Dimming glass switching method

Abstract

The invention discloses a switchable glass switching method, which is used for solving the problem of time delay in the process of switching the existing switchable glass from a fog state to a transparent state. Comprising a transparent stage (S1) in which no voltage is applied to a piece of dimming glass, and the dimming glass is in a transparent state; an operation stage (S2), an alternating current is applied to the dimming glass, the amplitude of the alternating current is maintained at a first voltage (V1), and the dimming glass is in a scattering state; and a switching stage (S3) after which the amplitude of the alternating current is increased to a second voltage (V2), the second voltage (V2) is greater than the first voltage (V1), the dimming glass is maintained in the scattering state, and after the switching stage (S3) is maintained for a duration (T), the supply of the alternating current is stopped and the dimming glass returns to the transparent stage (S1), and the dimming glass returns to the transparent state.

Description

Switching method of dimming glass Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a photoelectric component technology, in particular to a dimming glass switching method capable of switching to a privacy protection mode and quickly restoring a transparent state. Background Art

[0002] Generally, glass is used to isolate or protect the space within the glass, while also providing lighting and allowing for viewing objects on the other side. Frosting the glass surface or applying a matte film can cause light passing through the glass to scatter and form a blurred image on the other side, achieving a privacy protection effect while retaining the lighting function. In addition, another type of existing dimming glass can also be switched between transparent and visible modes and fogged and blurred modes through active control methods such as power supply. Technical issues

[0003] The aforementioned existing dimming glass disrupts the liquid crystal molecules within the glass by changing the electric field, causing multiple scattering of light incident on the glass. However, after the voltage source stops supplying power, the remaining charged ions may form a temporary built-in electric field, preventing the liquid crystal molecules from immediately returning to their pre-energized transparent state. Existing dimming glass suffers from problems such as delayed mode switching, poor controllability, and reduced visual quality.

[0004] In view of this, the existing switchable glass still needs to be improved. Technical Solutions

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for switching dimming glass, which can quickly switch the privacy protection state and transparent state of the dimming glass.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for switching switchable glass, which can enhance the blurred visual effect of the switchable glass.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dimming glass switching method that can save dimming power consumption.

[0008] The quantifiers “a” or “an” used in the components and members described throughout the present invention are only for convenience of use and to provide a general meaning of the scope of the present invention; they should be interpreted in the present invention as including one or at least one, and a single concept also includes multiple cases, unless it is obvious that it means otherwise.

[0009] The switching method for switchable glass of the present invention includes: a transparent stage, in which no voltage is applied to the switchable glass, and the switchable glass is in a transparent state; an operating stage, in which an alternating current is applied to the switchable glass, the amplitude of the alternating current being maintained at a first voltage, and the switchable glass is in a scattering state; and a switching stage, in which, after the operating stage, the amplitude of the alternating current is increased to a second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage, and the switchable glass is maintained in the scattering state. After the switching stage lasts for a certain period of time, the supply of the alternating current is stopped and the switchable glass returns to the transparent stage, and the switchable glass resumes the transparent state.

[0010] Therefore, the dimming glass switching method of the present invention can reduce the power consumed in maintaining the scattering state by applying the alternating current of the first voltage to the dimming glass. Furthermore, by applying the alternating current of the second voltage to the dimming glass and stopping the power supply after the duration, the reaction time required for the dimming glass to recover from the scattering state to the transparent state can be reduced, thereby having the effects of reducing dimming conversion delay, improving dimming visual effects, and saving power consumption.

[0011] The first voltage is the minimum voltage value of the alternating current that enables the haze value of the switchable glass to reach 80% or above. In this way, the switchable glass can maintain the privacy protection effect with the lowest energy consumption, thus saving electricity.

[0012] The second voltage is the voltage value that minimizes the time it takes for the switchable glass to return to the transparent state after the alternating current stops being applied to it. This significantly reduces the delay in switching from the scattering state to the transparent state, improving dimming controllability.

[0013] The duration is the minimum time required to apply the alternating current of the second voltage for the switchable glass to return to the transparent state in less than 0.5 seconds. This reduces the supply time of the high-voltage alternating current, thereby reducing power consumption and enabling faster switching of the dimming state.

[0014] The switchable glass comprises two transparent and conductive substrates and a liquid crystal material located between them. The liquid crystal material comprises negative-type liquid crystals and salt ions. This allows for switching electric fields to act on the liquid crystal material, causing it to exhibit multiple scattering states as the electric field changes, thus achieving electrically controlled switching of dimming modes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG1 is a timing diagram of voltage switching according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG2 is a diagram showing a dimming state switching situation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the haze value and the applied voltage value of the switchable glass according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG4 is a graph showing the relationship between the response time for the switchable glass to restore transparency and the applied voltage value according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the power supply duration and the response time required to restore transparency of the switchable glass according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Description of Reference Numerals

[0021] S1: Transparent Stage

[0022] S2: Operational Phase

[0023] S3: Switching phase

[0024] 1: Liquid crystal material

[0025] 2: Substrate

[0026] V1: First voltage

[0027] V2: Second voltage

[0028] T: Duration. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] In order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are listed below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same symbols in different figures are regarded as the same and their descriptions are omitted.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a preferred embodiment of the dimming glass switching method of the present invention, including a transparent stage S1, an operating stage S2 and a switching stage S3. The switching stage S3 converts the operating stage S2 into the transparent stage S1 to switch the privacy protection state of a dimming glass to a bidirectional transparent state.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2 , the switchable glass can be made by injecting a liquid crystal material 1 between two transparent and conductive substrates 2. The two substrates 2 are electrically connected to a voltage source to generate an electric field acting on the liquid crystal material 1. This can control the alignment of the liquid crystals, allowing light incident on the liquid crystal material 1 to pass directly through or scatter, thereby switching the switchable glass between transparent and foggy states. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal material 1 includes negative liquid crystals and salt ions, and the two substrates 2 act on the liquid crystal material 1 in a vertical alignment. As shown in Figure 2 , when the two substrates 2 are not powered, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material 1 are neatly aligned perpendicular to the two substrates 2, allowing light to directly pass through the switchable glass, resulting in a transparent state. When an AC voltage is applied between the two substrates 2, the liquid crystal molecules are disturbed by the changes in the electric field and exhibit a random and chaotic arrangement, causing light to diffuse and exit after the liquid crystal material 1 changes its path multiple times, resulting in a scattered state.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1 , during the transparent stage S1 , no voltage is applied to the switchable glass, so that the switchable glass is in the transparent state. Clear images can be seen from the inner or outer side of the switchable glass.

[0033] From the transparent stage S1, the operating stage S2 begins, where an alternating current (AC) is applied to the switchable glass. The AC current has an amplitude of a first voltage V1 and a frequency that can be a common operating frequency of a typical power transmission network, such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz, but the present invention is not limited thereto. While the AC current maintains the first voltage, the switchable glass assumes the scattering state, and a hazy, blurred image is visible through the switchable glass.

[0034] From the operation stage S2, the switching stage S3 is entered. The amplitude of the AC power is increased to a second voltage V2, which is greater than the first voltage V1. The frequency of the AC power can be maintained unchanged. In the switching stage S3, the AC power is maintained at the second voltage V2 for a duration T, so that the dimming glass remains in the scattering state. After the duration T, the AC power supply is stopped and the glass returns to the transparent stage S1, so that the dimming glass immediately returns to the transparent state.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a relationship diagram between the haze value of the dimming glass of this embodiment and the voltage value acting on the dimming glass. When the AC current acting on the dimming glass is increased to above 15V, the haze value can reach 80% to 94%. However, the human eye has difficulty in distinguishing the difference in the shielding effect caused by a haze value above 80%. Therefore, if the dimming glass needs to be used for a long time for privacy protection in the operation stage S2, selecting a voltage value that can achieve a haze value of above 80% can achieve the effect of saving electricity. Please refer to Figures 1 and 3 again. In this embodiment, the voltage value that achieves a haze value of 80% is between 10V and 15V. Therefore, the first voltage V1 used in the operation stage S2 can be 15V.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a relationship diagram of the reaction time for the dimming glass of this embodiment to restore transparency after the application of alternating current is stopped and the applied voltage value. When the amplitude of the alternating current is 14 volts, stopping the power supply to the dimming glass will cause the dimming glass to require a reaction time of 8.5 seconds to recover from the scattering state to the transparent state. In comparison, using the alternating current greater than 22 volts can reduce the reaction time to less than 1 second. Please refer to Figures 1 and 4 again. In this embodiment, the second voltage V2 used in the switching stage S3 is preferably 40 volts, and the required reaction time is 0.36 seconds.

[0037] In addition, referring to Figures 1, 3, and 4, Figure 4 shows that when the AC current is less than 12 volts, the response time for the switchable glass to return to transparency can be less than 0.35 seconds. However, as shown in Figure 3, when the AC current is less than 12 volts, the haze value of the switchable glass is less than 80%, and the complete privacy protection function cannot be achieved. Therefore, the first voltage V1 used in the operation stage S2 and the second voltage V2 used in the switching stage S3 will not be selected to be a voltage value lower than 12 volts.

[0038] FIG5 is a graph showing the relationship between the duration of the AC power applied to the switchable glass of this embodiment at 40V and the reaction time required for the switchable glass to return to transparency. Referring again to FIG1 , in this embodiment, a 15V AC power is first applied to the switchable glass for 10 seconds, then the AC power is increased to 40V and the AC power is stopped after the duration T. As shown in FIG5 , when the duration T is 90 milliseconds, the reaction time required for the switchable glass to return to transparency can be reduced to 0.5 seconds. This is compared to the case where the AC power is directly stopped at 15V without increasing the AC power to 40V (the duration T is 0 seconds), in which a reaction time of nearly 11 seconds is required for the switchable glass to return to transparency. A duration T of more than 90 milliseconds can significantly reduce the delay in the switchable glass switching from the scattering state to the transparent state. Furthermore, as shown in FIG5 , the reaction time does not decrease significantly when the duration T is extended beyond 90 milliseconds. Therefore, the duration T is preferably 90 milliseconds.

[0039] In summary, the dimming glass switching method of the present invention can reduce the power consumed in maintaining the scattering state by applying the alternating current of the first voltage to the dimming glass. Furthermore, by applying the alternating current of the second voltage to the dimming glass and stopping the power supply after the duration, the reaction time required for the dimming glass to recover from the scattering state to the transparent state can be reduced, thereby reducing the dimming conversion delay, improving the dimming visual effect, and saving power.

[0040] Although the present invention has been disclosed using the above preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. These changes and modifications still fall within the technical scope protected by the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A dimming glass switching method, characterized in that: include: In a transparent stage, no voltage is applied to the switchable glass, and the switchable glass is in a transparent state; In an operation phase, an alternating current is applied to the switchable glass, the amplitude of the alternating current maintains a first voltage, and the switchable glass presents a scattering state; and A switching phase, after the operation phase, the amplitude of the alternating current is increased to a second voltage, the second voltage is greater than the first voltage, and the dimming glass maintains the scattering state. After the switching phase is maintained for a duration, the alternating current is stopped and the glass returns to the transparent phase, and the dimming glass resumes the transparent state.

2. The method for switching dimming glass according to claim 1, wherein: The first voltage is the lowest voltage value of the alternating current that enables the haze value of the switchable glass to reach above 80%.

3. The method for switching dimming glass according to claim 1, wherein: The second voltage is a voltage value of the shortest reaction time for the switchable glass to return to the transparent state when the alternating current stops being applied to the switchable glass.

4. The method for switching dimming glass according to claim 1, wherein: The duration is the shortest time for applying the alternating current of the second voltage so that the response time of the switchable glass to restore the transparent state is less than 0.5 seconds.

5. The method for switching dimming glass according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The dimming glass includes two substrates and a liquid crystal material located between the two substrates. The two substrates are transparent and conductive. The liquid crystal material includes negative liquid crystal and salt ions.

Images