beam and cause disturbances due to the vertical incidence and exit of light beams, leading to unwanted reflections back to the transmitter.
Innovation Solution
A transmissive prism design with oppositely tilted light incidence and exit surfaces, each inclined at an acute angle relative to the axis parallel to the base surface, ensuring that reflected radiation is deflected laterally and not back into the transmitter, thereby minimizing back reflections and maintaining beam alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the light beam is incident vertically on the light incidence surface and exits vertically from the light exit surface, then the alignment is simple, but back reflections occur that reduce light beam energy and cause disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by tilting the light incidence surface and light exit surface relative to the base surface. The light incidence surface is tilted by a first angle and the light exit surface is tilted by a second angle, both measured relative to the base surface. This asymmetric tilting configuration prevents vertical incidence and exit of the light beam, thereby eliminating back reflections that would otherwise occur with perpendicular surfaces, while still maintaining proper beam alignment through the prism.
2Loss of energy
If anti-reflective coating is applied to minimize back reflections, then reflection is reduced, but back reflections cannot be entirely prevented
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying anti-reflective coatings to reduce reflections, the patent inverts the approach by tilting the surfaces at specific angles. This geometric inversion of the surface orientation causes the light beam to incident and exit at non-perpendicular angles, fundamentally preventing back reflections from returning to the transmitter. This structural solution is more reliable than coating-based approaches because it physically redirects reflections away from the source rather than merely reducing their intensity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the second side faces are tilted oppositely at acute angles to the axis, then back reflections are deflected to the side, but the prism structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular parameters of the prism surfaces by tilting the light incidence surface and light exit surface at specific acute angles relative to the base surface. This parameter modification allows back reflections to be deflected laterally away from the transmitter path. The solution maintains relatively simple prism structure by using only two tilted surfaces rather than complex multi-element systems, achieving effective back reflection suppression through controlled angular geometry.
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
This design significantly reduces back reflections and maintains beam alignment, enhancing the efficiency of optical data communication by preventing reflections from returning to the transmitter and ensuring parallel displacement of the beam, which is particularly advantageous in modulated light applications.
Implementation Method 1
a transmissive prism body which has two triangular first side faces on its outer side and, between said first side faces, a base surface and two second side faces rising up from the base surface... said second side faces being inclined oppositely, relative to an axis running parallel to the base surface
Implementation Method 2
In both cases, back reflections will occur on the light incidence surface and respectively the light exit surface
Data Source
AI summary
The prism, which is used particularly for optical data communication by means of a modulated light beam, is furnished with a transmissive prism body (60) which has two triangular first side faces (69) on its outer side and a base surface (77) therebetween, and two second side faces rising up from the base surface and inclined toward one another as light incidence and light exit faces (74, 76). The two second side faces (74, 76) are inclined oppositely, relative to an axis (79) running parallel to the base surface (77) and penetrating the planes in which the first side faces (69) lie, and each run at an acute angle (78, 80) to the axis (79) such that reflection radiation is reflected to the side.