A PDLC glass structure for use on an automotive window

Abstract

A kind of PDLC glass structure for car window, including upper surface layer, transparent upper base layer, transparent upper conductive layer, PDLC functional layer by liquid crystal and polymer mixed solidification, transparent lower conductive layer, transparent lower base layer, lower surface layer arranged in sequence, the upper base layer and lower base layer are formed into PDLC dimming film by being interposed in upper conductive layer, PDLC functional layer, lower conductive layer, upper surface layer and lower surface layer are transparent plastic layer by PMMA or PC material injection molding, the upper surface layer is attached on the upper surface of PDLC dimming film, and the lower surface layer is attached on the lower surface of PDLC dimming film.The utility model has the advantages of: while ensuring the transparency of surface layer, reduce surface layer weight, realize the lightweight of surface layer structure;Meanwhile, transparent plastic layer can be formed by injection molding, can ensure the curvature consistency of surface layer, surface layer structure is formed fast, easy to make, product consistency is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive window technology, and more particularly to a PDLC glass structure for automotive windows. Background Technology

[0002] PDLC is an abbreviation for polymer dispersed liquid crystal. It consists of liquid crystals dispersed in micron-sized droplets within an organic solid polymer matrix. Because the optical axes of these droplets, composed of liquid crystal molecules, are freely oriented, their refractive indices do not match those of the matrix. When light passes through the matrix, it is strongly scattered by the droplets, resulting in an opaque, milky-white or translucent state. Applying an electric field can adjust the optical axis orientation of the liquid crystal droplets. When the refractive indices of both are matched, a transparent state is achieved. Removing the electric field restores the liquid crystal droplets to their original scattered light state, thus enabling display. The most remarkable and common application of PDLC is in smart dimming films or smart glass: when no electricity is applied, it is opaque and frosted; when electricity is applied, it becomes clear and transparent.

[0003] PDLC (Polydioxanone Liquid Crystal) dimming glass is an end-use product made by sandwiching a PDLC dimming film between two layers of glass and pressing it in a high-pressure autoclave in one step. Currently, PDLC technology is used in some car models, such as Porsche, the M9, and Voyah, mainly in sunroofs and side panels.

[0004] PDLC technology requires continuous power to maintain its transparent state, but its power consumption is very low, about 2 to 3W in the transparent state. Its dimming state usually involves switching between two modes: transparent and fogging. It cannot steplessly adjust the depth of light like some other technologies.

[0005] Currently, PDLC products used in automotive sunroofs and sides are made of glass on both the inner and outer surfaces. The glass requires hot bending, which is a complex process. It is difficult to ensure the consistency of hot bending. After hot bending, the product still needs to be cut and ground, and the fine grinding and polishing efficiency is low. In addition, the overall weight is heavy after the dimming film is sandwiched between the upper and lower glass, which is not conducive to the lightweight design of the vehicle. Therefore, this technology needs further improvement.

[0006] A Chinese invention patent with patent number CN202210667929.4, entitled "A Dye-Based PDLC Material Composition and a PDLC Dimming Film," discloses a dye-based PDLC material composition and a PDLC dimming film. The dye-based PDLC material composition comprises the following components: 40-70 wt% liquid crystal composition; 0.1-8 wt% anthraquinone dichroic dye; 10-50 wt% reactive diluent; 5-30 wt% prepolymer; 0.02-3 wt% photoinitiator; 0-5 wt% light stabilizer; 0.1-0.9 wt% spacer particles; and 0-15 wt% chiral agent. The PDLC dimming film exhibits an on-state haze of less than 5%, an off-state haze of greater than 90%, and a full-light dimming range of 16-55%. The patented PDLC dimming film has a wide full-light dimming range, low haze in the on state and high haze in the off state. This dimming film can be gray or customized in single colors such as red, yellow, blue, and green, meeting the visual requirements of architecture, automobiles, high-speed rail, and aircraft. However, this dimming film does not solve the drawback of requiring hot-bent glass when manufacturing dimming glass; therefore, the structure of this dimming film needs further improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a PDLC glass structure for automobile windows that is fast in surface structure formation, easy to manufacture, has good product consistency, and can achieve lightweighting of car windows, in light of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: This PDLC glass structure for automobile windows includes an upper surface layer, a transparent upper base layer, a transparent upper conductive layer, a PDLC functional layer formed by mixing and curing liquid crystal and polymer, a transparent lower conductive layer, a transparent lower base layer, and a lower surface layer arranged sequentially. The upper base layer and the lower base layer sandwich the upper conductive layer, the PDLC functional layer, and the lower conductive layer in the middle to form a PDLC dimming film. The upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are transparent plastic layers injection molded from PMMA or PC material. The upper surface layer is attached to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film, and the lower surface layer is attached to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

[0009] As an improvement, the upper surface layer can preferably be bonded to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or the upper surface layer can preferably be directly heat-fused and fixed to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film.

[0010] As a further improvement, the upper surface layer can preferably be bonded to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film using EVA or PVB adhesive. EVA or PVB adhesives have high transparency and strong adhesion, facilitating the bonding of the upper surface layer.

[0011] As an improvement, the lower surface layer can preferably be bonded to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or the lower surface layer can preferably be directly heat-fused and fixed to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

[0012] As a further improvement, the lower surface layer can preferably be bonded to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film using EVA or PVB adhesive. EVA or PVB adhesives have high transparency and strong adhesion, facilitating the bonding of the lower surface layer.

[0013] As an improvement, the thickness of the upper and lower surface layers is preferably 5-6 mm. Appropriate thickness increases the impact resistance of the upper and lower surface layers, making them safer to use, while still allowing for a lighter weight compared to using glass.

[0014] As an improvement, the upper substrate is preferably a transparent film layer made of PET material. High transparency and high hardness facilitate the adhesion of the conductive layer.

[0015] As an improvement, the lower substrate can preferably be a transparent film layer made of PET material. High transparency and high hardness facilitate the adhesion of the conductive layer.

[0016] As an improvement, the upper conductive layer is preferably an upper transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the upper substrate. It has high transparency and good conductivity.

[0017] As an improvement, the lower conductive layer is preferably a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the lower substrate. It has high transparency and good conductivity.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: the upper and lower surface layers are transparent plastic layers injection molded from PMMA or PC materials, which reduces the weight of the surface layer while ensuring its transparency, thus achieving lightweighting of the surface structure and reducing the overall weight of the car window; at the same time, the transparent plastic layer can be injection molded in one step, which can ensure the uniform curvature of the surface layer. Moreover, the surface structure after injection molding only needs to be polished at the material head, eliminating the need for a large number of chamfering, edge grinding, fine polishing and other operations required during glass manufacturing. The surface structure is quick to form, easy to manufacture and has good product consistency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the application of this technology in automobiles;

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure before cutting after the middle surface layer injection molding is completed;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the PDLC glass structure for automotive windows in this embodiment includes, in sequence, an upper surface layer 1, a transparent upper base layer 2, a transparent upper conductive layer 3, a PDLC functional layer 4 formed by mixing and curing liquid crystal and polymer, a transparent lower conductive layer 5, a transparent lower base layer 6, and a lower surface layer 7. The upper base layer 2 and the lower base layer 6 sandwich the upper conductive layer 3, the PDLC functional layer 4, and the lower conductive layer 5 to form a PDLC dimming film. The upper surface layer 1 and the lower surface layer 7 are transparent plastic layers injection molded from PMMA or PC material. The upper surface layer 1 is attached to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film, and the lower surface layer 7 is attached to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film. The specific method for fabricating the PDLC functional layer 4 by mixing and curing liquid crystal and polymer is prior art and will not be described further. Similarly, the specific method for sandwiching and fixing the PDLC functional layer 4 between the upper base layer 2 and the lower base layer 6 is also prior art and will not be described further.

[0025] The upper surface layer 1 is bonded to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or with EVA or PVB adhesive.

[0026] The lower surface layer 7 is bonded to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or with EVA or PVB adhesive. Figure 1 The number 8 indicates the upper adhesive layer 8, and the number 9 indicates the lower adhesive layer 9.

[0027] The thickness of the upper layer 1 and the lower layer 7 is 5-6 mm. The upper base layer 2 is a transparent film layer made of PET material. The lower base layer 6 is a transparent film layer made of PET material. The upper conductive layer 3 is a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the upper base layer 2. The lower conductive layer 5 is a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the lower base layer 6.

[0028] The car window can be a side window 11 or a sunroof 12. The upper surface layer 1 and the lower surface layer 7 are directly injection molded in one step by an injection molding machine. After the upper surface layer 1 and the lower surface layer 7 are cut from the injection molded part, only the material head position k needs to be ground to meet the surface shape requirements. There is no need for chamfering, edge grinding, and fine polishing as with hot-bent glass.

[0029] like Figure 4As shown, the PDLC glass structure for automotive windows in this embodiment includes an upper surface layer 1, a transparent upper base layer 2, a transparent upper conductive layer 3, a PDLC functional layer 4 formed by mixing and curing liquid crystal and polymer, a transparent lower conductive layer 5, a transparent lower base layer 6, and a lower surface layer 7 arranged sequentially. The upper base layer 2 and the lower base layer 6 sandwich the upper conductive layer 3, the PDLC functional layer 4, and the lower conductive layer 5 in the middle to form a PDLC dimming film. The upper surface layer 1 and the lower surface layer 7 are transparent plastic layers injection molded from PMMA or PC material. The upper surface layer 1 is attached to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film, and the lower surface layer 7 is attached to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

[0030] The upper layer 1 is directly heat-fused and fixed to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film. The lower layer 7 is directly heat-fused and fixed to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

[0031] The thickness of the upper layer 1 and the lower layer 7 is 5-6 mm. The upper base layer 2 is a transparent film layer made of PET material. The lower base layer 6 is a transparent film layer made of PET material. The upper conductive layer 3 is a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the upper base layer 2. The lower conductive layer 5 is a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the lower base layer 6.

Claims

1. A PDLC glass structure for automotive windows, comprising, sequentially arranged, an upper surface layer (1), a transparent upper base layer (2), a transparent upper conductive layer (3), a PDLC functional layer (4) formed by mixing and curing liquid crystal and polymer, a transparent lower conductive layer (5), a transparent lower base layer (6), and a lower surface layer (7), wherein the upper base layer (2) and the lower base layer (6) sandwich the upper conductive layer (3), the PDLC functional layer (4), and the lower conductive layer (5) to form a PDLC dimming film, characterized in that: The upper surface layer (1) and the lower surface layer (7) are transparent plastic layers injection molded from PMMA or PC material. The upper surface layer (1) is attached to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film, and the lower surface layer (7) is attached to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

2. The PDLC glass structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface layer (1) is bonded to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or the upper surface layer (1) is directly heat-fused to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film.

3. The PDLC glass structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper surface layer (1) is bonded to the upper surface of the PDLC dimming film by EVA glue or PVB glue.

4. The PDLC glass structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower surface layer (7) is bonded to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film with transparent adhesive, or the lower surface layer (7) is directly heat-fused to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film.

5. The PDLC glass structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower surface layer (7) is bonded to the lower surface of the PDLC dimming film with EVA glue or PVB glue.

6. The PDLC glass structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The thickness of the upper surface layer (1) and the lower surface layer (7) is 5-6 mm.

7. The PDLC glass structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The upper base layer (2) is a transparent film layer made of PET material.

8. The PDLC glass structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The lower base layer (6) is a transparent film layer made of PET material.

9. The PDLC glass structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The upper conductive layer (3) is an upper transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the upper base layer (2).

10. The PDLC glass structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The lower conductive layer (5) is a transparent conductive layer formed by electroplating ITO material onto the lower base layer (6).

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