JP2006243485A - Automatic light control cell and member for transmitted light - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic light control cell for transmitted light, which does not need any power source from the outside, does not need a sensor to detect light quantity and autonomously adjusts transmitted light quantity, further which has a high light shielding function, and which is long-life. <P>SOLUTION: A light transmissive coating film 20 of which the light reflectance is heightened inversely proportional to light transmittance of an electrochromic element 14 is disposed between a light transmissive optical power generation element 13 generating power with light incidence and a light transmissive electrochromic element 14 of which the light transmittance is lowered in proportion to applied electric energy. The optical power generation element 13 and the electrochromic element 14 are electrically connected to each other via a light transmissive electric wiring member 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmitted light automatic dimming device formed by integrating a light transmissive photovoltaic device and a light transmittance automatic dimming device formed by joining a liquid crystal element or an electrochromic element whose light transmittance is changed by electric energy. The present invention relates to a light control cell and a member.

  Dimming members that change the amount of light transmitted using photochromic materials or thermochromic materials have advantages such as no need for a power supply compared to dimming members that use liquid crystal elements or electrochromic elements. However, there are drawbacks such as slow response to changes in light, and the desired amount of light transmission cannot be set arbitrarily. In addition, when using a liquid crystal element or an electrochromic element as a light control member, it is necessary to supply power to each element from the outside, and in order to control the amount of transmitted light, to control the current and voltage A control device is required.

  There is one that can independently adjust the amount of light transmission by combining a power generation element and a liquid crystal element (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  There is one in which a solar cell panel is combined with a liquid crystal panel via a polarizing plate to control the amount of transmitted sunlight (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  A thin film substrate made of ITO (transparent electrode layer material), a transparent photovoltaic device, a transparent conductive electrode, a light control device made of an electrochromic thin film substrate and a transparent electrolyte, and an ITO film are laminated in order, There is a self-powered dimming element in which end portions are electrically connected by wiring (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Furthermore, there is a light control device that uses a thin film solar cell and an electrochromic element to reduce the transmittance when exposed to light and adjust autonomously transmitted light (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
JP 2001-183616 A JP-A-8-248376 JP 2001-133814 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-244072

  However, in the thing of patent document 1, the energy of the sunlight which suppressed transmission is absorbed in a liquid crystal element, and the temperature of a liquid crystal element rises. Therefore, when a combined power generation element, for example, a dye-sensitized solar cell element is used, the temperature of the solar cell element also increases. The dye-sensitized solar cell element has a characteristic that the amount of generated power increases as the element temperature rises.As a result, the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal element is further suppressed, and the energy of solar rays absorbed by the liquid crystal element increases. Furthermore, the temperature rises. For this reason, since the amount of transmitted light is largely different from that of the thermochromic material, the responsiveness to a change in the amount of light is deteriorated. Further, the liquid crystal member has a characteristic that the lifetime is remarkably shortened when used under a high temperature condition. With the above configuration, the response of the automatic light adjustment with respect to the amount of light is poor and only an automatic light adjustment member with a short life can be provided.

  Furthermore, the dye-sensitized solar cell element has low power generation efficiency, and in order to obtain sufficient power for driving a device such as a liquid crystal element, the element area of the solar cell element having a larger area than the liquid crystal element to be driven is large. It is necessary, and when the liquid crystal element is driven with the power generated in the same area as the liquid crystal element to be driven, sufficient light shielding performance cannot be obtained.

  In such a light control member that autonomously adjusts the amount of light transmission to obtain a desired amount of light transmission, the responsiveness is poor or it is difficult to properly control the target light transmission amount. In addition, there are problems such as short life.

  Moreover, in the thing of patent document 2, since the control circuit which controls the permeation | transmission amount of a sunlight ray is needed and the cut | disconnected sunlight ray is converted into heat with a device, there exists a problem that the temperature of a device will rise. In the thing of patent document 3, although the control circuit which controls the permeation | transmission amount of a solar ray becomes unnecessary, since the light ray interrupted is converted into heat with a device, there exists a problem that the temperature of a device rises. Similarly, the thing of patent document 4 has the problem that the temperature of a device will go up, since the cut | disconnected solar ray is converted into heat with a device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a transmitted light automatic dimming cell that does not require an external power source, does not require a sensor for detecting the amount of light, can autonomously adjust the amount of transmitted light, and has a high light shielding performance and a long life. It is to provide a member.

  The transmitted light automatic dimming cell of the present invention includes a light-transmitting photovoltaic element that generates power by the incidence of light, a light-transmitting electrochromic element that reduces the light transmittance in proportion to applied electric energy, and A light-transmitting film provided between the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic element and having a light reflectance that is inversely proportional to the light transmittance of the electrochromic element; the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic element; And a light-transmitting electric wiring member for electrically connecting the two.

  In addition, the transmitted light automatic dimming cell of the present invention includes a light-transmitting photovoltaic power generation element that generates electric power upon incidence of light, and a light that increases in light transmittance in proportion to applied electric energy and is polarized with respect to light passing therethrough. A light-transmitting liquid crystal element having an action, and the polarization direction of the liquid crystal element provided between the photovoltaic element and the liquid crystal element is the same as the polarization direction of the liquid crystal element in a state where electric energy of the liquid crystal element is applied. And a light transmissive electric wiring member that electrically connects the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic element.

  Furthermore, the transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to the present invention includes a light transmissive photovoltaic element that generates power upon incidence of light, and a light transmissive electrochromic whose light reflectivity changes according to applied electric energy. It is characterized by comprising a mirror element and a light transmission type conductive member forming a common cathode for the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic mirror element.

  The transmitted light automatic light control member of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of automatic light control members of the present invention are closely arranged on a transparent material substrate.

  According to the present invention, since the transmitted light amount is adjusted by the light transmittance of the electrochromic element and the reflectance of the light-transmitting coating film, the temperature rise of the light control member can be suppressed. In addition, since the reflected light of the light-transmitting coating film can be reused by the photovoltaic device, an efficient transmitted light automatic dimming cell can be configured even when a photovoltaic device having poor power generation efficiency is used.

  Furthermore, by using a polarizing member and a liquid crystal element having a polarizing action instead of a light-transmitting film (half mirror), an automatic dimming cell that becomes transparent when irradiated with light, and a transmittance depending on a light passing direction. It is possible to provide an automatic dimming cell capable of changing the above.

  Furthermore, a transmitted light automatic light control member (for example, a plate glass) in which a closed circuit type automatic light control cell formed using a photovoltaic element and a liquid crystal material or an electrochromic material is formed in a lattice shape partially reduces the light transmission amount. A plate glass (transmitted light automatic dimming member) that can be adjusted can be supplied, and a plate glass (transmitted light automatic dimming member) that can be used for cutting can be provided.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 is formed by laminating a light transmissive photovoltaic element 13, a light transmissive film 20, and a light transmissive electrochromic element 14 between transparent material bases 12-1 and 12-2. Arranged and formed. The photovoltaic device 13 is composed of, for example, a thin film amorphous silicon solar cell or a dye-sensitized solar cell. FIG. 1 shows the case of a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device. The electrochromic element 14 is formed using a light transmissive liquid crystal element or tungsten oxide.

  The dye-sensitized photovoltaic device 13 is composed of an electrolyte solution 15, a positive electrode 16a, and a negative electrode 16b. Electrons liberated in the electrolyte solution 15 upon incidence of light are transmitted through the positive electrode 16a and the negative electrode 16b. It is transmitted to the outside of the photovoltaic device 13 and used as electric energy.

  The electrochromic element 14 includes an electrolyte 17, a positive electrode 18a, and a negative electrode 18b. The electrolyte 17 is an electrolyte containing an electrochromic material such as tungsten oxide, and has a structure in which a voltage is applied to the electrochromic material by the positive electrode 18a and the negative electrode 18b.

  The positive electrode 16a of the photovoltaic device 13 is electrically coupled to the positive electrode 18a of the electrochromic electrolyte 17 by an electric wiring member 19a, and the negative electrode 16b of the photovoltaic device 13 is electrically connected to the negative electrode 18b by an electric wiring member 19b. Are combined. The electrical wiring members 19a and 19b are formed of a light transmissive conductive material such as indium oxide, indium chloride, or tin oxide. Thereby, the electric energy generated by the electrolyte solution 15 of the photovoltaic device 13 can be applied to the electrolyte 17 of the electrochromic device 14.

  Further, a light-transmitting film 20 (hereinafter referred to as a half mirror 20) is provided between the photovoltaic element 13 and the electrochromic element 14. The half mirror 20 is made of a metal thin film such as silver or tin, has both light reflection and transmission properties, and has a light-transmitting property that increases the light reflectance in inverse proportion to the light transmittance of the electrochromic element 14. It is a film. The half mirror 20 is formed on the joint surface of the electrochromic element 14.

  Thus, the photovoltaic element 13 and the electrochromic element 14 are arranged in a structure that sandwiches the half mirror 20. Furthermore, the photovoltaic element 13, the electrochromic element 14, and the half mirror 20 are fixed and sealed with a transparent material substrate 12 such as glass.

  In the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 having such a configuration, when light such as sunlight enters from the direction in which the photovoltaic element 13 is arranged, the photovoltaic element 13 generates electric energy according to the intensity of the incident light. To do. Since the amount of generated electric energy is proportional to the intensity of incident light, the amount of generated power increases as the intensity of incident light increases. The electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic element 13 is applied to the electrochromic element 14 through the electrical wiring members 19a and 19b, which are light transmissive conductive materials.

  The electrochromic element 14 has a light transmittance that decreases in proportion to the amount of applied electric energy. That is, when the photovoltaic device 13 is irradiated with strong light, the light transmittance decreases, and when weak light is irradiated, the light transmittance increases. On the other hand, the half mirror 20 has a light reflectance that is inversely proportional to the light transmittance of the electrochromic element 14. That is, if the light transmittance of the electrochromic element 14 decreases, the light reflectance of the half mirror 20 increases. If the light transmittance of the electrochromic element 14 increases, the light reflectance of the half mirror 20 decreases.

  FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in the light transmittance and a change in the amount of transmitted light with respect to a change in the intensity of light irradiated to the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11. When the photovoltaic device 13 is irradiated with strong light, the electrochromic device 14 and the half mirror 20 act to increase the light reflectance, reduce the light transmittance, and transmit a certain amount of light. In addition, when weak light is irradiated, the light transmittance increases, and a certain amount of light is transmitted in the same manner, and the amount of light transmission changes autonomously with respect to the intensity of the irradiated light, Operates to keep the transmitted light constant.

  As described above, the electrical wiring members 19a and 19b are formed of an electrical wiring member having conductivity and light transmission properties such as indium chloride, indium oxide, and tin oxide, but the electrical wiring members 19a and 19b are optical fibers. The transmissive electrochromic element 14 is attached with its wiring length and wiring width adjusted so that the generated power of the light transmissive photovoltaic element 13 can be properly supplied.

That is, when the electric energy generated from the photovoltaic element 13 is supplied to the electrochromic element 14, the wiring of the light transmissive electrical wiring members 19 a and 19 b is connected to the generated voltage of the photovoltaic element 13 and the rated drive of the electrochromic element 14. In order to match the voltage, the wiring length and width of the light-transmitting electric wiring members 19a and 19b are changed, and the electric resistance of the wiring 12 is changed and adjusted to change the electric power generation voltage and current of the photovoltaic element 12. The rated drive voltage value and current value of the chromic element 14 are matched.
According to the first embodiment, since the transmitted light amount is adjusted by the light transmittance of the electrochromic element 14 and the reflectance of the half mirror 20, the temperature rise of the light control member can be suppressed. Moreover, since the reflected light of the half mirror 20 can be reused by the photovoltaic device 13, an efficient transmitted light automatic dimming cell can be provided even if a photovoltaic device having poor power generation efficiency is used.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of a transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 is formed by disposing a light transmitting photovoltaic power generation element 13, a polarizing member 22, and a light transmitting liquid crystal element 21 between transparent material substrates 12-1 and 12-2. The The same elements as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 in the second embodiment selectively transmits only the light beam that irradiates one of the two planes of the front and back surfaces, and the light beam that irradiates the other plane impedes transmission. This is a transmitted light automatic dimming cell having the following characteristics.

  The photovoltaic device 13 is composed of, for example, a thin film amorphous silicon solar cell or a dye-sensitized solar cell. FIG. 3 shows the case of a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device. In addition, the liquid crystal element 21 has a light-polarizing effect on light passing therethrough in which light transmittance increases in proportion to applied electric energy. That is, as the liquid crystal material 23 of the liquid crystal element 21, a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN liquid crystal) or a super twist nematic liquid crystal (STN liquid crystal) having a polarization action with respect to light passing therethrough is used.

  Further, a polarizing member 22 such as polarizing glass is provided between the photovoltaic element 13 and the liquid crystal element 21, and has a function of polarizing a light beam passing through the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11. The polarization directions of the polarizing member 22 and the liquid crystal element 21 are set so that the polarization directions are in phase with electric energy applied to the liquid crystal element 21. That is, they are arranged so that the light transmittance is increased. For this reason, in a state where no electrical energy is applied to the liquid crystal element 21, the light transmittance is lowered and the light transmission amount is also lowered.

  In the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 configured in this way, when a light beam such as sunlight enters from the direction of the photovoltaic element 13, the photovoltaic element 13 generates power by sunlight, and the electric energy is transmitted through the light. It is applied to the liquid crystal element 21 through the electric wiring members 19a and 19b which are type conductive materials. For this reason, since the liquid crystal material 23 operates by charging, the polarization direction coincides with that of the polarizing member 22, so that the light transmittance is increased and sunlight is transmitted.

  Therefore, when the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 according to the second embodiment is used for a window glass or the like, when sunlight is irradiated on the window glass as in the daytime, it has an action of transmitting sunlight into the room. . In addition, since there is no sunlight irradiation at night, no power is generated by the photovoltaic element 13 and no charge is applied to the liquid crystal material 23, so that the light transmittance is lowered by the polarizing member 22 and the liquid crystal element 21. At this time, for example, even when an electric lamp or the like is turned on indoors and the light beam is applied to the transmitted light automatic dimming cell, light transmission is prevented by the polarizing member 22 and the liquid crystal element 21, so Since no power is generated, the light transmittance does not increase.

  According to the second embodiment, it is possible to provide a transmitted light automatic dimming cell that selectively transmits light according to the direction in which the light is applied.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that light is reflected by electric energy instead of the half mirror 20 that realizes light reflection. By using the electrochromic mirror element 24 capable of changing the rate, the half mirror 20 is not required, and a transmitted light automatic dimming cell having a simple structure is obtained. The same elements as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11, a light transmitting photovoltaic element 13 and an electrochromic mirror element 24 are laminated between the transparent material bases 12-1 and 12-2, and the photovoltaic element 13 and the electrochromic element 24 are electrically connected. A light transmission type conductive member 25 that forms a cathode common to both the chromic mirror element 24 is interposed. The electrochromic mirror element 24 is an element having optical transparency in which the reflectance of light changes according to applied electric energy.

  The positive electrode 16a is electrically connected to the positive electrode 18a of the electrochromic mirror element 24 by an electric wiring member 19 which is a light transmission type conductive material. In addition, the electrolyte solution 26 of the electrochromic mirror element 24 has a characteristic that the reflectance is changed by application of electric energy.

  The light transmissive conductive member 25 is sandwiched between the electrolyte solution 15 of the photovoltaic element 13 and the electrolyte solution 26 of the electrochromic mirror element 24, and separates the electrolyte solution 15 and the electrolyte solution 26 from each other. A common negative electrode for the power generation element 13 and the electrochromic mirror element 24 is formed. By using such a configuration, an electric wiring member that connects the negative electrodes of the respective photovoltaic elements 13 and the electrochromic mirror element 24 becomes unnecessary.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained with a simpler structure. Furthermore, the light beam reflected by the electrochromic mirror element 24 can pass through the photovoltaic element 13 again to obtain a power generation effect. That is, even if the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic device 13 is low, sufficient electric energy can be obtained to drive the electrochromic mirror device 24 by reusing the reflected light for power generation.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a transmitted light automatic light control member 26 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The transmitted light automatic light control member 26 in the fourth embodiment is a plurality of any one of the first embodiment to the third embodiment between the transparent material substrates 12-1 and 12-2. The transmitted light automatic dimming cells 11 are closely arranged.

  In FIG. 5, a plurality of transmitted light automatic dimming cells 11a to 11g are closely arranged between the transparent material bases 12-1 and 12-2. FIG. 5 shows a case where the transmitted light automatic dimming cells 11 according to the third embodiment are arranged. Transmitted light automatic dimming in which the amount of transmitted light partially changes by fixing and sealing a plurality of transmitted light automatic dimming cells 11a to 11f with transparent material bases 12-1 and 12-2 such as glass. The member 26 is formed.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view in which a plurality of transmitted light automatic light control cells 11 are arranged in a grid pattern to form a transmitted light automatic light control member 26. This transmitted light automatic light control member 26 is an example of a case where a plurality of transmitted light automatic light control cells 11a to 11f are arranged in a lattice shape to form a plate glass. In this example, the transmitted light automatic dimming cells 11 are arranged in a lattice shape, but the arrangement is arbitrary, and can be arranged in a honeycomb shape. It is also possible to arrange cells so as to constitute the figure. The plate glass having such a configuration can provide a plate glass in which the amount of light transmission partially changes.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the irradiation light intensity distribution and the light transmission distribution to the transmitted light automatic dimming member 26 in which the light transmission amount partially changes, and FIG. 7A is an irradiation light intensity distribution diagram. (B) is a light transmittance distribution map. As shown to Fig.7 (a), when the light quantity irradiated to the plate glass which is the transmitted light automatic light control member 26 is not constant light intensity from which the intensity | strength of light reduces gradually from the code | symbol A to the code | symbol E (glass) Even when only a part of the light is shining, a plate glass in which the light transmittance gradually increases from the symbol a to the symbol e can be configured as shown in FIG. 7B. It is possible to provide a plate glass that realizes a uniform transmitted light amount over the entire surface.

  Further, since the transmitted light automatic dimming cell 11 is an independent closed circuit small cell, the transmitted light automatic dimming cell which is electrically divided by cutting even if it is cut to an arbitrary size after manufacturing a large plate glass. Other than 11, since the function of automatic light control is exhibited, it is not necessary to set the size of the plate glass required when producing the plate glass, and it can be used for cutting according to any window frame size. You can enjoy great benefits. Furthermore, it can be applied to flat glass having a curved surface.

  According to the fourth embodiment, a plurality of transmitted light automatic dimming cells are continuously arranged on a plane or a curved surface, and are arranged in close proximity electrically independently to each other. By having the structure constituting the optical member 26, partial light control performance can be realized. Furthermore, even if the transmitted light automatic light adjustment member 26 configured in this way is cut to an arbitrary size, each of the cut members can exhibit automatic light adjustment performance. It can be processed to any size even after production.

Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the transmitted-light automatic light control cell concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The characteristic view which shows the change of the transmittance | permeability of light with respect to the intensity | strength change of the irradiation light to the transmitted light automatic light control cell in the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the change of transmitted light amount. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the transmitted light automatic light control cell concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the transmitted light automatic light control cell concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of an example of the transmitted light automatic light control member concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The structural diagram of another example of the transmitted light automatic light control member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the irradiation light intensity distribution and light transmission distribution to the transmitted-light automatic light control member from which the light transmission amount changes partially in the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Transmitted light automatic light control cell, 12-1, 12-2 ... Transparent material base material, 13 ... Photovoltaic element, 14 ... Electrochromic element, 15 ... Electrolyte solution, 16a ... Positive electrode, 16b ... Negative electrode, 17 ... electrolyte, 18a ... positive electrode, 18b ... negative electrode, 19 ... electric wiring member, 20 ... half mirror, 21 ... liquid crystal element, 22 ... polarizing member, 23 ... liquid crystal material, 24 ... electrochromic mirror element, 25 ... light transmission Type conductive member, 26 ... electrolyte

Claims (7)

A light-transmitting photovoltaic device that generates power upon incidence of light; a light-transmitting electrochromic device that reduces light transmittance in proportion to applied electrical energy; and the photovoltaic device and the electrochromic device. A light-transmitting film that is provided between the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic element, and a light-transmitting film that increases the light reflectance in inverse proportion to the light transmittance of the electrochromic element. An transmitted light automatic dimming cell comprising an electrical wiring member. A light-transmitting photovoltaic element that generates electric power upon incidence of light; a light-transmitting liquid crystal element that has a light-polarizing effect on light that passes through light that increases in proportion to applied electrical energy; A polarizing member provided between the power generation element and the liquid crystal element, the polarization direction of which is in phase with the polarization direction of the liquid crystal element in a state where electric energy of the liquid crystal element is applied; the photovoltaic element and the electrochromic A transmitted light automatic dimming cell comprising a light transmissive electrical wiring member for electrically connecting an element. A light-transmitting photovoltaic element that generates electricity upon incidence of light, a light-transmitting electrochromic mirror element that changes the reflectance of light according to applied electric energy, the photovoltaic element, and the electrochromic mirror element And a light-transmitting conductive member that forms a common cathode with the light-transmitting conductive member. The light-transmitting film is formed by depositing or plating a single metal such as silver, tin, or mercury, or an alloy containing another metal, or an organic material such as a resin having light reflectivity. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted light automatic dimming cell. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photovoltaic element is composed of a thin amorphous silicon photovoltaic element or a dye-sensitized photovoltaic element. The electric wiring member is an electric wiring member having conductivity and light transmission properties such as indium chloride, indium oxide, and tin oxide. The light transmission electrochromic device or the liquid crystal device has a light transmission photovoltaic device. 3. The transmitted light automatic dimming cell according to claim 1, wherein the transmission light automatic dimming cell is attached by adjusting a wiring length and a wiring width so that the generated power can be properly supplied. A transmitted light automatic light control member, wherein a plurality of transmitted light automatic light control cells according to any one of claims 1 to 6 are closely arranged on a transparent material substrate.

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