JPH06148664A - Dimmer material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a dimmer material capable of performing secondary working in which the take-out position of an external deriving lead connected to the collector electrode part of a dimming liquid crystal sheet can be set at a desired position. CONSTITUTION:The dimming liquid crystal sheet 5 is comprised by stacking transference film 3a, 3b on which transference electrodes 2a, 2b are formed on both surface and back plane of a liquid crystal layer 1, and forming the collector electrode parts 4a, 4b at one side edge (right side edge in figure) of the upper transference electrode 2a and the other side edge (left side edge in figure) of the lover transference electrode 2b, respectively, and transference substrates 7a, 7b are stacked on the dimming liquid crystal sheet 5 with an adhesive 6. Conductors 9 such as screws, etc., are screwed in the transference substrates 7a, 7b conforming to the positions of the collector electrode parts 4a, 4b, which generates continuity with the collector electrode parts 4a, 4b, and the external deriving lead 10 is fixed on the conductor 9, and is sealed with resin with sealing resin 12, 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light control material used for blinds, skylights, windows, and other daylighting materials, displays, partitions, etc., which have different optical properties.

[0002]

The present applicant has already proposed a light control material I as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as a light control material having a light control liquid crystal sheet containing a liquid crystal in a resin matrix. That is, this light control material I is formed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal layer 100 by the transparent electrodes 1.
Two transparent resin films 102a and 102b each having 01a and 101b formed on one surface thereof are provided on the transparent electrodes 101a and 10b.
1b is laminated so that the liquid crystal layer 100 is on the side, and strip-shaped collector electrodes 103a and 103b having a low electric resistance are provided facing each other along the edges of the upper and lower transparent electrodes 101a and 101b. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, terminal pieces 104a and 104b for lead connection to be led out to the outside are adhered to the ends of the collector electrodes 103a and 103b with a conductive adhesive or the like and covered with an insulating tape 106. To form a light control liquid crystal sheet, and the resin films 102a and 102b are formed.
The transparent substrates 105a and 105b are laminated on the surface of each.

Such a light control material includes the above-mentioned terminal pieces 104a, 104a.
A lead wire (not shown) is connected to 04b to establish continuity with an external power source, and a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 101a and 101b through the collector electrodes 103a and 103b. When no voltage is applied between them, the liquid crystal layer 100 scatters light so that the entire surface of the light control material becomes cloudy. When a predetermined voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are oriented in the direction of the electric field and the entire surface of the light control material. Is transparent.

[0004]

However, in the light control material I, the collector electrodes 103a, 10 of the light control liquid crystal sheet are used.
Since the positions of the terminal pieces 104a and 104b provided at the ends of 3b are predetermined, it is necessary to connect the lead wires after providing the terminal pieces 104a and 104b at the optimum positions corresponding to the position of the external power source. I couldn't. for that reason,
The lead wires connecting the terminal pieces 104a and 104b and the external power supply are unnecessarily long, and there are restrictions on the wiring design.

Further, the shape of the light control material I is the terminal piece 104.
a and 104b are determined by the shape of the light control liquid crystal sheet formed on the collector electrodes 103a and 103b. Once such a light control liquid crystal sheet is molded, a small light control material is divided into two parts. There is also a problem that a terminal piece for connecting a lead wire or the like cannot be secured when secondary processing such as obtaining is performed, and the versatility when used as a display or the like is not sufficiently satisfied.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the first light control material is a transparent electrode film having electrodes formed on both front and back surfaces of a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal, and the ends of each electrode are laminated. It is characterized in that a transparent substrate made of synthetic resin is laminated on both surfaces of a light control liquid crystal sheet having a collecting electrode portion formed along an edge thereof in a state where the transparent electrodes and the collecting electrode portion are not led out to the outside.

As the second light control material, a transparent electrode film having electrodes formed on both front and back surfaces of a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal is laminated, and collector electrodes are formed along the edges of each electrode. A transparent substrate made of synthetic resin is laminated on both surfaces of the light control liquid crystal sheet in a state where the transparent electrodes and the collecting electrode portion are not led out to the outside, and a conductor is screwed through the transparent substrate at an appropriate position of the collecting electrode portion. It is characterized in that it is inserted or placed to form a conductive portion with the outside.

[0008]

In the first light control material having the above structure, light is scattered by the liquid crystal action in the liquid crystal layer to make the entire surface cloudy when no voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes laminated on the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal layer. . When a voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes by the collector electrode by some means, the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is oriented in the direction of the electric field and becomes a transparent light transmitting state.

In the second light control material which is electrically connected to an external power source or the like, a conductor such as a screw or a nail is screwed into a transparent substrate made of synthetic resin at a desired position corresponding to each collector electrode portion. A conductive portion is formed by placing the conductor and establishing electrical connection between the conductor and the collecting electrode portion. By connecting the conducting part to an external power source, etc., a voltage can be applied between the transparent electrodes to make the liquid crystal layer transparent, or the liquid crystal layer can be made cloudy without application of a voltage, and is connected to an external power source etc. The light control material has versatility in the position where the conductive portion is formed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light control material A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the light control material A of the same embodiment along the line XX in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing. In the figure, 1 is a liquid crystal layer, and transparent electrodes 2 are provided on both front and back surfaces thereof.
Transparent electrode films 3a and 3b on which a and 2b are formed are laminated, and one side edge of the upper transparent electrode 2a (right side edge in the figure)
And light collecting liquid crystal sheet 5 is formed by forming collector electrodes 4a and 4b on the other side edge (left side edge in the figure) of the lower transparent electrode 2b, and the light adjusting sheet 5 is formed from transparent substrates 7a and 7b. The adhesive 6 is laminated so that it does not stick out to the outside.

As the liquid crystal layer 1, there is used a material obtained by solidifying a mixture of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, ene / thiol resin, especially urethane acrylate, nematic liquid crystal, microbeads and an initiator by photo-curing.
In the liquid crystal layer 1 thus obtained, the liquid crystal is spontaneously formed by phase separation and dispersed in a droplet state, the liquid crystals are continuously connected to form a continuous phase, or the resin is a small droplet. It is in a dispersed state.

The transparent electrode films 3a and 3b laminated on both sides of the liquid crystal layer 1 are, for example, transparent resin films (thickness: 50 to 200 μm) such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyether sulfone and polycarbonate.
A transparent electrode 2a or 2b formed by vapor-depositing or sputtering a crystalline or non-crystalline metal oxide such as ITO or tin oxide on one surface of m) is preferably used. Further, the transparent electrodes 2a and 2b may be formed by applying a transparent conductive paint on one surface of the resin film.

The collector electrode portions 4a and 4b respectively formed on both ends of the transparent electrode films 3a and 3b are formed by applying a conductive paste or the like having a low electric resistance, for example. It should be noted that the collector electrode part may be a metal foil tape having an extremely low electric resistance, such as a copper foil tape, which is joined and integrated with a conductive adhesive or an adhesive.

The transparent substrates 7a and 7b are, for example, transparent synthetic resin plates made of polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, acrylic resin, or the like, and a weather resistance improving film, an ultraviolet ray cutting film, a heat ray cutting film on the surface of the resin plate. A composite resin plate or the like in which the above are bonded together is used.

The above-mentioned light control material A of the present invention comprises the adhesive 6 so that the light control liquid crystal sheet 5 having the transparent electrode films 3a and 3b laminated on both surfaces of the liquid crystal layer 1 does not stick out from between the transparent substrates 7a and 7b. It is sandwiched by means of, and its periphery is appropriately decorated with an adhesive tape or a frame material for use. In the light control material A, the light control liquid crystal sheet 5 has transparent substrates 7a and 7b.
Since it is sandwiched between the transparent electrode films 3a and 3b
The collector electrode portions 4a and 4b for applying a voltage to are not exposed to the outside.

Therefore, as shown in the enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the light control material A has a conductor 9 such as a screw and a transparent substrate 7a at appropriate positions corresponding to the collector electrodes 4a and 4b on both sides. , 7b are penetrated and screwed into the collecting electrode portions 4a, 4b to be secondarily processed and used for the light control material B which is electrically connected.

That is, this light control material B is composed of collector electrodes 4a, 4
The tip of a sharp conductor 9 such as a screw is brought into contact with the small hole and screwed to an appropriate position of the transparent substrate 7a, 7b on the surface corresponding to b, and the external lead 10 is fixed to the head 9a by soldering or the like. As the conductive portion 12, the conductive portion 12 is formed by the sealing resin 11.
It is prevented from coming off. For the convenience of work, it is preferable to form a small hole or a recess in the transparent substrates 7a and 7b when screwing a screw or the like to form a screwing guide for a screw or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, a screw is preferably used as the conductor 9, and approximately half of the screw groove 9b is cut from the head portion 9a to the middle of the screw portion 9c to form a vertical groove 9d. It has been formed. In this way, the vertical groove 9
When the screw-shaped conductor 9 having d is formed, the transparent substrate 7
The conductor 9 is surely fixed to the corresponding collector electrode portions 4a, 4b simply by screwing in from the surface of a, 7b so as to correspond to the collector electrode portions 4a, 4b and pouring solder into the vertical groove 9d. Continuity is established.

In the light control material B in which the conductor 9 is screwed into the transparent substrates 7a, 7b to form the conductor 12, the external lead 10 connected to the conductor 9 is connected to an external power source (not shown) or the like. A voltage can be applied between the transparent electrode films 3a and 3b simply by connecting. Since the screwed-in position of the conductor 9 can be attached at an appropriate position as long as it corresponds to the collector electrodes 4a and 4b, like the conventional light control material, the collector electrode 103 is provided.
As compared with the case where the terminal pieces 104a and 104b are provided at the end portions of the a and 103b in a restricted manner, handling of the wiring and the like becomes extremely easy and the design becomes easy.

The light control material B can be used as a partition, a display, or the like, and when no voltage is applied, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 1 are in a random light-scattering state and exhibit a white turbid state. Although the side cannot be seen, the transparent electrode film 3 is provided through the collecting electrode portions 4a and 4b.
When a voltage is applied between the liquid crystal layers 1 through a and 3b, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the direction of the electric field, and a transparent light transmission state is achieved, allowing the other surface to be seen through.

If the transparent substrates 7a and 7b surrounding the light control liquid crystal sheet 5 are made of a relatively thin resin, for example, 1 mm or less, a needle is driven by a stapler or the like,
You may form the electrically conductive part electrically connected with the collector electrode parts 4a and 4b. Further, a stopper such as a copper nail may be driven as a conductor 9 at a predetermined position, or the nail or the like may be heated to melt and press fit the transparent substrates 7a and 7b to form a conductive portion.

In any case, the conductor 9 is used as the collector electrode 4
The transparent substrates 7a and 7b at positions corresponding to a and 4b are respectively screwed or driven to surely conduct electricity to the collector electrodes 4a and 4b, and that position is the formation range of the collector electrodes 4a and 4b. It is possible to provide a highly versatile light control material in which the conductive portion 12 is formed by the conductor 9 in consideration of the place where the external power source is arranged and the like.

Further, as in the light control material C shown in FIG. 4, the light control material of the present invention is divided into two along the alternate long and short dash line by cutting between the collecting electrode portions 4a and 4b. Even in the case of forming the light-controlling liquid crystal sheet 5, the conductor 9 is screwed or driven corresponding to the collector electrodes 4a and 4b on the transparent substrates laminated on both front and back surfaces of the light control liquid crystal sheet 5. And the external lead 10 can be fixed and connected in a conductive state as described above. In this case, since the cut end face of the light control liquid crystal sheet 5 is exposed to the outside, if necessary, for example, it may be sealed with an insulating adhesive or the like, or a welding rod for hot melt or the like may be fused. It is possible to deal with it.

Further, as a light control material D shown in FIG. 5, a light control material in which a transparent substrate is laminated on a light control liquid crystal sheet in which collector electrodes 41a and 41b are provided in a substantially L shape over adjacent sides. In that case, even if the two dimming materials 51a and 51b are cut along the PP line or the QQ line and cut out, the respective dimming materials 5
Conductor 9 is screwed or driven into collector electrode portions 41a and 41b at optimal positions of 1a and 51b to form a conductive portion having continuity, external lead-out 10 is connected, and two light control materials are used. It is also possible to provide a light control material having a small area by dividing into. Also in this case, the cut end surface can be treated.

Like the light control material B, each of the light control materials C and D is used by connecting the external lead-out lead 10 to an external power source (not shown) and becomes cloudy when no voltage is applied. It becomes transparent when applied, and the other side can be seen through.

[0027]

As is clear from the above description, in the light control material of the present invention, a conductor is screwed or driven into the transparent substrates laminated on both sides of the light control liquid crystal sheet to conduct electricity to the collector electrode portion. It is possible to provide a light control material that has a conductive part formed at an optimum position with respect to the position of an external power source, etc. Can be freely designed at the position of the collector electrode without
It is possible to provide a light control material that is highly versatile for secondary processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a light control material according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of a light control material according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another example of the light control material.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the light control material.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a conventional light control material.

FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line L-M-N-O of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal layer 2a, 2b Transparent electrode 3a, 3b Transparent electrode film 4a, 4b Collection electrode part 5 Light control liquid crystal sheet 7a, 7b Transparent substrate 9 Conductor 12 Conductive part 41a, 41b Collection electrode part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transparent liquid crystal film having electrodes formed on both front and back surfaces of a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal, and a light control liquid crystal sheet having collector electrodes formed along the edges of the respective electrodes. A light control material, characterized in that transparent substrates made of synthetic resin are laminated in a state in which the respective transparent electrodes and the collecting electrode portion are not led out to the outside. 2. A dimming liquid crystal sheet having a transparent electrode film having electrodes formed on both sides of a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal and having collector electrodes formed along the edges of the respective electrodes. A transparent substrate made of synthetic resin is laminated in a state where each of the transparent electrodes and the collecting electrode portion are not led out to the outside, and a conductor is screwed or driven at an appropriate position of the collecting electrode portion through the transparent substrate to the outside. A light control material, characterized in that a conduction portion with is formed.