RU2808698C1 - System and method for designing and developing textured optically anisotropic materials - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: optically anisotropic materials.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a system and method for creating textured optically anisotropic materials (TOAM). The technical result of the claimed solution is the creation of a unique internal texture of products. The technical result is achieved by the fact that the claimed solution provides for stages at which the materials synthesis program from the TOAM synthesis programs control unit is transferred to the materials synthesis device; materials for synthesis are supplied to the materials synthesis device in accordance with the program; carry out the synthesis of the material in accordance with the program; the resulting material is processed by the TOAM image forming device; the resulting image of the material is transferred to the TOAM image control unit; a program-image connection is created between the TOAM synthesis program control unit and the TOAM image control unit; to regulate the operation and interaction of blocks, the TOAM engineering block is used, and artificial intelligence algorithms/neural networks are used.

EFFECT: creation of a unique internal texture of products.

3 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a system and method for the design and development of textured optically anisotropic materials (TOAM) used for the manufacture of optical materials for information and computing devices (for example: optical identifiers, optical filters, optical devices for storing and processing information, etc.), manufacturing jewelry materials, production of materials for lighting devices, production of architectural and construction materials, production of decorative materials, production of art materials.

State of the art

Colored glass is one of the most common decorative materials, and has been known since ancient times; it appeared even earlier than transparent glass, since initially components with impurities were used when melting glass. Then, to give a certain color, people learned to add certain metals to the glass. The glass turned out to be beautiful, like precious stones, was expensive, and the art of glass coloring was a means of personal enrichment. With the development of glassware, craftsmen learned to produce glass of different colors with a bright and pure color, but the secrets of its production were also kept secret and passed down from generation to generation.

Today, colored glass is an inexpensive and aesthetic material, obtained in various ways - from expensive to budget. It is used in the production and finishing of various products. The possibilities of colored glass, if not limitless, are very wide and versatile.

The development of technology has made it possible to use painted products, including glass, for a wide variety of applications, for example, for the manufacture of optical materials for information and computing devices (for example: optical identifiers, optical filters, optical devices for storing and processing information, etc. ), manufacturing of jewelry materials, manufacturing of materials for lighting devices, manufacturing of architectural and construction materials, manufacturing of decorative materials, manufacturing of art materials.

There are currently many different ways to make colored glass for different applications. Known methods make it possible to obtain plain colored glass, multi-colored glass, glass with images and drawings.

From the author's certificate SU 1253965 A1, published on August 30, 1986, a method for producing decorative cladding products is known, which includes the production of a blank consisting of an internal structural and external decorative painted layers. Heat treatment of the workpiece consists of simultaneous heating of the layers to 160-200°C and subsequent heating to the melting temperature of the glass phase, then maintained at the crystallization temperature of the glass phase and cooled.

From the foreign application CN 1706761 A1, published on 12/14/2005, a continuous process for the production of colored glass is known, with a controlled supply of colored materials and a controlled stirrer. The continuous production process of colored glass includes controlling the amount of influx of base glass material through base material feeding machine and automatic liquid level controller; control of molten glass fiber with dye feeder. The glass coloring material and the base glass material are mixed in a mixing container until a predetermined mixing state is achieved. This process is controlled by a computer. During production, the product code is entered into the computer to produce colored glass with the designed color and pattern.

Patent application RU 94035210 A1, published on July 20, 1996, describes a method for producing colored decorative cladding material, including layer-by-layer filling into the form of a structural layer from a mixture of glass granules with sand and a decorative layer of glass granules and subsequent sintering. The decorative layer is obtained from a mixture of glass granules of the structural layer and ceramic pigment mixed with glass flour of fractions less than 0.1 mm in a ratio of 1: 9-10, and a 10% solution of liquid glass. The glass granules of the structural layer and the decorative layer have the same coefficient of thermal expansion.

With the development of technology, new materials for the manufacture of decorative and artistic products began to appear, as well as new devices and methods for the manufacture of such decorative and artistic materials. One of the new ways to produce such products is 3D printing methods or layer-by-layer printing methods. New polymeric materials and other materials have also appeared that have properties similar to glass and make it possible to obtain various decorative and artistic products from them.

From patent CN 1706761 A, published on December 14, 2005, a continuous process for the production of colored glass is known, with a controlled supply of colored materials and a controlled stirrer. The continuous production process of colored glass includes controlling the amount of influx of base glass material through base material feeding machine and automatic liquid level controller; control of molten glass fiber with dye feeder. The glass coloring material and the base glass material are mixed in a mixing container until a predetermined mixing state is achieved. This process is controlled by a computer.

From patent RU 188301 U1, published on 04/05/2019, a device for layer-by-layer production of single-color and multi-color products is known, which contains a supporting part, a work table, a three-dimensional positioning system, a control system with software that ensures the process of layer-by-layer production of single-color and multi-color products, including software a means for creating recipes for mixing colors of plastic filaments, a selected set of colors, a plastic filament supply system configured with the possibility of simultaneous and dosed supply of plastic filaments of selected colors, a print head containing a housing, a heater and a nozzle. The print head is equipped with a mixing system connected to the body and nozzle. The mixing system consists of an annular chamber and a mixing unit located in it with the possibility of rotation, a unit for cutting plastic threads and a grating made removable and installed in the lower part of the annular chamber. The cutting unit contains a stationary knife connected to the body, made with holes with cutting edges equal to the number of plastic threads of the selected set of colors, and a knife element installed on the mixing unit. The heater is installed on an annular chamber.

From the application CN 111993670, published on November 27, 2020 (the closest analogue), three-dimensional printing equipment is known, equipped with a display stand and capable of performing comparisons. In the 3D printing equipment, the output end of the image acquisition module is connected to the image recognition module, and the output end of the image recognition module is connected to the input end of the image storage module and the input end of the processor, respectively. By using the image storage module, comparison module and 3D printing module together, printed blanks and workpiece image information in the image storage module can be compared, differences found, and calibrated.

The disadvantage of the prototype and other known methods is that they do not allow obtaining products with a unique texture. Basically, all known devices and methods are aimed at obtaining a pattern on a surface or a directly painted surface. Known devices and methods do not allow obtaining three-dimensional products with a unique pattern inside. Known methods and devices are also complex and material-intensive.

In addition, in comparison with the closest analogue, the proposed device makes it possible to obtain new unique products by processing data on existing images and textures, i.e. the database of images and textures is expanded, and in known solutions the task is to obtain similar products according to a specific template and the program is calibrated to more fully match the product to the template. Known solutions have a correspondingly different purpose.

The task to which the proposed invention is aimed is to create a system and method for designing and developing textured optically anisotropic materials with a unique structure, as well as expanding the range of devices and methods for producing optical materials for information and computing devices (for example: optical identifiers, optical filters, optical information storage and processing devices, etc.), manufacturing of jewelry materials, manufacturing of materials for lighting devices, manufacturing of architectural and construction materials, manufacturing of decorative materials, manufacturing of art materials.

List of drawings

Fig. 1 - general diagram of the claimed system for the design and development of textured optically anisotropic materials.

Fig. 2-4 - photographs (photo 1-3) of glastel glass samples that were obtained using the proposed system.

Fig. 5-10 are example scenarios for the formation of textured optically anisotropic materials.

Disclosure of the Invention

The technical result of the proposed group of inventions is to provide a system and method for designing and developing textured optically anisotropic materials (TOAM) with a unique structure, which makes it possible to obtain a unique texture of the product due to constant “self-learning” of the system and generating new textures based on data about images available in the database. The system and method also make it possible to replay newly obtained TOAMs. The system and method make it possible to obtain products and materials that are not just painted, but contain a three-dimensional pattern both inside the product and on the surface.

To reveal the essence of the claimed group of inventions, we provide some definitions that will be used in the present invention:

Optical anisotropy (anisotropy of optical properties) is the dependence of the optical properties of a material on direction.

Texture (from the Latin “textura” - fabric, structure) is the preferential orientation of crystalline grains (crystals) in polycrystals or molecules in solid amorphous materials, leading to anisotropy of the properties of materials.

Color texture - pattern, orientation of particles of one color relative to particles of another color (several colors).

Volumetric texture of the color of a material - a pattern, the orientation of particles of one color relative to particles of another color (several colors), both on the surface and in the mass (thicker, volume) of the material.

The volumetric texture of the color of a material leads to optical anisotropy (anisotropy of optical properties) of the material.

To achieve a technical result and complete the task, a system for the design and development of textured optically anisotropic materials has been proposed, including the following building blocks:

- block (1) for controlling TOAM synthesis programs, transmitting a specific program to the TOAM synthesis device;

- device (4) for TOAM synthesis, in which the material is formed;

- device (5) for forming the TOAM image;

- TOAM image control unit (2), receiving an image from the device (5) and connected to the unit (1);

- TOAM engineering block (3),

in this case, block (3) carries out two-way interaction with blocks (1), (2), (4) and (5), and the system is designed with the ability to add a new image to the database and reproduce it, as well as with the ability to generate a new image and its reproduction.

To achieve a technical result and complete the task, a method for designing and developing textured optically anisotropic materials is also proposed, including the following stages:

- the materials synthesis program from the TOAM synthesis programs control block (1) is transferred to the materials synthesis device (4);

- into the device (4) for the synthesis of materials, connected to the device for supplying materials for synthesis, materials for synthesis are supplied manually or mechanically in accordance with the program;

- device (4) synthesizes the material in accordance with the program;

- then the resulting material is processed by the TOAM image forming device (5);

- the resulting image of the material is transferred to the TOAM image control unit (2);

- between the block (1) for controlling TOAM synthesis programs and the block (2) for controlling TOAM images, a program-image connection is created;

- to regulate the operation and interaction of blocks (1) and (2), the TOAM engineering block (3) is used,

wherein the TOAM engineering block (3) performs at least one of the following functions:

- adding a new program to block (1);

- adding a new image to block (2);

- changing the synthesis program in block (1);

- changing the connection between the image and the program in blocks (1) and (2);

- search for programs and images in blocks (1) and (2);

- analysis of programs and images in blocks (1) and (2);

- modeling the operation of the synthesis device (4), forming an image of the material based on the synthesis program without starting the synthesis device and without consuming materials and energy - function program → image;

- formation of a synthesis program based on the image, which allows you to develop new programs for the synthesis of materials based on the image of materials - function image → program,

at the same time, to implement the functions program → image and image → program, artificial intelligence algorithms/neural networks are used

in this case, the choice of the synthesis program and its changes are regulated by the operator.

TOAM synthesis device (4) is a technical device that converts materials and energy (input) into TOAM (output). The TOAM synthesis device executes the TOAM synthesis program received from the TOAM synthesis program control unit (1).

The TOAM synthesis program is a formalized set of instructions for the TOAM synthesis device, which completely defines all the components of the TOAM synthesis recipe in the structure: type of characteristic - characteristic - value of the characteristic. The TOAM synthesis program describes what substances and compounds are used by the TOAM synthesis device, in what quantity, in what form, in what sequence, at what point in time, under what settings, operating modes of the TOAM synthesis device (temperature, pressure, positions of the mechanical elements of the device etc.).

Each of the blocks (1)-(5) of the claimed system carries a number of specific functions.

Thus, block (1) for controlling TOAM synthesis programs has at least the following functions:

1.1. Management of reference books and classifiers of types of characteristics of TOAM synthesis programs;

1.2. Managing connections between types of characteristics of TOAM synthesis programs;

1.3. Adding, storing, changing, deleting TOAM synthesis programs in the structure: characteristic type - characteristic - characteristic value;

1.4. Search and analysis of TOAM synthesis programs based on characteristics and characteristics values;

1.5. Managing connections between TOAM synthesis programs;

1.6. Managing connections between TOAM synthesis programs and TOAM images;

1.7. Management of internal integration of functions of the control unit for TOAM synthesis programs;

1.8. Management of external integration of functions of the control unit for TOAM synthesis programs and external blocks and devices.

The TOAM image control unit (2) has at least the following functions:

2.1. Management of reference books and classifiers of types of TOAM image characteristics;

2.2. Managing connections between types of TOAM synthesis image characteristics;

2.3. Adding, storing, changing, deleting TOAM images;

2.4. Search and analysis of TOAM images;

2.5. Managing connections between TOAM images;

2.6. Management of internal integration of TOAM image control unit functions;

2.7. Management of external integration of the functions of the TOAM image control unit and external units and devices.

The TOAM engineering block (3) has at least the following functions:

3.1. Generating an image based on parameters;

3.2. Formation of a draft TOAM synthesis program based on the image. The function allows you to develop new TOAM synthesis programs based on generated images, photographs, drawings;

3.3. Generation of a TOAM synthesis program based on characteristics;

3.4. Formation of a TOAM image project based on the TOAM synthesis program. Visualization of the TOAM synthesis program, virtual TOAM synthesis without using a TOAM synthesis device. Forming a TOAM image project allows you to perform virtual experiments with TOAM synthesis programs: modify, optimize, develop new synthesis programs without using a TOAM synthesis device, without consuming materials and energy.

3.5. Management of internal integration of TOAM engineering block functions;

3.6. Management of external integration of the functions of the TOAM engineering block and external blocks and devices.

A computer/cloud server with a database and similar devices can be used as blocks (1)-(3).

The TOAM synthesis device (4) serves, respectively, for the formation or synthesis (manufacturing) of TOAM. Such a device can be any device that can be automated and whose operation can be carried out using a computer program. Such a device can be a standard 3D printing device (for example, a 3D printer) or a layer-by-layer printing device connected to the rest of the system, an automated/robotic system controlled by a program, etc.

A specific example of a device for TOAM synthesis is the device described in patent RU 2733761 C2, registered on 10/06/2020. The device, in essence, is a furnace in which the material (colored glass) is heated under certain operating parameters, quantity of materials, etc. This technology concerns the production of art glass glastel. The technology for manufacturing glastel glass, described in patent RU 2733761 C2, is fully implemented on the proposed system. A program-controlled device (set of devices) that is used to make Glastel glass is a variant of the TOAM synthesis device for this system, but is not limited to it.

In general, the technology described in patent RU 2733761 C2 can be fully included by reference within the scope of the claimed invention, and all techniques and operations, as well as materials, of the known method can also be used in the claimed invention.

Also, in addition to those listed, any programmable device for forming volumetric products can theoretically be used.

The TOAM image forming device (5) serves, accordingly, to obtain an image of the manufactured TOAM and transmit this image to the image control unit. Such a device can be a 3D photo camera, a 3D video camera, a photo camera or a video camera that can form an image from at least two angles, a 3D scanner that scans an object and converts the data into electronic form.

The technology of block interaction is not of fundamental importance. This can be a wired, wireless hybrid system for exchanging data between a computing device (or several computing devices) on which blocks (1)-(3) and devices of blocks (4) and (5) are implemented. The connection between blocks can be unbreakable or continuous, or blocks can be connected as needed.

In general, the system works as follows:

- the TOAM synthesis program from block (1) is transferred to the TOAM synthesis device (4);

- materials corresponding to the program are supplied to the TOAM synthesis device (4) and certain settings are made corresponding to the given program (such as the quantity and type (color) of materials, the sequence of their supply, etc.);

- device (4) synthesizes TOAM;

- the manufactured TOAM is processed by the TOAM image forming device (5): photographed/video shot/scanned, etc.;

- the TOAM image is transmitted to the TOAM image control unit (2);

- between blocks (1) and (2) a program-image connection is created;

- block (3) carries out two-way interaction of all blocks and processes the received data;

- block (3) forms an image or texture from those already in the database or forms a new image, which allows you to re-create previously received TOAMs, or obtain new TOAMs with a new specified texture, while the system processes the new received TOAMs and adds them into the database for the possibility of their re-production or further modification.

Optical anisotropy in the resulting TOAM occurs in one of two cases:

1) Volumetric texture of the material. A combination of layers with varying degrees of transparency along with the texture of these layers. The design of one layer is a texture, and through parts of the texture of this layer, parts of the texture of the underlying layer are visible, due to the transparency of these parts of the texture. For optical anisotropy based on volumetric texture, a minimum of two materials are required, one of which must be transparent. These can be two different types of material: both metal/wood (not transparent) and glass/plastic (transparent/partially transparent), or two different types of material: plastic/glass with one transparency and plastic/glass with another transparency.

2) Texture of the material. Structure/relief of the surface of the material. For optical anisotropy based on material texture, at least one material is required.

The features of the proposed equipment are not related to optical anisotropy, which is the result of the program (which sets the structure - the pattern and relief of the material) and the source materials.

To manufacture TOAM, any material for which a device for layer-by-layer synthesis exists or is theoretically possible can be used. If the material can have transparency, then anisotropy of the 1st and 2nd types is possible, if the material cannot have transparency, then anisotropy of the 2nd type is possible. Any material capable of anisotropy is used.

Below are examples of the materials used and their corresponding synthesis devices.

1) Glass. For glasses, an example of a synthesis device is a device that implements the glastelle method from the patent RU 2733761 C2, described above. Examples of the resulting textured optically anisotropic materials are shown in FIG. 2-4. The texture is formed: due to a combination of glasses of different colors, due to a combination of glasses of different degrees of transparency, due to the surface relief. Optical anisotropy is formed: due to a combination of glasses of different degrees of transparency, due to the surface topography.

2) Plastic. For plastics, examples of synthesis devices are 3D printers: SL (StereoLithography) stereolithography, LS (Laser Sintering) laser sintering, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) thermal extrusion, etc. The texture is formed: due to a combination of plastics of different colors, due to a combination of plastics of different degrees of transparency, due to the surface topography. Optical anisotropy is formed: due to a combination of plastics of varying degrees of transparency, due to the surface topography.

3) Metal. For metals, examples of synthesis devices are 3D printers: LS (Laser Sintering) laser sintering, EBM (Electron-Beam Melting) electron beam melting. The texture is formed: due to a combination of metals of different colors, due to the surface topography. Optical anisotropy is formed due to the surface topography.

4) Fabric. For textiles, examples of synthesis devices are looms. The texture is formed: due to a combination of threads of different colors, due to a combination of threads of different degrees of transparency (use of synthetic threads), due to the surface relief. Optical anisotropy is formed: due to a combination of threads of different degrees of transparency (use of synthetic threads), due to the surface topography.

It is also possible to use other materials: wood, ceramics, etc. Combinations of the above materials are also possible.

Carrying out the invention

Example

The performance and effectiveness of the proposed system and method was tested in the following system operation scenario (taking into account the designations of the functions of the system blocks given above):

a) Function 3.1. generates an image based on parameters or function 3.6 loads an image from an external file - sample image;

b) Function 3.6. transmits a sample image to the TOAM image control unit (2);

c) Function 2.3. adds a sample image to block (2);

d) Function 2.4. searches for TOAM images in block (2);

e) Function 3.2. generates a draft TOAM synthesis program based on a sample image, found similar TOAM images and corresponding TOAM synthesis programs;

f) Function 3.6. transfers the draft TOAM synthesis program to the TOAM synthesis program control unit (1);

g) Function 1.3. adds the TOAM synthesis program to block (1);

h) Function 1.6. creates a connection between the TOAM synthesis program in block (1) and the sample image in block (2);

i) Function 1.8. transmits the TOAM synthesis program to the TOAM synthesis device (4);

j) TOAM synthesis device (4) synthesizes TOAM;

k) TOAM is transferred to the TOAM imaging device (5);

l) The TOAM image forming device (5) generates a series of TOAM images;

m) Function 2.7. loads a series of TOAM images into block (2);

n) Function 2.4. compares a series of TOAM images and sample images.

o) If the images differ, then changes are made to the settings of function 3.2., function 3.2. generates a draft TOAM synthesis program based on a sample image, stages e.-n. are repeated,

p) In this case, different images with a new texture and a program for its synthesis are stored in blocks (1) and (2) for the possibility of reproducing this type of TOAM.

This scenario was applied to the technology for manufacturing art glass glastel, described in patent RU 2733761 C2. The TOAM samples shown in FIG. 2-4, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed invention and the possibility of achieving a technical result.

The uniqueness of the resulting products is also confirmed by the registration of glastelit trademarks, for which no matches were found. The indicated trademarks can be found at the following email addresses:

https://companies.rbc.ru/trademark/808738/

https://companies.rbc.ru/trademark/809067/

Registration data is also reliable evidence of the operability and uniqueness of the declared system, with the use of which registered trademarks were obtained.

In fig. 5-10 provide additional examples of scenarios for reproducing TOAM samples depending on the task. These examples show the possibility of reproducing textures and changing them according to certain specified parameters.

Claims (30)

1. A system for creating textured optically anisotropic materials (TOAM), including the following building blocks: - block (1) for controlling TOAM synthesis programs, transmitting a specific program to the TOAM synthesis device; - device (4) for TOAM synthesis, in which the material is formed; - device (5) for forming the TOAM image; - TOAM image control unit (2), receiving an image from the device (5) and connected to the unit (1); - TOAM engineering block (3), in this case, block (3) carries out two-way interaction with blocks (1), (2), (4) and (5), and the system is designed with the ability to add a new image to the database and reproduce it, as well as with the ability to generate a new image and its reproduction. 2. The system according to claim 1, in which the TOAM engineering block (3) is configured with at least one of the following capabilities: - formation of a TOAM synthesis program based on the image; - formation of a TOAM synthesis program based on parameters; - formation of a TOAM image based on the TOAM synthesis program. 3. A method for creating textured optically anisotropic materials, including the following stages: - the materials synthesis program from the TOAM synthesis programs control block (1) is transferred to the materials synthesis device (4); - materials for synthesis are supplied manually or mechanically to the device (4) for synthesis of materials in accordance with the program; - device (4) synthesizes the material in accordance with the program; - the resulting material is processed by the TOAM image forming device (5); - the resulting image of the material is transferred to the TOAM image control unit (2); - between the block (1) for controlling TOAM synthesis programs and the block (2) for controlling TOAM images, a program-image connection is created; - to regulate the operation and interaction of blocks (1) and (2), the TOAM engineering block (3) is used, wherein the TOAM engineering block (3) performs at least one of the following functions: - adding a new program to block (1); - adding a new image to block (2); - changing the synthesis program in block (1); - changing the connection between the image and the program in blocks (1) and (2); - search for programs and images in blocks (1) and (2); - analysis of programs and images in blocks (1) and (2); - modeling the operation of the synthesis device (4), forming an image of the material based on the synthesis program without starting the synthesis device and without consuming materials and energy - the “program → image” function; - formation of a synthesis program based on the image for the development of new programs for the synthesis of materials based on the image of materials - the “image → program” function, at the same time, artificial intelligence algorithms/neural networks are used to implement the “program → image” and “image → program” functions, in this case, the choice of the synthesis program and its changes are regulated by the operator.