Transmittance-variable laminate for vehicle sun-visors that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and blocking modes, And the controlling system for that

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, and a control system that selectively implements the transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the transmittance-variable laminate. Specifically, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and blocking modes, which can be applied as a laminate element to selectively implement transmission, reflection, and blocking modes according to a control signal. To elaborate further, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, wherein a liquid crystal-based first cell (dimming cell) and a second cell (mirror cell) are laminated and combined using OCA or OCR, and a reflective polarizer (DBEF series) and a polarizer are placed on one side of the mirror cell.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, and a control system that selectively implements the transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the transmittance-variable laminate.

[0002] Specifically, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and blocking modes, which can be applied as a laminate element to selectively implement transmission, reflection, and blocking modes according to a control signal.

[0003] To elaborate further, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, wherein a liquid crystal-based first cell (dimming cell) and a second cell (mirror cell) are laminated and combined using OCA or OCR, and a reflective polarizer (DBEF series) and a polarizer are placed on one side of the mirror cell. Background Technology

[0005] Sun visors have been used to reduce glare caused by direct sunlight and diffuse reflection while driving. However, these conventional sun visors suffer from several problems: (i) they are limited to simple light blocking, (ii) even if transmittance is adjustable, they fail to reliably provide mirror functionality, and (iii) the implementation of multiple functions leads to an increase in components, resulting in increased thickness, weight, and cost.

[0006] Accordingly, the applicant intends to propose a technology that enables, first, transparency, mirror, and light-blocking to be realized in a single laminated structure; second, the selection of a mode using only the driving combination of two liquid crystal cells (MC, DC); and third, the provision of a thin and easy-to-assemble module for a sun visor by simplifying the structure. It should be understood that the example described below with reference to the drawings in this invention is merely illustrated to facilitate the explanation of the invention and is actually constructed to be thin, such as a film or optical body.

[0008] Conventionally, there existed a technology utilizing electrochromism to enable dimming and window functions.

[0009] Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which color changes reversibly depending on the direction of the electric field when voltage is applied. Materials whose optical properties can be reversibly changed through electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions possessing this characteristic are called electrochromic materials. Such electrochromic materials have the characteristic of remaining colorless when no external electrical signal is applied but becoming colored when an electrical signal is applied, or conversely, remaining colored when no external signal is applied but losing color when a signal is applied.

[0010] Electrochromic devices are devices that utilize the phenomenon in which the light transmittance of an electrochromic material changes due to electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions. They are currently used to control the light transmittance or reflectance of architectural windows or automotive mirrors. Recently, as it has become known that they not only change color in the visible light range but also provide infrared blocking effects, they are receiving significant attention regarding their potential for application in energy-saving products.

[0011] In particular, an electrochromic mirror (ECM) is a mirror that automatically detects the strong headlights of a vehicle reflected in the mirror during the day or at night, and simultaneously protects the driver's vision reliably through changes in reflectivity caused by the mirror's color change.

[0013] A technology utilizing this is disclosed in Public Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0110873, which describes a smart window having a dimming function.

[0014] The above technology relates to a smart window having a dimming function. The smart window having a dimming function according to the above comprises a first liquid crystal cell unit and a second liquid crystal cell unit each comprising a transparent substrate facing each other, an electrode portion located inside the transparent substrate, and a liquid crystal layer located between the electrode portions, and the first liquid crystal cell unit and the second liquid crystal cell unit each having a liquid crystal layer formed to have different absorption wavelength bands are sequentially stacked to have a dimming function.

[0016] However, the above technology is intended to implement dimming by controlling wavelength-specific transmittance, wherein the liquid crystal layer of each liquid crystal cell comprises dyes having different absorption wavelength bands when sequentially stacking first and second liquid crystal cell units.

[0017] In other words, the above technology focuses on the dimming function.

[0018] On the other hand, the present applicant aims to control all visible light wavelengths, not specific visible light wavelengths, and selectively implement transparency / mirror / light-blocking, which is different.

[0020] In addition, Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 2004-151575 describes light-diffusing glass and a method for manufacturing light-diffusing glass.

[0021] However, the above technology attempts to implement a dimming function by laminating a dichroic dye between two sheets of glass in three layers, and this disclosed Japanese technology cannot provide a mirror (reflection) function.

[0023] Additionally, U.S. Patent Publication No. 10,166,926 describes a technology that discloses an automatically light intensity adjustable internal rear mirror arrangement state for an automobile and a method for producing a mirror assembly for internal rear mirror arrangement.

[0024] However, the above-mentioned US technology has a structure in which there is one liquid crystal cell inside the rear mirror and the reflectivity is varied by a reflective coating, and the claim also describes a combination of a transparent carrier layer + liquid crystal cell + reflective coating.

[0025] In other words, the above technology focuses on dimming (variably) the reflectance in a single mirror system, whereas the present invention differs in that it can implement transparent / mirror / light-blocking functions using only a combination of two cells (on / off) and can even implement the transparent (transmittance) function.

[0026] That is, the present invention differs in that, in a general window that can be transparent and transparent, it is possible to have a mirror effect (reflection) based on dimming control and mirror control, or to enable light blocking (conditional transmission) through On / Off control of a combination of two cells. Prior art literature

[0028] Published Patent Application No. 10-2018-0110873 (Published Oct. 11, 2018) Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-151575 (Published May 27, 2004) U.S. Registered Patent Application No. 10,166,926 (Registered Jan. 1, 2019) The problem to be solved

[0029] The object of the present invention is to a variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and blocking modes, which can be applied as a laminate element to selectively implement transmission, reflection, and blocking modes according to a control signal.

[0030] To this end, the present invention provides a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, wherein a liquid crystal-based first cell (dimming cell) and a second cell (mirror cell) are laminated and combined using OCA or OCR, and a reflective polarizer (DBEF series) and a polarizer are placed on one side of the mirror cell, thereby enabling the implementation of the selective modes described above.

[0032] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a control system for a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, which enables the implementation of the selective modes described above by controlling the on / off combination of the dimming cell and the mirror cell described above. means of solving the problem

[0034] A transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention, devised to achieve the above-described purpose, comprises a mirror cell (MC) in the direction in which an external light source is incident based on OCA or OCR, and a dimming cell (DC) in the direction in which an internal light source is incident, wherein

[0035] The above dimming cell is combined in the order of polarizer-cell-polarizer, and

[0036] The above mirror cell is combined in the order of a reflective polarizer, a cell, and a polarizer, wherein the reflective polarizer is positioned closest to the OCA or OCR.

[0038] At this time, the cell is characterized by being composed in the order of glass-electrode layer-alignment layer-liquid crystal layer-alignment layer-electrode layer-glass.

[0040] In addition, the first polarizer and the third polarizer, which are the respective polarizers of the dimming cell and mirror cell located relatively far from the OCA or OCR, are configured to have mutually parallel polarization axes, and

[0041] The second polarizer, which is a polarizer relatively adjacent to the OCA or OCR of the dimming cell, is configured to have a polarization axis perpendicular to each of the first and third polarizers, and

[0042] The reflection polarizer of the mirror cell is characterized by having a polarization axis parallel to the polarization axis of the second polarizer.

[0044] In addition, as a control system for selectively implementing transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the above-described transmittance-variable laminate,

[0045] A control unit that controls the supply of power applied to each of the dimming cell and the mirror cell forming the above-mentioned transmittance variable stack;

[0046] It is characterized by including a driving driver that receives a control signal from the above-mentioned control unit and controls a dimming cell and a mirror cell.

[0048] In addition, when the power applied to the dimming cell and mirror cell by the control unit is in an off state, the window according to the transmittance variable laminate becomes a transmission mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident and transmitted, and

[0049] When the power applied to the dimming cell and mirror cell by the above control unit is in the ON state, the window according to the transmittance variable laminate becomes a mirror mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident but not transmitted, and the internal light source is reflected by a reflective polarizer.

[0050] When the power applied to the dimming cell by the above control unit is in the ON state and the power applied to the mirror cell is in the OFF state, it is characterized by a light-blocking mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident but cannot be transmitted. Effects of the invention

[0052] According to the present invention, a transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, and a control system that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the transmittance-variable laminate,

[0053] A variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and by applying this laminate as a device to selectively implement transparent (Transmission), mirror (Reflection), and light-blocking (Blocking) modes according to a control signal,

[0054] (i) Three modes of transparent / mirror / light-blocking can be implemented in a single laminate, and

[0055] (ii) Mode switching is possible by driving only a combination of two cells (MC / DC), and

[0056] (iii) As shown in [Table 1] below, the applicability of the sun visor can be improved by reducing the number of parts and thickness.

[0058] Brief explanation of the drawing

[0060] FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a CELL among a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a dimming cell among a transmittance variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a mirror cell among the transmittance variable laminates for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implement transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1. Figure 5 shows the configuration of a laminate so that the detailed configuration of the dimming cell and the mirror cell is illustrated. FIG. 6 shows an example of mode-specific control of a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0061] Terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0063] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0065] Before proceeding with the following description with reference to the drawings, it should be noted that matters not necessary to reveal the gist of the invention, namely known configurations that a person skilled in the art with ordinary knowledge can obviously add, have not been illustrated or specifically described.

[0067] The present invention relates to a transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, and a control system that selectively implements the transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the transmittance-variable laminate.

[0068] Specifically, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and blocking modes, which can be applied as a laminate element to selectively implement transmission, reflection, and blocking modes according to a control signal.

[0069] To elaborate further, the invention relates to a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, wherein a liquid crystal-based first cell (dimming cell) and a second cell (mirror cell) are laminated and combined using OCA or OCR, and a reflective polarizer (DBEF series) and a polarizer are placed on one side of the mirror cell.

[0071] A transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention.

[0073] In addition, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a CELL among a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a dimming cell among a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows a mirror cell among a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0074] Finally, Fig. 5 shows the configuration of a laminate so that the detailed configuration of the dimming cell and the mirror cell is illustrated.

[0076] The transmittance variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor according to FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, which selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of the present invention, comprises two cells on both sides based on OCA or OCR.

[0077] At this time, one cell is a dimming cell and the other cell is a mirror cell.

[0078] Preferably, based on the OCA or OCR, a mirror cell is formed on one side facing the direction a person looks, i.e., the inner direction of the place of use (sun visor), and a dimming cell is formed on the opposite outer direction.

[0079] In this case, the above OCA is an optical clear adhesive high-performance film designed to precisely control transmittance in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible light regions. Additionally, OCR refers to an amorphous liquid form (Optically Clear Resin).

[0081] For an example of a vehicle sun visor comprising a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor configured in this manner according to the present invention, which selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, as a window, refer to [Table 2].

[0083]

[0085] The cell above means that it is formed by stacking an alignment layer, an electrode layer, and a glass layer on each side based on a liquid crystal layer, as shown in Fig. 2 of the attached drawings.

[0086] That is, a stacked structure in the order of glass-electrode layer-alignment layer-liquid crystal layer-alignment layer-electrode layer-glass is referred to as a cell, and since the bonding of the glass and each layer utilizes conventionally known technology, a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0088] Accordingly, the dimming cell formed in the outer direction based on the above OCA or OCR is formed by forming a cell between two polarizers as shown in Fig. 3 of the attached drawing, so that the polarizer-glass-electrode layer-alignment layer-liquid crystal layer-alignment layer-electrode layer-glass-polarizer is combined in the order of polarizer-glass-electrode.

[0090] In addition, the mirror cell is formed between the DBEF and the polarizer as shown in Fig. 4 of the attached drawings, so that the components are combined in the order of DBEF-glass-electrode layer-alignment layer-liquid crystal layer-alignment layer-electrode layer-glass-polarizer.

[0091] In this case, the DBEF acts as a reflective polarizer, and a Double Brightness Enhancement Film can be used. This DBEF is a key optical material for enhancing the brightness of the Backlight Unit (BLU) used in LCD panels. This DBEF is positioned to be provided in the direction of the OCA or OCR.

[0093] The entire stacked structure, in which a mirror cell is formed on the inside and a dimming cell is formed on the outside based on the above OCA or OCR, is shown in Fig. 5 of the attached drawings.

[0095] In particular, power from the power supply unit can be applied to the electrode side having the stacked structure described above through a control unit and a driving driver as shown in [Table 2] below, and the control unit can be composed of a control panel or a control button, etc., to transmit a control signal to the driving driver.

[0096] Therefore, as shown in [Table 2], when the user cuts off the power supplied to the dimming cell and cuts off the power supplied to the mirror cell, it is possible to perform normal window functions in a transparent state.

[0097] In addition, when the user controls the power applied to the dimming cell and the mirror cell to be on, the transparency of the polarizer disappears and it becomes a mirror state.

[0098] In addition, if power is supplied by controlling the dimming cell to the ON state and power is not supplied by controlling the mirror cell to the OFF state, the polarizer is controlled to block light, thereby entering a blocking mode.

[0100] In addition, a control system for selectively implementing transmission, reflection, and shading modes of a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor configured as described above is to refer to [Table 3] below and Figure 6 of the attached drawings.

[0101] FIG. 6 shows an example of mode-specific control of a variable transmittance laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes according to the present invention.

[0103]

[0105] That is, when both the dimming cell and the mirror cell are off and no power is applied, the light source passing through the mirror cell and the dimming cell is transmitted to become transparent mode, and when both the dimming cell and the mirror cell are on and power is applied, the external light source and the internal light source cannot pass through the cell, and the mirror mode is created due to the reflection of the internal light source incident on the mirror cell.

[0106] In addition, when the dimming cell (DC) is on but the mirror cell (MC) is off, the external light source and internal light source are incident only on the dimming cell and mirror cell, respectively, to enable the light-blocking mode.

[0108] In one embodiment, each polarizer of the dimming cell and mirror cell located relatively far from the OCA or OCR (referred to as each first polarizer and third polarizer) is configured to have a polarization axis substantially parallel to each other.

[0109] In addition, a polarizer (referred to as the second polarizer) relatively adjacent to the OCA or OCR of the dimming cell has a polarization axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first and third polarizers, and the polarization axis of the reflection polarizer, which is DBEF, has a parallel polarization axis that is substantially aligned with the polarization axis of the second polarizer.

[0111] According to the transmittance variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor configured as described above and the control system for selectively implementing the transmittance, reflectance, and shading modes of the transmittance variable laminate according to the present invention,

[0112] A variable transmittance laminate applied to a vehicle sun visor, and by applying this laminate as a device to selectively implement transparent (Transmission), mirror (Reflection), and light-blocking (Blocking) modes according to a control signal,

[0113] (i) Three modes of transparent / mirror / light-blocking can be implemented in a single laminate, and

[0114] (ii) Mode switching is possible by driving only a combination of two cells (MC / DC), and

[0115] (iii) As shown in [Table 1] above, the applicability of the sun visor can be improved by reducing the number of parts and thickness.

[0117] The description above using the drawings describes only the main aspects of the present invention, and it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the drawings, as various designs are possible within the technical scope.

Claims

Claim 1 A transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, characterized in that it includes a mirror cell (MC) in the direction in which an external light source is incident based on an OCA or OCR, and includes a dimming cell (DC) in the direction in which an internal light source is incident, wherein the dimming cell is combined in the order of a polarizer-cell-polarizer, and the mirror cell is combined in the order of a reflective polarizer-cell-polarizer, and the reflective polarizer is positioned closest to the OCA or OCR. Claim 2 A transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, wherein, in claim 1, the cell is composed in the order of glass-electrode layer-alignment layer-liquid crystal layer-alignment layer-electrode layer-glass. Claim 3 A transmittance-variable laminate for a vehicle sun visor that selectively implements transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes, characterized in that, in claim 1, the first polarizer and the third polarizer, which are each polarizers of a dimming cell and a mirror cell located relatively far from the OCA or OCR, have mutually parallel polarization axes, the second polarizer, which is a polarizer relatively adjacent to the OCA or OCR of the dimming cell, has a polarization axis perpendicular to each of the first polarizer and the third polarizer, and the reflection polarizer of the mirror cell has a polarization axis parallel to the polarization axis of the second polarizer. Claim 4 A control system for selectively implementing transmission, reflection, and light-blocking modes of a transmittance-variable laminated structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a control unit that controls the supply of power applied to each of the dimming cell and the mirror cell forming the transmittance-variable laminated structure; and a driving driver that receives a control signal from the control unit and controls the dimming cell and the mirror cell. Claim 5 A control system according to claim 4, wherein when the power applied to the dimming cell and the mirror cell by the control unit is in an off state, the window according to the transmittance variable laminate becomes a transmittance mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident and transmitted, and when the power applied to the dimming cell and the mirror cell by the control unit is in an on state, the window according to the transmittance variable laminate becomes a mirror mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident but not transmitted, and the internal light source is reflected by a reflective polarizer, and when the power applied to the dimming cell by the control unit is in an on state and the power applied to the mirror cell is in an off state, the window becomes a light-blocking mode in which an external light source and an internal light source are incident but not transmitted.

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