Beam-Forming Element Interface for Optical Stray Light Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical devices, such as safety light barriers and laser scanners, face challenges in minimizing stray light, which can lead to false triggering or prevent the detection of safety-relevant objects.

Innovation Solution

The optical device comprises a beam-forming element and a support body made from materials with specific refractive indices, where the materials are in direct contact to minimize reflection and refraction, and the support body is designed to absorb electromagnetic radiation, thereby reducing stray light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If light traps are used to prevent stray light reflection and scattering, then stray light is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray lightVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light-trapping function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the housing material through selective absorption properties, eliminating the need for additional light trap structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the housing material by selecting materials with specific absorption characteristics for the defined electromagnetic radiation, transforming the housing from a passive structural element to an active stray light management component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If special filters or adapted light sources are used to deal with stray light, then stray light is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray lightVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the housing serve multiple functions: structural support and stray light absorption. By selecting materials that inherently absorb the defined electromagnetic radiation, the housing becomes both a mechanical structure and an optical filter, eliminating the need for separate filter components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses cost-effective housing materials with inherent absorption properties rather than expensive specialized filters or adapted light sources, achieving stray light reduction through material selection rather than additional expensive components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Illumination intensity

If materials with different refractive indices are used at the contact surface, then light transmission is improved, but reflection and refraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidreflection and refraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different material properties at different locations: the housing material has high absorption for stray light, while the beam-forming element material has high transmission for the main beam. The contact surface geometry is optimized to minimize the impact of refractive index differences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively reduces stray light by ensuring that incident light is absorbed by the support body, preventing it from reaching the optoelectronic element and minimizing false detections.

Implementation Method 1

The second material is absorbent to the defined electromagnetic radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The first material and the second material each have a defined refractive index (n1, n2) in relation to the defined electromagnetic radiation. The defined refractive index of the second material is set in a defined ratio to the defined refractive index of the first material in order to set a specific transition characteristic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20250052931A1Optical Device With Stray Light Reduction

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 PILZ GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

An optical device includes a beam-forming element made of a first material with a base surface and a top surface, which are opposite one another, and with a surrounding lateral surface, which connects the base surface and the top surface to one another. The optical device includes a support body made of a second material, which is formed with a receptacle for the beam-forming element and has at least one common contact surface with the lateral surface. The first material and the second material are in direct contact with each other. The first material is permeable to, and the second material is absorbent to, a defined electromagnetic radiation. A defined refractive index (n2) of the second material is set in a defined ratio to a defined refractive index (n1) of the first material in order to set a specific transition characteristic for the defined electromagnetic radiation at the contact surface.