GB2306691A - Liquid crystal devic for use in eye wear - Google Patents
Liquid crystal devic for use in eye wear Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2306691A GB2306691A GB9521484A GB9521484A GB2306691A GB 2306691 A GB2306691 A GB 2306691A GB 9521484 A GB9521484 A GB 9521484A GB 9521484 A GB9521484 A GB 9521484A GB 2306691 A GB2306691 A GB 2306691A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- liquid crystal
- substrates
- crystal device
- substrate
- electrically conductive
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F9/02—Goggles
- A61F9/022—Use of special optical filters, e.g. multiple layers, filters for protection against laser light or light from nuclear explosions, screens with different filter properties on different parts of the screen; Rotating slit-discs
- A61F9/023—Use of special optical filters, e.g. multiple layers, filters for protection against laser light or light from nuclear explosions, screens with different filter properties on different parts of the screen; Rotating slit-discs with variable transmission, e.g. photochromic
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/10—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
- G02C7/101—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses having an electro-optical light valve
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/137—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
- G02F1/139—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent
- G02F1/1396—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent the liquid crystal being selectively controlled between a twisted state and a non-twisted state, e.g. TN-LC cell
Abstract
A liquid crystal device for use in eye wear such as sunglasses comprises a pair of transparent pre-shaped curved thermosetting polymer substrates 1, 2 having major faces 3, 4 which face one another and carry an electrically conductive layer 5, 6 and an alignment layer 7, 8. A seal 9 is provided which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity 10 containing a twisted nematic liquid crystal 11 and a multiplicity of spacers 12. The electrically conductive layer is in direct contact with the substrates. The device can provide the advantages of avoiding hysteresis, lower absorption of moisture and gases and lower voltage drive electronics with a much simpler construction than prior art twisted nematic devices.
Description
A LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE
This invention relates to a liquid crystal device for use in eye wear. The construction of liquid crystal devices for use in eye wear is a well known technical field, and a number of different types of device have been described.
In one particular known construction disclosed in US 5,172,256 the device comprises a pair of transparent polycarbonate substrates, each substrate having a major surface which faces and is spaced from a major surface of the other substrate, both said major surfaces carrying an electrically conductive layer and an alignment layer and a seal which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity containing a phase change guest-host liquid crystal /dye complex possessing positive dielectric anisotropy and a multiplicity of spacers.
According to the present invention there is provided a liquid crystal device for use in eye wear, comprising a pair of substrates consisting of a transparent thermosetting polymer material, each substrate having a major surface which faces and is spaced from a major surface of the other substrate, both said major surfaces carrying an electrically conductive layer and an alignment layer, and a seal which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity containing a twisted nematic liquid crystal material and a multiplicity of spacers.
This device can provide the advantages of reduced gas and moisture absorption, and better thermal behaviour during manufacturing because of the nature of the substrate material. The use of nematic liquid crystals gives the advantages of avoidance of hysteresis and lower voltage drive electronics. The device has a much simpler construction than that of prior art twisted nematic liquid crystal devices as described for example in WO 94/11779.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a device according to the invention.
In Figure 1, a liquid crystal device for use in eye wear is shown. The device comprises a pair of substrates (1 2) consisting of a transparent organic thermosetting polymer material such as diethylene glycol bis (allyl carbonate) also known by trade names such as CR 39. Each substrate has a major surface (3, 4) which faces and is spaced from a major surface of the other substrate (4, 3), both major surfaces carrying an electrically conductive layer (5, 6) and an alignment layer (7, 8), and a seal (9) which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity (10) containing a twisted nematic liquid crystal material (11) and a multiplicity of spacers (12). Each substrate in Figure 1 is curved so as to have a pair of surfaces which are a part of a wall of a cylinder.This curvature is not apparent in Figure 1 as the section has been taken in the plane of the axis of the cylinder. The axes of the cylinders are parallel to one another and lie in the plane of the paper.
The device shown in Figure 1 is made in the following way. Circular CR 39 blanks having a cylindrical curvature are commercially available from several sources.
The blanks have markings to show the axis of curvature. These blanks are then machined to the required shape for left and right spectacle lenses (two substrates having the same shape are required for each eye). During machining a small tab is left protruding from each substrate (not shown) to make subsequent electrical connection easier. The edges of the substrates are then chamfered. The substrate surfaces are then cleaned by immersion in a dilute KOH solution, followed by rinsing and baking to remove moisture and reduce outgassing. The substrates are then loaded into an r.f.
sputtering machine and coated with a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) approximately 150nm thick to form an electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance of between 150 and 200 ohms per square. Such a layer appears substantially transparent to the naked eye. The substrates are arranged so that some substrates have the convex surface coated and some substrates have the concave surface coated. One substrate of each type will be arranged together with their ITO coated surfaces facing one another to form each finished device (as 1 and 2 shown in Figure 1).
The substrates are removed from the sputtering system and immediately spin coated with a pre imidised polyimide material. The polyimide chosen must have a low enough baking temperature to be compatible with the CR 39 substrates. The polyimide is baked at 800C which causes the solvents to evaporate. The polyimide is applied to the ITO coated surfaces immediately to minimise the chance of moisture adsorption which will reduce the adhesion of the polyimide layer to the substrate. As an alternative, the ITO coated substrates may be kept in a dry ambient prior to spin coating.
The alignment structure is put into the polyimide layer by rubbing as is well known in the liquid crystal art, but specific tooling must be used to ensure uniform rubbing on the concave and convex surfaces of the substrate assemblies. The alignment directions are chosen such that the alignment direction on the two substrate surfaces which will form the cavity are orthogonal when assembled.
The spacers are applied to the substrate having its coatings on the convex surface. This is done using a 'cloud box' method. The spacers used are glass rods having a diameter of 6 microns, although diameters in the range 2 to 20 microns may be used if desired. Other spacer materials such as glass or plastic spheres or polyhedra may be used as an alternative. The rods are applied to the substrate at an approximate density of ten to fifteen per square millimetre, and are kept in place by Van der Waals' forces.
A substrate with the coatings and spacers on the convex surface and a substrate with the coatings on the concave surface are then brought together such that the coated surfaces face one another and the spacers touch both surfaces. As both the substrates are cylindrically curved it is important to align the axes of the curved surfaces to be parallel at this time to ensure a uniform spacing between the surfaces. A seal is then provided round the perimeter of the substrates. The seal material used is a viscous epoxy resin, however a hot melt adhesive or a viscous UV curing optical adhesive may be used as altematives. A gap is left in this seal to enable the assembly to be filled with liquid crystal. The seal material must be sufficiently viscous so that it does not easily flow into the cavity between the substrates.The seal material is therefore largely retained in the groove formed by the chamfered edges of the two substrates. This allows the lenses to be switched right up to the perimeter, which is convenient if narrow rimmed spectacle frames are employed for mounting the devices.
The air between the substrates is then removed and a liquid crystal material is introduced into the cavity by dipping and filling in the normal way. The gap in the perimeter seal is then closed and sealed thus containing the liquid crystal in the device.
The liquid crystal employed in the embodiment of Figure 1 is E7 doped with 0.05% of
CB 15, a twisted nematic material obtainable from Merck. Other twisted nematic materials may be used as an alternative.
Sheets of highly transmissive linear polarizer having an anti-abrasion coating are then laminated to the outer surfaces of the substrates in a conventional manner with their axes of polarization crossed to form the finished devices. Wires (14, 15) are attached to the ITO coating on the tabs protruding from each substrate and connected to drive electronics (16). The drive electronics are mounted on the frame of the eye wear comprising the device or devices. The drive electronics used is as described in patent application W093/24858 which is hereby incorporate herein by reference. Other drive systems known to those skilled in the art may be used as an alternative.
An additional advantage of the devices as described over the devices of US 5,172,256 is the fact that lower drive voltages (of the order of 3V as compared to 10V) are required for twisted nematic materials as opposed to dichroic guest/host materials.
Thus fewer solar cells or batteries are required, consequently reducing the weight and bulk of the eye wear.
The eye wear incorporating the devices as described herein may be prescription spectacles or sun glasses or visors or ski goggles, or other eye protection. The substrates may be flat, cylindrically curved, spherically curved, or have a more complex curvature.
In summary, a liquid crystal device for use in eye wear such as sunglasses comprises a pair of transparent pre-shaped curved organic thermosetting polymer substrates having major faces which face one another and carry an electrically conductive layer and an alignment layer. A seal is provided which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity containing a twisted nematic liquid crystal and a multiplicity of spacers. The electrically conductive layer is in direct contact with the substrates. The device can provide the advantages of avoidance of hysteresis, lower absorption of moisture and gasses and lower voltage drive electronics with a much simpler construction than prior art twisted nematic devices.
Claims (6)
1. A liquid crystal device for use in eye wear, comprising:
a pair of substrates consisting of a transparent thermosetting polymer material,
each substrate having a major surface which faces and is spaced from a major
surface of the other substrate, both said major surfaces carrying an electrically
conductive layer and an alignment layer, and
a seal which together with the major surfaces defines a cavity containing a
twisted nematic liquid crystal material and a multiplicity of spacers.
2. A liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1 in which the polymer material is
organic.
3. A liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the major
surfaces are curved.
4. A liquid crystal device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said major
surfaces are cylindrically curved.
5. A liquid crystal device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the electrically
conductive layer is in direct contact with the substrates.
6. Eye wear comprising at least one lens including a liquid crystal device as claimed
in any preceding claim and a drive system.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521484A GB2306691A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Liquid crystal devic for use in eye wear |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521484A GB2306691A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Liquid crystal devic for use in eye wear |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9521484D0 GB9521484D0 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
| GB2306691A true GB2306691A (en) | 1997-05-07 |
Family
ID=10782601
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521484A Withdrawn GB2306691A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Liquid crystal devic for use in eye wear |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2306691A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0816902A2 (en) * | 1996-07-05 | 1998-01-07 | Central Research Laboratories Limited | A liquid crystal device |
| WO2003025659A1 (en) * | 2001-09-18 | 2003-03-27 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Doubly curved optical device for eyewear and method for making the same |
| US7811482B2 (en) | 2001-09-18 | 2010-10-12 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Curved optical device and method for making the same |
| JP2013077027A (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2013-04-25 | Panasonic Corp | Electronic spectacles |
| RU2496458C2 (en) * | 2011-11-18 | 2013-10-27 | Федеральное государственное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт Министерства обороны Российской Федерации" | Anti-glare glasses |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR102141637B1 (en) * | 2018-03-27 | 2020-08-06 | 주식회사 엘지화학 | Optical Device |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0341519A2 (en) * | 1988-05-11 | 1989-11-15 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Electronic sunglasses |
| WO1994011779A2 (en) * | 1992-11-12 | 1994-05-26 | Crystalens Limited | Liquid crystal device |
-
1995
- 1995-10-20 GB GB9521484A patent/GB2306691A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0341519A2 (en) * | 1988-05-11 | 1989-11-15 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Electronic sunglasses |
| WO1994011779A2 (en) * | 1992-11-12 | 1994-05-26 | Crystalens Limited | Liquid crystal device |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0816902A2 (en) * | 1996-07-05 | 1998-01-07 | Central Research Laboratories Limited | A liquid crystal device |
| EP0816902A3 (en) * | 1996-07-05 | 1999-03-31 | Central Research Laboratories Limited | A liquid crystal device |
| US7811482B2 (en) | 2001-09-18 | 2010-10-12 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Curved optical device and method for making the same |
| US7102602B2 (en) | 2001-09-18 | 2006-09-05 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Doubly curved optical device for eyewear and method for making the same |
| CN1308746C (en) * | 2001-09-18 | 2007-04-04 | 阿尔法微米公司 | Doubly curved optical device for eyewear and method for making the same |
| US7705959B2 (en) | 2001-09-18 | 2010-04-27 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Curved optical device and method having a pair of opposed thermoplastic substrates with spacers therebetween to permanently retain a curved shape |
| WO2003025659A1 (en) * | 2001-09-18 | 2003-03-27 | Alphamicron, Inc. | Doubly curved optical device for eyewear and method for making the same |
| JP2013077027A (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2013-04-25 | Panasonic Corp | Electronic spectacles |
| US8783864B2 (en) | 2007-12-21 | 2014-07-22 | Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd. | Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles |
| US8783865B2 (en) | 2007-12-21 | 2014-07-22 | Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd. | Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles |
| US8820926B2 (en) | 2007-12-21 | 2014-09-02 | Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd. | Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles |
| US8992011B2 (en) | 2007-12-21 | 2015-03-31 | Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. | Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles |
| USRE48228E1 (en) | 2007-12-21 | 2020-09-29 | Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. | Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles |
| RU2496458C2 (en) * | 2011-11-18 | 2013-10-27 | Федеральное государственное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт Министерства обороны Российской Федерации" | Anti-glare glasses |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9521484D0 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |