Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/28—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising
  • G02B27/281—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device to adjust light-transmittance capable of adjusting the degree of inhibition of light transmission and further relates to the light adjustment component used.
• blinds are used in the past. Blinds are used for adjusting light through rotation of louvers as well.
• conventional blinds are capable of adjusting light at the time of light correction only through rotation of louvers, etc., and adjustment of light is made possible through reducing the spaces between the louvers and the brightness inside the room at the time remains constant. The same is true in the case of curtains. It is very inconvenient when adjustment of the light is not possible to prevent a closed-in feeling within the room or lack of privacy.
• the present invention provides a device which can adjust a degree of inhibition of light transmission. This is accomplished by varying an arrangement of a first polarizer; a second polarizer; and a light transmitting element, wherein a polarization axis of the second polarizer is perpendicular to a polarization axis of the first polarizer, the second polarizer is spaced from the first polarizer and the light transmitting element contains a polymer oriented in a different direction from the polarization axes of the first polarizer and the second polarizer.
• a degree of inhibition of light transmission can be changed.
• the present invention provides a device to adjust light-transmittance that is capable of adjusting transmittance of light. More particularly, the present invention provides a device to adjust light transmittance by varying the arrangement of a first polarizer, a second polarizer and a light-transmitting element, wherein the polarization axis of the second polarizer is perpendicular to the polarization axis of the first polarizer, the second polarizer is spaced from the first polarizer and the light-transmittance element contains a polymer oriented in a different direction from the polarization axes of the first polarizer and the second polarizer.
• the degree of inhibition of light-transmittance can be changed. Furthermore, it is desirable for the orientation axis of the polymer included in the above-mentioned light-transmitting element to be at an angle of 25°-65° to the polarization axis of the first polarizer. In this case, adjustment of light can be efficiently performed at the time of blocking light.
• an adjustment of light-transmittance can be easily accomplished at the time of blocking light by changing the relative positions of the first polarizer and the second polarizer and the light-transmittance element of a device that includes a first polarizer, second polarizer and a light-transmittance element.
• Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a device to adjust light transmittance according to the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of a louver for the blind used in the device in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an arrangement of a first polarizer, a second polarizer and a light transmitting element for the device, where the device is in a light- transmission prohibited mode.
• Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a device to adjust light transmittance according to the present invention.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of still another embodiment of a device to adjust light transmittance according to the present invention.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of a device to adjust light transmittance according to the present invention.
• Fig. 1 is a cross section that shows a device to adjust light-transmittance according to the present invention.
• the above-mentioned device to adjust light-transmittance 10 has a structure comprising film-like first polarizer 14 applied to window pane 12 by means of a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive or double-coated tape (not shown in the figure) and blind 16 suspended from the window frame 15 located at or near the window pane.
• the blind includes a film-like second polarizer 22 having a polarization axis perpendicular to the polarization axis of the above-mentioned first polarizer and a film-like light-transmittance element 24 containing a polymer oriented in a direction different from the polarization axes of the above-mentioned first polarizer and second polarizer.
• the first polarizer and second polarizer used in this case are those commonly used for optical devices, for example, absorption type polarizers or reflection type polarizers.
• a reflection type polarizer is especially suitable since the light-transmittance factor is relatively high and the degree of blocking of light can be changed easily.
• a suitable reflection type polarizers include Transmax produced by Merck Co., the D-BEF plastic film containing a uniaxially oriented polymer layer produced by 3M Co., and liquid crystals. Furthermore, it is desirable for the thickness of the first polarizer to be in the range of 10-2,000 ⁇ m from the standpoint of securing like members of the light- transmittance element.
• blind 16 is installed maintaining a specified distance by louver 18 that can be mechanically or electrically operated, and which is used for adjustment of light passage and blocking.
• Fig. 2 is the lateral cross section showing louver 18.
• the louver has a structure consisting of many films formed on a transparent base material 20 made of a resin such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin with a thickness in the range of 30-3,000 ⁇ m with an acrylic type pressure-sensitive adhesive.
• a film-like second polarizer 22 is applied to one surface of transparent base material 20. Furthermore, a light-transmitting element 24 containing a polymer oriented in a direction different from the polarization axes of the first polarizer and the second polarizer, for example, plastic films such as the above-mentioned D-BEF and Transmax, or a liquid crystal, is applied to second polarizer 22.
• a base film with a matte finish or a diffuse transmission type pressure-sensitive adhesive tape (diffuse transmission type film) having a base film made of a nonwoven fabric, woven cloth or paper 26a, 26b, can be further applied to the surface of the light-transmittance element and the other surface of base material 20.
• a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape for example, Scotch (registered Trademark) mending tape, etc. can be mentioned.
• a paint can be further coated on the above-mentioned tape or a film can be further applied to the tape.
• an ultraviolet shielding treatment or infrared shielding treatment can be applied to the window pane.
• the degree of blockage of light can be varied by changing the relative positions of the first polarizer 14, second polarizer 22 and light-transmittance element 24 even when natural light such as sunlight is blocked by blind 16 through window pane 12.
• natural light such as sunlight is blocked by blind 16 through window pane 12.
• the light-transmittance element 24 of the louver is arranged outside the first polarizer and upon rotation of the second polarizer as shown in Fig. 3(a)
• natural light S is essentially blocked.
• the light-transmittance element 24 of louver 18 is arranged between the first polarizer and second polarizer as shown in Fig. 3(b)
• natural light S is partially transmitted.
• the orientation of the light-transmittance element is at an angle of 25°-65°, preferably 30°-60°, and ideally 40°-50°, for the first polarizer or the second polarizer.
• the light-transmittance at the time of blocking light can be adjusted through rotation of the louver used as a rotational member in the device to adjust light-transmittance. It is possible to prevent the closed-in feeling in rooms and lack of privacy in homes, offices, stores, medical institutions, and halls.
• the device to adjust light-transmittance can be used effectively for darkrooms used for testing or development of photographs. In this case, working inside the dark room can be improved as the darkness required for tests or development of photographs is provided.
• the device used to adjust light-transmittance can be used in various modes of transportation such as ai ⁇ lanes, trains, and automobiles. In this case, shielding of light is performed at the time of stopping to provide privacy and partial transmission of sunlight during travel can be provided to protect the eyes of passengers,
• the device to adjust light-transmittance of the present invention is not limited to the first application example shown above.
• the above-mentioned change can be made possible by louvers 18 that mechanically or electrically rotate around vertical axes as shown in Fig. 4.
• a sun visor having a structure the same as that shown for the above-mentioned louver that rotates in the horizontal direction can be installed between the front seat of the automobile and a windshield having the first polarizer.
• the device to adjust light-transmittance of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned application example or modified example.
• a curtain is used rather than the device to adjust light-transmittance having louvers as shown in Fig. 1.
• the ends of light-transmittance sheet 34 are connected to the ends of light-shielding sheet 32 and having a structure the same as the louver of the first application example and forming a continuous strip consisting of blocking sheet 32 and light-transmitting sheet 34.
• the above-mentioned continuous sheet is placed over two rollers 36a and 36b that rotate.
• the above-mentioned continuous sheet and roller structure provide a moveable member capable of changing the relative positions of the first polarizer, second polarizer, and light-transmittance element. Furthermore, the first polarizer 14 is attached to window pane 12 as above.
• the ring-like member moves through a half- cycle around rollers 36a and 36b by means of the rotation of rollers 36a and 36b as shown in Fig. 6(b)
• the relative positions between the second polarizer (not shown in the fig.) and the light-transmitting element (not shown in the fig.) on light shielding sheet 32 of the continuous sheet and the first polarizer 14 of the window pane 12 are interchanged.
• the degree of blocking of light can be changed.
• the continuous sheet is not limited to the above-mentioned example.
• a belt-like first polarizer can be attached and a belt-like light-transmittance element can be used instead of the light-transmittance sheet.
• the relative positions of the first polarizer, second polarizer and light-transmittance element can be changed by the device to adjust the transmission of light. Examples
• a simplified louver that does not include a base material was produced and the effectiveness of the present invention was confirmed.
• D- BEF made by 3M Co. was used for the first polarizer, second polarizer and light- transmittance element and Scotch (registered Trademark) mending tape was used for the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape for the diffuse transmission tape.
• the orientation of the polymer that comprises the light-transmittance element had an angle of 45° with respect to the polarization axis of the first polarizer and the polarization axis of the second polarizer.
• the device to adjust light-transmittance of the present invention is capable of adjusting the blockage of light.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Liquid Crystal (AREA)
• Polarising Elements (AREA)
• Blinds (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (4)

• 1997
  • 1997-10-31 JP JP9300736A patent/JPH11131945A/ja active Pending
• 1998
  • 1998-10-28 WO PCT/US1998/022881 patent/WO1999023523A1/en active Search and Examination

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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