WO2021107194A1

WO2021107194A1 - Pdlc pattern control device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2021107194A1
Application number: PCT/KR2019/016587
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최상대; 박우근; 최순진
Original assignee: (주)성일이노텍
Priority date: 2019-11-28
Filing date: 2019-11-28
Publication date: 2021-06-03
Also published as: KR102345785B1; KR20210066260A

Abstract

Disclosed is a PDLC pattern control device. Accordingly, the present invention may comprise: a PDLC glass which is divided into a plurality of regions by a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode formed therein, and which has each of the plurality of regions change to a transparent or an opaque state as power is applied; a touchscreen panel arranged above the PDLC glass, for detecting a touch input inputted on the surface of the panel; and a controller for applying the power to at least one region corresponding to the touch input, among the plurality of regions, if the touchscreen panel detects the touch input.

Description

PDLC pattern control device and method

The present invention relates to a PDLC pattern control apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a PDLC pattern control apparatus and method capable of recognizing a user's touch input input to PDLC glass and displaying a transparent pattern corresponding thereto on PDLC glass. .

[Government Project Information]

- Country: South Korea

- Government project identification number: S2561932

- Department name: Ministry of SMEs and Startups

- Research and management institution: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Promotion

- Research project name: WC300 project R&D

- Research project name: Development of high-transmission/color-converting decor smart glass manufacturing technology with multi-nano coating and temperature-variable infrared blocking material

- Hosted research institute: Sung-Il Notetech Co., Ltd.

In general, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is a display device in which fine liquid crystal droplets dispersed in a matrix of a polymer material respond to an externally applied voltage to display information in the form of scattering or transmission. PDLC having such a function is a new optical switching mode based on light scattering that does not require a polarizer compared to a conventional liquid crystal display device. Therefore, it is attracting attention as a new display material because it is possible to develop functions that could not be realized with liquid crystal alone, such as a dramatic improvement in light utilization efficiency and a large area.

The liquid crystal molecules and the polymer in the PDLC cause phase separation to form small liquid crystal droplets between the polymer matrix. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal droplets are arranged in an arbitrary direction, so the refractive index of the liquid crystal drop and the refractive index of the polymer A difference occurs between them, and as a result, the incident light is scattered opaquely, and when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal drop align in one direction and become equal to the refractive index of the polymer. In the polymer dispersed liquid crystal composite film, such as transparently transmitted, the display is driven in two states in which light is transmitted and scattered depending on the presence or absence of voltage.

When a voltage is applied to the PDLC glass, a transparent pattern may be displayed. In this case, a transparent pattern corresponding to the shape of the electrode inside the PDLC glass is displayed. However, it is currently impossible for a user to display a desired type of transparent pattern on the PDLC glass.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a PDLC pattern by which a user can display a desired type of transparent pattern on PDLC glass.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a PDLC pattern capable of controlling various patterns.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a PDLC pattern control apparatus and method capable of imparting various functions and effects to PDLC glass.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned are clear to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments proposed by the description below belong. will be able to be understood

The PDLC pattern control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is divided into a plurality of regions by a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode formed therein, and as power is applied, each of the plurality of regions is in a transparent state or opaque PDLC glass that changes state; and a touch screen panel disposed on the top of the PDLC glass to detect a touch input input to the surface; and a controller that applies the power to at least one region corresponding to the touch input among the plurality of regions when the touch screen panel detects the touch input.

According to the embodiments according to the present invention, a user can display a transparent pattern of a desired shape on the PDLC glass.

In addition, according to embodiments according to the present invention, a PDLC pattern control apparatus capable of controlling various patterns may be provided.

Furthermore, according to embodiments according to the present invention, it is possible to impart various effects and functions to the PDLC glass.

1 is a view showing the structure of a general PDLC glass.

2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a PDLC pattern control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3C are diagrams for explaining a transparent pattern displayed by a PDLC pattern control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an example for explaining the operation of the PDLC pattern device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is another example for explaining the operation of the PDLC pattern device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a PDLC pattern control apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an example for explaining the operation of a PDLC pattern device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of code]

100: PDLC glass 110: PDLC layer

120: second transparent electrode 130: first transparent electrode

140: second substrate 150: first substrate

210:

touch screen panel

220a, 220b: controller

610: pressure sensor

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described below, and other inventions that are degenerate by addition, change, and deletion of other components or other embodiments included within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention can be easily suggested.

As for the terms used in the present invention, general terms that are currently widely used in relation to the current technology are selected as possible, but in special cases, there are also terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning is described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, it is clarified in advance that the present invention should be understood as the meaning of the term rather than the simple name of the term. In the description set forth below, the word 'comprising' does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed.

1 is a view showing the structure of a general PDLC glass.

The PDLC glass 100 becomes opaque when the voltage is OFF, and operates in a transparent state when the voltage is ON. Basically, the PDLC layer 110, the first transparent electrode 130, and the second transparent electrode 120. , the first substrate 150 and the second substrate 140 may be included.

The PDLC layer 110 is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, and is a liquid crystal cell capable of controlling light transmission according to light scattering intensity. In the PDLC layer 110 , when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are regularly arranged in a direction parallel to the electric field, so that the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer have similar refractive indices, so that light is transmitted. On the other hand, when no voltage is applied to the PDLC layer 110 , the direction of liquid crystal molecules becomes irregular, and the liquid crystal molecules scatter light to operate in an opaque state.

The PDLC layer 110 may have various structures according to embodiments. For example, it is composed of a structure in which a large number of liquid crystal particles (droplets) of several μm in size are dispersed in a polymer, or a structure in which liquid crystal is included in a net-shaped polymer.

The first transparent electrode 130 may be formed by depositing on the surface of the first substrate 150 . The first transparent electrode 130 is disposed at the lower end of the PDLC layer 110 , and may constitute the first electrode of the PDLC glass 100 .

The second transparent electrode 120 may be formed on the surface of the second substrate 140 . The second transparent electrode 120 is disposed on the upper end of the PDLC layer 110 , and may constitute the second electrode of the PDLC glass 100 .

In this case, electricity may pass through the PDLC layer 110 by the first electrode and the second electrode. Here, the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 may be formed of indium-tin oxide (ITO).

The first substrate 150 may be disposed under the PDLC layer 110 . The second substrate 140 may be disposed on top of the PDLC layer 110 . In this case, the first substrate 150 and the second substrate 140 become the finishing parts in contact with the user.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment, the PDLC glass 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be composed of a bead dispersed liquid crystal instead of the PDLC layer 110 , or may be composed of a bead dispersed liquid crystal mixed with the PDLC layer 110 . Here, the Bead Dispersed Liquid Crystal (BDLC) is a liquid crystal in which a mixture of a dye or liquid crystal and a monomer having the same refractive index as that of the glass bead is evenly stirred in a glass bead.

According to an embodiment, the first substrate 150 and the second substrate 140 may be made of glass. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and according to embodiments, the first substrate 150 and the second substrate 140 are made of a PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) film, a PE (Poly-Ethylene) film, or PP. It is possible to be composed of a film made of (Poly-Propylene) material.

Specifically, FIG. 2A shows the configuration of the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 .

The PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the PDLC glass 100 , the touch screen panel 210 , and the

controllers

220a and 220b .

The PDLC glass 100 is composed of a PDLC layer 110 , a first substrate 150 having a first transparent electrode 130 formed on its surface, and a second substrate 140 having a second transparent electrode 120 formed on its surface. can be Since the configuration of the PDLC glass 100 has been described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 , a redundant description will be omitted below.

The PDLC glass 100 may include a plurality of regions that may be partitioned as power is applied. Specifically, the first transparent electrode 130 is composed of N columns, the second transparent electrode 120 is composed of N rows, and N x N by the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 . domains can be defined. In this case, power is applied to at least one of the N columns constituting the first transparent electrode 130 and at least one row among the N rows constituting the second transparent electrode 120 , and the corresponding regions are made transparent. By changing, a transparent pattern can be displayed on the PDLC glass 100 . Here, N is a natural number, and as N increases, the transparent pattern may be displayed more precisely.

The touch screen panel 210 may sense a touch input input to the surface.

The touch screen panel 210 may be disposed on the PDLC glass 100 .

The

controllers

220a and 220b may apply power to the PDLC glass 100 to display a transparent pattern on the PDLC glass 100 . Specifically, when the touch screen panel 210 senses a touch input input to the surface, the

controllers

220a and 220b may apply power to a plurality of regions corresponding to the touch input.

To this end, the

controllers

220a and 220b may be configured to include a first controller 220a and a second controller 220b. In this case, the first controller 220a corresponds to the first transparent electrode 130 and applies power to at least one of the N columns constituting the first transparent electrode 130 , and the second controller 220b operates the second Power may be applied to at least one of the N rows corresponding to the transparent electrode 120 and constituting the second transparent electrode 120 .

2B is a side view of the PDLC glass 100 included in the PDLC pattern control device 200 . As shown in FIG. 2B , the touch screen panel 210 may be disposed on the PDLC glass 100 and integrally coupled to the PDLC glass 100 . Accordingly, the touch screen panel 210 may correspond to a plurality of regions of the PDLC glass 100 .

Specifically, FIG. 3A shows an example of the

substrates

140 and 150 on which the

transparent electrodes

120 and 130 are formed. The left diagram in FIG. 3A shows the first substrate 150 on which the first transparent electrode 130 is formed. Here, the first transparent electrode 130 is composed of N columns and has a vertical stripe shape. In addition, the right figure shows the second substrate 140 on which the second transparent electrode 120 is formed. Here, the second transparent electrode 120 is composed of N rows and has a horizontal stripe shape.

N x N regions having a lattice pattern may be defined by the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 configured as described above. In this case, the more densely the electrode intersections of the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 are arranged or the more subdivided the control regions of the

controllers

220a and 220b, the more finely the region affected by the touch input becomes. becomes Accordingly, in consideration of the precision of the displayed transparent pattern, the electrode intersection point of the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 or the control region of the

controllers

220a and 220b may be set correspondingly.

3B is a case in which a uniform transparent pattern is displayed. The first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 may be set to have the same thickness and spacing of N columns and N rows constituting each. Here, the thickness means the horizontal length of each N column or the vertical length of each N row. In addition, the interval means an interval in which each of N columns or N rows is spaced apart from each other.

Accordingly, a transparent pattern in the form of a uniform grid as shown in FIG. 3B may be displayed on the PDLC glass 100 constituting the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 .

3C is a case in which a non-uniform transparent pattern is displayed. The first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 may have different thicknesses and intervals of at least one of N columns and N rows constituting each of them.

Accordingly, a transparent pattern in the form of a non-uniform grid as shown in FIG. 3C may be displayed on the PDLC glass 100 constituting the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 .

Specifically, FIG. 4 is a view of the PDLC pattern control device 200 viewed from above. In this case, the touch screen panel 210 disposed on the PDLC glass 100 is shown at the top. Meanwhile, in FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, a case in which a plurality of regions partitioned by the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 formed inside the PDLC glass 100 is configured in a 4x4 matrix assumed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plurality of regions may be configured in various types of matrices.

When a touch input is input, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 may convert an area corresponding to the touch input to a transparent state. To this end, when the touch screen panel 210 detects a touch input, the

controllers

As shown in FIG. 4 , when the user touches a palm on the touch screen panel 210 , a touch input is applied to the A region 410 , the B region 420 , the C region 430 , and the D region 440 . Detects input. In this case, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 applies power to the A region 410 , the B region 420 , the C region 430 , and the D region 440 , to thereby 420 , 430 , and 440 may be converted to a transparent state. Meanwhile, since the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 does not apply power to other regions, regions other than the A region 410 , the B region 420 , the C region 430 and the D region 440 are in an opaque state. becomes

In this way, by inputting a touch input on the PDLC glass 100, the user may perform a control of selectively making only a desired portion transparent.

In FIG. 5 , it is assumed that a plurality of regions partitioned by the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 formed inside the PDLC glass 100 are configured in a 16×16 matrix. In this case, a more precise transparent pattern may be displayed compared to FIG. 4 .

When a touch input is input, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 may display a transparent pattern after a predetermined time has elapsed. To this end, when the touch screen panel 210 detects a touch input, the

controllers

220a and 220b apply power to a plurality of regions corresponding to the touch input after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the touch input is sensed. can

5 , when the user touches the touch screen panel 210 to draw concentric circles 510 , the touch screen panel 210 detects a plurality of regions corresponding to the concentric circles 510 . In this case, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 may apply power to a plurality of regions corresponding to the concentric circles 510 to convert the regions to a transparent state. Meanwhile, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 does not apply power to other regions. Accordingly, the transparent pattern 520 in the form of concentric circles as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

In addition, the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 displays the transparent pattern 520 in the form of concentric circles on the PDLC glass 100 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of the touch input, thereby controlling the time difference of the transparent pattern 520 . can

As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the user can control the transparent pattern in a desired shape by inputting a touch input of a predetermined shape onto the PDLC glass 100 . In this case, various functions (eg: a function of wiping an opaque window transparently with a palm, etc.) or effects may be imparted to the PDLC glass 100 .

Specifically, FIG. 6 is a side view of the PDLC glass 100 included in the PDLC pattern control device 200 .

The PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a pressure sensor 610 . In this case, the touch screen panel 210 included in the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 may capacitively sense a touch input. On the other hand, when the touch screen panel 210 detects a touch input in a static pressure type, since the touch screen panel 210 can independently sense the pressure, the PDLC pattern control device 200 includes the pressure sensor 610 . may not

In FIG. 6 , except for the pressure sensor 610 , other components constituting the PDLC pattern control apparatus 200 are the same as in FIGS. 2A and 2B . Therefore, the description overlapping with FIGS. 2A and 2B will be omitted below.

The pressure sensor 610 may sense a pressure applied by a touch input input to the surface of the touch screen panel 210 . To this end, the pressure sensor 610 may be disposed between the touch screen panel 210 and the PDLC glass 100 , and may be integrally coupled to the touch screen panel 210 and the PDLC glass 100 .

Accordingly, the pressure sensor 610 may correspond to the touch screen panel 210 . Also, the pressure sensor 610 may correspond to a plurality of regions of the PDLC glass 100 .

The

controllers

220a and 220b may change the power applied to at least one of the plurality of regions in response to the pressure level sensed by the pressure sensor 610 . According to an embodiment, the

controllers

220a and 220b may increase the power applied to at least one of the plurality of regions as the pressure level sensed by the pressure sensor 610 increases.

Specifically, FIG. 7 is a view of the PDLC pattern control device 200 as viewed from above. In this case, the touch screen panel 210 disposed on the PDLC glass 100 is shown at the top. Meanwhile, in FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, a case in which a plurality of regions partitioned by the first transparent electrode 130 and the second transparent electrode 120 formed inside the PDLC glass 100 is configured in a 4x4 matrix assumed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plurality of regions may be configured in various types of matrices.

7 , a first touch input having a first pressure value is input to the first region 710 , and a second touch input having a second pressure value is input to the second region 720 . A touch input was not input to an area other than the first area 710 and the second area 720 . Here, it is assumed that the first pressure value is greater than the second pressure value.

In this case, the

controllers

220a and 220b may apply the first power to the first region 710 and apply the second power to the second region. Here, the first power may be set to have a larger value than the second power. Meanwhile, the

controllers

220a and 220b do not apply power to areas other than the first area 710 and the second area 720 .

Accordingly, the first region 710 changes to a transparent state, and the second region 720 changes to a translucent state. Regions other than the first region 710 and the second region 720 may change to an opaque state.

Meanwhile, for this purpose, the

controllers

220a and 220b may preset a voltage reference value for switching to a transparent state, a semi-transparent state, and an opaque state. Here, the voltage reference value may be an experimental value determined by an experiment.

Although the embodiment has been described above, it is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains are not exemplified above within the range that does not depart from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It can be seen that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment may be implemented by modification. And differences related to such modifications and applications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

In the PDLC pattern control device,

PDLC glass divided into a plurality of regions by a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode formed therein, and each of the plurality of regions changes to a transparent state or an opaque state as power is applied;

a touch screen panel disposed on the upper end of the PDLC glass to detect a touch input input to the surface; and

and a controller for applying the power to at least one region corresponding to the touch input among the plurality of regions when the touch screen panel detects the touch input.
According to claim 1,

The first transparent electrode is composed of N columns, the second transparent electrode is composed of N rows, and the plurality of regions by the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode is composed of N x N matrices,

The controller applies the power to at least one of the N columns constituting the first transparent electrode and at least one row among the N rows constituting the second transparent electrode.
3. The method of claim 2,

The thickness and spacing of the N columns constituting the first transparent electrode and the N rows constituting the second transparent electrode are set to be the same as each other,

The thickness is a horizontal length of each of the N columns or a vertical length of each of the N rows, and the interval is an interval at which the N columns or each of the N rows are spaced apart from each other.
3. The method of claim 2,

At least one of the thickness and spacing of the N columns constituting the first transparent electrode and the N rows constituting the second transparent electrode is set to be different from each other,

The thickness is a horizontal length of each of the N columns or a vertical length of each of the N rows, and the interval is an interval at which the N columns or each of the N rows are spaced apart from each other.
According to claim 1,

The controller is

When the touch screen panel detects the touch input, a PDLC pattern control apparatus for applying the power to the at least one region corresponding to the touch input after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of detecting the touch input.
According to claim 1,

It is disposed between the touch screen panel and the PDLC glass, further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure applied by the touch input,

The controller is

A PDLC pattern control apparatus for changing the power applied to the at least one area among the plurality of areas in response to the magnitude of the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.