JP2965430B2 - Light control body and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrically controlled dimmer used as a window glass or a light source filter of a house or a car, and a method of controlling the dimmer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light control device is generally a mechanical device such as a blind or a device in which light transmittance is adjusted by coloring. As the electric dimmer, there are an electric dimmer that controls the translucency by changing the transparency using a liquid crystal or the like, and an electric dimmer that has a function of an optical shutter. Further, there is a photochromic material whose color tone changes by light or heat, a thermochromic material, or the like. The photochromic material changes the color tone according to the light intensity, and cannot control the transmittance freely to an arbitrary brightness without depending on the incident light. Further, the thermochromic material changes its color tone in accordance with the temperature, and the transmittance must be controlled by always performing precise temperature control. In this sense, a dimmer using liquid crystal is preferable in that dimming can be controlled only by an electric signal without depending on a light intensity and a temperature change in a practical range.

[0003]

However, the dimmer made of liquid crystal always requires a pair of control electrodes, and its configuration is complicated. In addition, there is a problem that an electric field must be constantly applied to maintain the dimming state (light transmittance).

When a photochromic material, a thermochromic material, or the like is used, there is a problem that the dimming state cannot be kept constant due to lack of stability. In addition, there are problems in the repetition stability and the life characteristics.

Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to provide a light control body having a simple structure that can be electrically adjusted to an arbitrary light transmittance with one touch by applying a rewritable thermosensitive memory material.
The purpose is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the dimmer.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, a dimmer of the present invention comprises a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire formed in a stripe shape on a transparent substrate, a high temperature mode and a low temperature mode. transparency <br/> degree by the two above room heating mode is a tone <br/> light body having a reversible thermosensitive layer reversibly change stores, the reversible thermosensitive layer It is made of a composition containing organic crystal particles in a transparent matrix polymer. The transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire is energized, and the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer is reversibly stripped by a heating / cooling process in the heating mode. It is characterized in that it is changed dynamically.

In the above structure, it is preferable that a reversible thermosensitive layer is formed and integrated between two transparent substrates.

In the above structure, it is preferable that the organic crystal particles contain at least one selected from alkylenedicarboxylic acids, fatty acid amides, oxy fatty acids, and aliphatic ureas.

In the above construction, the reversible thermosensitive layer is
It is preferably combined with a transparent colored body.

Next, in order to achieve the second object, a method for controlling a dimmer according to the present invention comprises the steps of: forming a striped transparent conductive film or electric resistance wire on a transparent substrate; depending on the two above room heating mode of the mode
Provided a reversible heat-sensitive layer permeable brightness is reversibly changed and stored
Be another light adjuster, the reversible thermosensitive layer is made of a composition containing an organic crystal particles in a transparent matrix in the polymer, energizing the transparent conductive film or the electrical resistance wire, the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer The transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire is electrically heated to a dimmer that reversibly changes in a stripe shape by the heating / cooling process in the heating mode, and the temperature of the reversible thermosensitive layer is detected by a change in the resistance value. In addition, the temperature of the reversible thermosensitive layer is changed and stored by controlling the temperature based on the temperature detection signal.

[0012]

The light modulating body of the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, and controls the light by turning on the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire and changing the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer reversibly by heating and cooling processes in two modes. I do.

In the present invention, as the material used for the reversible thermosensitive layer to change the transparency (or opacity) to change the light transmittance, there are (a) a system based on phase separation of a polymer, and (b) a material based on a crystalline polymer. System to control crystallite size, (c) polymer liquid crystal, (d)
There is a polymer composition system containing organic crystalline particles. Said
The material systems (a), (b) and (c) often include a lubricant and a crystal nucleating agent in order to improve the response speed and the crystal size. In the present invention, the reversible thermosensitive layer composed of the polymer composition containing the organic crystalline particles (d) is most practical and preferable. this
The reversible thermosensitive layer of (d) becomes transparent by the heating / cooling process in the low-temperature mode, and becomes cloudy by the heating / cooling process in the high-temperature mode. The principle of this phenomenon is considered that the transparency depends on the state of the organic crystal particles and the compatibility state at the interface between the organic crystal particles and the polymer matrix, and as a result, the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer changes. In the case of the reversible heat-sensitive materials (a) to (c), the opposite transparency / turbidity phenomenon may occur, in which the material becomes transparent in a high-temperature heating / cooling process and becomes cloudy in a low-temperature heating / cooling process.

As a method for controlling the light control body of the present invention, the method for detecting the temperature of the light control body by applying a current to a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire and changing the resistance value thereof requires a new temperature sensor. In addition, since the average temperature of the entire light control body is easily detected, the transparency of the light control body can be controlled by easily controlling the temperature without complicating the configuration of the light control body.

[0015]

Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire 2 and a reversible thermosensitive layer 3 are provided on a transparent substrate 1, and the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire 2 is energized and heated to form the reversible thermosensitive storage layer 3. Fig. 4 shows a dimmer according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the transparency is reversibly changed to set an arbitrary light transmittance. 4 is a surface protective layer.

The simplest and most convenient configuration is such that the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance line 2 is formed in a stripe shape as shown in FIG. 3 and the transparency is changed in a stripe shape by electric heating.

In this embodiment, the transparency can be changed to an arbitrary pattern by forming a transparent conductive film in the form of a matrix wiring and heating the electric resistance wire between them by electric pulse heating.

Transparency (or opacity) in the present embodiment
There are the following four types of reversible thermosensitive materials that change the light transmittance by changing the temperature. (a) a system by polymer phase separation (b) a system for controlling the crystallite size of a crystalline polymer (c) a polymer liquid crystal (d) a polymer composition system containing organic crystalline particles.
Here, the material systems (a), (b), and (c) often include a lubricant, a crystal nucleating agent, and the like in order to improve the response speed and the crystal size.

In this embodiment, the reversible thermosensitive layer composed of the polymer composition containing the organic crystalline particles (d) is most practical and preferable. The reversible thermosensitive layer (d) becomes transparent in the heating / cooling process in the low-temperature heating mode, and becomes cloudy in the heating / cooling process in the high-temperature heating mode.

The organic crystal particles used in this case are often composed of molecules having a hydrogen bonding group, and the organic crystal particles have at least one of a carboxyl group, a hydroxyxyl group, an amino group and an amide group as a hydrogen bonding group. A single molecule having a melting point at 60-120 ° C is used. Specific examples include higher alcohols, higher fatty acids, higher fatty acid amides, and dicarboxylic acid monoesters. These molecules are further co-crystallized or mixed with higher alcohols, fatty acids, alkylamines, oxycarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, diamines, alkylene glycols, etc. to form an organic crystal having a melting point of 60 to 120 ° C. Particles can also be constituted.

The dimmer of the present embodiment is used relatively frequently in applications having a high operating temperature such as a car. In this case, a material having a high melting point is suitable as organic crystal particles, and alkylene dicarboxylic acid, fatty acid amide, It is desirable to use organic crystal particles containing at least one selected from oxy fatty acids and aliphatic ureas.

On the other hand, examples of the matrix polymer used in this embodiment include polyester, polyacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polystyrene, styrene butadiene copolymer and the like. However, a transparent matrix polymer partially containing a hydrogen bonding group is suitable for controlling the compatibility. Specific examples include adhesive (OH group-containing) polyester, partially saponified vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, polyamide, polyurethane, thermoplastic phenolic resin, vinyl alcohol copolymer, acrylic acid copolymer, and acrylamide copolymer. And a maleic acid copolymer. In addition, it is natural that a plasticizer is used in combination therewith as appropriate. The dimmer of the present embodiment also needs to have high weather resistance, and it is necessary to select a polymer having high weather resistance suitable for this.

The addition amount of the organic crystal particles constituting the recording layer to the matrix polymer can be in the range of 5 to 50% by weight, but preferably 15 to 40% by weight. If the ratio of the organic crystal particles is more than this, the binding force is weakened and it is difficult to form a uniform coating as a recording layer. Conversely, when the ratio of the matrix polymer is high, the amount of the organic crystalline particles is small, so that it is difficult to make opaque, and the recording contrast is poor.

The reversible thermosensitive layer in this embodiment is made of a material further containing transparent colored particles in addition to the above structure.
Multicolor dimming is also possible. Furthermore,
The reversible thermosensitive layer may be formed together with the transparent coloring layer to provide a color light modulator.

In the case of the reversible heat-sensitive layer containing the transparent colored particles, the organic crystal particles near the surface of the transparent colored particles are made transparent by the heating / cooling process in the low-temperature mode, and the color of the transparent colored particles is developed. On the other hand, when the heating / cooling process in the high-temperature mode is performed, the layer of the crystalline organic molecules near the colored particles in the reversible thermosensitive layer becomes cloudy and hides the transparent colored particles. In this way, a dimmer that can be easily driven by electric heating is obtained.

The transparent colored particles used in the light control body of this embodiment are mainly made of glass or polymer having an average particle diameter of 1 to 1
It is composed of spherical particles with a narrow particle size distribution of 00 μm,
By chemically modifying the particle surface with a hydrogen-bonding group such as a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, or an amide group, the affinity with the organic crystal particles increases. Since the organic crystal particles in the reversible thermosensitive layer are often composed of molecules having a hydrogen bonding group, the transparent colored particles having a hydrogen bonding group on the surface form crystal nuclei on the surface and mask the color of the transparent colored particles. , The organic crystal molecules crystallize in white.

On the other hand, when a color light control film is formed, it is composed of a reversible thermosensitive layer and a transparent colored layer which is separated into three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). ,
This is done in the following way. Transparency can be changed to an arbitrary pattern by forming a resistor at the intersection of a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire formed in a matrix wiring shape as an electrode and driving it with an electric pulse heating signal. The light modulating film is first made entirely transparent by a heating / cooling process by energization in a low-temperature mode, and unnecessary color portions are made cloudy by a heating / cooling process by energization in a high-temperature mode, thereby hiding the color of the transparent coloring layer. This color light control film has a different hiding power depending on the degree of white turbidity, is capable of halftone light control, and enables color light control with a simple configuration.

As a method for controlling the dimmer according to the present embodiment, the method for detecting the temperature of the dimmer by applying a current to a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire and detecting the temperature of the dimmer requires a new temperature sensor. However, since the average temperature of the entire light control body is easily detected, the temperature control can be easily performed without complicating the configuration of the light control body, and the transparency of the light control body can be precisely controlled. In this control method, the resistance of the electric resistance wire is affected by the temperature and light of the surrounding environment, so it also functions as a sensor to control the light transmittance to a comfortable level. It is also possible to perform a function.

The light control body of this embodiment may be provided with a heat ray reflective film. The light control body of this embodiment can be provided in the form of various sheets, panels, aluminum sashes, functionalized glass, plastic films, and the like as specific shapes.

The light control body of this embodiment is applied to a dwelling,
There are many types of applications such as windows for buildings, cars, etc., variable transparency sunglasses, memory shutters, light source filters with variable color tone, slides, color slides, and still image displays. Next, specific examples will be described.

Example 1 A vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate containing a fatty acid amide and a higher fatty acid as shown in FIG. 1 was formed on a transparent glass substrate 1 having a thickness of 2 mm having a transparent conductive film pattern 2 as shown in FIG. The reversible thermosensitive layer 3 made of the copolymer composition has a thickness of 20 μm.
And a surface protective layer 4 made of an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin having a thickness of 10 μm. Energizing and heating the transparent conductive film 2 to reversibly change the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive storage layer 3 and set it to an arbitrary light transmittance;
The light control glass was used for light control of windows.

Example 2 A vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate containing fatty acid amide and higher fatty acid as shown in FIG. 2 was placed on a 100 μm-thick polyester sheet substrate 1 having an electric resistance line pattern 2 in a stripe pattern as shown in FIG. A reversible thermosensitive layer 3 made of a copolymer composition was provided with a thickness of 20 μm, and a surface protective layer 4 made of an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin was formed with a thickness of 10 μm. An adhesive layer 6 was formed on the back surface of the light control sheet, and this was adhered to the transparent glass substrate 5. The electric resistance wire 2 was electrically heated to change the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive storage layer 3 reversibly, set to an arbitrary light transmittance, and used as light control glass for light control of a window.

Further, the electric resistance wire 2 was energized and heated, and the temperature of the reversible thermosensitive layer was detected from the change in the resistance value.
By precisely controlling the temperature of the electric resistance wire 2 by pulse control based on the temperature detection signal to precisely change the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer, a comfortable light control can be performed in response to a change in the environment of the room temperature. We were able to.

Example 3 As shown in FIG. 3, a transparent glass substrate 1 having a transparent conductive pattern 2 in a stripe shape and having a thickness of 2 mm was formed on each of the stripes. The coloring layer was formed by screen printing. On top of this, a reversible thermosensitive layer 3 made entirely of a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer composition containing fatty acid amides and higher fatty acids,
The surface protection layer 4 was formed to have a thickness of 10 μm and was formed of an ultraviolet-curable acrylic resin. Energizing and heating the transparent conductive film 2, reversibly changing the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer 3, and setting the light transmittance to an arbitrary value;
It was used for dimming windows as a dimming glass that changed to various colors.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it can be applied to the following uses. (1) When the light control body of the present invention is applied to, for example, a window glass, it can be used as a sunshade, but can also be used as a defrost in winter in addition to light control. (2) Since this reversible thermosensitive layer is an organic material layer and has low thermal conductivity, it also functions as a heat insulating layer. Therefore, the efficiency of the air conditioner is improved as a window material. (3) This light control film functions to prevent the glass from scattering when the glass is broken. (4) Compared with a dimming film made of liquid crystal, it is inexpensive because it can be composed of one electrode instead of two. (5) Since it has a memory property, it has a feature that electricity is not always required, and the dimming state does not change even in the case of a power failure, so that the safety is high.

As described above, the light control film of the present invention can be used for various kinds of applications such as a window glass of a house, a building, a car, etc., a color tone variable light source filter, a slide, and a still image display. It is a great thing.

[0037]

As described above, the light modulating film of the present invention is composed of a transparent conductive film or an electric resistance wire and a high-temperature mode and a low-temperature mode.
And a reversible thermosensitive layer in which the transparency or color density is reversibly changed and stored by heating over two room temperatures,
By applying a rewritable thermosensitive memory material, it is possible to realize a dimmer having a simple configuration that can be electrically adjusted to an arbitrary light transmittance with one touch.

Further, the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire formed in a stripe shape or a matrix shape is energized and heated to reversibly change the transparency or the color density of the reversible thermosensitive recording layer, so that an arbitrary light transmittance is obtained. There is a feature of providing a light control body that can be set at Furthermore, color light control is also possible by combining the reversible thermosensitive layer and the transparent coloring layer in the present invention.

As described above, the present invention provides a dimmer which can be electrically adjusted to an arbitrary light transmittance with one touch by using a reversible thermosensitive layer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of still another dimmer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transparent substrate 2 Electric resistance wire 3 Reversible thermosensitive layer 4 Surface protective layer 5 Transparent substrate 6 Transparent adhesive layer 7 Electrode 8 Electric terminal

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takayoshi Ueno 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-366926 (JP, A) JP-A-3-3- 200935 (JP, A)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] To 1. A transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film or electrical resistance wire which is formed in a stripe shape, is permeable lightness by the two above room heating hot mode and low temperature mode is reversibly changed and stored A dimmer provided with a reversible thermosensitive layer, wherein the reversible thermosensitive layer is composed of a composition containing organic crystal particles in a transparent matrix polymer, and the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire is energized, A dimmer, wherein the transparency of the heat-sensitive layer is reversibly changed in a stripe shape by a heating / cooling process in the heating mode. 2. A reversible thermosensitive layer is formed between two transparent substrates.
The light control body according to claim 1, wherein the light control body is integrated. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the organic crystal particles are an alkylenedicarboxylic acid.
Choose from acids, fatty acid amides, oxy fatty acids, and aliphatic ureas
2. The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of
Light body. 4. The reversible thermosensitive layer is combined with a transparent colorant.
The light control body according to claim 1, wherein the light control body is provided. 5. A transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film or electrical resistance wire which is formed in stripes, hot mode, the transparency with by the two above room heating mode of the low-temperature mode is reversibly changed and stored that a reversible heat-sensitive layer and a provided a light adjuster, the reversible thermosensitive layer is made of a composition containing an organic crystal particles in a transparent matrix in the polymer, energizing the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire, wherein For the dimmer that reversibly changes the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer in a striped manner by heating and cooling processes in the heating mode, the transparent conductive film or the electric resistance wire is heated by energizing and the resistance value changes. A method for controlling a light control body, comprising detecting a temperature of a reversible thermosensitive layer, and controlling the temperature by a temperature detection signal to change and store the transparency of the reversible thermosensitive layer.