KR20170131050A - Light controlling device and transparent display device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a light control device which applies different voltage to each of patterned lower auxiliary electrodes, thereby having a uniform light blocking rate, and a transparent display device including the same. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light control device comprises: a lower electrode arranged on one surface of a first base film facing a second base film; an upper electrode arranged on one surface of the second base film facing the first base film; and a liquid crystal cell arranged between the lower and upper electrodes, and including liquid crystals and ion materials. The lower electrode provides a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes patterned in a predetermined interval.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a light control device and a transparent display device including the light control device.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a light control device and a transparent display device including the light control device.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices for displaying images is increasing in various forms. In recent years, various display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an organic light emitting display (OLED) have been used.

The display device has been reduced in thickness, weight, and power consumption, and the application field of the display device is continuously increasing. In particular, display devices are used as one of the user interfaces in most electronic devices and mobile devices.

In recent years, studies have been made actively on a transparent display device which allows a user to view an object or a background located on the back side of the display device. The transparent display device has advantages of space utilization, interior and design, and can have various application fields. The transparent display device realizes the functions of information recognition, information processing, and information display in a transparent electronic device, thereby solving the spatial and visual restrictions of the existing electronic device. For example, the transparent display device may be implemented as a smart window that is applied to a building or a car window to display a background or display an image.

The transparent display device can be realized as an organic light emitting display device. In this case, the power consumption is small. However, the contrast ratio is not problematic in a dark environment, but the contrast ratio is lowered in a light environment. The contrast ratio of the dark environment can be defined as dark room contrast ratio, and the contrast ratio of light environment can be defined as bright room contrast ratio. That is, since the transparent display device has a transmissive area in order to make it possible to see an object or a background located on the rear surface, there is a problem that the bright-room contrast ratio is lowered. Therefore, there is a need for a light control device capable of realizing a light-shielding mode for intercepting light and a transmissive mode for transmitting light in order to prevent a bright room contrast ratio from lowering when the transparent display device is implemented as an organic light emitting display device.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a light control device capable of having a uniform light blocking rate by applying different voltages to each of the patterned lower auxiliary electrodes, and a transparent display device including the same.

A light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first base film and a second base film facing each other, a lower electrode provided on one surface of the first base film facing the second base film, And a liquid crystal cell disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the liquid crystal cell including liquid crystals and ionic materials. The lower electrode includes a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes patterned at predetermined intervals.

A transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transparent display panel that transmits light and displays an image, and a light control device disposed on at least one side of the transparent display panel. Wherein the light control device comprises a first base film and a second base film facing each other, a lower electrode provided on one surface of the first base film facing the second base film, An upper electrode provided on one side of the base film, and a liquid crystal cell provided between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the liquid crystal cell including liquid crystals and ion materials. The lower electrode includes a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes patterned at predetermined intervals.

Embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of patterned lower auxiliary electrodes and apply different voltages to each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the cell gap between the upper side and the lower side of the light control device changes due to the movement of the liquid crystal cell due to gravity, by controlling the driving voltage of the light control device, Lt; / RTI >

In addition to the effects of the present invention mentioned above, other features and advantages of the present invention will be described below, or may be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and the description.

1 is a perspective view showing a transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a plan view showing a transparent display panel, a gate driver, a source drive IC, a flexible film, a circuit board, and a timing controller of a transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exemplary view showing a pixel of the display area of FIG. 2;
4 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I 'of Fig. 3;
5 is a perspective view illustrating a light control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a plan view showing the lower electrode of FIG. 5;
7 is a cross-sectional view showing a light control device according to an example of the present invention.
8 is a perspective view showing a light control device according to another example of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a top view of the top electrode of Figure 8;
10 is a cross-sectional view showing a light control device according to another example of the present invention.

The meaning of the terms described herein should be understood as follows.

The word " first, "" second," and the like, used to distinguish one element from another, are to be understood to include plural representations unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The scope of the right should not be limited by these terms. It should be understood that the terms "comprises" or "having" does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. It should be understood that the term "at least one" includes all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, the meaning of "at least one of the first item, the second item and the third item" means that the first item, the second item or the third item, as well as the first item, the second item, Means any combination of items that can be presented from more than one. The term "on" means not only when a configuration is formed directly on top of another configuration, but also when a third configuration is interposed between these configurations.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the optical control device and the transparent display device including the optical control device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like elements throughout the drawings, even if they are shown on different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

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

Hereinafter, a transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the X-axis represents the direction parallel to the gate lines, the Y-axis represents the direction parallel to the data lines, and the Z-axis represents 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 driver IC (integrated circuit) 130 A flexible film 140, a circuit board 150, a timing controller 160, a light control device 200, and an adhesive layer 300.

Although the transparent display device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described as being implemented with an organic light emitting display, it may be implemented as a liquid crystal display (LCD) 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 encapsulating substrate. The lower substrate 111 is formed to be larger than the upper substrate 112 so that a part of the lower substrate 111 can be exposed without being covered by the upper substrate 112.

Gate lines and data lines are formed in the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100, and light emitting parts may be formed in the intersecting areas of the gate lines and the data lines. The light emitting portions of the display area DA can display an image.

The display area DA includes a transmissive area TA and a light-emitting area EA as shown in Fig. The transparent display panel 100 can see an object or a background located on the back side of the transparent display panel 100 due to the transmissive areas TA and can display an image due to the light emitting areas EA . In FIG. 3, the transmissive area TA and the light emitting area EA are elongated in the gate line direction (X-axis direction). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the transmissive area TA and the light emitting area EA may be formed long in the data line direction (Y-axis direction).

The transmissive area TA is an area through which the incident light almost passes. The light emitting region EA is a region for emitting light. The light emitting region EA may include a plurality of pixels P and each of the pixels P may include a red light emitting portion RE, a green light emitting portion GE, and a blue light emitting portion BE, But the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the pixels P may further include a white light emitting portion in addition to the red light emitting portion RE, the green light emitting portion GE, and the blue light emitting portion BE. Alternatively, each of the pixels P may include a red light emitting portion RE, a green light emitting portion GE, a blue light emitting portion BE, a yellow light emitting portion, a magenta light emitting portion, and a cyan light emitting portion At least two light emitting portions may be included in the portion.

The red light emitting portion RE is a region for emitting red light, the green light emitting portion GE is a region for emitting green light, and the blue light emitting portion BE is a region for emitting blue light. The red light emitting portion RE, the green light emitting portion GE, and the blue light emitting portion BE of the light emitting region EA emit predetermined light and correspond to a non-transmissive region that does not transmit incident light.

(T), an anode electrode (AND), an organic layer (EL), and a cathode electrode (CAT) are provided in each of the red light emitting portion RE, the green light emitting portion GE and the blue light emitting portion 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, a gate electrode GE provided on the first insulating film I1, A second insulating film I2 provided on the electrode GE and a source electrode connected to the active layer ACT through the first and second contact holes CNT1 and CNT2 provided on the second insulating film I2 SE and a drain electrode DE. In FIG. 4, the transistor T is formed in a top gate manner. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The bottom gate type in which the gate electrode GE is disposed under the active layer ACT may be formed.

The anode electrode AND is connected to the drain electrode DE of the transistor T through the third contact hole CNT3 passing through the interlayer insulating film ILD provided on the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE . A bank B is provided between the adjacent anode electrodes (AND), so that the adjacent anode electrodes (AND) can be electrically isolated.

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 (B). When a 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 transporting layer and the electron transporting layer, respectively.

In FIG. 4, the transparent display panel 100 is implemented by a top emission method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be implemented by a bottom emission method. In the top emission type, since the light of the organic layer EL emits in the direction of the upper substrate, the transistor T can be provided broadly below the bank B and the anode electrode AND. Accordingly, the front emission type has an advantage that the design area of the transistor T is wider than that of the back emission type. In the front emission type, it is preferable that the anode electrode (AND) is formed of a metal material having a high reflectivity such as aluminum, a laminate 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 P of the transparent display device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a transmissive area TA through which incident light is almost passed, and a light emitting area EA that emits light . As a result, embodiments of the present invention can view objects or backgrounds located behind the transparent display device through the transmission areas TA of the transparent display device.

The gate driver 120 supplies the gate signals to the gate lines according to the gate control signal input from the timing controller 160. In FIG. 2, the gate driver 120 is formed on the outside of one side of the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100 in a gate driver in panel (GIP) manner, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the gate driver 120 may be formed by a GIP method on both sides of the display area DA of the transparent display panel 100, or may be formed by a driving chip, mounted on a flexible film, Or may be attached to the transparent display panel 100 in a similar manner.

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

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

The circuit board 150 may be attached to the flexible films 140. The circuit board 150 may be implemented with a plurality of circuits implemented with driving chips. For example, the timing control unit 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 a timing signal from an external system board (not shown). The timing controller 60 generates a gate control signal for controlling the operation timing of the gate driver 120 and a source control signal for controlling the source driver ICs 130 based on the timing signal. The timing controller 60 supplies a gate control signal to the gate driver 120 and a source control signal to the source driver ICs 30. [

The light control device 200 can block the light incident in the light shield mode and transmit the light incident in the light transmission mode. The light control device 200 can block most of the light in the light shielding mode and be designed to have a ratio of output light to incident light (hereinafter referred to as "light transmittance ") alpha% or less. Also, the light control device 200 transmits most of the light in the transmission mode, and may be designed to have a light transmittance of, for example, β% or more. At this time,? Is larger than?. The light control device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention can implement a light shielding mode and a transmissive mode using a liquid crystal layer to which a dynamic scattering mode is applied. A detailed description of the light control device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10. FIG.

The adhesive layer (300) bonds the transparent display panel (100) and the light control device (200). The adhesive layer 300 may be a transparent adhesive such as OCA (optically clear adhesive) or a transparent adhesive such as OCR (optically clear resin). In this case, the adhesive layer 300 may have a refractive index between 1.4 and 1.9 for refractive index matching between the transparent display panel 100 and the light control device 200.

5 is a perspective view illustrating a light control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a plan view showing the lower electrode of FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 to 7, a light control device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first base film 210, a second base film 220, a lower electrode 230, an upper electrode 240, A liquid crystal layer 250, and a spacer 252.

The first base film 210 and the second base film 220 may be plastic films. For example, the first base film 210 and the second base film 220 may be formed of a cellulose resin such as TAC (triacetyl cellulose) or DAC (diacetyl cellulose), a cycloolefin (COP) such as Norbornene derivatives, polyolefin such as poly (polycarbonate), PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PES polyether sulfone, polyether sulfone, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET); polyimide; polysulfone; or fluoride resin But is not limited thereto.

The lower electrode 230 is provided on one surface of the first base film 210 facing the second base film 220. The lower electrode 230 includes a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234. Each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 is patterned on the first base film 210 at predetermined intervals. Each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 may be arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction. Different voltages V1 to V4 may be applied to the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, respectively. Each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 may have a stripe shape, but is not limited thereto.

Specifically, the lower electrode 230 may include first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234. Each of the first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 may be transparent electrodes patterned on the first base film 210 at predetermined intervals. The first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 are arranged in the direction from the upper side 200a to the lower side 200b of the light control device 200 Can be arranged sequentially. That is, the first lower auxiliary electrode 231 may be disposed on the upper side 200a of the light control device 200, and the fourth lower auxiliary electrode 234 may be disposed on the lower side 200b.

The first through fourth lower voltages V1 through V4 may be applied to the first through fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 through 234, respectively. The first voltage V1 may be applied to the first lower auxiliary electrode 231 and the second voltage V2 may be applied to the second lower auxiliary electrode 232. [ A third voltage V3 may be applied to the third lower auxiliary electrode 233 and a fourth voltage V4 may be applied to the fourth lower auxiliary electrode 234. [ In this case, the first voltage V1 is higher than the second voltage V2, the second voltage V2 is higher than the third voltage V3, and the third voltage V3 is higher than the fourth voltage V4 . When the light control device 200 is set up in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction), the first sub-auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, which are arranged at the highest positions among the plurality of the sub-auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, The electrode 231 may be applied with the highest first voltage V1. In addition, the lowest fourth voltage V4 may be applied to the fourth lower auxiliary electrode 234 disposed at the lowest position.

The upper electrode 240 is provided on one surface of the second base film 220 facing the first base film 210. The upper electrode 240 may be a transparent electrode. In this case, the upper electrode 240 may be supplied with different voltages from the voltages V1 to V4 applied to the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, respectively.

The lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240 may be formed of an oxide such as AgO or Ag2O or Ag2O3, an aluminum oxide such as Al2O3, a tungsten oxide such as WO2 or WO3 or W2O3, (Eg, MgO), molybdenum oxide (eg MoO3), zinc oxide (eg ZnO), tin oxide (eg SnO2), indium oxide such as In2O3, chromium oxide such as CrO3 or Cr2O3, Such as Sb2O3 or Sb2O5, titanium oxides such as TiO2, nickel oxides such as NiO, copper oxides such as CuO or Cu2O, vanadium oxides such as V2O3 or V2O5, cobalt oxides such as CoO, , Iron oxide (eg Fe2O3 or Fe3O4), niobium oxide (eg Nb2O5), indium tin oxide (eg ITO), indium zinc oxide (eg Indium Zinc Oxide, IZO), aluminum doped zinc oxide (Eg, aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZAO), aluminum-doped tin oxide (eg, aluminum tin oxide, TAO) or antimony tin oxide , ATO), but is not limited thereto.

The conventional light control device implements a light shielding mode by applying different voltages to the lower electrode and the upper electrode without patterning the lower electrode. When the conventional light control device is driven for a long time in a vertically erected state, the liquid crystal cells 251 may be gravitationally defocused from the upper side 200a to the lower side 200b due to gravity. When the liquid crystal cells 251 are concentrated on the lower side 200b, the cell gap of the light control device can be increased from the upper side to the lower side. Accordingly, the light control device can have a non-uniform light-blocking rate.

However, one example of the present invention includes a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 by patterning the lower electrode 230, and applying different voltages V1 (V1, V2) to each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 To V4 are applied. Accordingly, the light control device 200 is driven for a long time in a state where the light control device 200 is vertically erected so that the cell gap between the upper side 200a and the lower side 200b of the light control device 200 is reduced by the movement of the liquid crystal cell due to gravity. , The driving voltage of the light control device 200 can be adjusted according to the position to have a uniform light blocking rate.

Specifically, when the light control device 200 is vertically (in the Y-axis direction), the liquid crystal cells 251 can be concentrated in the lower side 200b due to gravity. Accordingly, the cell gap can be increased toward the lower side 200b as compared with the upper side 200a.

In one example of the present invention, the first voltage V1 is applied to the first lower auxiliary electrode 231 located on the upper side 200a where the cell gap is relatively small. A fourth voltage V4 lower than the first voltage V1 is applied to the fourth lower auxiliary electrode 234 located on the lower side 200b having a relatively large cell gap. Accordingly, one example of the present invention can have a uniform light blocking rate for each position.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to four lower auxiliary electrodes as an example in the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, at least two lower auxiliary electrodes may be provided on the first base film 210. Although the present invention has been described by way of example only for patterning the lower electrode, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to pattern only the upper electrode.

The liquid crystal layer 250 is provided between the lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240. The liquid crystal layer 250 may be a dynamic scattering mode liquid cyrstal layer comprising liquid crystals, dichroic dyes, and ionic materials. In the dynamic scattering mode, when voltages are applied to the lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240, the liquid crystals and the dichroic dyes are randomly moved by the ionic materials. In this case, the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 250 can be scattered by the liquid crystals moving randomly or absorbed by the dichroic dyes, so that a light shielding mode can be realized.

Specifically, the liquid crystal layer 250 may include liquid crystal cells 251, a first alignment layer 253, and a second alignment layer 254. The liquid crystal cells 251 are provided between the lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240. The liquid crystal cells 251 include liquid crystals 251a, dichroic dyes 251b, and ionic materials 251c.

The long axis direction of the liquid crystal 251a may be arranged in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) by the first and second alignment films 253 and 254 even if no voltage is applied to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240 . The long axis direction of the dichroic dyes 251b is also aligned in the vertical direction Z by the first and second alignment films 253 and 254 even if no voltage is applied to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240 as the liquid crystal 251a Axis direction). As a result, since the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b are arranged in a direction in which light is incident, light scattering and absorption due to the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b are minimized. That is, since the long axes of the liquid crystals 251a are arranged in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), the light incident on the light control device passes through the long axis of the liquid crystals 251a. In this case, since the long axes of the liquid crystals 251a have the same refractive index, scattering of light passing through the liquid crystals 251a is minimized. Therefore, most of the light incident on the light control device 200 can pass through the liquid crystal cells 251. Accordingly, the light control device 200 can operate in the transmission mode even when no voltage is applied, so that the transmission mode can be realized without power consumption.

The dichroic dyes 251b may be dyes that absorb light. For example, the dichroic dye 251b absorbs light other than a black dye or a specific color (for example, red) that absorbs all of light in a visible light wavelength band, and absorbs light of a specific color ) ≪ / RTI > In the embodiment of the present invention, the dichroic dyes 251b are black dyes. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the dichroic dyes 251b may be dyes having a color of any one of red, green, blue, and yellow, or a mixture thereof. have. In other words, the embodiment of the present invention can shield the back background while expressing various colors in the light shielding mode. Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention can provide various colors in the light shielding mode, so that the user can feel aesthetic sense. For example, the transparent display device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used in a public place, and when applied to a smart window or a public window requiring a transmission mode and a light-shielding mode, So that the light can be shielded.

The ionic material 251c serves to move the first and second liquid crystals 251a and 251d and the dichroic dyes 251b at random. The ionic material 251c may have a predetermined polarity so that the lower electrode 230 or the upper electrode 240 may be connected to the lower electrode 230 or the upper electrode 240 according to the polarity of the voltage applied to the lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240, Can be moved. For example, when the ionic material 251c has a negative polarity, when a positive voltage is applied to the lower electrode 230 and a negative voltage is applied to the upper electrode 240, the ionic material 251c contacts the lower electrode 230). When the positive electrode voltage is applied to the upper electrode 240 and the negative voltage is applied to the lower electrode 230 when the ion material 251c has a negative polarity, . When the ionic material 251c has a positive polarity and a positive voltage is applied to the lower electrode 230 and a negative voltage is applied to the upper electrode 240, . When the positive electrode voltage is applied to the upper electrode 240 and the negative voltage is applied to the lower electrode 230 when the ion material 251c has a positive polarity, . Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240, the ion material 251c travels from the lower electrode 230 to the upper electrode 240 at a predetermined cycle and then returns to the lower electrode 230 Movement is repeated. In this case, the liquid crystal 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b are randomly moved since the ionic materials 251c move to hit the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b. Here, the voltage applied to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240 may be an AC voltage.

Alternatively, the ionic material 251c may exchange electrons with each other according to the polarity of the voltage applied to the lower electrode 230 and the upper electrode 240. [ Therefore, when alternating voltage having a predetermined period is applied to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240, the ion material 251c exchanges electrons with a predetermined period. In this case, the electrons move to hit the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b, so that the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b can move randomly. Alternatively, since the electrons change or distort the vertical electric field as they move, the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b can move randomly due to the change or distortion of the vertical electric field.

Since the liquid crystal cell 251 is in a liquid state, spacers 252 for maintaining the cell gap of the liquid crystal cell 251 may be provided. The spacers 252 may be disposed on one surface of the lower electrode 230 facing the second base film 220. The spacers 252 may be spaced apart at predetermined intervals.

The spacers 252 are for maintaining a cell gap of the liquid crystal layer 250. Since the spacers 252 are provided, the inside of the liquid crystal layer 250 can be protected when external force is applied. The spacers 252 may be formed of a transparent material. In this case, the spacers 252 may be formed of any one of photo resist, photo-curable polymer, and polydimethylsiloxane, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Alternatively, the spacers 252 may comprise a material capable of absorbing light. For example, each of the spacers 252 may be implemented in black. In this case, the spacers 252 can absorb the light scattered by the liquid crystal 251a in the light shielding mode, so that the light shielding rate of the light shielding mode can be increased. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the spacers 252 are provided corresponding to the light emitting area EA of the transparent display panel 100, even if each of the spacers 252 is implemented in black, the transmissivity is almost lost in the transmissive mode Do not.

Alternatively, the spacers 252 may include scattering particles capable of scattering light. The scattering particles can be beads or silica balls. In this case, the spacers 252 can scatter scattered light by the liquid crystal 251a in the light shielding mode, thereby making the light path longer. When the light path is long, the probability of light being absorbed by the dichroic dyes 251b is increased, so that the light shielding ratio of the light shielding mode can be increased.

On the other hand, the spacers 252 do not actively pass light or block light like the liquid crystal cells 251. That is, when the spacers 252 are formed of a transparent material, they only pass light and do not function to block light. In addition, when the spacers 252 include a material that absorbs light or a material that scatters light, it only scatters or blocks light, and does not pass light. Therefore, when the spacers 252 are formed in the regions corresponding to the transmissive areas TA of the transparent display device, light leakage occurs in the spacers 252 in the light shielding mode and the light transmittance is increased, There is a problem in that the light transmittance is lowered by intercepting the light. The spacers 252 are arranged corresponding to the light emitting areas EA of the transparent display panel 100 and the liquid crystal cells 251 are arranged corresponding to the transmissive areas TA of the transparent display panel 100 . Spacers 252 may have a ball shape, but are not necessarily limited thereto.

The first alignment layer 253 is provided on one surface of the lower electrode 230 facing the second base film 220. The first alignment layer 253 is provided on one surface of the first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234. A first alignment layer 253 surrounds the spacer 252 and is provided on one side of the spacer 252. The second alignment layer 254 is provided on one surface of the upper electrode 240 facing the first base film 210. The first and second alignment films 253 and 254 are formed so that the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b in the vertical direction Z Axis direction).

As described above, the light control device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention does not apply a voltage to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240 in the transmissive mode, so that the first and second alignment layers 253 and 254 can arrange the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). As a result, since the liquid crystal 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b are arranged in the direction in which the light is incident, light scattering and absorption due to the liquid crystals 251a and the dichroic dyes 251b are minimized. Therefore, most of the light incident on the light control device 200 can pass through the liquid crystal cells 251.

The light control device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention applies a voltage to the lower and upper electrodes 230 and 240 in the light shielding mode. In this case, the liquid crystal devices 251a, And the dichroic dyes 251b can be moved randomly. As a result, light is scattered by the liquid crystals 251a of the liquid crystal cells 251 or light is absorbed by the dichroic dyes 251b. Therefore, most of the light incident on the light control device 200 is transmitted to the liquid crystal cell 251 < / RTI >

In addition, the light control device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of patterned lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, and a different voltage is applied to each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 . As a result, even if the liquid crystal cells move due to gravity and a difference occurs in the cell gap between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, a uniform light blocking rate can be obtained.

8 is a perspective view showing a light control device according to another example of the present invention. 9 is a plan view showing only the upper electrode of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light control device according to another example of the present invention. Another example of the present invention is the same as that of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 except that the upper electrode 240 includes a plurality of patterned upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 . Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and repetitive descriptions of the repetitive portions in the materials, structures, etc. of the respective components are omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the lower electrode 230 according to another example of the present invention may include first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234. The first through fourth lower voltages V1 through V4 may be applied to the first through fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 through 234, respectively. In this case, the first voltage V1 is higher than the second voltage V2, the second voltage V2 is higher than the third voltage V3, and the third voltage V3 is higher than the fourth voltage V4 . (V1 > V2 > V3 > V4)

The upper electrode 240 is provided on one surface of the second base film 220 opposite to the first base film 210. [ The upper electrode 240 includes a plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244. Each of the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 is patterned on the second base film 220 at predetermined intervals. Each of the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 may be arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction. Each of the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 may have a stripe shape, but is not limited thereto. Each of the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 is provided at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234. Each of the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 is arranged to face each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, respectively. Different voltages V6 to V9 may be applied to the plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the same voltages may be applied.

Specifically, the upper electrode 240 may include first to fourth upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244. Each of the first to fourth top auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 may be transparent electrodes patterned on the second base film 240 at predetermined intervals. The first to fourth upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 may be formed in the same manner as the first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 in the case where the light control device 200 is vertically Can be sequentially arranged in the direction from the upper side 200a to the lower side 200b of the control device 200. [ That is, the first upper auxiliary electrode 241 may be disposed on the upper side 200a of the light control device 200, and the fourth upper auxiliary electrode 244 may be disposed on the lower side 200b.

The sixth through ninth voltages V6 through V9 may be applied to the first through fourth top auxiliary electrodes 241 through 244, respectively. The sixth voltage V6 may be applied to the first upper auxiliary electrode 241 and the seventh voltage V7 may be applied to the second upper auxiliary electrode 242. [ The eighth voltage V8 may be applied to the third upper auxiliary electrode 243 and the ninth voltage V9 may be applied to the fourth upper auxiliary electrode 244. [ In this case, the sixth voltage V6 is less than the seventh voltage V7, the seventh voltage V7 is less than the eighth voltage V8, and the eighth voltage V8 is less than the ninth voltage V9. Can be small. (V6 <V7 <V8 <V9) That is, when the light control device 200 is vertically (in the Y-axis direction), the first upper auxiliary And the sixth voltage V6 may be applied to the electrode 241. [ The ninth voltage V9 higher than the sixth voltage V6 may be applied to the fourth upper auxiliary electrode 244 disposed at the lowest position.

Another example of the present invention is to increase the voltage difference between the first lower auxiliary electrode 231 and the first upper auxiliary electrode 241 located on the upper side 200a and the fourth lower auxiliary electrode 234 located on the lower side 200b, And the fourth upper auxiliary electrode 244, it is possible to obtain a uniform light transmittance for each position.

In another example of the present invention, the present invention has been described with reference to four upper auxiliary electrodes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, at least two patterned top auxiliary electrodes may be provided on the second base film 220.

The light control device 200 according to another example of the present invention provides the same effect as the example of the present invention. That is, another example of the present invention includes patterning the lower electrode 230 to provide a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234, and applying different voltages V1 To V4 are applied. The upper electrode 230 is patterned to have a plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244 facing the lower auxiliary electrodes 231 to 234 and a plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes 241 to 244, And apply different voltages V6 to V9 to each of them. Accordingly, even when the cell gap between the upper side 200a and the lower side 200b of the light control device 200 changes due to the movement of the liquid crystal cell due to gravity, So that a uniform light blocking rate can be obtained.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Will be clear to those who have knowledge of. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents 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 control unit 200: light control device
210: first base film 220: second base film
230: lower electrode 240: upper electrode
250: liquid crystal layer 251: liquid crystal cell
251a: liquid crystal 251b: dichroic dye
251c: ion material 252: spacer
253: first orientation film 254: second orientation film
300: adhesive layer

Claims (10)

A first base film and a second base film facing each other;
A lower electrode provided on one surface of the first base film facing the second base film;
An upper electrode provided on one surface of the second base film facing the first base film; And
And a liquid crystal cell provided between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the liquid crystal cell including liquid crystals and ionic materials,
Wherein the lower electrode includes a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes patterned at predetermined intervals. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes comprise first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes arranged in parallel,
Wherein different voltages are applied to the first to fourth lower auxiliary electrodes. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein a voltage applied to the first lower auxiliary electrode is greater than a voltage applied to the second lower auxiliary electrode and a voltage applied to the second lower auxiliary electrode is greater than a voltage applied to the third lower auxiliary electrode, (3) The voltage applied to the lower auxiliary electrode is greater than the voltage applied to the fourth lower auxiliary electrode. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the upper electrode is applied with a voltage different from a voltage applied to each of the plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes. 3. The method of claim 2,
The upper electrode includes first to fourth upper auxiliary electrodes patterned at predetermined intervals,
Wherein each of the first to fourth top auxiliary electrodes is disposed to correspond to each of the first to fourth bottom auxiliary electrodes. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein different voltages are applied to the first to fourth top auxiliary electrodes. The method according to claim 1,
And spacers for maintaining a cell gap of the liquid crystal cell. The method according to claim 1,
A first alignment layer provided on one surface of the lower electrode; And
And a second alignment layer provided on one surface of the upper electrode facing the lower electrode,
Wherein the first and second alignment layers arrange the liquid crystals in a vertical direction when no voltage is applied to the lower and upper electrodes. The method according to claim 1,
Each of the liquid crystal cells further comprising light absorbing dichroic dyes,
Wherein the ionic materials move the liquid crystals and the dichroic dyes when voltages are applied to the lower and upper electrodes. A transparent display panel that transmits light and displays an image; And
A transparent display device comprising the light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, arranged on at least one surface of the transparent display panel.

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