Ultraprecise Single Point Cutting Technologies for Generation of Microstructures with Enhanced Retroreflective Characteristics

用于生成具有增强逆反射特性的微结构的超精密单点切割技术

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06616
• 负责人: TutuneaFatan, Remus
• 金额: $ 2.84万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=759877
• 关键词: Ultraprecise; Single; Point; Cutting; Technologies

Numerous recent technological advancements suggest that microoptics represents one of the key enabling technologies of the future. Irrespective of their functional role, microoptical components have to be produced in large quantities and at extremely high levels of precision. Among the broad variety of microoptical designs possible, retroreflective microstructures constitute a special category of features characterized by enhanced capabilities to reflect back/return a significant amount of incoming/incident light. One of the common ways to achieve retroreflection involves total internal reflection (TIR), a phenomenon that essentially speculates the existence of the critical angle at the interface between media characterized by different refractive indices. The most widespread application of TIR-based retroreflectors (RRs) is represented by the ubiquitous taillights that are installed on virtually every vehicle in the world. However, for better or worse, structured-surface RRs are being manufactured today almost identically as 60 years ago in a sense that long-standing pin-bundling technology is in use to fabricate the only type of RR design that can be made with it, namely corner-cube (CC). While undoubtedly functional, this approach represents a significant deviation from the well-accepted "design-driven manufacturing" paradigm that has been replaced in this context by a less desirable "manufacturing-locked design" philosophy. To address this, a new technology termed as ultraprecise single point cutting (USPC) - with an inverted variant - was shown to be an effective mean to generate non-CC RRs, more specifically in the form of right triangular prisms (RTPs). To further elevate the technology/manufacturing readiness level of USPC, the following objectives will be targeted by the current proposal: i) develop RR microstructures characterized by an enhanced optical performance and, ii) develop efficient USPC cutting and strategies. For this purpose, a broad variety of investigational approaches will be used, practically ranging from the incorporation of the surface quality in the virtual simulation of the optical performance of the RRs to the integration of ultrasonic elliptical cutting into the general RR fabrication process. The knowledge to be generated in the framework of the proposed research is expected to facilitate downstream developments capable to position Canadian manufacturers among world leaders in fabrication of retroreflective/microoptical components. It is anticipated that the progress to be made through the current proposal will bring USPC to a level of maturity capable to enable its future extensions into the non-optical surface functionalization domain. The trainees to become involved in the proposed research are expected to acquire a critical set of skills required for further promotion and development of this niche, but presently underrepresented sector of Canadian economy.

最近的许多技术进步表明，微光学代表了未来的关键使能技术之一。无论其功能作用如何，微光学元件都必须以极高的精度大量生产。在可能的各种各样的微光学设计中，逆反射微结构构成了一种特殊类别的特征，其特征在于反射回/返回大量入射/入射光的增强能力。 实现回射的常见方法之一涉及全内反射（TIR），这是一种本质上推测在以不同折射率为特征的介质之间的界面处存在临界角的现象。基于TIR的后向反射器（RR）的最广泛应用由安装在世界上几乎每辆车辆上的无处不在的尾灯代表。然而，不管是好是坏，结构化表面RR今天的制造几乎与60年前相同，从某种意义上说，长期存在的引脚捆绑技术用于制造唯一可以用它制造的RR设计类型，即角立方体（CC）。虽然毫无疑问的功能，这种方法代表了一个显着的偏差，从广为接受的“设计驱动制造”的范式，已取代在这种情况下，由一个不太可取的“制造锁定设计”的哲学。为了解决这个问题，一种称为超精密单点切割（USPC）的新技术-具有倒置变体-被证明是生成非CC RR的有效手段，更具体地说是直角三角形棱镜（RTP）的形式。为了进一步提高USPC的技术/制造准备水平，当前提案将针对以下目标：i）开发以增强光学性能为特征的RR微结构，ii）开发有效的USPC切割和策略。为此，将使用各种各样的研究方法，实际上从将表面质量纳入RR的光学性能的虚拟仿真到将超声椭圆切割集成到一般RR制造过程中。在拟议的研究框架内产生的知识，预计将促进下游的发展，能够定位加拿大制造商在逆反射/微光学元件的制造世界领先者。预计通过当前提案取得的进展将使USPC达到成熟水平，能够使其未来扩展到非光学表面功能化领域。参与拟议研究的受训人员预计将获得进一步促进和发展这一利基市场所需的一套关键技能，但目前这一市场在加拿大经济中的代表性不足。