KR102620803B1 - Transmittance Variable Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a transmittance variable assembly that shifts the light transmittance variable region by applying a polarizing film with changed polarization performance to the transmittance variable assembly. The transmittance variable assembly includes a first transparent substrate having first transparent electrodes on an inner surface, a second transparent substrate spaced apart from one side of the first transparent substrate and having second transparent electrodes, the first transparent substrate and the first transparent substrate. 2. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer material whose phase is changed by a potential difference applied to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode between transparent substrates to adjust light transmittance, a first polarization pattern, and attached to the first transparent substrate. It includes a first polarizing film provided, and a second polarizing film having a second polarizing pattern and provided on the second transparent substrate.

Description

Transmittance Variable Assembly {Transmittance Variable Assembly}

The present invention relates to a variable transmittance assembly, and more specifically, to a variable transmittance assembly that shifts a variable light transmittance region.

As is known, recently, a light transmittance variable technology that adjusts light transmittance through electrical control instead of mechanical light blocking devices such as curtains or blinds has been known. Light transmittance variable technology is a technology that can change the light transmittance as desired by the user by adding a light-blocking material to a film or film and glass.

For example, light transmittance variable technologies include electrochromic (EC), suspended particle displays (SPD), polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PLDC), and polarizing polymers. It can be classified into a liquid crystal layer (Polarized Liquid Crystal, LC) containing a material.

The EC method changes light transmittance through electrolysis and combination of chemicals, and the SPD, PDLC, and LC methods change the light transmittance by changing the phase of the physical properties when an electric field is applied to both ends of the material. This transmittance variable method fixes the transmittance variable region.

Provided is a transmittance variable assembly that shifts the light transmittance variable region by applying a polarizing film with changed polarization performance to the transmittance variable assembly.

A transmittance variable assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first transparent substrate having first transparent electrodes on an inner surface, a second transparent substrate spaced apart from one side of the first transparent substrate and having second transparent electrodes, A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer material whose phase is changed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate by a potential difference applied to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode to adjust light transmittance, a first polarized light It includes a first polarizing film provided on the first transparent substrate with a pattern, and a second polarizing film provided on the second transparent substrate with a second polarizing pattern.

The first transparent electrode may be extended in a first direction and have a gap in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the second transparent electrode may be extended in the second direction and have a gap in the first direction.

The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film may have a linear polarization performance of less than 50%.

The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film can implement a shift in the light transmittance variable region in which the light transmittance is adjusted by changes in polarization performance.

The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film can implement a shift in the light transmittance variable region in which the light transmittance is adjusted by either a coating that controls polarization performance or an addition amount of a material that changes polarization performance.

The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film may have one of a coating layer and an addition layer of a material that changes polarization performance on the first polarizing pattern side and the second polarizing pattern side, respectively.

The light transmittance variable region (ΔT1 = Tmin ~ Tmax) in the liquid crystal layer where the light transmittance is adjusted may be 0.1 to 50%.

The difference between the polarization rates of the first polarizing film and the second polarizing film and the theoretical polarization rate of 100% can set a shift amount for shifting the transmittance variable region.

A transmittance variable assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first transparent polarizing substrate having a first polarizing pattern and first transparent electrodes on the inner surface, spaced apart from one side of the first transparent polarizing substrate, and a second polarizing pattern. and a second transparent polarizing substrate including second transparent electrodes, and a phase between the first transparent polarizing substrate and the second transparent polarizing substrate due to a potential difference applied to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. It includes a liquid crystal layer containing a polymer material that changes and adjusts light transmittance.

The first transparent electrode may be integrally formed on the inner surface of the first transparent polarizing substrate, and the second transparent electrode may be integrally formed on the inner surface of the first transparent polarizing substrate.

In this way, by applying a polarizing film or a transparent polarizing substrate with changed polarization performance to a liquid crystal layer containing a polymer material, the light transmittance variable region in the transmittance variable assembly can be shifted. Therefore, it is possible to respond to the variable transmittance window tinting range of various customer groups by shifting the light transmittance variable area.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a variable transmittance assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an operating state diagram showing a transparent state while light transmittance is variable.
Figure 3 is an operational state diagram showing a semi-transparent state during variable light transmittance.
Figure 4 is an operational state diagram showing an opaque state during variable light transmittance.
Figure 5 is a graph showing the shift of the light transmittance variable region.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the description are omitted, and identical or similar components are given the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a variable transmittance assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the variable transmittance assembly includes a first transparent substrate 11, a second transparent substrate 12, a liquid crystal layer (20, Variable Polarized Liquid Crystal) containing a polymer material, a first polarizing film 31, and Includes a second polarizing film (32).

In this embodiment, the first transparent substrate 11 and the first polarizing film 31 are formed separately, and the second transparent substrate 12 and the second polarizing film 32 are formed separately. Although not shown, the first transparent substrate and the first polarizing film may be formed as an integrated first transparent polarizing substrate, and the second transparent substrate and the second polarizing film may be formed as an integrated second transparent polarizing substrate.

The first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12 are configured so that the material of the liquid crystal layer 20 can control the refractive index corresponding to the electric field reaction. As an example, the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12 are provided with transparent electrodes 111 and 121 respectively facing the liquid crystal layer 20.

The transparent electrodes 111 and 121 may be formed integrally, that is, as a single plate, by depositing a conductive material on the inner surfaces of the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12. In this case, the light transmittance can be set according to the magnitude of the voltage applied to the transparent electrodes 111 and 121.

The first transparent substrate 11, the second transparent substrate 12, the first polarizing film 31, and the second polarizing film 32 are made of glass, multiple polyester (for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ), polycarbonate (PC, polycarbonate), tri-acetyl-cellulose (TAC), Cyclo Olefin Polymer (COP), 1PLY, 2PLY, Dyed, Chip Da It can be implemented with chip dye, carbon, metal, ceramics, sputter, or nano carbon ceramic.

Here, the dyed film is a color conversion film that uses the relaxation and contraction of the film with a dye film. And, chip dyed film is a film composed of the color film fabric itself. Carbon film is a film whose durability is increased by adding carbon to the film fabric. Metal film is a film in which metal is deposited on the film surface or the film surface is coated with metal.

Ceramics film is a film made by processing and forming non-metallic and inorganic materials at high temperatures. Sputter film is a thin film coated with metal components in an atomic structure in a vacuum. Nano carbon ceramic film is a film that combines carbon film and ceramic film.

The first transparent substrate 11 is provided with first transparent electrodes 111 on its inner surface that extend in a first direction (z-axis direction) and are spaced in a second direction (x-axis direction) crossing the first direction. . The second transparent substrate 12 is disposed on one side of the first transparent substrate 11 to be spaced apart in the z-axis direction and extends in the second direction (x-axis direction) to form second transparent electrodes 121 spaced apart in the first direction. ) is provided.

Here, the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 may be light-transmitting inorganic or organic substrates, or may be electrodes in which the same or different types of electrodes are stacked. The first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 must have sufficient carriers, a medium that carries charges, and have low resistance so that they can move easily and have a high current conduction rate.

The first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are made of a transparent material so that light can pass through, and can be defined according to the thickness of the electrode, resistance, conductivity, and transmittance correlation. Since the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are very thin films, the resistance changes sensitively even with small changes in thickness, and the sheet resistance, which is the resistance of the surface of the material, regardless of the thickness, is a specific resistance (e.g. For example, it can be set to 1000Ω/sq) or less.

The conductivity and transmittance of the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 can be determined depending on the size of the band gap, which is a space where energy is empty. In other words, when the band gap is large, the conductivity becomes low but transparent, and when the band gap is small, the conductivity becomes high and opaque.

Therefore, as the thickness increases, resistance decreases, conductivity increases, but permeability decreases. Conversely, as the thickness decreases, resistance increases and conductivity decreases, making it more transparent.

When the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are formed and arranged in a line, the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12 are arranged crossly at 90 degrees to form a mesh structure. Individual metrics can be driven. Therefore, the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 can express symbols, text, and graphics.

The first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are formed to have a fine width, so that the electrode spacing can be finely set. For example, the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 may have a width ranging from 2 ㎛ to several tens of ㎛ and a spacing between 2 ㎛ and several tens of ㎛. Considering realistic situations such as manufacturing equipment, the most desirable width and spacing is 2㎛. In this case, there is an advantage that it is not visible to the human eye. If the potential is applied to the odd-numbered electrodes of the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121, and the potential is not applied to the even-numbered electrodes, the area where the transmittance is switched is reduced by half, making it possible to control the transmittance of the entire area. .

The phase conversion of liquid crystal and high polymer in the liquid crystal layer 20 is realized by the potential difference formed between the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121. Therefore, the driving area of the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 is divided into 1/2, 1/3, etc., so that the total transmittance of the entire area can be controlled.

As an example, the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are made of conductive polymers such as 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) and indium tin oxide (ITO). , Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), graphene, poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (EDOT:PSS), Silver Nanowire, or Carbon Nanotube (CNT; Carbon NanoTube), etc. It may be made of a transparent conductive material.

The liquid crystal layer 20 is disposed in a filled form between the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12, and is polymerized by the potential difference applied to the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121. The phase of the polymer is changed to adjust light transmittance.

The liquid crystal layer 20 has light transparency dependent on changes in the electric field formed between the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12. Therefore, when power is applied to the liquid crystal layer 20, the light transmittance is lowered, and the first transparent substrate 11, the liquid crystal layer 20, and the second transparent substrate 12 form an opaque film or glass. , the higher the power is applied, the lower the light transmittance, forming a more opaque film or glass.

As an example, the liquid crystal layer 20 is a variable polarized liquid crystal, which is a physical structure that can change into a transparent or opaque state depending on whether an electric field is applied.

Figure 2 is an operating state diagram showing a transparent state while light transmittance is variable. Referring to FIG. 2, when power is not applied to the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121, the phase of the liquid crystal layer 20 does not change, so the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 11 (12) remains transparent.

Depending on the orientation and arrangement of the liquid crystal layer 20 and the alignment angle of the first and second polarizing films 31 and 32, it can be made transparent or opaque when the potential difference is not applied (off). Accordingly, the liquid crystal layer 20 allows an assembly with variable transmittance to be manufactured in either an opaque mode or a transparent mode depending on the power applied (on).

Figure 3 is an operating state diagram showing a semi-transparent state while light transmittance is variable, and Figure 4 is an operating state diagram showing an opaque state while light transmittance is variable. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, when power is applied to the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121, the phase of the liquid crystal layer 20 changes, so that the first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent electrode 121 change. The transparent substrate 12 may have variable transparency.

As the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer 20 by the power supplied to the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 increases, the phase angle of the liquid crystal layer 20 changes and the first polarizing film 31 ) and the light transmittance transmitted through the second polarizing film 32 is lowered, so transparency may change from a translucent state to an opaque state.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the polarizing film has a vertical or horizontal pattern and theoretically forms linearly polarized light with a transmittance of 50% for 100% of the light. In theory, 100% of the light passes through a polarizing film in a vertical pattern to form linearly polarized light with a transmittance of 50%, and this 50% of the linearly polarized light passes through a polarizing film in a horizontal pattern to form a 0% transmittance. In other words, when the polarizing film has a polarization rate of 100%, it has a linear polarization performance of 50% transmittance.

The variable transmittance assembly of one embodiment is implemented with a first transparent substrate 11, a second transparent substrate 12, and a liquid crystal layer 20, and a first polarizing film 31 and a second polarizing film 32 with variable light transmittance. By increasing the light transmittance with the lowered polarization rate, the light transmittance variable region (ΔT = Tmin ~ Tmax) is shifted toward increasing the final transmittance.

The first polarizing film 31 has a first polarizing pattern (P31) and is provided on the first transparent substrate 11. The second polarizing film 32 is provided on the second transparent substrate 12 with a second pattern (P32) crossing the first polarizing pattern (P31). Accordingly, the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32 have a polarization rate of less than 100% and a light transmittance of more than 50%. As an example, the first polarization pattern (P31) may form a vertical pattern, the second polarization pattern (P32) may form a horizontal pattern, or the first and second patterns may be formed interchangeably.

In the case of a vertical angle, if natural light, which is the original light source, is 100%, the light source passing through the first polarizing film 31 becomes linearly polarized and has a transmittance of 50%, and when this 50% passes through the second polarizing film 32 again, the transmittance is 50%. It becomes 0%. In other words, it becomes opaque. This is an example in which 50% of the original light source is shielded through a linear polarization filter because the first and second polarizing films 31 and 32 are at a vertical angle.

Table 1 shows the final transmittance (%) according to the change in the cross angle of the first and second polarizing films 31 and 32.

Cross angle (°) Final transmittance (%) Cross angle (°) Final transmittance (%) 90 0 40 27.77778 80 5.555556 30 33.33333 70 11.11111 20 38.88889 60 16.66667 10 44.44444 50 22.22222 0 50

In a state where the light transmittance is high, even if the phase of the liquid crystal layer 20 is controlled, the controlled light transmittance does not converge to zero. However, due to a change in the polarizing film, the minimum value (Tmin) of the final transmittance in the light transmittance variable region (ΔT) of the liquid crystal layer 20 is offset by the set value, and this causes the light transmittance variable region (ΔT) to shift. Example As a result, when the polarization rates of the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32 are lowered to 90% and 80%, the minimum value of the final transmittance (Tmin) in the light transmittance variable region (ΔT) of the liquid crystal layer 20 ) is offset by 10% and 20%, and this causes the light transmittance variable area (ΔT) to shift.

The light transmittance variable region (ΔT) of the liquid crystal layer 20 is 0.1 to 50%. The liquid crystal layer 20 has good optical properties, and since the first transparent electrode 111 and the second transparent electrode 121 are formed as transparent electrodes, a transparent mode is implemented when the voltage is turned off, so it can be driven at low voltage and low power consumption. there is.

Figure 5 is a graph showing the shift of the light transmittance variable region. Referring to Figure 5, if explained based on a 10% offset of the final transmittance minimum value (Tmin) in the light transmittance variable region (ΔT), 0.1 to 50% of the light transmittance variable region (ΔT1 = Tmin ~ Tmax) is the light transmittance variable region. (ΔT2 = Tmin ~Tmax) shifts by 10~60%.

10~60% of the light transmittance variable area (ΔT2 = Tmin ~ Tmax) is shifted to 20 ~ 70% of the light transmittance variable area (ΔT3 = Tmin ~ Tmax). The light transmittance variable area (ΔT3 = Tmin ~ Tmax) of 20~70% is shifted to 30~80% of the light transmittance variable area (ΔT4 = Tmin ~ Tmax). In this way, various transmittance areas are realized by moving ΔTn according to changes in the performance of the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32.

The shifted light transmittance variable area (ΔT) can effectively respond to the range of transmittance variable window tinting for various customer groups.

The first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32 may have a reduced polarization rate due to the first and second polarizing patterns P31 and P32. As an example, the first and second polarization patterns P31 and P32 may have a reduced polarization rate due to a change in polarization performance, a coating method, or an addition amount of a material that changes polarization performance. A material that changes polarization performance is iodine. Changes in polarization performance are possible by manufacturing the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32 to have a low polarization coefficient during manufacturing, so that the manufacturing cost can be lowered.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 to 4, the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32 have first and second polarizing patterns (P31 and P32) and a coating layer (311, 321) or an additive layer on the inner surface. (not shown) may each be provided. The coating layers 311 and 321 or the additive layer may be formed to have a thickness of 1 to 2 μm. Coating layers 311 and 321 or additive layers are formed on the vertical pattern side and the horizontal pattern side, respectively, to adjust the polarization ratio to be lowered in the vertical pattern and the horizontal pattern. That is, the coating layers 311 and 321 or the additive layer can adjust the light transmittance of the first polarizing film 31 and the second polarizing film 32.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the claims, description of the invention, and accompanying drawings, and this can also be done in various ways. It is natural that it falls within the scope of the invention.

11: first transparent substrate 12: second transparent substrate
20: Liquid Crystal Polymer 31: First polarizing film
32: second polarizing film 111: first transparent electrode
121: Second transparent electrode 311, 321: Coating layer (addition layer)
ΔT: Variable area of light transmittance

Claims (10)

A first transparent substrate having first transparent electrodes on its inner surface;
a second transparent substrate spaced apart from one side of the first transparent substrate and including second transparent electrodes;
a liquid crystal layer including a polymer material whose phase is changed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate by a potential difference applied to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode to adjust light transmittance;
a first polarizing film provided on the first transparent substrate and having a first polarizing pattern; and
A second polarizing film provided on the second transparent substrate and having a second polarizing pattern.
Includes,
The light transmittance variable region (ΔT1 = Tmin ~ Tmax) in the liquid crystal layer where the light transmittance is adjusted is 0.1 to 50%,
The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film are
Further providing either a coating layer or an addition layer of a material that changes polarization performance on the first polarization pattern side and the second polarization pattern side, respectively,
It has a linear polarization performance of less than 50%,
The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film are
The cross angle of the first polarization pattern and the second polarization pattern is set to be greater than 0 and less than 90,
By varying the final transmittance within the range of 5.55 to 44.44%, the light transmittance is increased with the lowered polarization rate,
A transmittance variable assembly that shifts and controls the light transmittance variable region (ΔT = Tmin to Tmax) toward increasing final transmittance. According to claim 1,
The first transparent electrode is
Extended in a first direction and having a gap in a second direction crossing the first direction,
The second transparent electrode is
A transmittance variable assembly extending in the second direction and having a gap in the first direction. delete According to claim 1,
The first polarizing film and the second polarizing film are a variable transmittance assembly that implements a shift of a light transmittance variable region in which light transmittance is adjusted by changes in polarization performance. delete delete delete According to claim 1,
A transmittance variable assembly wherein the difference between the polarization rates of the first polarizing film and the second polarization film and a theoretical polarization rate of 100% sets a shift amount for shifting the transmittance variable region. delete delete