Polygonal Optical Element for Camouflage Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical camouflage techniques, such as those using combined triangular prisms, have poor handling properties and are difficult to maintain and install, making them impractical for making articles appear transparent.
Innovation Solution
A polygonal column-shaped optical element with specific inner and outer wall surfaces that allow for repetitive total reflection of light, enabling articles to appear transparent while offering improved handling properties through a design that can be either integral or composed of separable members, using materials like acryl, polycarbonate, or glass with a refractive index of 1.41 or higher.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple triangular prisms are combined to achieve optical camouflage, then articles can appear transparent, but handling properties deteriorate and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple triangular prisms into a single integrated polygonal column-shaped transparent body. This unified structure maintains the optical camouflage functionality while dramatically improving handling properties, as the entire optical element can be installed and maintained as one piece rather than multiple separate prisms that must be precisely aligned
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent body is designed with specific segmented wall surfaces (inner and outer walls at 45-degree angles) that perform distinct optical functions. The inner walls surround the rectangular column-shaped space while outer walls provide structural support and additional reflection surfaces, with each segment contributing to the overall total reflection mechanism
2Reliability
If multiple triangular prisms are combined to achieve optical camouflage, then articles can appear transparent, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple prism functions into a single polygonal column-shaped transparent body, reducing installation complexity from assembling multiple separate prisms to installing one integrated element. The unified structure eliminates alignment issues between multiple components while maintaining the total reflection optical path
3Ease of operation
If the distance between outer wall surfaces is made longer than the diagonal line, then handling properties improve, but the size of the optical element increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating protrusion portions at specific locations on the transparent body where the distance between outer wall surfaces exceeds the diagonal line length. These localized extensions provide handgrip areas for improved handling without significantly increasing the overall volume of the optical element, as the protrusions are concentrated at specific points rather than uniformly distributed
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 provides favorable handling properties and stability, allowing for easy installation and maintenance, while effectively making articles appear transparent by allowing background images to be visible from the opposite side, enhancing the practicality of optical camouflage.
Implementation Method 1
light perpendicularly incident on one outer wall surface of the two outer wall surfaces facing each other undergoes repetitive total reflection on the inner wall surfaces and the outer wall surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element is constituted of a polygonal column-shaped transparent body which has four inner wall surfaces that surround a rectangular column-shaped space having a square-shaped opening when seen in a plan view, four outer wall surfaces that are respectively parallel to the inner wall surfaces, and two outer wall surfaces which are perpendicular to a diagonal line of the square-shaped opening and face each other, in which the distance between the two outer wall surfaces facing each other is longer than the diagonal line.