Vacuum Vapor Coating Shutter with Nonmagnetic Particle Screen

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum vapor coating devices face issues with coating material precipitating into solid particles during the transition phase, leading to contamination and potential short circuits in the vapor source, requiring frequent cleaning of shutters.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a particule screen made of nonmagnetic materials on the shutter and shield box surfaces to prevent solid particles from falling back onto the vapor source, allowing gas passage while retaining solid particles, thus reducing the need for frequent cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shutter is used to cover the vapor source during the transition step, then the substrate is protected from uncontrolled coating, but solid particles of coating material precipitate on the shutter surface and fall back onto the vapor source causing contamination and potential short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor source reliabilityVSAvoidshutter contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A particule screen made of nonmagnetic material is introduced as an intermediary component between the shutter and the vapor source. This screen captures solid particles during the transition step, preventing them from falling back onto the vapor source while allowing the shutter to maintain its protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shutter system is segmented into multiple functional components: the shutter itself for blocking vapor, and a separate particule screen for capturing solid particles. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its specific function, improving overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the shutter is frequently cleaned to prevent contamination, then the vapor source remains protected from solid particles, but the coating process efficiency decreases due to maintenance interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor source protectionVSAvoidcoating process efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The particule screen serves as a sacrificial intermediary that accumulates solid particles instead of the shutter or vapor source. This mediator can be removed and replaced without interrupting the coating process, maintaining both protection and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The particule screen is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component made of nonmagnetic material. Rather than maintaining expensive critical components like the vapor source, a low-cost screen is used that can be discarded after capturing particles, eliminating maintenance interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If solid particles fall back onto the vapor source, then contamination occurs and short circuits may occur, but using a particule screen adds structural complexity to the shutter system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor source cleanlinessVSAvoidshutter system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The particule screen utilizes a porous or mesh structure made of nonmagnetic material that allows vapor to pass through while capturing solid particles. This simple structural approach achieves particle filtration without requiring complex mechanical or electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 particule screen effectively prevents contamination and short circuits, reducing the frequency of cleaning the shutter and shield box surfaces, ensuring a more reliable and efficient coating process.

Implementation Method 1

an electron beam gun with a heated filament 15 whose electrons are directed in a beam into a focusing unit 16 after heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectron beam heating: Electron Beam

Implementation Method 2

Physical vapor deposition corresponds to a variety of method to deposit thin films of a coating material by the condensation of vaporized form of the coating material on a substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical vapor deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 3

the second surface is provided with a particule screen made of nonmagnetic materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParticle screening: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2182087B1A vacuum vapor coating device for coating a substrate

Publication Date: 2012.07.25 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL(COMPAGNIE GENERALE D OPTIQUE)

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AI summary

A vacuum vapor coating device for coating a substrate with a coating material, the vacuum vapor coating device comprising a chamber (1) into which vacuum can be created, the chamber (1) comprises: • at least one support (3) for receiving the substrate, • a vapor source (4) of the coating material, • a shutter (5) arranged to selectively cover or uncover the vapor source (4), the shutter (5) comprising first (51) and second (52) surface, the second surface (52) being arranged to face the vapor source (4) when the shutter (5) covers the vapor source (4), wherein the second surface (52) is provided with a particule screen (6) made of nonmagnetic materials.