CN116909044A

CN116909044A - Electronic window and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN116909044A
Application number: CN202310006043.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈恩祥; 郭峙嵚; 林楙翔; 徐旭宽
Original assignee: Innolux Display Corp
Current assignee: Innolux Corp
Priority date: 2022-04-15
Filing date: 2023-01-04
Publication date: 2023-10-20

Abstract

An electronic window for adjusting light is provided, and includes: a first panel, a second panel, and an intermediate layer. The first panel includes a first alignment layer. The second panel includes a second alignment layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The angle of the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees, and the angle of the alignment direction of the second alignment layer is between 115 degrees and 155 degrees.

Description

Electronic window and manufacturing method thereof

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic window and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an electronic window including a plurality of panels having different alignment directions and a method of manufacturing the same.

Background

Due to the rapid development of technology, electronic devices are becoming more popular nowadays, and particularly windows for buildings or vehicles are gradually designed electronically to adjust light rays according to the needs of users. However, existing electronic windows are prone to users perceiving unnatural brightness distributions. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the existing designs.

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic window for adjusting light, and comprising: a first panel, a second panel, and an intermediate layer. The first panel includes a first alignment layer. The second panel includes a second alignment layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The angle of the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees, and the angle of the alignment direction of the second alignment layer is between 115 degrees and 155 degrees.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic window for adjusting light, and comprising: a first panel, a second panel, and an intermediate layer. The first panel comprises two first alignment layers and a first liquid crystal layer arranged between the first alignment layers, wherein the alignment directions of the first alignment layers are parallel to each other. The second panel comprises two second alignment layers and a second liquid crystal layer arranged between the second alignment layers, wherein the alignment directions of the second alignment layers are parallel to each other. The intermediate layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer comprise a plurality of dichroic dye molecules and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, and the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is perpendicular to the alignment direction of the second alignment layer.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing an electronic window, including forming a first panel. Forming the first panel includes forming a plurality of first alignment layers having a first alignment direction, and disposing one of the first alignment layers between two first substrates. The method also includes forming a second panel. Forming the second panel includes flipping another of the first alignment layers along an axial direction to form a second alignment layer having a second alignment direction. The sum of the angle of the first alignment direction and the angle of the second alignment direction is 180 degrees. In addition, a second alignment layer is disposed between the two second substrates. The method also includes disposing an intermediate layer between the first panel and the second panel.

Drawings

The various aspects of the present disclosure can be fully appreciated from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the various features are not drawn to scale and are merely illustrative in accordance with practice standard in the industry. In fact, the dimensions of the components may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced to improve or manifest the features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an electronic window according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A shows a schematic view of a second panel according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2B shows a schematic view of a second panel according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an electronic window according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The reference numerals in fig. 1-4 are illustrated as follows:

10: electronic window

100: first panel

101, 102: first substrate

111, 112: a first conductive layer

121, 122: a first alignment layer

130: first liquid crystal layer

131: liquid crystal molecules

132: dichroic dye molecules

200: second panel

201, 202: second substrate

211, 212: second conductive layer

221, 222: a second alignment layer

230: second liquid crystal layer

231: liquid crystal molecules

232: dichroic dye molecules

300: intermediate layer

400: transparent substrate

500: low radiation layer

510: outer frame

520: space of

A1: first alignment direction

A2: second alignment direction

L1, L2: light ray

P: power supply

S: light source

θ1, θ2: angle of

Detailed Description

The present disclosure will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being noted that, for ease of understanding of the reader and brevity of the drawings, various drawings in the present disclosure depict only a portion of the light emitting units and the specific components in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. In addition, the number and size of the components in the drawings are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the use of similar and/or corresponding reference numerals in the various embodiments is provided for the sake of brevity and clarity only to describe some embodiments and not to represent any relevance between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that electronic device manufacturers may refer to a same component by different names. It is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in function but not name. In the following description and claims, the terms "include", "have", and the like are open-ended terms, and thus should be interpreted to mean "include, but not limited to …". Thus, when the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including" are used in the description of the present disclosure, they specify the presence of stated features, regions, steps, operations, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, steps, operations, and/or components.

In addition, relative terms such as "lower" or "bottom" and "upper" or "top" may be used in embodiments to describe the relative relationship of one element to another element of the figures. It will be appreciated that if the device of the drawings is turned upside down, the elements described as being on the "lower" side would then be elements on the "upper" side.

When a corresponding element (e.g., a film layer or region) is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or other elements can be present therebetween. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no elements therebetween. In addition, when a component is referred to as being "on" another component, the two are in a top-down relationship in the top-down direction, and the component may be above or below the other component, and the top-down relationship depends on the orientation of the device.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, layers and/or sections, these elements, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms, and these terms are used solely to distinguish between different elements, layers and/or sections. Accordingly, a first component, layer and/or section discussed below could be termed a second component, layer and/or section without departing from the teachings of some embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, for the sake of brevity, the terms "first," "second," and the like may not be used in the description to distinguish between different components. The first component and/or the second component recited in the claims can be interpreted as corresponding to any component in the specification without departing from the scope defined in the appended claims.

In the present disclosure, the length, width and/or thickness may be measured by an optical microscope or may be measured by a cross-sectional image in an electron microscope, but the above measurement is merely exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, any two values or directions used for comparison may have some error. The terms "about," "substantially," or "approximately" are generally construed to be within 10% of a given value, or to be within 5%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0.5% of a given value.

The term "range between the first value and the second value" means that the range includes the first value, the second value, and other values therebetween.

It should be noted that the technical solutions provided in the different embodiments below may be replaced, combined or mixed with each other to form another embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be appreciated that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Fig. 1 shows a partial plan schematic view of an electronic window 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the electronic window 10 may be used in a building or a vehicle and to regulate light, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the electronic window may be used with other electronic devices (not shown). For example, the electronic device may include a display apparatus, a backlight device, an antenna device, a sensing device, or a stitching device, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The electronic device may be a bendable or flexible electronic device. The display device may be a non-self-luminous type display device or a self-luminous type display device. The antenna device may be a liquid crystal type antenna device or a non-liquid crystal type antenna device, and the sensing device may be a sensing device for sensing capacitance, light, heat energy or ultrasonic waves, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a flexible panel including electronic components, which may include passive components and active components, such as capacitors, resistors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and the like. In some embodiments, the diode may comprise a light emitting diode or a photodiode. The light emitting diode may include, for example, an organic light emitting diode (organic light emitting diode, OLED), a sub-millimeter light emitting diode (mini LED), a micro LED, or a quantum dot LED, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The stitching device may be, for example, a display stitching device or an antenna stitching device, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the electronic device may be any of the foregoing arrangements, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. It should be understood that the following paragraphs will illustrate the disclosure with respect to a partial structure of the electronic window 10, and those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains will appreciate that the electronic window 10 may also include other structures to perform the intended functions.

As shown in fig. 1, the electronic window 10 may include: the first panel 100, the second panel 200, and the intermediate layer 300. For example, the first panel 100, the second panel 200 may be stacked in a direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the Z-axis), and the middle layer 300 may be disposed between the first panel 100 and the second panel 200. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first panel 100 may include two first substrates 101, 102, two first conductive layers 111, 112, two first alignment layers 121, 122, and a first liquid crystal layer 130 disposed between the first alignment layers 121 and 122. The first conductive layer 111 and the first conductive layer 112 are disposed between the first substrate 101 and the first substrate 102, and the first alignment layer 121 and the first alignment layer 122 are disposed between the first conductive layer 111 and the first conductive layer 112. In some embodiments, the first substrate 101 is located on one side of the first alignment layers 121 and 122, the first substrate 102 is located on the other side of the first alignment layers 121 and 122, the second substrate 201 is located on one side of the second alignment layers 221 and 222, the second substrate 202 is located on the other side of the second alignment layers 221 and 222, and the intermediate layer 300 contacts the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 202, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first substrate 101 and the first substrate 102 may include glass, polymer material or other suitable light-transmitting material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first conductive layer 111 and the first conductive layer 112 may include metal or other suitable conductive material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the first liquid crystal layer 130 includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules 131 and a plurality of dichroic dye molecules 132. The dichroic dye molecules 132 may, for example, absorb specific visible wavelengths to achieve a shading effect. In some embodiments, the angle of the alignment direction of the first alignment layer 121 and the first alignment layer 122 is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees, such that the first liquid crystal layer 130 disposed between the first alignment layer 121 and the first alignment layer 122 is aligned along the angle of the alignment direction. In some embodiments, the alignment directions of the first alignment layer 121 and the first alignment layer 122 are parallel to each other. The alignment direction of the first alignment layer 121 and the first alignment layer 122 and the definition of the angle thereof will be further described with reference to fig. 4.

Similarly, the second panel 20 may include two second substrates 201, 202, two second conductive layers 211, 212, two second alignment layers 221, 222, and a second liquid crystal layer 230 disposed between the second alignment layers 221 and 222. The second conductive layer 211 and the second conductive layer 212 are disposed between the second substrate 201 and the second substrate 202, and the second alignment layer 121 and the second alignment layer 122 are disposed between the second conductive layer 211 and the second conductive layer 212. For example, the second substrate 201 and the second substrate 202 may include glass, polymer material or other suitable light-transmitting material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the second conductive layer 211 and the second conductive layer 212 may include a metal or other suitable conductive material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the second liquid crystal layer 230 includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules 231 and a plurality of dichroic dye molecules 232. Similarly, the dichroic dye molecules 132 may, for example, absorb specific visible wavelengths to achieve a shading effect. The operation of the liquid crystal molecules 231 and the dichroic dye molecules 232 will be further described with reference to fig. 2A and 2B. In some embodiments, the angle of the alignment direction of the second alignment layer 221 and the second alignment layer 222 is between 115 degrees and 155 degrees, such that the second liquid crystal layer 230 disposed between the second alignment layer 221 and the second alignment layer 222 is aligned along the angle of the alignment direction. In some embodiments, the alignment directions of the second alignment layer 221 and the second alignment layer 222 are parallel to each other. The alignment direction and the angle of the second alignment layer 221 and the second alignment layer 222 are further described below with reference to fig. 4

In addition, the intermediate layer 300 disposed between the first panel 100 and the second panel 200 may contact the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 202. For example, the intermediate layer 300 may include a dielectric layer (e.g., OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) optical cement), a vacuum space, a space filled with a liquid (e.g., water), may include a space filled with a gas (e.g., nitrogen (N) ₂ ) Oxygen (O) ₂ ) Etc.) or combinations of the above, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. By arranging the first panel 100 and the second panel 200 with different alignment directions, the light passing through the electronic window 10 can have more uniform brightness distribution, and a more natural visual feeling is provided for the user. Alternatively, the above configuration can improve the fault tolerance of the first panel 100 and the second panel 200 of the electronic window 10, and even if the first panel 100 and the second panel 200 are installed in a non-original design manner, the light distribution can be relatively uniform, so as to reduce the probability of the user perceiving the non-uniform light.

Fig. 2A shows a schematic diagram of a second panel 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2A, the second panel 200 (e.g., the second conductive layer 211 and the second conductive layer 212) may form a switchable circuit with the power source P. The liquid crystal molecules 231 disposed in the sealing layer 233 may rotate according to the electrical property, so as to drive the dichroic dye molecules 232 to change the orientation, such that the second panel 200 may absorb at least a portion of the incident light L or pass the light L through the second panel 200. Specifically, in the present embodiment, an open circuit is formed between the power source P and the second panel 200, so that the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules 231 drives the dichroic dye molecules 232 to change the orientation. At this time, the second panel 200 absorbs at least a portion of the incident light L, and reduces the amount of light L passing through the second panel 200.

Fig. 2B shows a schematic diagram of a second panel 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2B, a path is formed between the power P and the second panel 200 such that the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules 231 drives the dichroic dye molecules 232 to change the orientation. At this time, the light L may pass through the second panel 200, but is hardly absorbed by the second panel 200. In summary, the transmittance of the second panel 200 can be changed by switching the circuit formed between the power source P and the second panel 200. It should be understood that, although the second panel 200 is taken as an example in the above embodiment, the first panel 100 can also be operated in the same manner, and the following description will be omitted.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an electronic window 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the electronic window 10 further includes a plurality of transparent substrates 400. In some embodiments, the transparent substrate 400 may be attached to the first panel 100 or the second panel 200 through the intermediate layer 300 (e.g., a dielectric layer). For example, the transparent substrate 400 may include glass or other suitable light transmissive material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, in some embodiments, the electronic window 10 further includes a low emissivity layer 500 disposed between the different transparent substrates 400. For example, the low-emissivity layer 500 may be an optical film with relatively high reflectivity, for example, by partially reflecting the light L1 from the light source S, the effect of reducing the thermal energy caused by the radiation of the light source S entering the target can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the electronic window 10 further includes an outer frame 510. The outer frame 510 forms a space 520 with the low-emissivity layer 500 and the transparent substrate 400. In some embodiments, the space 520 may be filled with argon (Ar). In this way, the heat energy from the incident light L1 can be further blocked. For example, the material of the outer frame 510 may include metal or other suitable rigid material, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. It should be understood that the present embodiment is only an example, and those skilled in the art can add, omit or change the configuration of the film layer according to the disclosure, and all such configurations are included in the scope of the disclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a first alignment layer 121 and a second alignment layer 221 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 4, the first alignment layer 121 (also referred to as the first alignment layer 122) has a first alignment direction A1. More specifically, a plurality of grooves (not shown) extending in the first alignment direction A1 may be formed on the first alignment layer 121 to accommodate the liquid crystal molecules 131 of the first liquid crystal layer 130 and the dichroic dye molecules 132 (as shown in fig. 1). The first alignment direction A1 has an angle θ1, where the angle θ1 may be an angle between the first alignment direction A1 and the positive X-axis. In some embodiments, the angle θ1 may be between about 25 degrees and about 65 degrees, such as about 45 degrees. After forming the first alignment direction A1 of the first alignment layers 121, 122, the first liquid crystal layer 130 may be formed between the first alignment layers 121, 122, and the first alignment layers 121, 122 and the first conductive layers 111, 112 may be disposed between the two first substrates 101, 102.

In some embodiments, an alignment layer having a first alignment direction A1 may be formed on the two second substrates 201 and 202, the two second substrates 201 and 202 formed with the alignment layer having the first alignment direction A1 are turned over along an axial direction (for example, an X-axis or a Y-axis), and the second alignment layers 221 and 222 having a second alignment direction A2 are formed on the two second substrates 201 and 202, so that the process of the second alignment layers 221 and 222 may be simplified and the manufacturing time and cost may be reduced. The second alignment direction A2 has an angle θ2, where the angle θ2 may be an angle between the second alignment direction A2 and the positive X-axis. In some embodiments, the angle θ2 may be between about 115 degrees and about 155 degrees, such as about 135 degrees. By the above-mentioned process, the first alignment layers 121 and 122 are formed on the first substrates 101 and 102, and the second alignment layers 221 and 222 are formed on the second substrates 201 and 202, such that the sum of the angle θ1 of the first alignment direction A1 and the angle θ2 of the second alignment direction A2 is 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the first alignment direction A1 of the first alignment layer 121 is substantially perpendicular to the second alignment direction A2 of the second alignment layer 221. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the second alignment layers 221 and 222 may be formed in the same manner as the first alignment layers 121 and 122, and will not be described in detail below.

In summary, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic window including a plurality of panels having different alignment directions and a method of manufacturing the same. By means of the characteristics, light rays passing through the electronic window can have more uniform brightness distribution, and a more natural visual perception of a user is provided. Alternatively, the above configuration can improve the fault tolerance of the first panel and the second panel of the electronic window, and even if the first panel and the second panel are installed in a non-original design manner, the relatively uniform light distribution can be obtained, so that the probability that the user perceives the non-uniform light is reduced. In addition, by arranging the low-radiation layer in the electronic window, the effect of isolating heat energy can be further achieved.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been disclosed above, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification, and those of skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that any process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps which may be practiced in the present disclosure or with respect to the presently existing or future developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to cover such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently adapted to carry out the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or the essential characteristics of the invention. In addition, each claim constitutes a separate embodiment, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure also includes combinations of the individual claims and embodiments.

Claims

1. An electronic window for adjusting light, comprising:

a first panel including a first alignment layer;

a second panel including a second alignment layer; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first panel and the second panel,

wherein an angle of an alignment direction of the first alignment layer is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees, and an angle of an alignment direction of the second alignment layer is between 115 degrees and 155 degrees.

2. The electronic window of claim 1, wherein the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is substantially perpendicular to the alignment direction of the second alignment layer.

3. The electronic window of claim 2, wherein the first panel comprises a first substrate and a first liquid crystal layer, the second panel comprises a second substrate and a second liquid crystal layer, and the intermediate layer contacts the first substrate and the second substrate.

4. The electronic window of claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a first dielectric layer or a space filled with a gas.

5. The electronic window of claim 2, further comprising a first transparent substrate and a second dielectric layer disposed between the first transparent substrate and the first panel.

6. The electronic window of claim 5, further comprising a low emissivity layer and a second transparent substrate, the low emissivity layer disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.

7. An electronic window for adjusting light, comprising:

a first panel including two first alignment layers and a first liquid crystal layer between the two first alignment layers, wherein an alignment direction of each of the two first alignment layers is parallel to each other;

a second panel including two second alignment layers and a second liquid crystal layer between the two second alignment layers, wherein an alignment direction of each of the two second alignment layers is parallel to each other; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first panel and the second panel,

wherein the first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer include a plurality of dichroic dye molecules and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, and the alignment directions of the two first alignment layers are perpendicular to the alignment directions of the two second alignment layers.

8. The electronic window of claim 7, wherein the angle of the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees and the angle of the alignment direction of the second alignment layer is between 115 degrees and 155 degrees.

9. The electronic window of claim 7, wherein the first panel comprises a first substrate, the second panel comprises a second substrate, the intermediate layer contacts the first substrate and the second substrate, and the intermediate layer comprises a dielectric layer or a space filled with a gas.

10. A method of manufacturing an electronic window, comprising:

forming a first panel comprising:

providing two first substrates;

forming a first alignment layer on the two first substrates respectively;

forming a second panel comprising:

providing two second substrates;

forming a second alignment layer on the two second substrates respectively;

turning over the two second substrates with the second alignment layers along an axial direction so that the sum of an angle of the first alignment direction and an angle of the second alignment direction is 180 degrees; and

an intermediate layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel.