Dimming glass

Abstract

The present invention provides a dimming glass, belonging to the technical field of display windows. The dimming glass of the present invention includes at least one liquid crystal cell, and the liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate which are oppositely arranged, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein, the first substrate includes a first base, and a first electrode layer disposed on a side surface of the first base close to the liquid crystal layer; the second substrate includes a second base, and a second electrode layer disposed on a side surface of the second base close to the liquid crystal layer; at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of at least one of the liquid crystal cells includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged at intervals, and each of the electrode blocks is controlled by a separate driving circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of display windows, and particularly relates to a dimming glass. Background Art

[0002] At present, dimming glass is increasingly widely used in the fields of architecture and transportation. There are already customers such as automobiles, high-speed rails, and airliners interested in dye liquid crystal dimming glass. In the existing smart glass market, there are products such as PDLC smart glass and electrochromic smart glass. PDLC smart glass can only achieve the switching between transparency and haze, and does not block light or heat. Electrochromic smart glass has problems such as complex film layer processes, slow response time (8 - 20 s), and a bluish color in the dark state. Dye liquid crystal dimming glass utilizes the selective absorption of light by dichroic dye molecules in the liquid crystal to achieve the switching between the bright state and the dark state. Compared with the existing PDLC and electrochromic smart glass, it has greatly improved optical properties such as black state purity and response time. However, the existing dye liquid crystal dimming glass can only achieve the adjustment of the black state, bright state, and gray scale states, and can only perform full-surface dimming. When dimming glass is applied to transportation fields such as trains, there are often different passengers corresponding to the same window, or passengers have different requirements for the light transmission of the upper and lower parts of the glass. However, the current dimming glass cannot meet the needs of these applications. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and provides a dimming glass.

[0004] The technical solution adopted to solve the technical problems of the present invention is a dimming glass, which includes at least one liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0005] Wherein,

[0006] The first substrate includes a first base, and a first electrode layer provided on the side of the first base close to the liquid crystal layer;

[0007] The second substrate includes a second base, and a second electrode layer provided on the side of the second base close to the liquid crystal layer;

[0008] At least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the at least one liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged at intervals, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one liquid crystal cell includes: a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell; wherein,

[0010] The second substrate of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate of the second liquid crystal cell are stacked.

[0011] Preferably, a first alignment layer is provided on the first electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell, and a second alignment layer is provided on the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell; wherein, the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are the same;

[0012] A third alignment layer is provided on the first electrode layer of the second liquid crystal cell, and a fourth alignment layer is provided on the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell; wherein, the pretilt angles of the third alignment layer and the fourth alignment layer are the same, and differ from the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer by 90°.

[0013] Preferably, at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of each liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged at intervals; and the arrangement patterns of the electrode blocks in different liquid crystal cells are the same.

[0014] Preferably, the number of the liquid crystal cells is multiple, and at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in only one liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged at intervals.

[0015] Preferably, the plurality of electrode blocks are arranged in an array.

[0016] Preferably, the plurality of electrode blocks are arranged side by side in the row direction or the column direction.

[0017] Preferably, the liquid crystal layer includes dye liquid crystal molecules.

[0018] Preferably, the liquid crystal layer is doped with a chiral additive.

[0019] Preferably, the second substrate of one of any two adjacent liquid crystal cells shares the first substrate of the other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first case of the dimming glass according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second case of the dimming glass according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the third case of the dimming glass according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the dimming glass according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] Example 1:

[0026] This embodiment provides a dimming glass, which includes at least one liquid crystal cell; each liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein, the first substrate includes a first base, and a first electrode layer located on the side of the first base close to the side where the liquid crystal layer is located; the second substrate includes a second electrode layer on the side of the second base close to the side where the liquid crystal layer is located; in this embodiment, one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in at least one liquid crystal cell includes: a plurality of electrode blocks arranged at intervals, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit.

[0027] Specifically, if the first electrode layer in one of the liquid crystal cells includes a plurality of electrode blocks, at this time the plurality of electrode blocks are equivalent to dividing the liquid crystal cell into a plurality of regions, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit. In this way, different voltages can be applied to different electrode blocks to generate different electric fields between each electrode block and the second electrode layer arranged opposite thereto, so that the deflection angles of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer corresponding to each electrode block are different, and further the transmittance of the region of the liquid crystal cell corresponding to each electrode block is different, that is, the transmittance of different regions of the dimming glass is different. Similarly, if the second electrode layer in the liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks, at this time different voltages can be applied to different electrode blocks to generate different electric fields between each electrode block and the first electrode layer arranged opposite thereto, so as to achieve different transmittances of different regions of the dimming glass. Of course, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in each liquid crystal cell can both include a plurality of electrode blocks. At this time, it should be noted that at least part of the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer overlap with the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer. At this time, according to the above method, different transmittances of different regions of the dimming glass can also be achieved.

[0028] Of course, in this embodiment, at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in each of the plurality of liquid crystal cells can also include a plurality of electrode blocks, and each electrode block is controlled by a different driving circuit. At this time, for each liquid crystal cell, the transmittance of its different regions is different. Through the cooperation of a plurality of liquid crystal cells, more precise control of the transmittance of different regions of the dimming glass can be achieved.

[0029] Among them, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal layer can specifically include dye liquid crystal, that is, dichroic dye molecules are doped in the liquid crystal molecules.

[0030] Among them, chiral additives can be doped in the liquid crystal layer in this embodiment. At this time, the dark state transmittance of the dimming glass can be reduced, and the contrast can be increased.

[0031] Embodiment 2:

[0032] As shown in combination with Figures 1-3 this embodiment provides a dimming glass, which includes a plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells; wherein each liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein the first substrate includes a first base, and a first electrode layer located on the side of the first base close to the liquid crystal layer; the second substrate includes a second electrode layer on the side of the second base close to the liquid crystal layer. Among them, at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in each liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit.

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the dimming glass in this embodiment below, take the dimming glass including two liquid crystal cells, namely a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell; and the second electrode layer in the first liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks, and the first electrode layer in the second liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks as an example for description.

[0034] As the first case in this embodiment, a simply partitioned dimming glass, as Figure 1 shown, the first substrate 10 of the first liquid crystal cell in the dimming glass includes: a first base 11, and a first electrode layer 12 provided on the first base; the second substrate 20 includes a second base 21 disposed opposite to the first base 11, and a second electrode layer 22 provided on the second base 21; a liquid crystal layer 30 located between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20; wherein, the first electrode layer 12 on the first liquid crystal cell is a plate-shaped electrode, and the second electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged side by side in the row direction, specifically as Figure 1 shown in which the second electrode layer 22 includes two electrode blocks arranged left and right; correspondingly, the first substrate 40 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a first base 41, and a first electrode layer 42 provided on the first base 41; the second substrate 50 includes a second base 51 disposed opposite to the first base, and a second electrode layer 52 provided on the second base 51; a liquid crystal layer 60 is provided between the first base 40 and the second substrate 50; wherein, the first electrode layer 41 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged side by side in the row direction, specifically as Figure 1As shown in the figure, the first electrode layer 42 of the second liquid crystal cell includes two electrode blocks arranged left and right; the second electrode layer 52 is a plate-shaped electrode. Among them, the two electrode blocks in the first liquid crystal cell and the two electrode blocks in the second liquid crystal cell correspond one by one, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit; the second substrate 21 of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell are connected together through an adhesive layer 70. If this kind of dimming glass is applied to a car window, at this time, the passengers corresponding to the left side of the dimming glass can adjust the transmittance of the left area of the dimming glass by adjusting the voltage on the left electrode block to meet the needs of the left passengers; correspondingly, the passengers corresponding to the right side of the dimming glass can adjust the transmittance of the right area of the dimming glass by adjusting the voltage on the right electrode block to meet the needs of the right passengers.

[0035] Of course, the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer 22 on the first liquid crystal cell may not be arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer 41 on the second liquid crystal cell. According to the application scenario of the dimming glass, the correspondence between the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer 22 on the first liquid crystal cell and the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer 41 on the second liquid crystal cell can also be adjusted.

[0036] As the second case in this embodiment, a dimming glass with a single shutter structure, as Figure 2 shown, the first substrate 10 of the liquid crystal cell in the dimming glass includes: a first substrate 11, and a first electrode layer 12 provided on the first substrate; the second substrate 20 includes a second substrate 21 disposed opposite to the first substrate 11, and a second electrode layer 22 provided on the second substrate 21; a liquid crystal layer 30 is provided between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20; among them, the first electrode layer 12 on the first liquid crystal cell is a plate-shaped electrode, and the second electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged side by side in the column direction, specifically as Figure 2 shown, the second electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged vertically; correspondingly, the first substrate 40 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate 41, and a first electrode layer 42 provided on the first substrate 41; the second substrate 50 includes a second substrate 51 disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a second electrode layer 52 provided on the second substrate 51; a liquid crystal layer 60 is provided between the first substrate 40 and the second substrate 50; among them, the first electrode layer 42 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged side by side in the column direction, specifically as Figure 2The first electrode layer 42 of the second liquid crystal cell shown in [description] includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged vertically; the second electrode layer is a plate-shaped electrode. Among them, two electrode blocks in the first liquid crystal cell and two electrode blocks in the second liquid crystal cell correspond one by one, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit; the second substrate 21 of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell are connected together through an adhesive layer 70. In this way, corresponding voltage signals can be applied to the corresponding electrode blocks through each driving circuit, so that the transmittance of the dimming glass corresponding to different positions of the electrode blocks is different, that is, the transmittance of each area of the dimming glass along its vertical direction is different, that is, similar to the effect of a shutter. It should be noted here that the gray level of each area of the first liquid crystal cell corresponding to each electrode block can be adjusted, that is, the transmittance can be adjusted, and correspondingly, the gray level of each area of the second liquid crystal cell corresponding to each electrode block can also be adjusted, that is, the transmittance can also be adjusted.

[0037] Of course, the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer on the first liquid crystal cell may not be arranged corresponding one by one to the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer on the second liquid crystal cell. According to the application scenario of the dimming glass, the corresponding relationship between the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer on the first liquid crystal cell and the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer on the second liquid crystal cell can also be adjusted.

[0038] As the third case in this embodiment, a dimming glass with a plurality of shutter structures, the first substrate 10 of the first liquid crystal cell in the dimming glass includes: a first substrate 11, and a first electrode layer 12 provided on the first substrate; the second substrate 20 includes a second substrate 21 disposed opposite to the first substrate 11, and a second electrode layer 22 provided on the second substrate 21; a liquid crystal layer 30 provided between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20; among them, the first electrode layer 12 on the first liquid crystal cell is a plate-shaped electrode, and the second electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged in an array, specifically as Figure 3 shown in [description], the second electrode layer 22 includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged in an array; correspondingly, the first substrate 40 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate 41, and a first electrode layer 42 provided on the first substrate 41; the second substrate 50 includes a second substrate 51 disposed opposite to the first substrate 41, and a second electrode layer 52 provided on the second substrate 51; a liquid crystal layer 60 provided between the first substrate 40 and the second substrate 50; among them, the first electrode layer 42 of the second liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged in an array, specifically as Figure 3The first electrode layer 42 of the second liquid crystal cell shown in the figure includes a plurality of electrode blocks arranged in an array; the second electrode layer is a plate-shaped electrode. Among them, two electrode blocks in the first liquid crystal cell and two electrode blocks in the second liquid crystal cell correspond one by one, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit; the second substrate 21 of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell are connected together through an adhesive layer 70. In this way, corresponding voltage signals can be applied to the corresponding electrode blocks through each driving circuit to control the voltages on each electrode block in the same column to be different, so that the transmittance of the dimming glass at the positions of different electrode blocks in the same column is different, that is, the area of the dimming glass corresponding to one column of electrode blocks is similar to a shutter, and the area corresponding to multiple columns of electrode blocks is similar to multiple shutters; in practical applications, the transmittance of each shutter area of the dimming glass can be the same or different. It should be noted here that the gray scale of each area of the first liquid crystal cell corresponding to each electrode block is adjustable, that is, the transmittance is adjustable, and correspondingly, the gray scale of each area of the second liquid crystal cell corresponding to each electrode block is also adjustable, that is, the transmittance is also adjustable.

[0039] Of course, the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer on the first liquid crystal cell may not be arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer on the second liquid crystal cell. According to the application scenario of the dimming glass, the correspondence between the electrode blocks in the second electrode layer on the first liquid crystal cell and the electrode blocks in the first electrode layer on the second liquid crystal cell can also be adjusted.

[0040] It should be noted here that the above only gives the implementation structures of several specific dimming glasses. In fact, as long as one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in a liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit, different transmittances of different regions of the dimming glass can be achieved at this time. Of course, when both the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in each liquid crystal cell include a plurality of electrode blocks, and each electrode block is controlled by a separate driving circuit, different transmittances of different regions of the dimming glass can also be achieved. The working principle is the same as the above principle, so it will not be elaborated here one by one.

[0041] Of course, no matter which of the above-mentioned dimming glasses, it may further include a first alignment layer provided on the side of the first electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell close to the liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer provided on the side of the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell close to the liquid crystal layer; a third alignment layer provided on the side of the first electrode layer of the second liquid crystal cell close to the liquid crystal layer, and a fourth alignment layer provided on the side of the second electrode layer of the second liquid crystal cell close to the liquid crystal layer; wherein, the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are the same, the pretilt angles of the third alignment layer and the fourth alignment layer are the same, and the difference from the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer is 90°. In this way, when no voltage is applied, the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell are orthogonally stacked. At this time, the light absorption directions of the liquid crystal molecules in the two liquid crystal cells are orthogonal to each other. According to Malus' law, the incident light is almost completely absorbed and presents a dark state.

[0042] Correspondingly, in this embodiment, a preparation method of the above-mentioned dimming glass is further provided. Similarly, taking the dimming glass including two liquid crystal cells, namely a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell; and the second electrode layer in the first liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks, and the first electrode layer in the second liquid crystal cell includes a plurality of electrode blocks as an example for description. The method may specifically include the following steps:

[0043] For the preparation of the first liquid crystal cell.

[0044] 1. Form a plate-shaped first electrode layer on the first substrate of the first liquid crystal cell; form a second electrode layer on the second substrate; wherein, the second electrode layer includes a plurality of block electrodes.

[0045] 2. Coat and rub the PI liquid on the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell respectively to form a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer.

[0046] 3. Coat a sealant (Seal glue) on one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer of the first liquid crystal cell, mix the liquid crystal molecules and the dichroic dye molecules to form a black dye liquid crystal, and drop it on the other; then oppose the first substrate and the second substrate to form the first liquid crystal cell.

[0047] For the preparation of the second liquid crystal cell.

[0048] 1. Form a first electrode layer on the first substrate of the second liquid crystal cell, wherein the first electrode layer includes a plurality of block electrodes; form a plate-shaped second electrode layer on the second substrate.

[0049] 2. Coat and rub the PI liquid on the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the second liquid crystal cell respectively to form a third alignment layer and a fourth alignment layer.

[0050] 3. Apply sealant (Seal glue) on one of the third alignment layer and the fourth alignment layer of the second liquid crystal cell. Mix liquid crystal molecules with dichroic dye molecules to form black dye liquid crystal, and drop it on the other layer. Then, oppose the first substrate and the second substrate to form the first liquid crystal cell.

[0051] Connection of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell.

[0052] Bond the second substrate of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate of the second liquid crystal cell together through an adhesive layer to form a dimming glass.

[0053] Example 3

[0054] As Figure 4 shown, this example provides a dimming glass, which is substantially the same as the dimming glass in Example 2, except that in the dimming glass, the fourth substrate of one of any two adjacent liquid crystal cells shares with the third substrate of the other. Similarly, taking the dimming glass including two liquid crystal cells, divided into the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell as an example. In this example, the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell require three transparent substrates. As Figure 4 shown, the second substrate 21 in the first liquid crystal cell is simultaneously used as the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell. It can be seen that compared with the dimming glass in Example 2, the dimming glass in this example omits the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell and the adhesive layer 70 connecting the second substrate 21 of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate 41 of the second liquid crystal cell. Therefore, the thickness of the dimming glass can be reduced, and the cost can be lowered at the same time.

[0055] For the remaining structures of the dimming glass in this example, the same structures in Example 2 can be adopted, so they will not be elaborated one by one in this example.

[0056] It can be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments adopted to illustrate the principle of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For those of ordinary skill in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements are also regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dimming glass, characterized in that, Comprising at least one liquid crystal cell, the at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell; the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell each comprising a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein, The first substrate comprises a first base, and a first electrode layer disposed on a side of the first base close to the liquid crystal layer; The second substrate comprises a second base, and a second electrode layer disposed on a side of the second base close to the liquid crystal layer; The second substrate of the first liquid crystal cell and the first substrate of the second liquid crystal cell are stacked; the second electrode layer disposed on the second base in the first liquid crystal cell comprises a plurality of electrode blocks disposed at intervals; the first electrode layer disposed on the first base in the second liquid crystal cell comprises a plurality of electrode blocks disposed at intervals; wherein, the electrode blocks of the second electrode layer disposed on the second base in the first liquid crystal cell and the electrode blocks of the first electrode layer disposed on the first base in the second liquid crystal cell are in one-to-one correspondence, and each of the electrode blocks is controlled by a separate drive circuit.

2. The dimming glass according to claim 1, wherein A first alignment layer is disposed on the first electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell, and a second alignment layer is disposed on the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell; wherein, the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer are the same; A third alignment layer is disposed on the first electrode layer of the second liquid crystal cell, and a fourth alignment layer is disposed on the second electrode layer of the first liquid crystal cell; wherein, the pretilt angles of the third alignment layer and the fourth alignment layer are the same, and differ from the pretilt angles of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer by 90°.

3. The dimming glass according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The plurality of electrode blocks are arranged in an array.

4. The dimming glass according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The plurality of electrode blocks are arranged side by side in the row direction or the column direction.

5. The dimming glass according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The liquid crystal layer comprises dye liquid crystal molecules.

6. The dimming glass according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The liquid crystal layer is doped with a chiral additive.

7. The dimming glass according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second base of one of any two adjacent liquid crystal cells and the first base of the other are shared.

Images