Color-changeable liquid crystal optical device
By optimizing the structure and voltage control of liquid crystal optical devices, the problems of complex structure and high cost of existing photochromic polarizing lenses have been solved, achieving precision and richness in color adjustment, and making them suitable for applications such as photochromic glasses, photochromic curtain walls, and automotive glass.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423120454.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing photochromic polarizing lenses are complex and costly due to the need for a motion mechanism, and their color adjustment is not precise enough.
The structure consists of a first polarizing layer, a first glass substrate, a first electrode structure, a first alignment layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second electrode structure, a second glass substrate, and a second polarizing layer stacked sequentially. The deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled by a voltage-adjustable driving circuit. Color changes are achieved by combining the liquid crystal layer material, thickness, alignment layer friction direction, and the angle between the polarizing layer absorption axis.
It achieves a simple, low-cost, and precisely adjustable color-changing effect with delicate and rich color performance. It is energy-saving and flexible, and is suitable for applications such as photochromic glasses, photochromic curtain walls, and automotive glass.
Smart Images
Figure CN223728088U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of optical devices, in particular to a variable color liquid crystal optical device. BACKGROUND
[0002] The variable color polarized lens can adapt to different light conditions, improve visual clarity and contrast, provide a more comfortable field of view, and enhance the visual experience.
[0003] The existing polarized lens generally includes a liquid crystal screen and polarizing plates located on both sides of the liquid crystal screen, and the relative angle of the two polarizing plates is adjusted through a motion mechanism, so that the lens presents different colors in strong light. For example, when both sides of the polarizing plate are gray, the angle between the polarization angles of the two polarizing plates is gradually reduced from 45° to 0°, and then gradually increased in the opposite direction to -45°, the lens will appear color changes such as light blue, dark blue, purple, brown, orange, yellow, etc.
[0004] However, the above color-controllable lens needs to use a motion mechanism, so the structure is relatively complex and the cost is high. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL
[0005] An object of the present application is to provide a variable color liquid crystal optical device with a simple structure and low cost.
[0006] Another object of the present application is to improve the color saturation.
[0007] A further object of the present application is to increase the accuracy of color adjustment.
[0008] The embodiment of the present application provides a variable color liquid crystal optical device, which comprises a first polarizing layer, a first glass substrate, a first electrode structure, a first orientation layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second electrode structure, a second glass substrate and a second polarizing layer arranged in sequence, wherein the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure form a voltage-adjustable driving circuit to change the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the first angle between the material and thickness of the liquid crystal layer, the rubbing direction of the first orientation layer and the second orientation layer, and the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer is determined according to the target initial color of the variable color liquid crystal optical device.
[0009] Further, the second angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the first orientation layer, and the third angle between the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the second orientation layer are determined according to the target initial color and the target saturation.
[0010] Further, the rubbing direction of the first orientation layer is parallel to the rubbing direction of the second orientation layer.
[0011] Further, the birefringence of the liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal layer is any value in the range of 0.1-0.3.
[0012] Further, the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer is perpendicular or parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer.
[0013] Further, the second included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer is 45°.
[0014] Further, the variable color liquid crystal optical device is used as a lens.
[0015] According to the first aspect of the present application, by selecting the material of the liquid crystal layer, setting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer, the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer, the first included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer, the target initial color can be presented, and a higher saturation can be obtained. Under the premise of such optimized structure arrangement, by changing the voltage on the liquid crystal layer, different colors can be switched, and the color switching can be accurately performed. Compared with the color changing method by rotating the polarizing sheet in the prior art, the scheme of the present application is more energy-saving, has better practicality and flexibility, and the color control is more accurate and the color performance is more delicate and rich. According to the second aspect of the present application, by setting the mounting part matched with the elastic structure at the connecting bracket, the protective sleeve can be conveniently assembled to the electronic product, and the reverse operation can be performed when disassembling, without the need for tools, which is simple and easy to operate.
[0016] Further, the scheme of the present application can realize the purpose of color saturation by adjusting the second included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer, and the third included angle between the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer after the target initial color is selected, so as to obtain the best color saturation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 is a structural schematic view of a variable color liquid crystal optical device according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0018] Reference Signs:
[0019] 11-first polarizing layer, 21-first glass substrate, 31-first electrode structure, 41-first alignment layer, 50-liquid crystal layer, 32-second electrode structure, 22-second glass substrate, 12-second polarizing layer, 30-driving circuit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In order to make the above objectives, features and advantages of the present application more clear and easily understood, the detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present application is made below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a lot of specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different ways other than those described herein, and one of ordinary skill in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, and therefore the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0021] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "on" or "disposed on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can be intervening components. When a component is referred to as being "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there can be intervening components. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", and similar terms as used in the description of the specification are for the purpose of illustration only and do not indicate the only orientation of the embodiments.
[0022] In addition, the terms "first", "second", and the like, are used only to describe the features and do not indicate or imply relative importance or a number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first", "second" can include at least one of the features explicitly or implicitly. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited.
[0023] In the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the "on", "under", "above" and "over" of the first feature to the second feature can be that the first feature is directly in contact with the second feature, or the first feature is indirectly in contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the "on", "above" and "over" of the first feature to the second feature can be that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature. The "under", "below" and "under" of the first feature to the second feature can be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature is horizontally lower than the second feature.
[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the specification of the present application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used in the specification of the present application are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The term "and / or" used in the specification of the present application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.
[0025] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a variable color liquid crystal optical device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the variable color liquid crystal optical device includes a substrate 10, a first electrode 20, a second electrode 30, a liquid crystal layer 40, a first polarizer 50, a second polarizer 60, and a third polarizer 70. Figure 1As shown, in one embodiment, the variable color liquid crystal optical device includes a first polarizer layer 11, a first glass substrate 21, a first electrode structure 31, a first alignment layer 41, a liquid crystal layer 50, a second electrode structure 32, a second glass substrate 22 and a second polarizer layer 12 arranged in sequence. The first electrode structure 31 and the second electrode structure 32 form a voltage adjustable driving circuit 30 to change the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 50 by changing the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 50, to control the light flux by controlling the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules by the electric field, to achieve the change of color, which is the prior art in the art, and the specific structure and working principle of the driving circuit will not be described here. The material and thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 50, the rubbing direction F1 of the first alignment layer 41, the rubbing direction F2 of the second alignment layer 42, the first included angle A between the absorption axis of the first polarizer layer 11 and the absorption axis of the second polarizer layer 12 are determined according to the target initial color of the variable color liquid crystal optical device (i.e. the color presented after the light passes through the variable color liquid crystal optical device when the driving circuit 30 is not enabled). The material of the liquid crystal layer 50 can be TN, STN, IPS or VA, etc., or a mixture of different liquid crystal materials, etc. Other commonly used liquid crystal materials, the birefringence coefficient of the liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal layer 50 is any value in 0.1-0.3, for example, the birefringence coefficient is 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 or 0.3, or other values between 0.1-0.3. After setting the target initial color, the material of the liquid crystal layer 50, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 50, the rubbing direction F1, the rubbing direction F2 and the first included angle A can be set accordingly. This setting process can be performed by theoretical analysis or commonly used optical simulation software (such as LC Master). This variable color liquid crystal optical device can be applied to variable color glasses, variable color curtain walls, automobile glasses and other scenes.
[0026] The variable color liquid crystal optical device of the embodiment changes color according to the target initial color by selecting the material of the liquid crystal layer 50, setting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50, the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41, the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer 42, the first included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 and the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer 12, and then changing the electric field by controlling the voltage of the liquid crystal layer 50, controlling the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules, and controlling the light flux. This technology for realizing color display of the light source can realize the presentation of the target initial color by selecting the material of the liquid crystal layer 50, setting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50, the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41, the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer 42, the first included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 and the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer 12, and can obtain a higher saturation. Under the premise of this optimized structure arrangement, different colors can be switched by changing the voltage on the liquid crystal layer 50, and the color switching can be accurately performed. Compared with the color changing method by rotating the polarizing plate in the prior art, the scheme of the embodiment is more energy-saving, has better practicability and flexibility, and the color control is more accurate and the color performance is more delicate and rich.
[0027] In a further embodiment, the second included angle B between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 and the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41, and the third included angle C between the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer 12 and the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer 42 are determined according to the target initial color and the target saturation. That is, after the target initial color is selected, the purpose of color saturation can be achieved by adjusting the second included angle B and the third included angle C, so as to obtain the best color saturation.
[0028] In some embodiments, some functional coatings can be added outside the first polarizing layer 11 and the second polarizing layer 12 of the variable color liquid crystal optical device to meet different use scenarios, such as adding an anti-scratch layer, an anti-fouling layer, an anti-UV layer, etc. Correspondingly, materials commonly used in the art can be used.
[0029] Embodiment 1
[0030] The target initial color is green (referring to the color presented by the variable color liquid crystal optical device under sunlight), the material of the liquid crystal layer 50 is E7, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 50 is 3 μm, the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41 is parallel to the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer 42 (here, the included angle between the two rubbing directions is defined as the fourth included angle D, and D of the embodiment 1 is 0°), the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 is parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer 12 (equivalent to the first included angle A being 0°), and the second included angle B between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 and the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41 is 45°.
[0031] Example 1 The variable color liquid crystal optical device can present different colors by changing the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 50, for example, when the voltage is 0-0.9V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents green color; when the voltage is 0.9-1.2V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents purple color; when the voltage is 1.3-1.5V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents orange color; when the voltage is 1.6-1.8V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents yellow color; when the voltage is 1.9-2.8V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents dark blue color; when the voltage is 3-6V, the variable color liquid crystal optical device presents gray color.
[0032] Example 2
[0033] Example 1 and Example 2 are only different in that the target initial color is red, and the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer 11 is perpendicular to the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer 12 (equivalent to the first included angle A being 90°).
[0034] Example 3
[0035] Example 3 and Example 1 are only different in that the target initial color is yellow, and the material of the liquid crystal layer 50 is replaced by the liquid crystal material with the model number X3P-1018-000 of Yantai Xianhua Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
[0036] Example 4
[0037] Example 4 and Example 1 are only different in that the target initial color is red, and the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 50 is 6.5μm.
[0038] Comparative Example 1
[0039] Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 are only different in that the second included angle B is 90°.
[0040] Comparative Example 2
[0041] Comparative Example 1 and Example 2 are only different in that the second included angle B is 60°.
[0042] Comparative Example 3
[0043] Comparative Example 1 and Example 2 are only different in that the second included angle B is 90°.
[0044] Comparative Example 4
[0045] Comparative Example 1 and Example 2 are only different in that the second included angle B is 60°.
[0046] Comparative Example 5
[0047] Comparative Example 5 and Example 1 are only different in that the fourth included angle D is 45°.
[0048] The design parameters and color saturation comparison data of various embodiments and comparative examples are shown in Table 1 below:
[0049] Table 1
[0050]
[0051]
[0052] According to the comparison results of Example 1, Example 2, Example 3 and Example 4 in Table 1, by changing the first included angle A, replacing the material of the liquid crystal layer 50 or the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 50, the target initial color can be changed, and various colors are all saturated best when the second included angle is 45°.
[0053] According to the comparison results of Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 (or Example 2, Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 4) in Table 1, when the second included angle B is 90°, the saturation of the color is the worst, and when the second included angle B is 60°, the saturation of the color is in a good intermediate state.
[0054] According to the comparison results of Example 1 and Comparative Example 5 in Table 1, when the fourth included angle D is changed from 0° to 45°, the saturation of the color decreases significantly, specifically, the target initial color in Comparative Example 5 is a light green color with extremely low saturation, and the test results show that red, purple and blue colors cannot be presented during the adjustment of the voltage of the liquid crystal layer 50, and the saturation of other colors presented is also extremely low. It is illustrated that the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer 41 parallel to the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer 42 can obtain higher color saturation and more comprehensive color types.
[0055] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present application, and the description is more specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary skilled in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, which all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.
Claims
1. A variable color liquid crystal optical device, characterized by, The variable color liquid crystal optical device includes a first polarizing layer, a first glass substrate, a first electrode structure, a first alignment layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment layer, a second electrode structure, a second glass substrate, and a second polarizing layer arranged in a stack, wherein the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure form a voltage-adjustable driving circuit to change a deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, a first included angle between an absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and an absorption axis of the second polarizing layer is determined according to a target initial color of the variable color liquid crystal optical device.
2. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of claim 1, wherein, A second included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and a rubbing direction of the first alignment layer, and a third included angle between the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer and a rubbing direction of the second alignment layer are determined according to the target initial color and a target saturation.
3. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of claim 1, wherein, The rubbing direction of the first alignment layer is parallel to the rubbing direction of the second alignment layer.
4. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of any of claims 1-3, wherein, A birefringence coefficient of a liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal layer is any value in 0.1-0.
3.
5. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of claim 4, wherein, The absorption axis of the first polarizing layer is perpendicular or parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizing layer.
6. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of claim 5, wherein, The second included angle between the absorption axis of the first polarizing layer and the rubbing direction of the first alignment layer is 45°.
7. The variable color liquid crystal optical device of any of claims 1-3, wherein, The variable color liquid crystal optical device is used as a lens.