KR102530477B1 - Light controlling device and transparent display device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a light control device capable of reducing the time taken to change from a transmissive mode to a shading mode or a change from a shading mode to a transmissive mode, and a transparent display device including the same. A light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a first electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. A second electrode formed on, a first electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrochromic layer formed on the second electrode, a counter electrode film formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer, and An electrolyte layer formed to surround the counter electrode film is included between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer.

Description

Light control device and transparent display device including the same {LIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE AND TRANSPARENT DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME}

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a light control device and a transparent display device including the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] As we enter the information age, the display field for processing and displaying a large amount of information has developed rapidly, and in response to this, various display devices have been developed and are in the spotlight. Specific examples of such a display device include a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel device (PDP), a field emission display device (FED), an electric light emitting display device ( and Electroluminescence Display device (ELD), Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), and the like.

Recently, display devices have become thinner, lighter, and have lower power consumption, and as a result, application fields of display devices are continuously increasing. In particular, the display device is used as one of the user interfaces in most electronic devices or mobile devices.

In addition, recently, research on a transparent display device that allows a user to see an object or a background located on the rear side of the display device due to its characteristics has been actively conducted. A transparent display device has advantages in space utilization, interior and design, and can have various application fields. The transparent display device can solve the spatial and visual limitations of existing electronic devices by implementing functions of information recognition, information processing, and information display with transparent electronic devices. For example, the transparent display device may be applied to a window of a building or a vehicle to be implemented as a smart window that shows a background or displays an image.

The transparent display device may be implemented as an organic light emitting display device, and in this case, has an advantage of low power consumption, but has a disadvantage in that the contrast ratio is lowered in a general environment with light, although there is no problem in the contrast ratio in a dark environment. Therefore, when the transparent display device is implemented as an organic light emitting display device, a light control device capable of implementing a light blocking mode for blocking light and a transmission mode for transmitting light is required to prevent a decrease in contrast ratio.

Recently, a method of using an electrochromic device as a light control device has been proposed. The electrochromic device may be implemented in a transmissive mode that transmits light in a state in which no voltage is applied, and may switch from a transmissive mode to a light-blocking mode with a low driving voltage. However, when the electrochromic device is applied to a light control device of a large-screen transparent display device such as a TV, due to the low response speed of the electrochromic device, it is difficult to change from a transmissive mode to a light blocking mode or a change from a light blocking mode to a transmissive mode. The downside is that it takes a long time.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a light control device capable of reducing the time taken to change from a transmissive mode to a shading mode or a change from a shading mode to a transmissive mode, and a transparent display device including the same.

A light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a first electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. A second electrode formed on, a first electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrochromic layer formed on the second electrode, a counter electrode film formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer, and An electrolyte layer formed to surround the counter electrode film is included between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer.

A transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel including transmission regions transmitting incident light and light emitting regions emitting light, and a transmission mode disposed on one side of the display panel and transmitting incident light. and a light control device implemented in a shading mode for shading incident light. The light control device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a first electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, a second electrode formed on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, A first electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrochromic layer formed on the second electrode, a counter electrode film formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer, and the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer. An electrolyte layer formed to surround the counter electrode film is included between the two electrochromic layers.

An embodiment of the present invention may increase the formation area of the electrochromic layer by forming the first electrochromic layer on the first substrate and the second electrochromic layer on the second substrate. Accordingly, a contact area between the electrochromic layer and the electrolyte layer may be increased.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, a counter electrode film is formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer with stripe-shaped patterns corresponding to the light emitting region, and the counter layer surrounds the base film and the third electrode. By forming the counter layer, it is possible to increase the formation area of the counter layer. Accordingly, a contact area between the counter layer and the electrolyte layer may be increased.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the time for which the voltage is applied by forming the first opaque electrode, the second opaque electrode, and the third electrode as opaque electrodes having a low resistance value per unit area.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the discoloration time of the electrochromic layer. That is, the embodiment of the present invention can effectively reduce the time required for the light control device to change from the transmissive mode to the shading mode or to change from the shading mode to the transmissive mode.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention can minimize light loss due to the first opaque electrode, the second opaque electrode, and the third electrode by forming the first opaque electrode, the second opaque electrode, and the third electrode to correspond to the light emitting region. there is.

The effects obtainable in the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. .

1 is a perspective view showing a transparent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a plan view illustrating a transparent display panel, a gate driver, a source drive integrated circuit, a flexible film, a circuit board, and a timing controller of a transparent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing pixels of the display area of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II′ of FIG. 3 .
5 is a perspective view showing a light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing a light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7A is a plan view schematically illustrating the first opaque electrode and the second opaque electrode of FIG. 6;
FIG. 7B is a plan view schematically illustrating the counter electrode film of FIG. 6 .
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a method of manufacturing the light control device of FIG. 6 .
9A to 9F are cross-sectional views of the light control device for explaining the manufacturing method of FIG. 8 .

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods of achieving them, will become clear with reference to the detailed description of the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the holder of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, etc. disclosed in the drawings for explaining the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative, so the present invention is not limited to the details shown. Like reference numbers designate like elements throughout the specification. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

When 'includes', 'has', 'consists', etc. mentioned in this specification is used, other parts may be added unless 'only' is used. In the case where a component is expressed in the singular, the case including the plural is included unless otherwise explicitly stated.

In interpreting the components, even if there is no separate explicit description, it is interpreted as including the error range.

In the case of a description of a positional relationship, for example, 'on top of', 'on top of', 'at the bottom of', 'next to', etc. Or, unless 'directly' is used, one or more other parts may be located between the two parts.

In the case of a description of a temporal relationship, for example, 'immediately' or 'directly' when a temporal precedence relationship is described in terms of 'after', 'following', 'next to', 'before', etc. It can also include non-continuous cases unless is used.

Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, the first component mentioned below may also be the second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

"X-axis direction", "Y-axis direction", and "Z-axis direction" should not be interpreted only as a geometric relationship in which the relationship between each other is made upright, and may be broader within the range in which the configuration of the present invention can function functionally. It can mean having a direction.

The term “at least one” should be understood to include all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, "at least one of the first item, the second item, and the third item" means not only the first item, the second item, or the third item, respectively, but also two of the first item, the second item, and the third item. It may mean a combination of all items that can be presented from one or more.

Each feature of the various embodiments of the present invention can be partially or entirely combined or combined with each other, technically various interlocking and driving are possible, and each embodiment can be implemented independently of each other or can be implemented together in a related relationship. may be

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a transparent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a plan view illustrating a transparent display panel, a gate driver, a source drive integrated circuit, a flexible film, a circuit board, and a timing controller of a transparent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing pixels of the display area of FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II′ of FIG. 3 .

Hereinafter, a transparent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 . For convenience of description in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the X-axis direction is parallel to the gate line, the Y-axis direction is parallel to the data line, and the Z-axis direction is the height direction of the transparent display device.

1 to 4, a transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transparent display panel 100, a gate driver 120, a source drive integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as "IC") (130 ), a flexible film 140, a circuit board 150, a timing controller 160, a light control device 200, and an adhesive layer 300.

The transparent display device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described with a focus on those implemented as organic light emitting displays, but liquid crystal displays and quantum dot light emitting diodes have been described. ) or an electrophoresis display.

The transparent display panel 100 includes a lower substrate 111 and an upper substrate 112 . The upper substrate 112 may be an encapsulation substrate. The lower substrate 111 is formed to be larger than the upper substrate 112 , and thus, a portion of the lower substrate 111 may be exposed without being covered by the upper substrate 112 .

The transparent display panel 100 transmits incident light or displays an image. Gate lines and data lines may be formed in the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100, and pixels may be formed in intersection areas of the gate lines and data lines. Pixels in the display area DA may display an image.

Each of the pixels of the display area DA includes a transmissive area TA and an emission area EA, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The light emitting area EA may include a plurality of light emitting units. In the transparent display panel 100, an object or a background located on the rear surface of the transparent display panel 100 can be seen through the transparent areas TA, and an image can be displayed through the light emitting areas EA. . 3 and 4 illustrate that the light emitting area EA includes a red light emitting part RE, a green light emitting part GE, and a blue light emitting part BE, but is not limited thereto.

The transmission area TA is an area through which incident light passes almost as it is. The light emitting area EA is an area emitting light, the red light emitting part RE is an area emitting red light, the green light emitting part GE is an area emitting green light, and the blue light emitting part BE is an area emitting blue light. This is the area that emits light. The emission area EA corresponds to an opaque area in which incident light is blocked.

A transistor T, an anode electrode AND, an organic layer EL, and a cathode electrode CAT are provided in each of the red light emitting unit RE, the green light emitting unit GE, and the blue light emitting unit BE, as shown in FIG. 4 . It can be.

The transistor T includes an active layer ACT provided on the lower substrate 111, a first insulating film I1 provided on the active layer ACT, and a gate electrode GE provided on the first insulating film I1. , a second insulating film I2 provided on the gate electrode GE, and a source provided on the second insulating film I2 and connected to the active layer ACT through the first and second contact holes CNT1 and CNT2. An electrode SE and a drain electrode DE are included. In FIG. 4 , the transistor T is formed in a top gate method, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed in a bottom gate method.

The anode electrode AND is connected to the drain electrode DE of the transistor T through the third contact hole CNT3 penetrating the interlayer insulating film ILD provided on the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE. . A barrier rib is provided between the anode electrodes AND that are adjacent to each other, so that the anode electrodes AND that are adjacent to each other can be electrically insulated from each other.

An organic layer EL is provided on the anode electrode AND. The organic layer EL may include a hole transporting layer, an organic light emitting layer, and an electron transporting layer. A cathode electrode CAT is provided on the organic layer EL and the barrier rib W. When voltage is applied to the anode electrode AND and the cathode electrode CAT, holes and electrons move to the organic light emitting layer through the hole transport layer and the electron transport layer, respectively, and combine with each other in the organic light emitting layer to emit light.

In FIG. 4 , the transparent display panel 100 is embodied in a top emission method, but is not limited thereto and may be implemented in a bottom emission method. The light control device 200 is preferably disposed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the transparent display panel 100 emits light. Accordingly, the light control device 200 is disposed under the transparent display panel 100, that is, under the lower substrate 111, in the top emission method, and above the transparent display panel 100, that is, the upper substrate, in the bottom emission method. It is preferably arranged above (112).

In the top emission method, since the organic layer EL emits light toward the upper substrate, the transistor T may be widely provided under the barrier rib W and the anode electrode AND. Therefore, the top emission method has an advantage in that the design area of the transistor T is wider than the bottom emission method. In the top emission method, it is preferable that the anode electrode AND is formed of a metal material having high reflectivity such as aluminum or a laminated structure of aluminum and ITO, and the cathode electrode CAT is formed of a transparent metal material such as ITO or IZO.

As described above, each of the pixels of the transparent display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a transmission area TA that passes incident light almost as it is and an emission area EA that emits light. As a result, in the embodiment of the present invention, an object or a background located on the rear surface of the transparent display device can be viewed through the transparent areas TA of the transparent display device.

The gate driver 120 supplies gate signals to the gate lines according to the gate control signal input from the timing controller 160 . 2 illustrates that the gate driver 120 is formed outside one side of the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100 by a gate driver in panel (GIP) method, but is not limited thereto. That is, the gate driver 120 may be formed on the outside of both sides of the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100 by the GIP method, or may be manufactured as a driving chip and mounted on a flexible film, and may be formed using a tape automated bonding (TAB) method. It may also be attached to the transparent display panel 100 in this way.

The source drive IC 130 receives digital video data and a source control signal from the timing controller 160 . The source driver IC 130 converts digital video data into analog data voltages according to a source control signal and supplies them to data lines. When the source drive IC 130 is manufactured as a driving chip, it may be mounted on the flexible film 140 in a chip on film (COF) or chip on plastic (COP) method.

Since the size of the lower substrate 111 is greater than that of the upper substrate 112 , a portion of the lower substrate 111 may be exposed without being covered by the upper substrate 112 . Pads, such as data pads, are provided on a portion of the lower substrate 111 that is exposed and not covered by the upper substrate 112 . Wires connecting pads and the source drive IC 130 and wires connecting pads and wires of the circuit board 150 may be formed on the flexible film 140 . The flexible film 140 is attached to the pads using an anisotropic conducting film, and thereby the pads and the wires of the flexible film 140 can be connected.

The circuit board 150 may be attached to the flexible films 140 . A plurality of circuits implemented as driving chips may be mounted on the circuit board 150 . For example, the timing controller 160 may be mounted on the circuit board 150 . The circuit board 150 may be a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board.

The timing controller 160 receives digital video data and timing signals from an external system board (not shown). The timing controller 160 generates a gate control signal for controlling the operation timing of the gate driver 120 and a source control signal for controlling the source drive ICs 130 based on the timing signal III. The timing controller 160 supplies gate control signals to the gate driver 120 and supplies source control signals to the source drive ICs 130 .

The light control device 200 may block incident light in a blocking mode and transmit incident light in a transmission mode. A detailed description of the light control device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7B.

The adhesive layer 300 bonds the transparent display panel 100 and the light control device 200 together. The adhesive layer 300 may be a transparent adhesive film such as optically clear adhesive (OCA) or a transparent adhesive such as optically clear resin (OCR).

If the light control device 200 is attached to the direction in which the transparent display panel 100 emits light, the light control device 200 needs to be patterned to form light-blocking areas, and the light-blocking areas are formed in the transmissive area of the transparent display panel 100 ( TAs), the light control device 200 is preferably attached in a direction opposite to the direction in which the transparent display panel 100 emits light. For example, when the transparent display panel 100 is a top emission type, the light control device 200 is disposed under the transparent display panel 100, that is, under the lower substrate 111, and the transparent display panel 100 In the case of the bottom emission type, it is preferable to place the light on the transparent display panel 100, that is, on the upper substrate 112.

5 is a perspective view showing a light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a plan view schematically showing the first opaque electrode and the second opaque electrode of FIG. 6 , and FIG. 7B is a plan view schematically showing the counter electrode film of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7A and 7B , the light control device 200 includes a first substrate 210 , a second substrate 220 and a light control layer 230 .

Each of the first and second substrates 210 and 220 may be a glass substrate or a plastic film. When each of the first and second substrates 210 and 220 is a plastic film, a cellulose resin such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC) or diacetyl cellulose (DAC), a COP such as norbornene derivatives (cyclo olefin polymer), COC (cyclo olefin copolymer), acrylic resin such as PMMA (poly(methylmethacrylate), polyolefin such as PC (polycarbonate), PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene), PVA polyester such as (polyvinyl alcohol), polyether sulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polysulfone (PSF), or It may be a sheet or film containing a fluoride resin or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The light control layer 230 is disposed between the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 and may be implemented in a transmissive mode for transmitting incident light and a shading mode for blocking incident light. In the embodiment of the present invention, it can be assumed that the light blocking mode represents a case where the light transmittance of the light control device 200 is less than α%, and the transmission mode represents a case where the light transmittance of the light control device 200 is β% or more. . The light transmittance of the light control device 200 represents the ratio of light incident to light output to the light control device 200 .

Specifically, the light control layer 230 includes a first electrode 240 , a second electrode 250 , a counter electrode film 260 , an electrochromic layer 270 , and an electrolyte layer 290 .

The first electrode 240 is formed on one surface of the first substrate 210 facing the second substrate 220 . The first electrode 240 may be a transparent electrode. Alternatively, the first electrode 240 may include a first transparent electrode 241 and a first opaque electrode 242 as shown in FIG. 5 . In this case, since the first transparent electrode 241 is transparent, it may be formed to overlap not only the emission area EA of the display panel 100 but also the transmission area TA that transmits light. On the other hand, since the first opaque electrode 242 is opaque, it may be formed to overlap only the emission area EA of the display panel 100 .

The first opaque electrode 242 is patterned in a stripe shape as shown in FIG. 7A. More specifically, the first opaque electrode 242 may include stripe-shaped first patterns P1 extending in a first direction and stripe-shaped second patterns P2 extending in a second direction. there is. The stripe-shaped first patterns P1 extending in the first direction are spaced apart from each other, connected to each other by one second pattern P2 at one end, and connected to the other second pattern P2 at the other end. can be connected to each other. A pad (not shown) may be formed on the first opaque electrode 242 on the second pattern P2 . A flexible circuit board (not shown) may be attached to the pad using an anisotropic conducting film.

The second electrode 250 is formed on one surface of the second substrate 220 facing the first substrate 210 . The second electrode 250 may be a transparent electrode. Alternatively, the second electrode 250 may include a second transparent electrode 251 and a second opaque electrode 252 as shown in FIG. 5 . In this case, since the second transparent electrode 251 is transparent, it may be formed to overlap not only the emission area EA of the display panel 100 but also the transmission area TA that transmits light. On the other hand, since the second opaque electrode 252 is opaque, it may be formed to overlap only the emission area EA of the display panel 100 .

The second opaque electrode 252 is patterned in a stripe shape as shown in FIG. 7A. More specifically, the second opaque electrode 252 may include stripe-shaped third patterns P3 extending in the first direction and stripe-shaped fourth patterns P4 extending in the second direction. there is. The stripe-shaped third patterns P3 extending in the first direction are spaced apart from each other, connected to each other by one fourth pattern P4 at one end, and connected to another fourth pattern P4 at the other end. can be connected to each other. A pad (not shown) may be formed on the second opaque electrode 252 on the fourth pattern P4 . A flexible circuit board (not shown) may be attached to the pad using an anisotropic conducting film.

The transparent electrode is silver oxide (eg AgO or Ag2O or Ag2O3), aluminum oxide (eg Al2O3), tungsten oxide (eg WO2 or WO3 or W2O3), magnesium oxide (eg MgO), molybdenum oxide (eg MoO3) , zinc oxide (eg ZnO), tin oxide (eg SnO2), indium oxide (eg In2O3), chromium oxide (eg CrO3 or Cr2O3), antimony oxide (eg Sb2O3 or Sb2O5), titanium oxide (eg; TiO2), nickel oxide (eg NiO), copper oxide (eg CuO or Cu2O), vanadium oxide (eg V2O3 or V2O5), cobalt oxide (eg CoO), iron oxide (eg Fe2O3 or Fe3O4), niobium Oxide (eg Nb2O5), Indium Tin Oxide (eg Indium Tin Oxide, ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (eg Indium Zinc Oxide, IZO), Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide (eg Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide, ZAO), Aluminum It may be doped tin oxide (eg, Aluminum Tin Oxide, TAO) or antimony tin oxide (eg, Antimony Tin Oxide, ATO), but is not limited thereto. The opaque electrode may be copper (Cu) or aluminum (Al), but is not limited thereto.

The electrochromic layer 270 is formed on the first electrode 240 and the second electrode 250 . More specifically, the electrochromic layer 270 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrochromic layer 272 and a second electrochromic layer 274 . The first electrochromic layer 272 is formed on one surface of the first electrode 240 facing the second electrode 250 . The second electrochromic layer 274 is formed on one surface of the second electrode 250 facing the first electrode 240 .

The electrochromic layer 270 may include a core material such as transparent conductive oxides (TCO) and an electrochromic material bonded to the core material. The core material may be TiO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , SnO ₂ , RuO ₂ , or a material obtained by surface-treating ITO with TiO ₂ . The electrochromic material may be a material that absorbs a predetermined color when a reduction reaction occurs and becomes transparent when an oxidation reaction occurs. For example, electrochromic materials include viologen (1,1'-dibenzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium bistetrafluorborate), HVBF2 (1,1'-diheptyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dibromide), PVBr2 (1, 1'-dipropyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dibromide), BVBF4 (1,1'-dibenzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium bistetrafluorborate), 1-benzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium chloride, 1,1'-bis (4-4chloromethyl)benzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride, 1,1'-bis(4-bromobutyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dibromide or 1,1'-bis(2-bromoethyl)-4, It may be 4'-bipyridinium dibromide. In order to increase the light-shielding function of the electrochromic layer 270, it is preferable that electrochromic materials that exhibit various colors by a reduction reaction are combined with the core material.

The counter electrode film 260 is formed between the first electrochromic layer 272 and the second electrochromic layer 274 . The counter electrode film 260 includes third electrodes 261 and 263 , a base film 262 and a counter layer 264 .

The base film 262 may be a plastic film. For example, the base film 262 may include a cellulose resin such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC) or diacetyl cellulose (DAC), a cyclo olefin polymer (COP) such as norbornene derivatives, or a cyclo olefin polymer (COC). olefin copolymer), acrylic resin such as PMMA (poly(methylmethacrylate), polyolefin such as PC(polycarbonate), PE(polyethylene) or PP(polypropylene), PVA(polyvinyl alcohol), PES(poly ether) sulfone), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEI (polyetherimide), PEN (polyethylenenaphthalate), PET (polyethyleneterephthalate), polyester such as PI (polyimide), PSF (polysulfone), or fluoride resin. It may be a sheet or film to do, but is not limited thereto.

The third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed on both sides of the base film 262 . One third electrode 261 may be formed on an upper surface of the base film 262 facing the second electrochromic layer 274 . Another third electrode 263 may be formed on a lower surface of the base film 262 facing the first electrochromic layer 272 .

The third electrodes 261 and 263 may be opaque electrodes. In this case, since the third electrodes 261 and 263 are opaque electrodes, they may be formed to overlap only the emission area EA of the display panel 100 . The opaque electrode may be copper (Cu) or aluminum (Al), but is not limited thereto.

6 illustrates that the third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed on both sides of the base film 262, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, if the shape of the counter electrode film 260 is maintained only with the third electrode, the base film 262 of the counter electrode film 260 may be omitted.

The counter layer 264 may be formed on the third electrodes 261 and 263 . More specifically, the counter layer 264 is formed on one surface of one third electrode 261 facing the second electrochromic layer 274, and the other third electrode facing the first electrochromic layer 272. (263) may be formed on one side. Also, the counter layer 264 may be formed on the side surfaces of the third electrodes 261 and 263 and the side surface of the base film 262 . As a result, the counter layer 264 may be formed to surround the base film 262 and the third electrodes 261 and 263 as shown in FIG. 6 . Through this, the counter layer 264 may increase a contact area with the electrolyte layer 290 .

6 illustrates that the counter layer 264 is formed to surround the base film 262 and the third electrodes 261 and 263, but is not limited thereto. Since the counter layer 264 only needs to be formed to face the electrochromic layer 270 , it may not be formed on the side surfaces of the third electrodes 261 and 263 and the side surface of the base film 262 .

The counter layer 264 corresponds to a layer that assists the electrochromic layer 270 to smoothly perform a redox reaction. The counter layer 264 may include a counter material that absorbs a predetermined color when an oxidation reaction occurs and becomes transparent by a reduction reaction. Counter substances are TMPD (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine), TMB (3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine), NTMB (N,N,N',N' -Tetramethylbenzidine) or DAB (3,3'-Diaminobenzidine).

Meanwhile, the counter electrode film 260 is patterned in a stripe shape as shown in FIG. 7B. More specifically, the counter electrode film 260 may include stripe-shaped fifth patterns P5 extending in the first direction and stripe-shaped sixth patterns P6 extending in the second direction. . The stripe-shaped fifth patterns P5 extending in the first direction are spaced apart from each other, connected to each other by one sixth pattern P6 at one end, and connected to another sixth pattern P6 at the other end. can be connected to each other. Pads (not shown) may be provided on the exposed third electrodes 261 and 263 that are not covered by the counter layer 264 in the sixth pattern P6 of the counter electrode film 260 . A flexible circuit board (not shown) may be attached to the pad using an anisotropic conducting film.

Since the counter electrode film 260 overlaps the emission area EA of the display panel 100 and is formed in a stripe pattern so as not to overlap the transmission area TA, the third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed per unit area. It can be formed as an opaque electrode with a low resistance value. Accordingly, the light control device 200 can reduce the time for the electrochromic material to change color, and reduce the time required to change from the transmissive mode to the light blocking mode or the time required to change from the light blocking mode to the transmissive mode.

In addition, the counter electrode film 260 is formed such that the counter layer 264 surrounds the base film 262 and the third electrodes 261 and 263, thereby increasing the contact area between the counter layer 264 and the electrolyte layer 290. can make it Accordingly, the light control device 200 can reduce the time for the electrochromic material to change color, and more effectively reduce the time required to change from the transmissive mode to the shading mode or the time required to change from the shading mode to the transmissive mode.

The electrolyte layer 290 is formed between the first electrochromic layer 272 and the second electrochromic layer 274 to surround the counter electrode film 260 . It is formed between the first electrochromic layer 272 and the second electrochromic layer 274 . More specifically, the electrolyte layer 290 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrolyte layer 292 and a second electrolyte layer 294. The first electrolyte layer 292 is formed on the first electrochromic layer 272 and surrounds part or all of the counter electrode film 260 . The second electrolyte layer 294 is formed between the first electrolyte layer 292 and the second electrochromic layer 274 to cover the top of the first electrolyte layer 294 and expose the counter electrode film 260. The counter electrode film 260 is covered.

The electrolyte layer 290 may include an electrolyte, a polymer, and a UV initiator. The electrolyte may be Lithium perchlorate, t-butylammoinum perchlorate, t-butylammoinum-t-fluoroborate, or tetrabutylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate. The polymer may be an acrylate-based, polyester-based, or epoxy-based polymer. The UV initiator may be benzoin ethers or amines. The electrolyte layer 290 may be formed by UV curing after being applied in a viscous liquid state. The electrolyte layer 290 provides cations and anions so that the electrochromic layer 270 and the counter layer 264 of the counter electrode film 260 can undergo a redox reaction.

The counter layer 264 of the counter electrode film 260 , the electrochromic layer 270 , and the electrolyte layer 290 are connected to the voltage applied to the first electrode 240 and the third electrodes 261 and 263 or to the second electrode. When voltage is applied to 250 and the third electrodes 261 and 263, an electrochemical redox reaction occurs, and as a result, the color of the electrochromic layer 270 changes.

For example, when a negative voltage is applied to the first electrode 240 and the second electrode 250 and a positive voltage is applied to the third electrodes 261 and 263, an oxidation reaction occurs in the electrochromic layer 270. , a reduction reaction occurs in the counter layer 264 of the counter electrode film 260 . Since the electrochromic layer 270 becomes transparent by an oxidation reaction, incident light can pass therethrough as it is. That is, the light control device 200 may implement a transmission mode in which incident light is transmitted.

In addition, when a positive voltage is applied to the first electrode 240 and the second electrode 250 and a negative voltage is applied to the third electrodes 261 and 263, a reduction reaction occurs in the electrochromic layer 270 and the counter An oxidation reaction occurs in the counter layer 264 of the electrode film 260 . Since the electrochromic layer 270 is changed to a predetermined color such as black by a reduction reaction, it can block incident light. That is, the light control device 200 may implement a blocking mode for blocking incident light.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a method of manufacturing the light control device of FIG. 6 . 9A to 9F are cross-sectional views of the light control device for explaining the manufacturing method of FIG. 8 . Hereinafter, an example of a manufacturing method of the light control device 200 of FIG. 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A to 9F.

First, as shown in FIG. 9A, a first electrode 240 is formed on a first substrate 210, a second electrode 250 is formed on a second substrate 220, and a base film 262 is formed on The third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed (S801).

The first electrode 240 may include a first transparent electrode 241 that is a transparent electrode and a first opaque electrode 242 that is an opaque electrode, as shown in FIG. 9A . In this case, the first opaque electrode 242 may be formed on the first substrate 210 , and the first transparent electrode 241 may be formed to cover the first opaque electrode 242 . The resistance value per unit area of the first opaque electrode 242 is smaller than the resistance value per unit area of the first transparent electrode 241, and the area where the first transparent electrode 231 is formed by forming the first opaque electrode 242 Since can be reduced, there is an effect of lowering the resistance value of the first electrode 240. By lowering the resistance value of the first electrode 240, the time during which voltage is applied to the first electrode 240 can be reduced, and thus the time during which the electrochromic layer 270 is discolored can be reduced. That is, the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the time required for the light control device 200 to change from the transmissive mode to the shading mode or to change from the shading mode to the transmissive mode.

The second electrode 250 may include a second transparent electrode 251 that is a transparent electrode and a second opaque electrode 252 that is an opaque electrode, as shown in FIG. 9A . In this case, the second opaque electrode 252 may be formed on the second substrate 220 , and the second transparent electrode 251 may be formed to cover the second opaque electrode 252 . The resistance value per unit area of the second opaque electrode 252 is smaller than the resistance value per unit area of the second transparent electrode 251, and the area where the second transparent electrode 251 is formed by forming the second opaque electrode 252 Since can be reduced, there is an effect of lowering the resistance value of the second electrode 250. By lowering the resistance value of the second electrode 250, the time during which voltage is applied to the second electrode 250 can be reduced, and thus the time during which the electrochromic layer 270 is discolored can be reduced. That is, the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the time required for the light control device 200 to change from the transmissive mode to the shading mode or to change from the shading mode to the transmissive mode.

The third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed of opaque electrodes as shown in FIG. 9A. The third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed on both sides of the base film 262 . Since the third electrodes 261 and 263 are formed of opaque electrodes having a low resistance value per unit area, the time during which voltage is applied to the third electrodes 261 and 263 can be reduced and the time during which the electrochromic layer 270 is discolored can reduce That is, the embodiment of the present invention can reduce the time required for the light control device 200 to change from the transmissive mode to the shading mode or to change from the shading mode to the transmissive mode.

Meanwhile, since the first opaque electrode 242, the second opaque electrode 252, and the third electrodes 261 and 263 block incident light, the first opaque electrode 242 and the second opaque electrode 252 And in order to minimize light loss due to the third electrodes 261 and 263, it is preferable to correspond to the light emitting areas EA of the transparent display device.

Second, as shown in FIG. 9B , a first electrochromic layer 272 is formed on the first electrode 240 and a second electrochromic layer 274 is formed on the second electrode 250 . Then, a counter layer 264 is formed on the third electrodes 261 and 263 to form a counter electrode film 260 (S802).

Thirdly, as shown in FIG. 9C , the first electrolyte is applied on the first electrochromic layer 272 and the counter electrode film 260 is put into the first electrolyte (S803). Specifically, a material including a first electrolyte, a polymer, and a UV initiator in a liquid state is coated on the first electrochromic layer 272, and a material including the first electrolyte, a polymer, and a UV initiator in a liquid state is applied inside the material. The counter electrode film 260 is put into it.

Fourth, the first electrolyte layer 272 is formed by UV curing the first electrolyte as shown in FIG. 9D (S804).

Fifthly, as shown in FIG. 9E, a second electrolyte is applied on the first electrolyte layer 272 and the counter electrode film 260 (S805). A material including a second electrolyte in a liquid state, a polymer, and a UV initiator in a liquid state is applied on the first electrolyte layer 272 . In this case, the second electrolyte may be the same material as the first electrolyte, but is not limited thereto. The second electrolyte may be of a material different from that of the first electrolyte.

Sixth, as shown in FIG. 9F, the second substrate 220 is placed on the second electrolyte in a liquid state, and the second electrolyte layer 294 is formed by curing the second electrolyte (S806). Specifically, after disposing the second substrate 220 on the second electrolyte in a liquid state, UV curing is performed to form the second electrolyte layer 294 . In addition, the polymer of the second electrolyte layer 294 may serve to adhere the second electrochromic layer 274 and the first electrolyte layer 292 while being cured.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments, and may be variously modified and implemented without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. . Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not limiting. The protection scope of the present invention should be construed by the claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: transparent display panel
111: lower substrate 112: upper substrate
120: gate driver 130: source drive IC
140: flexible film 150: circuit board
160: timing controller 200: light controller
210: first substrate 220: second substrate
230: light control layer 240: first electrode
250: second electrode 260: counter electrode film
270: electrochromic layer 290: electrolyte layer
300: adhesive layer

Claims (19)

a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;
a first electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate;
a second electrode formed on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate;
a first electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode;
a second electrochromic layer formed on the second electrode;
a counter electrode film formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer; and
An electrolyte layer formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer to surround the counter electrode film,
The light control device of claim 1 , wherein the counter electrode film is formed of stripe-shaped patterns spaced apart at predetermined intervals. According to claim 1,
The light control device, characterized in that the same voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode. The method of claim 1, wherein the counter electrode film,
a third electrode formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer; and
and a counter layer formed on a first surface of the third electrode facing the first electrode and a second surface of the third electrode facing the second electrode. According to claim 3,
The counter electrode film further includes a base film,
The light control device, characterized in that the third electrode is formed on both sides of the base film. delete According to claim 3,
The light control device according to claim 1 , wherein the counter layer is further formed on a side surface of the third electrode. According to claim 4,
The light control device according to claim 1 , wherein the counter layer is further formed on a side surface of the third electrode and a side surface of the base film. According to claim 3,
The light control device, characterized in that the third electrode is an opaque electrode. delete According to claim 3,
wherein a positive voltage is applied to the third electrode when a negative voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, and a negative voltage is applied to the third electrode when a positive voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes. According to claim 1,
The first electrode includes a first transparent electrode that is a transparent electrode and a first opaque electrode that is an opaque electrode,
The second electrode comprises a second transparent electrode that is a transparent electrode and a second opaque electrode that is an opaque electrode. According to claim 11,
The light control device, characterized in that the first opaque electrode and the second opaque electrode are formed of stripe-shaped patterns spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte layer
a first electrolyte layer formed on the first electrode and covering part or all of the counter electrode film; and
A light control device comprising a second electrolyte layer formed on the first electrolyte layer. According to claim 13,
The light control device, characterized in that the first electrolyte layer and the second electrolyte layer are formed of the same material. According to claim 1,
The light control device, characterized in that the counter electrode film is inserted inside the electrolyte layer. a display panel including transmission areas that transmit incident light and light-emitting areas that emit light; and
A light control device disposed on one surface of the display panel and implemented in a transmission mode for transmitting incident light and a shading mode for blocking incident light;
The light control device,
a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;
a first electrode formed on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate;
a second electrode formed on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate;
a first electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode;
a second electrochromic layer formed on the second electrode;
a counter electrode film formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer; and
An electrolyte layer formed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer to surround the counter electrode film,
The transparent display device of claim 1 , wherein the counter electrode film is formed of stripe-shaped patterns spaced apart at predetermined intervals. According to claim 16,
The first electrode includes a first transparent electrode that is a transparent electrode and a first opaque electrode that is an opaque electrode,
The second electrode includes a second transparent electrode that is a transparent electrode and a second opaque electrode that is an opaque electrode,
The transparent display device, wherein the first opaque electrode and the second opaque electrode are disposed to correspond to the emission area. The method of claim 16, wherein the counter electrode film,
a third electrode formed as an opaque electrode between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer; and
A counter layer formed on a first surface of the third electrode facing the first electrode and a second surface of the third electrode facing the second electrode;
The transparent display device according to claim 1 , wherein the third electrode is disposed to correspond to the emission area. According to claim 18,
wherein a positive voltage is applied to the third electrode when a negative voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, and a negative voltage is applied to the third electrode when a positive voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes.

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