Polygonal Camouflage Pattern for Shape Disruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camouflage patterns fail to effectively conceal objects of varying sizes, as they either produce mixed colors that are noticeable at a distance or require constant adaptation to specific backgrounds, leading to visibility issues when backgrounds change.

Innovation Solution

A polygonal camouflage scheme with intersecting property bands that divide the object surface into zones with alternating background properties, creating a fractal-like pattern that blends with the environment at various distances, ensuring 50% of the area represents one background property and 50% another, thereby disrupting the object's shape and making it less recognizable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If mixed colors and color mixtures are used to blend with the background, then the object becomes less noticeable at a distance, but the object remains visible as a whole in a relatively large area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetectability at distanceVSAvoidvisible area
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the object surface into multiple zones with different background properties (e.g., light/dark, wet/dry, vegetated/non-vegetated). Each zone is assigned a specific background type, creating a segmented pattern that disrupts the object's overall shape and prevents it from being perceived as a single visible entity, while still providing area coverage for camouflage effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the object surface are assigned different camouflage properties corresponding to specific background types. The pattern adapts locally to match various background characteristics (light/dark areas, vegetated/non-vegetated areas, wet/dry areas) rather than using a uniform color mixture, allowing the object to blend with heterogeneous environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If specialized color combination is used to adapt to a specific background, then the object disappears perfectly from that background, but the object becomes completely noticeable in another location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetectability on specific backgroundVSAvoidadaptability to different backgrounds
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The camouflage pattern is divided into multiple zones, each representing a different background type (light/dark, vegetated/non-vegetated, wet/dry). This segmentation allows the object to present multiple background-like appearances simultaneously, making it adaptable to heterogeneous environments and reducing the need for constant pattern changes when moving between different backgrounds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The camouflage pattern incorporates multiple background representations within a single design, making it universally applicable to diverse environments. The pattern includes light/dark zones, vegetated/non-vegetated zones, and wet/dry zones, allowing it to function effectively across multiple background types without requiring separate specialized patterns for each location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the object surface is divided into zones with alternating background properties, then the object's shape is disrupted and becomes less recognizable, but the pattern complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape recognition difficultyVSAvoidpattern complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The object surface is divided into zones with different background properties (light/dark, vegetated/non-vegetated, wet/dry), creating a segmented pattern that disrupts the object's shape. This segmentation approach systematically organizes the complexity into manageable zones rather than random patterns, making the design both effective and relatively simple to implement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The camouflage pattern uses asymmetric zone arrangements and irregular boundaries between zones rather than symmetric or regular patterns. This asymmetry enhances shape disruption and makes the object less recognizable, while the systematic zoning approach keeps the overall design manageable and not overly complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2238404B1Pattern for camouflage motif on objects
Publication Date: 2012.07.11 LENZ FLORIAN
  • EP2238404B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2238404B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2238404B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a camouflage pattern having a polygonal pattern area for a camouflage motif for objects to be camouflaged, wherein the polygonal pattern area of the camouflage pattern has such dimensions that the polygonal pattern area substantially fully covers an object area of an object to be camouflaged. For this, the pattern area has a first side length, which has a substantial first expansion of the object to be camouflaged, and the pattern area has a second side length, which has a substantial second expansion of the object to be camouflaged. At least two adjacent property bands, which have predetermined widths and are aligned in a first identical running direction, are provided on the polygonal pattern area, wherein adjacent property bands alternately differ at least in the extent of a discernible property. To this end, the dimensions of the pattern area and the widths of the property bands are dimensioned such that only a maximum of three and in particular only two property bands extend with the full widths thereof on the pattern area.