Light control glass and method for producing the same

Abstract

The application provides a dimming glass and a preparation method thereof. A dimming functional layer is arranged between a first substrate and a second substrate of the dimming glass, and an adhesive layer is arranged between the dimming functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate respectively. A groove is arranged on one side of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate close to the dimming functional layer, and the adhesive layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove. The pressure on the dimming functional layer during the laminating process can be significantly reduced by arranging the groove, so that the flow of dye liquid crystal molecules is reduced, the black spot problem caused by uneven brightness is improved, and the overall optical performance of the dimming glass is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of display glass, in particular to a light-adjustable glass and a preparation method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, light-adjustable glass is more and more widely used in the fields of building and transportation. There are products such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) smart glass and electrochromic smart glass in the existing smart glass market. The PDLC smart glass can only realize the switching between transparency and haze, and cannot block light and keep heat. The electrochromic smart glass has problems such as complex film layer process, slow response time, and blue color in dark state. The dye liquid crystal light-adjustable glass realizes the switching between bright state and dark state by using the selective absorption of dichroic dye molecules in liquid crystal to light. Compared with the existing PDLC electrochromic smart glass, the optical performance such as black state purity and response time is greatly improved. When the existing dye liquid crystal light-adjustable glass is laminated, the dye liquid crystal molecules flow due to uneven pressure, the cell thickness of different areas changes, and the macroscopic performance is uneven brightness and black spots, which affects the use. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, the present application provides a light-adjustable glass and a preparation method thereof.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a light-adjustable glass, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, and a light-adjustable functional layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a bonding layer is arranged between the light-adjustable functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate respectively.

[0005] At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is provided with a groove on the side close to the light-adjustable functional layer, and the bonding layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove.

[0006] Optionally, the orthographic projection of the light-adjustable functional layer on the first substrate is located inside the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate, or

[0007] The orthographic projection of the light-adjustable functional layer on the first substrate coincides with the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate.

[0008] Optionally, the distance between the groove and the same side edge of the substrate where the groove is arranged is greater than or equal to 25 mm.

[0009] Optionally, a sealant is arranged between the edges of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the thickness of the sealant is the same as that of the bonding layer.

[0010] Optionally, the first substrate and the second substrate are both curved glass, and the groove has the same curvature as the first substrate and the second substrate.

[0011] Optionally, the depth of the groove is 0.1-0.4mm.

[0012] Optionally, the first substrate is provided with a first groove on the side close to the light-adjusting functional layer, and the second substrate is provided with a second groove on the side close to the light-adjusting functional layer, the depth of the first groove is 0.1-0.2mm, and the depth of the second groove is 0.1-0.2mm.

[0013] Optionally, the depth of the first groove is the same as that of the second groove.

[0014] Optionally, the groove has an opening angle of 45°-90°.

[0015] Optionally, the adhesive layer is made of PVB glue, EVA glue, SGP glue or TPU glue, and has a thickness of 0.38mm or 0.76mm.

[0016] Optionally, the light-adjusting functional layer comprises a dye liquid crystal layer.

[0017] In the second aspect, the application provides a preparation method of light-adjusting glass, comprising:

[0018] providing a first substrate and a second substrate;

[0019] forming a groove on one side of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0020] arranging a light-adjusting functional layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and arranging an adhesive layer between the light-adjusting functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate respectively;

[0021] bonding the first substrate, the light-adjusting functional layer, the adhesive layer and the second substrate by a bonding process, so that the adhesive layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove.

[0022] Optionally, if the adhesive layer is a PVB glue layer, the bonding process has a temperature of 120℃ and a pressure of 1.1Mpa; if the adhesive layer is an EVA glue layer, the bonding process has a temperature of 100℃ and a pressure of 0.8MPa.

[0023] The dimming glass and the preparation method thereof provided in the application sets a dimming functional layer between a first substrate and a second substrate of the dimming glass, and the dimming functional layer is respectively provided with a bonding layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. A groove is formed on one side of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate close to the dimming functional layer, and the bonding layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove. The pressure on the dimming functional layer during the laminating process can be significantly reduced by forming the groove, thereby reducing the flow of dye liquid crystal molecules, improving the black spot problem caused by uneven brightness, and improving the overall optical performance of the dimming glass. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the application or related art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or related art description will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0025] Figure 1A The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass before lamination in the related art of the embodiments of the application.

[0026] Figure 1B The structure schematic diagram of the dimming functional layer of the dimming glass after lamination in the related art of the embodiments of the application.

[0027] Figure 2A The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass of one embodiment of the application.

[0028] Figure 2B The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass of another embodiment of the application.

[0029] Figure 3 The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass of another embodiment of the application.

[0030] Figure 4A The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass before lamination of another embodiment of the application.

[0031] Figure 4B The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass of another embodiment of the application.

[0032] Figure 5 The structure schematic diagram of the dimming glass of another embodiment of the application.

[0033] Figure 6 The structure schematic diagram of the first substrate of one embodiment of the application.

[0034] Figure 7 The structure schematic diagram of the dye liquid crystal box of the embodiments of the application.

[0035] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the dimming function layer according to an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 8B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the dimming function layer according to another embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 9 This is a schematic flowchart of an exemplary preparation method 900 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0038] Figure 10 This is a schematic flowchart of another exemplary preparation method 1000 according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0040] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this application should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0041] As described in the background art, dimming glass in related technologies typically includes two substrates, an upper substrate and a dimming functional layer disposed between the two substrates. Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the structure of the dimming glass 100 before lamination is shown in the related art. For example... Figure 1A As shown, the dimming glass 100 may include a first substrate 102 and a second substrate 104, and a dimming functional layer 106 disposed between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104. During the lamination process of the dimming glass 100, when lamination is performed under high temperature and high pressure conditions, the uneven pressure applied to the substrates 102 and 104 of the dimming glass causes uneven stress on the dimming functional layer 106, resulting in the flow of dye liquid crystal molecules in the dimming functional layer 106 and changes in cell thickness in localized areas. Figure 1BA structural diagram of the light-adjusting functional layer 106 after lamination of the light-adjusting glass in the related art is shown. As shown in Figure 1B After lamination of the light-adjusting functional layer 106, the area with increased cell thickness forms black spots due to the increased liquid crystal molecules, and the area with reduced cell thickness forms white spots due to the reduced liquid crystal molecules. In addition, when the light-adjusting glass is applied to side windows of a train, a high-speed train, an automobile sunroof, or glasses, it needs to have a certain curvature. The substrate of the light-adjusting glass is no longer a flat glass or a flat transparent material, but a curved glass or a curved transparent material. When the existing dye liquid crystal light-adjusting glass is made into a curvature, the dye liquid crystal molecules will flow due to the occurrence of curvature deformation, resulting in uneven brightness.

[0042] Therefore, the present application provides a light-adjusting glass and a preparation method thereof to solve the problem of uneven brightness caused by black spots during lamination of the light-adjusting glass.

[0043] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] The present application provides a light-adjusting glass, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, and a light-adjusting functional layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the light-adjusting functional layer is provided with an adhesive layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively.

[0045] At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is provided with a groove on the side close to the light-adjusting functional layer, and the adhesive layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove.

[0046] Specifically, in a specific example, the groove can be arranged on one side of the first substrate or the second substrate, that is, there is one groove in the light-adjusting glass. In another specific example, the groove can be arranged on both the first substrate and the second substrate, that is, there are two grooves in the light-adjusting glass. The specific embodiments will be described below for the two cases.

[0047] Figure 2A A structural diagram of the light-adjusting glass according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown in Figure 2AAs shown, the dimmable glass 200 can include a first substrate 202 and a second substrate 204, and a dimmable functional layer 206 disposed between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, and the dimmable functional layer 206 is respectively provided with a bonding layer 208 and 210 between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204; the first substrate 202 is provided with a groove 2022 on the side close to the dimmable functional layer 206, and the bonding layer 208 is embedded in the groove 2022. During the lamination process, in the area where the groove 2022 is opened on the first substrate 202, part of the bonding layer 208 is extruded and embedded in the groove 2022 due to the action of pressure, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimmable functional layer 206. At the same time, in the area where the groove 2022 is not opened on the first substrate 202 (i.e. the edge area of the first substrate 202), part of the bonding layer 208 is extruded and filled in the gap 212 between the edges of the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby generating a certain force on the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimmable functional layer 206. In this embodiment, the pressure applied to the dimmable functional layer 206 during the lamination process can be effectively reduced by the setting of the groove 2022 and the force generated by the bonding layer 208 in the gap 212, thereby reducing the deformation of the dimmable functional layer 206 and avoiding the problem of uneven brightness caused by black spots on the dimmable glass.

[0048] Figure 2B A schematic diagram of a dimmable glass structure of another embodiment of the application is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the dimmable glass 200 can include a first substrate 202 and a second substrate 204, and a dimmable functional layer 206 disposed between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, and the dimmable functional layer 206 is respectively provided with a bonding layer 208 and 210 between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204; the first substrate 202 is provided with a groove 2022 on the side close to the dimmable functional layer 206, and the bonding layer 208 is embedded in the groove 2022. During the lamination process, in the area where the groove 2022 is opened on the first substrate 202, part of the bonding layer 208 is extruded and embedded in the groove 2022 due to the action of pressure, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimmable functional layer 206. At the same time, in the area where the groove 2022 is not opened on the first substrate 202 (i.e. the edge area of the first substrate 202), part of the bonding layer 208 is extruded and filled in the gap 212 between the edges of the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby generating a certain force on the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimmable functional layer 206. In this embodiment, the pressure applied to the dimmable functional layer 206 during the lamination process can be effectively reduced by the setting of the groove 2022 and the force generated by the bonding layer 208 in the gap 212, thereby reducing the deformation of the dimmable functional layer 206 and avoiding the problem of uneven brightness caused by black spots on the dimmable glass. Figure 2BAs shown, the dimming glass 200 can include a first substrate 202 and a second substrate 204, and a dimming functional layer 206 disposed between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, and the dimming functional layer 206 is respectively provided with a bonding layer 208 and 210 between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204; the first substrate 202 is provided with a groove 2022 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 206, the second substrate 204 is provided with a groove 2042 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 206, the bonding layer 208 is embedded in the groove 2022, and the bonding layer 210 is embedded in the groove 2042. During the lamination process, in the area of the first substrate 202 where the groove 2022 is opened and the area of the second substrate 204 where the groove 2042 is opened, part of the bonding layer 208 is extruded and embedded in the groove 2022 under the action of pressure, and part of the bonding layer 210 is extruded and embedded in the groove 2042, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimming functional layer 206. At the same time, in the area of the first substrate 202 where the groove 2022 is not opened (i.e. the edge area of the first substrate 202) and in the area of the second substrate 204 where the groove 2042 is not opened (i.e. the edge area of the second substrate 204), part of the bonding layer 208 and part of the bonding layer 210 are extruded and filled in the gap 212 between the edges of the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby generating a certain force on the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204, thereby reducing the pressure on the dimming functional layer 206. Compared with the embodiment shown in the prior art, the embodiment has the following advantages: Figure 2A In the embodiment shown, a groove 2042 is also opened on the second substrate 204, that is, a groove 2042 is added in the dimming glass, and during lamination, the bonding layers 208 and 210 can be respectively embedded in the grooves 2022 and 2042 after being extruded, thereby reducing the stress on both sides of the dimming functional layer 206, further reducing the overall pressure on the dimming functional layer 206, and effectively improving the optical performance of the dimming glass.

[0049] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate is located inside the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate, or,

[0050] The orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate coincides with the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate.

[0051] Specifically, in this embodiment, the orthographic projection area of ​​the dimming functional layer on the first substrate needs to be less than or equal to the orthographic projection area of ​​the groove on the first substrate, and the orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate is included in the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate. This ensures that during the lamination process, the adhesive layer embedded in the groove can reduce the pressure on the dimming functional layer. The above two situations are illustrated below through two specific embodiments.

[0052] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a dimming glass 300 according to another embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 3 As shown, the dimming glass 300 may include a first substrate 302 and a second substrate 304, and a dimming functional layer 306 disposed between the first substrate 302 and the second substrate 304. The dimming functional layer 306 is provided with adhesive layers 308 and 310 between itself and the first substrate 302 and the second substrate 304, respectively. The first substrate 302 and the second substrate 304 have grooves 3022 and 3024 respectively on the side near the dimming functional layer 306. The adhesive layer 308 is embedded in the groove 3022, and the adhesive layer 310 is embedded in the groove 3042. The orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer 306 on the first substrate 302 is located inside the orthographic projection of the grooves 3022 and 3042 on the first substrate 302, that is, the size of the dimming functional layer 306 is smaller than the size of the grooves 3022 and 3042. It can be seen that after the adhesive layers 308 and 310 are respectively embedded in the grooves 3022 and 3042, they provide a certain support for all areas of the dimming functional layer 306 that are smaller than the size of the grooves 3022 and 3042, which can avoid the black spot phenomenon caused by local deformation of the dimming functional layer 306.

[0053] Back Figure 2B In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer 206 on the first substrate 202 coincides with the orthographic projection of the grooves 2022 and 2042 on the first substrate 202, that is, the dimming functional layer 206 has the same size as the grooves 2022 and 2042. It can be seen that after the adhesive layers 208 and 210 are respectively embedded into the grooves 2022 and 2042, they provide a certain supporting force to all areas of the dimming functional layer 206 that are perfectly matched in size to the grooves 2022 and 2042, thus reducing local deformation of the dimming functional layer 206.

[0054] Normally, the size of the dimming functional layer 206 is fixed, while the sizes of the grooves 2022 and 2042 can be set according to the size of the dimming functional layer 206. This embodiment is similar to... Figure 3Compared with the embodiment shown, the size of the recesses 2022 and 2042 is reduced while the size of the light-adjusting functional layer 206 remains unchanged, which reduces the labor and material costs, ensures the support force on the entire area of the light-adjusting functional layer 206, avoids local deformation of the light-adjusting functional layer 206, and improves the optical performance of the light-adjusting glass.

[0055] It should be noted that if the orthographic projection of the light-adjusting functional layer on the first substrate exceeds the range of the orthographic projection of the recess on the first substrate, when the entire light-adjusting glass is squeezed during the splicing process, the situation that the bonding layer corresponding to part of the area of the light-adjusting functional layer is not embedded in the recess may occur, which causes the light-adjusting functional layer in this part to be subjected to excessive pressure and to be obviously deformed, thereby causing the appearance of black spots and the problem of uneven brightness of the light-adjusting glass. Figure 2B The embodiments shown and Figure 3 The setting mode of the size of the recess in the embodiment shown can effectively solve the problem.

[0056] In some embodiments, the distance between the recess and the same-side edge of the substrate on which the recess is arranged is greater than or equal to 25 mm.

[0057] Specifically, as Figure 2B As shown, the distance d between the recess 2022 and the same-side edge of the first substrate 202 is 25 mm. The applicant found during the implementation of the embodiment that the distance d should be at least 25 mm to ensure that the bonding layer achieves good edge sealing effect after splicing. If the distance d is less than 25 mm, the bonding layers 208 and 210 filled in the gap 212 between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204 after splicing are less and thinner, which is difficult to prevent the invasion of water vapor in the subsequent use process, thereby reducing the optical performance of the light-adjusting glass.

[0058] In some embodiments, a sealant is arranged between the edges of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the thickness of the sealant is the same as that of the bonding layer. The arrangement of the sealant can further increase the force acting on the first substrate and the second substrate, thereby reducing the pressure on the light-adjusting functional layer. The following will be described through specific embodiments.

[0059] Specifically, Figure 4A A schematic diagram of the structure of the light-adjusting glass before splicing is shown in one embodiment of the application. As Figure 4AAs shown, the dimming glass 400 can include a first substrate 402 and a second substrate 404, and a dimming functional layer 406 disposed between the first substrate 402 and the second substrate 404, and the dimming functional layer 406 is respectively provided with an adhesive layer 408 and 410 between the first substrate 402 and the second substrate 404; the first substrate 402 is provided with a recess 4022 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 406, and the second substrate 404 is provided with a groove 4042 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 406, before splicing, the adhesive layers 408 and 410 are not embedded in the recesses 4022 and 4042, and there is a gap 412 between the first substrate 402 and the second substrate 404, and the gap 412 is filled with a sealant 414, and a schematic diagram of the structure of the dimming glass after splicing is shown in Figure 4B In this embodiment, the gap 412 of the dimming glass after splicing not only has the adhesive layers 408 and 410 subjected to extrusion, but also has the sealant 414 added before splicing, because the thickness of the glue layer inside the gap 412 increases, after being extruded during the splicing process, the flowability of the sealant 414 and the adhesive layers 408 and 410 is small, and the glue layer does not obviously overflow to the outside of the gap 412, so that a greater force can be applied to the first substrate 402 and the second substrate 404, further reducing the pressure on the dimming functional layer 406.

[0060] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the thickness of the sealant 414 is the same as that of the adhesive layers 408 and 410, and the gap 412 is completely filled with the sealant 414 before splicing. The material of the sealant 414 can be the same as or different from that of the adhesive layers 408 and 410, as long as the contact interface between the sealant 414 and the adhesive layers 408 and 410 after splicing can be firmly bonded.

[0061] In some embodiments, the first substrate and the second substrate are both curved glass, and the groove has the same curvature as the first substrate and the second substrate. The substrate of the dimming glass can be flat glass or curved glass. When curved glass is used, the curvature of the groove opened in the substrate needs to be consistent with the curvature of the substrate, so as to ensure that the dimming functional layer is uniformly stressed during splicing, thereby avoiding the problem of black spots in the curved dimming glass. The following will be described through specific embodiments.

[0062] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the dimming glass of one embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown in Figure 5As shown, the dimming glass 500 can include a first substrate 502 and a second substrate 504, both of which are curved glass, and a dimming functional layer 506 disposed between the first substrate 502 and the second substrate 504, the dimming functional layer 506 being provided with an adhesive layer 508 and 510 between the first substrate 502 and the second substrate 504, respectively; the first substrate 502 is provided with a groove 5022 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 506, and the second substrate 504 is provided with a groove 5042 on the side close to the dimming functional layer 506, the curvatures of the grooves 5022 and 5042 are the same as those of the first substrate 502 and the second substrate 504, and the curvatures are consistent, which can ensure uniform stress on the whole dimming glass after splicing, and the pressure applied to the dimming functional layer 506 is also uniform. At the same time, due to the complex manufacturing process of the curved dimming glass, the dimming functional layer 506 not only has the problem of uneven stress during splicing, but also the curvature of the curved substrate exacerbates the problem of uneven stress of the dimming functional layer 506, and the curved dimming glass is more prone to black spot problems than the flat dimming glass. Therefore, the provision of the grooves 5022 and 5042 in the curved dimming glass can significantly reduce the pressure on the dimming functional layer 506, make the stress uniform, reduce the local deformation of the dimming functional layer 506, reduce the probability of black spot occurrence, and thus improve the optical performance of the curved dimming glass.

[0063] In this embodiment, alternatively, the curved dimming glass can be provided with one groove, i.e. a groove 5022 on one side of the first substrate 502 or a groove 5042 on one side of the second substrate 504, the curvature of the groove 5022, 5042 being consistent with that of the first substrate 502. It can be understood that the curved glass in this embodiment can be single-curved glass or double-curved glass, which can be appropriately selected according to the actual application scenario.

[0064] In this embodiment, alternatively, the gap 512 between the first substrate 502 and the second substrate 504 is filled with a sealant 514, which has the same filling method and effect as the sealant 414 in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be described here.

[0065] It should be noted that in actual application, dimming glass often needs to have a certain curvature to meet the needs of the actual application field, such as automobile glass roof, rear windshield, side window, building curtain wall, and daylighting roof, etc. Due to the complex process of the curved glass dimming glass in the manufacturing process, it is more prone to black spot problems compared with the dimming glass using flat glass. Therefore, in this embodiment, the provision of the groove on the glass substrate can effectively reduce the problem of deformation of the dimming functional layer caused by the curved process, and improve the yield of the curved dimming glass.

[0066] In some embodiments, the depth of the groove is 0.1-0.4mm.

[0067] The applicant found during the implementation of the embodiment that the depth of the groove is preferably between 0.1-0.4mm. On the one hand, the thickness of the first substrate and the second substrate is limited and is not suitable for a groove with a deep depth; on the other hand, if the depth of the groove is too shallow, it cannot guarantee the supporting effect on the light-adjusting functional layer, that is, it cannot effectively improve the black spot problem of the light-adjusting glass. Therefore, through the applicant's repeated experiments, it is confirmed that the suitable depth of the groove is 0.1-0.4mm.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first substrate is provided with a first groove on the side close to the light-adjusting functional layer, and the second substrate is provided with a second groove on the side close to the light-adjusting functional layer, the depth of the first groove is 0.1-0.2mm, and the depth of the second groove is 0.1-0.2mm. In the light-adjusting glass of the embodiment, the total depth of the two grooves is 0.2-0.4mm, that is, the total depth of the adhesive layer embedded in the two grooves is 0.2-0.4mm, and after splicing, it can play a certain supporting effect on the light-adjusting functional layer and reduce the pressure on the light-adjusting functional layer.

[0069] Optionally, when one groove is provided in the light-adjusting glass, that is, a groove is provided on the first substrate or the second substrate, the depth of the groove is 0.2-0.4mm, and the total depth of the adhesive layer embedded in the groove is 0.2-0.4mm, which is the same as the embedding depth when two grooves are provided in the light-adjusting glass in the previous embodiment.

[0070] Based on the previous embodiment, the depth of the first groove and the second groove is the same. As known from the foregoing embodiments, when there are two grooves in the light-adjusting glass, the depth of each groove is 0.1-0.2mm. Setting the depth of the two grooves to be the same can further ensure that the stress on both sides of the light-adjusting functional layer is uniform, effectively avoid irregular deformation of the light-adjusting functional layer, and thus improve the optical performance of the light-adjusting glass. Optionally, the depth of the first groove and the second groove is set to 0.1mm, or the depth of the first groove and the second groove is set to 0.2mm, or the depth of the first groove and the second groove can be set to any value within the range of 0.1-0.2mm, and the specific value can be selected according to the actual application scenario, which is not limited here.

[0071] In some embodiments, the groove angle is 45°-90°. Figure 6 A structural schematic diagram of a substrate with a groove angle a of 45° is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the groove angle a is 45°. Figure 6As shown, the recess angle a of the recess 602 opened on one side of the substrate 600 is 45°. In this embodiment, the recess angle a of the recess 602 is not strictly limited, and can be in the range of 45°-90°. When the recess angle a is in the range of 45°-90°, the recess 602 as a whole presents an opening shape, and the bonding layer is more easily embedded in the recess 602 during the lamination process. In this range, the pressure received by the switchable glass during the lamination process is basically the same, and does not affect the optical performance of the switchable glass. The recess angle a can be selected according to the slotting equipment, mainly for easy processing. The setting of the recess angle a can be applied to flat switchable glass, and also can be applied to curved switchable glass.

[0072] In some embodiments, the material of the bonding layer is PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) glue, EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) glue, SGP (SentryGlas Plus) glue or TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethanes) glue, and the thickness of the bonding layer is 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm. In this embodiment, the thickness of the bonding layer can be 0.38 mm or 0.76 mm, and the applicant has confirmed through experiments that the performance of the switchable glass made of the bonding layer with a thickness of 0.76 mm is better than that of the bonding layer with a thickness of 0.38 mm, and the bonding layer with a larger thickness can provide better support for the switchable functional layer. The material of the bonding layer suitable for this embodiment is relatively wide, which can be PVB glue, EVA glue, SGP glue or TPU glue. When SGP glue or TPU glue is used, the penetration resistance is obviously improved, which is 5-10 times that of the switchable glass made of PVB glue, thereby increasing the safety of the switchable glass. Compared with PVB glue, EVA glue has a lower softening temperature, and can complete lamination under the condition of reducing the temperature and pressure in the lamination process, which is beneficial to save power resources and reduce production and preparation costs. The thickness of the glue layer used in this embodiment does not need to be additionally customized, and the conventional thickness of the existing glue layer can be used, and the common glue material can meet the preparation conditions of the switchable glass. Therefore, the switchable glass provided by the present application has a wide application range, is convenient to produce and prepare, and is beneficial to popularization.

[0073] It should be noted that when the bonding layer is selected to be PVB glue, the edge sealant in the foregoing embodiments can be selected to be PVB glue or EVA glue. The contact interface of PVB glue and EVA glue is firmly bonded after curing, and does not affect the optical performance of the switchable glass.

[0074] In some embodiments, the switchable functional layer comprises a dye liquid crystal layer. In this embodiment, the switchable functional layer is a dye liquid crystal cell,Figure 7 A structural schematic diagram of the dye-based liquid crystal cell 700 is provided. (See attached diagram.) Figure 7 As shown, the dye-based liquid crystal cell 700 includes a first light-transmitting substrate and a second light-transmitting substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a dye-based liquid crystal layer 770 disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate; wherein, the first light-transmitting substrate includes a first substrate 710, and a first electrode 730 and a first alignment layer 750 disposed sequentially on the side of the first substrate 710 near the liquid crystal layer 770; the second light-transmitting substrate includes a second substrate 720, and a second electrode 740 and a second alignment layer 760 disposed sequentially on the side of the second substrate 720 near the liquid crystal layer 770; the material of the liquid crystal layer 770 includes liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules.

[0075] Since the liquid crystal layer 770 is composed of a mixture of negative liquid crystal and dichroic dye, the dichroic dye can rotate with the liquid crystal, and its light absorption gradually increases with the rotation angle. Figure 8A A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the dimming function layer when the driving voltage is 0V is provided, as follows: Figure 8A As shown, when the driving voltage (i.e., the voltage between the first electrode 730 and the second electrode 740) is 0V, the liquid crystal and dye molecules do not rotate, the light absorption is minimal, and it is in a bright state. Figure 8B A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the dimming function layer when the driving voltage is 10V is provided, as follows: Figure 8B As shown, when the driving voltage (i.e., the voltage between the first electrode 730 and the second electrode 740) is 10V, the rotation angle of the liquid crystal and dye molecules reaches its maximum value of 90°, and the light absorption also reaches its maximum value, exhibiting a dark state. Generally, black dye liquid crystal is composed of red, yellow, and blue dichroic dyes mixed with the parent liquid crystal, which can regulate the visible light transmitted through the first protective glass, but can transmit infrared light.

[0076] It should be noted that the first substrate 710 and the second substrate 720 can be rigid substrates, which can be made of materials such as glass, or they can be flexible substrates, which can be made of materials such as PET (Polyethylene Glycol Terephthalate), COP (Cyclo Olefin Polymer), CPI (Colorless Polyimide), or TAC (Triacetyl Cellulose).

[0077] In this embodiment, when both dye substrates of the dye liquid crystal cell 770 are flexible substrates, the curved dimming glass produced can better adapt to the curvature of the curved glass, maintain uniform stress during lamination, and improve the optical performance of the curved dimming glass.

[0078] It should be noted that the first substrate and the second substrate in each of the embodiments of the present application can be transparent glass or other transparent materials, which do not affect the light transmission performance of the light-adjustable glass, and are not specifically limited here.

[0079] The present application also provides a preparation method of the light-adjustable glass, comprising:

[0080] providing a first substrate and a second substrate;

[0081] forming a groove on one side of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0082] providing a light-adjustable functional layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and respectively providing an adhesive layer between the light-adjustable functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0083] bonding the first substrate, the light-adjustable functional layer, the adhesive layer and the second substrate by a bonding process, so that the adhesive layer close to the groove is embedded in the groove.

[0084] It should be noted that the groove can be formed by physical thinning or by chemical etching.

[0085] Optionally, if the adhesive layer is a PVB adhesive layer, the temperature of the bonding process is 120°C and the pressure is 1.1 MPa; if the adhesive layer is an EVA adhesive layer, the temperature of the bonding process is 100°C and the pressure is 0.8 MPa. Unlike the traditional high-temperature and high-pressure bonding, the low-temperature and low-pressure bonding in the present embodiment does not destroy the structure of the dye liquid crystal layer, further ensuring the light-adjustable effect of the dye liquid crystal layer during use.

[0086] Different adhesive layer materials have different temperatures and pressures during the bonding process. The bonding process is described below through specific embodiments.

[0087] Figure 9 A flowchart of an exemplary preparation method 900 provided by the embodiments of the present application is shown. The method 900 can be used to prepare the light-adjustable glass of the foregoing embodiments. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer of the light-adjustable glass can be a PVB adhesive layer, and the method 900 can include the following steps.

[0088] Step 902: sequentially stacking a first substrate, a first PVB adhesive layer of 0.76 mm, a dye liquid crystal functional layer, a second PVB adhesive layer of 0.76 mm and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are etched by hydrofluoric acid to form a groove, the groove depth is 0.2 mm, and the first PVB adhesive layer and the second PVB adhesive layer are trimmed to have flush edges and the same size as the groove;

[0089] Step 904: Place the laminated structure in step 902 in a vacuum bag, and perform vacuumizing treatment for at least 3 hours, with the vacuumizing negative pressure being kept at 1 atmosphere, so that the air in the laminated structure is completely extracted;

[0090] Step 906: Place the laminated structure after step 904 together with the vacuum bag into an autoclave, with the other end of the vacuum pipe connected with the vacuum bag being connected with a vacuum pump in the autoclave, close the door of the autoclave, and set the vacuum degree of the vacuum pump to -0.09-0.1 Mpa and the temperature to 40℃;

[0091] Step 908: Perform low-temperature and low-pressure bonding, with the bonding temperature being 120℃ and the pressure being 1.1 Mpa, and the step including the following stages:

[0092] First stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 55℃, the pressure to 0, the heating time to 5 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0093] Second stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 80℃, the pressure to 0.3 Mpa, the heating time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0094] Third stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 120℃, the pressure to 1.1 Mpa, the heating time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0095] Fourth stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 120℃, the pressure to 0.8 Mpa, the holding time to 45 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0096] Fifth stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 90℃, the pressure to 0.5 Mpa, the cooling and decompression time to 20 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to 0 Mpa;

[0097] Sixth stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 90℃, the pressure to 0.5 Mpa, the holding time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to 0 Mpa;

[0098] Seventh stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 60℃, the pressure to 0.2 Mpa, the cooling and decompression time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to 0 Mpa;

[0099] Eighth stage: Set the temperature of the autoclave to 40℃, the pressure to 0 Mpa, and after reaching the set parameters, open the door of the autoclave, remove the vacuum bag, and take out the light-adjustable glass;

[0100] Step 910: After the light-adjustable glass after step 908 is bonded is trimmed with a blade, the finished product light-adjustable glass is obtained.

[0101] Figure 10A flow diagram of another example preparation method 1000 provided by embodiments of the present application is shown. The method 1000 can be used to prepare the dimmable glass of the preceding embodiments. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer of the dimmable glass can be an EVA adhesive layer, and the method 1000 can include the following steps.

[0102] Step 1002: sequentially stack a first substrate, a first EVA adhesive layer of 0.76 mm, a dye liquid crystal functional layer, a second EVA adhesive layer of 0.76 mm, and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are both etched by hydrofluoric acid to form grooves, the groove depth is 0.2 mm, and the first EVA adhesive layer and the second EVA adhesive layer are both trimmed to have edges flush with each other and the same size as the groove;

[0103] Step 1004: place the stacked structure in step 1002 in a vacuum bag and perform vacuumizing for at least 3 hours, with the vacuumizing negative pressure maintained at 1 atmosphere, so that the air in the stacked structure is completely extracted;

[0104] Step 1006: place the stacked structure after step 1004 together with the vacuum bag into an autoclave, connect the other end of the vacuum tube connected to the vacuum bag to a vacuum pump in the autoclave, close the door of the autoclave, set the vacuum degree of the vacuum pump to -0.09-0.1 Mpa, and set the temperature to 40℃;

[0105] Step 1008: perform low-temperature and low-pressure lamination, with the lamination temperature being 100℃ and the pressure being 0.8 Mpa, and the step including the following stages:

[0106] First stage: set the temperature of the autoclave to 50℃, the pressure to 0, the heating time to 5 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0107] Second stage: set the temperature of the autoclave to 70℃, the pressure to 0.3 Mpa, the heating time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0108] Third stage: set the temperature of the autoclave to 100℃, the pressure to 1.1 Mpa, the heating time to 10 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0109] Fourth stage: set the temperature of the autoclave to 110℃, the pressure to 0.8 Mpa, the holding time to 45 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to -0.1 Mpa;

[0110] Fifth stage: set the temperature of the autoclave to 70℃, the pressure to 0.5 Mpa, the cooling and decompression time to 20 minutes, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum bag to 0 Mpa;

[0111] Stage 6: Set the autoclave temperature to 70℃ and the pressure to 0.5MPa, maintain the temperature and pressure for 10 minutes, and keep the vacuum bag at 0MPa.

[0112] Stage 7: The autoclave temperature is set to 55℃, the pressure to 0.2MPa, the cooling and depressurization time is 10 minutes, and the vacuum bag vacuum degree is 0MPa.

[0113] Eighth stage: Set the autoclave temperature to 40℃ and the pressure to 0MPa. After the pressure drops to the set parameters, open the autoclave door, remove the vacuum bag, and take out the dimming glass.

[0114] Step 1010: Trim the edges of the dimming glass after it has been assembled in step 1008 with a blade to obtain the desired finished dimming glass.

[0115] It should be noted that when using SGP or TPU adhesive as the bonding layer, the temperature and pressure of the lamination process can be adjusted appropriately to ensure that the dimming glass achieves optimal optical performance. The lamination process is similar to... Figure 9 and Figure 10 The preparation methods shown are similar and will not be repeated here.

[0116] It should be noted that, after Figure 9 and Figure 10 The dimming glass prepared by the illustrated method has an outer area of ​​the adhesive layer between the edges of the first and second substrates. This area can be further sealed by applying an edge sealant to improve the sealing effect and prevent moisture penetration during subsequent use, which could lead to a decrease or failure of the dimming glass's optical performance. Any existing conventional chemical reagent with sealing properties can be used as the edge sealant; no specific restrictions are imposed here.

[0117] It should be noted that the above description describes some embodiments of this application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in a different order than that shown in the above embodiments and still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0118] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of this application (including the claims) is limited to these examples; within the framework of this application, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of the embodiments of this application as described above, which are not provided in the details for the sake of brevity.

[0119] While the present application has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that many modifications, substitutions, and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description.

[0120] Embodiments of the present application are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the application is intended to be governed by the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A type of dimming glass, characterized in that, It includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and a dimming functional layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between the dimming functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate respectively; At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate has a groove on the side near the dimming functional layer, and the adhesive layer near the groove is embedded in the groove; The orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate is located inside the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate, or... The orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate coincides with the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate; The dimming functional layer includes a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, and a dye liquid crystal layer disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate.

2. The dimming glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the groove and the same-side edge of the substrate on which the groove is located is greater than or equal to 25 mm.

3. The dimming glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing adhesive is provided between the edges of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the sealing adhesive has the same thickness as the adhesive layer.

4. The dimming glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first substrate and the second substrate are curved glass, and the groove has the same curvature as the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. The dimming glass according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The depth of the groove is 0.1-0.4 mm.

6. The dimming glass according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first substrate has a first groove on the side near the dimming functional layer, and the second substrate has a second groove on the side near the dimming functional layer. The depth of the first groove is 0.1-0.2 mm, and the depth of the second groove is 0.1-0.2 mm.

7. The dimming glass according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first groove and the second groove have the same depth.

8. The dimming glass according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The groove has a slotting angle of 45°-90°.

9. The dimming glass according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The adhesive layer is made of PVB adhesive, EVA adhesive, SGP adhesive or TPU adhesive, and the thickness of the adhesive layer is 0.38mm or 0.76mm.

10. A method for preparing a switchable glass, characterized in that, include: Provide a first substrate and a second substrate; A groove is formed on at least one side of the first substrate and the second substrate; A dimming functional layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an adhesive layer is respectively disposed between the dimming functional layer and the first substrate and the second substrate; the orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate is located inside the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate, or... The orthographic projection of the dimming functional layer on the first substrate coincides with the orthographic projection of the groove on the first substrate; the dimming functional layer includes a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, and a dye liquid crystal layer disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate. The first substrate, the dimming functional layer, the adhesive layer, and the second substrate are laminated using a lamination process, so that the adhesive layer near the groove is embedded in the groove.

11. The preparation method according to claim 10, characterized in that, If the adhesive layer is a PVB adhesive layer, the temperature of the lamination process is 120°C and the pressure is 1.1 MPa; If the adhesive layer is an EVA adhesive layer, the temperature of the lamination process is 100°C and the pressure is 0.8 MPa.

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