Pointer Gauge Antireflection Cover Plate Parallax Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Measuring devices, such as lever-type dial gauges, often suffer from measurement errors due to unintentional posture changes by users caused by difficulty in seeing the pointer and scale, leading to parallax issues, especially in environments with reflective surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A measuring device with a pointer-type display part and a transparent cover plate featuring an antireflection film to minimize reflections, ensuring the pointer and scale are clearly visible without distortion, and an antifouling film to maintain visibility in harsh environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a transparent cover plate is used to protect the pointer-type display part, then the display is protected from damage and contamination, but light reflections occur on the cover plate surface making the pointer and scale difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of display partVSAvoidlight reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies an antireflection film on the cover plate surface to convert the harmful reflection effect into a beneficial anti-reflection effect. This reduces light reflection and makes the pointer and scale clearly visible while maintaining the protective function of the cover plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the cover plate surface by applying specialized films (antireflection film and antifouling film) to modify how light interacts with the surface, reducing reflection and improving visibility without compromising protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cover plate has a convex curved surface to reduce reflection spots, then light reflection is dispersed, but the pointer position may still be covered by reflection spots requiring posture changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflection spot dispersionVSAvoidreading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on convex curvature to disperse reflections, the patent applies an antireflection film that directly reduces reflection at the source, converting the reflection problem into a solved issue and enabling accurate reading without posture changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different functional films to different aspects of the cover plate: antireflection film for optical performance and antifouling film for contamination resistance, creating localized functional zones that together solve multiple problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If illumination is provided to improve visibility of the scale, then the pointer and scale become more visible, but reflection spots appear on the cover plate making reading difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of scaleVSAvoidreflection spot intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antireflection film converts the harmful effect of illumination-induced reflections into a beneficial effect by reducing reflection intensity, allowing illumination to improve visibility without creating distracting reflection spots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Measurement precision

If the cover plate is kept clean to maintain visibility, then the pointer and scale remain clearly visible, but in harsh environments the cover plate becomes contaminated with oil and dirt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility maintenanceVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antifouling film provides self-cleaning properties to the cover plate surface, causing oil and dirt to bead up and roll off rather than adhering to the surface. This maintains visibility without requiring frequent manual cleaning interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 significantly reduces measurement errors caused by parallax, allowing for stable and precise measurements by eliminating reflection spots and maintaining visibility even in environments with high reflectivity and potential oil or dirt contamination.

Implementation Method 1

the cover plate has an antireflection film on a surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntireflection: Anti-Reflective Coating

Implementation Method 2

a transparent cover plate provided so as to cover the pointer-type display part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS10203190B2Measuring device

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 MITUTOYO CORP

AI summary

A measuring device which reduces reading errors caused by parallax. The measuring device has a gauge head abutting against an object to be measured, and includes a pointer-type display part which displays displacement of the gauge head obtained by being enlarged by an enlarging mechanism and being converted into a rotation amount of a pointer. The measuring device further includes a transparent cover plate provided so as to cover the pointer-type display part, and the cover plate has an antireflection film on the surface. The cover plate further has an antifouling film on the antireflection film. The cover plate has a flat surface.