Transparent Member With Gradient Contact Angle Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for removing water droplets from lenses, such as vehicle-mounted cameras, either disrupt optical characteristics or rely on coatings that lack a driving force for droplet removal, leading to image distortion and reduced visibility in adverse weather.
Innovation Solution
A transparent member with a surface featuring a continuously changing contact angle, achieved through a water-repellent layer with a thickness gradient, which applies a driving force to move water droplets away from the surface, ensuring clear images even in bad weather.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wedge-shaped hydrophobic surface arrangement is used to transport droplets, then droplet transport capability is improved, but optical characteristics are rapidly changed and images are disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient hydrophobic surface where the contact angle varies continuously across different regions. This allows droplet transport functionality to be distributed gradually rather than through sharp boundaries, maintaining optical characteristics while achieving droplet removal through localized contact angle variations.
2Ease of operation
If hydrophilic and water-repellent coatings are applied to guide droplets, then droplet direction control is improved, but no driving force is provided for moving droplets to the lens surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying the contact angle parameter across the surface in a continuous gradient manner. This creates a driving force for droplet movement through the gradient itself, eliminating the need for separate hydrophilic and water-repellent coating combinations while providing both direction control and driving force.
3Manufacturing precision
If semiconductor processes are used to cope with micro water droplets, then droplet control precision is improved, but productivity is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes through continuous contact angle gradient formation that can be achieved through simpler coating or surface treatment processes rather than complex semiconductor manufacturing. This maintains sufficient droplet control precision for optical applications while avoiding the productivity loss associated with semiconductor-grade fabrication processes.
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
Effectively removes water droplets from lenses without distorting images, maintaining visibility and preventing adherence of new droplets, thus enhancing optical performance in outdoor conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a surface portion in which a contact angle to water changes continuously
Implementation Method 2
the thickness of the water-repellent layer changes continuously, and a flow direction of water adhering to the surface portion is controlled
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A transparent member according to the present invention is formed by providing at least a substrate or a layer on the substrate, and has a surface section in which the contact angle with respect to water continuously changes.