Textile Acousto-Optic Modulator for Flexible Low-Cost Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acousto-optic modulators are expensive, limited in size and shape, and require frequent bulb replacements, with insufficient treatment duration and intensity for effective medium treatment.
Innovation Solution
An acousto-optic modulator using a piezoelectric transducer with electrodes and dielectric materials, including a dielectric textile with a doubly-periodic structure, which allows for large, flexible, and cost-effective designs, enhanced by surface-enhanced Raman scattering and plasma mirrors for increased photon energy and interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If single crystal structures are used in acousto-optic modulators, then manufacturing precision and optical performance are improved, but device cost increases and adaptability to different shapes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental material parameter from crystalline structure to textile fabric structure. The textile provides a flexible, formable substrate that can be adapted to various shapes while maintaining the necessary periodic structure for acousto-optic modulation, eliminating the rigidity and shape limitations of single crystals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining textile fabric with functional coatings or impregnations to create an acousto-optic medium that maintains periodicity and optical properties while gaining the flexibility and formability of textile materials, resolving the contradiction between structural precision and shape adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If single crystal structures are used in acousto-optic modulators, then optical performance is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive single crystal materials with inexpensive textile fabrics that can be mass-produced through conventional textile manufacturing processes. The textile serves as a cost-effective substrate that can be readily replaced if needed, eliminating the high cost and scarcity issues associated with single crystal production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention fundamentally changes the material parameter from expensive crystalline structures to affordable textile materials, maintaining the necessary periodic structure through fabric weave patterns while dramatically reducing material cost and improving manufacturing accessibility.
3Reliability
If UV bulbs are used for sanitization, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but service life decreases requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical UV bulb system with an acousto-optic modulation system that uses acoustic waves to control light properties. This substitution eliminates the limited-life UV bulb component while maintaining sanitization effectiveness through alternative physical mechanisms involving sound-wave modulated optical fields.
4Reliability
If plasma treatment duration is extended in treatment chamber, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acoustic wave modulation to enhance plasma treatment effectiveness. The acoustic waves create periodic variations in the plasma environment that increase interaction efficiency, allowing for shorter treatment durations while maintaining or improving effectiveness, thereby reducing the need for complex extended treatment chamber designs.
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 modulator achieves energy-efficient, effective treatment of media with reduced costs, enabling complex shapes and extended treatment duration through flexible textiles and improved photon scattering.
Implementation Method 1
an acousto-optic modulator (10) comprising a piezoelectric transducer (20)
Implementation Method 2
acousto-optic modulator
Implementation Method 3
enhanced by surface-enhanced Raman scattering and plasma mirrors for increased photon energy
Implementation Method 4
plasma mirrors for increased photon energy and interaction
Data Source
AI summary
An acousto-optic modulator (10) comprising a piezoelectric transducer (20) with a first electrode (21), a second electrode (22), and a dielectric material (23) disposed between and in contact with said electrodes (21, 22), and an acousto-optic element (30) comprising at least two further dielectric materials (31, 32) with mutually different refractive indices, wherein said piezoelectric transducer (20) and said acousto-optic element (30) are laminated together, and wherein at least one of said further dielectric materials (31, 32) of said acousto-optic element (30) is a dielectric textile having a doubly-periodic structure.