Optical laminate and sunroof comprising the same

Abstract

To provide an optical laminate and a sunroof comprising the same.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a variable transmittance optical laminate and a sunroof comprising the same. The variable transmittance optical laminate comprises a light control laminate including an electric field-driven liquid crystal provided between polarizing plates, and a louver film provided on at least a portion of the light control laminate on a cabin side, the louver film having a light shielding pattern that is inclined at a given angle relative to an adhered surface in a vertical cross-section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1a

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical laminate and a sunroof including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, an external light blocking coating is often applied to the glass window of a moving means such as a vehicle. However, the transmittance of the glass window of a conventional moving means is fixed, and the transmittance of the external light blocking coating is also fixed. Therefore, the overall transmittance of such a conventional window of a moving means is fixed, which may induce an accident. For example, when the overall transmittance is set low, there is no problem during the daytime when the amount of light in the surroundings is sufficient. However, in the case of nighttime when the amount of light in the surroundings is not sufficient, there is a problem that it is only difficult for a driver or the like to properly check the surroundings of the moving means. Or when the overall transmittance is set high, there is a problem that it may cause glare to a driver or the like during the daytime when the amount of light in the surroundings is sufficient. When a voltage is applied thereto, a transmissivity variable optical laminate capable of changing the light transmissibility has been developed.

[0003] On the other hand, in a social atmosphere where privacy protection is emphasized, there have been attempts to impart an antireflection function to a glass window. Particularly in the case of a sunroof of a vehicle, when operating at night, there is a problem that the reflected image of the front seat panel reflected on the sunroof causes glare in the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat. Accordingly, when applying a transmissivity variable optical laminate to a sunroof or the like, it is necessary to improve not only the transmissivity adjustment function but also the antireflection function for nighttime operation and the like.

[0004] Thereby, a technique of adhering a coating having an antireflection function on one or both surfaces of an optical laminate has been developed. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-0028992 discloses a window glass having an antireflection coating, and specifically relates to a window glass including two or more layers of materials having high and low refractive indexes.

[0005] However, when a multilayer coating layer is incorporated to impart such an anti-reflection function, there are drawbacks that the thickness of the optical laminate increases and the transmittance adjustment performance deteriorates, or the manufacturing process becomes complicated. Further, when such a coating is applied to a laminate that essentially includes a liquid crystal layer and a polarizing plate and includes an electric field-driven liquid crystal between the polarizing plates, the overall thickness of the laminate becomes excessively thick and is not suitable for application to vehicles or buildings.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to develop an optical laminate that has an anti-reflection function without reducing the transmittance of external light, has a thin thickness, and is advantageous in bending characteristics, and a sunroof including the same.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical laminate that has an anti-reflection function without reducing the transmittance of external light, has a thin thickness, and is advantageous in bending characteristics, and a sunroof including the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light-adjustable laminate including an electric field-driven liquid crystal between polarizing plates; and a transmittance-variable optical laminate including a louver film disposed on at least a part of the indoor side of the light-adjustable laminate, wherein the louver film includes a light-shielding pattern, and the light-shielding pattern is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the light-shielding pattern may be such that, in a vertical cross-section, the length a obtained by projecting the inclined surface of the light-shielding pattern onto the adherend surface is 5 to 50% of the light-shielding portion ω1.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the variable transmittance optical laminate may have a maximum viewing angle range for the reflected image of 40° to 75°, and the viewing angle θ1 for the reflected image is the angle of the reflected image with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the variable transmittance optical laminate may have a maximum viewing angle range for external light transmitted from the outside of 60° to 85°, and the viewing angle θ2 for the external light is the angle of the external light with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the light-shielding pattern may be formed by laminating at least partially shifted two or more unit patterns.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the louver film includes the intervals between the patterns where the light-shielding pattern is not formed; and the light-shielding portions where the light-shielding pattern is formed. When the height of the light-shielding pattern is h and the light-shielding portion is ω1, h / ω1 is 0.5 to 4.0, and when the interval between the patterns is ω2 and the vertical light-transmitting portion is ω3, the aperture ratio p defined by ω3 / (ω2 + ω1)×100 (%) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the plane may be 70% or more.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the light-shielding pattern may protrude toward the indoor side.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dimming laminate includes a first polarizing plate, a first transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the first polarizing plate, and a second polarizing plate facing the first polarizing plate. A light control laminate including a second transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the second polarizing plate and facing the first transparent conductive layer, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, wherein at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer may be formed in direct contact with one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer may include one or more selected from the group consisting of a transparent conductive oxide, a metal, a carbon-based material, a conductive polymer, a conductive ink, and a nanowire.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate may include one or more functional layers selected from the group consisting of a protective layer, a retardation adjusting layer, and a refractive index adjusting layer.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate may have a thickness of 30 μm to 200 μm.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer may include one or more spacers selected from the group consisting of a ball spacer and a column spacer.

[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, an alignment film may be further included on both surfaces of the liquid crystal layer.

[0022] The present invention provides a sunroof including the variable transmittance optical laminate.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention, a louver film including a light-shielding pattern protruding toward the indoor side exhibits an excellent antireflection function without reducing the transmittance of external light.

[0024] According to the optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transparent conductive layer is formed from a separate base material and is not attached to the polarizing plate, but the transparent conductive layer is directly formed on the polarizing plate itself and directly contacted, thereby realizing a form that can provide an optical laminate with a thin overall thickness and advantageous bending characteristics.

[0025] Furthermore, as described above, when the overall thickness of the optical laminate is reduced, when applying the louver film having the unique structure of the present invention, there is an advantage that not only the antireflection function but also the transmittance adjustment function can be maximized.

[0026] Furthermore, when applying the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention as a sunroof, when operating at night, it is possible to improve the phenomenon that the reflected image of the front seat panel reflected on the sunroof induces glare in the field of view of the passengers in the rear seats.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

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[0028] The present invention relates to a variable transmittance optical laminate, a smart window, and a sunroof that not only have a thin thickness and advantageous bending characteristics, but also can effectively adjust the transmittance of external light and have an antireflection function, thus epoch-makingly improving the glare induced by the reflected image of the front seat panel reflected on the sunroof in the field of view of the occupants in the rear seats during night driving.

[0029] More specifically, the main feature of the present invention is that it can adjust the range of the viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image by including a light-shielding pattern arranged to protrude toward the interior side.

[0030] The variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is particularly suitable for the technical field in which the light transmissivity can be changed by applying a voltage, and can be used, for example, in a smart window.

[0031] A smart window means an optical structure that controls the amount of light or heat transmitted by changing the light transmissivity by applying an electrical signal. That is, a smart window is provided so that it can be changed to a transparent, opaque, or translucent state by a voltage, and is also called variable transmittance glass, dimming glass, or smart glass.

[0032] A smart window may be used for partitioning the interior space of vehicles and buildings or for privacy protection partitions, or may be used for daylighting windows arranged in the openings of buildings. It may also be used for highway display boards, bulletin boards, scoreboards, clocks, or advertising screens, and can replace the glass of transportation means such as windows or sunroofs of automobiles, buses, airplanes, ships, or trains.

[0033] Although the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention can also be applied to smart windows in the various technical fields described above, since the conductive layer is formed directly on the polarizing plate, it does not include a separate substrate for forming the conductive layer, so it has a thin thickness and is advantageous in bending characteristics, and can be particularly preferably used for smart windows for vehicles or buildings. In one or more embodiments, a smart window to which the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is applied can be used for transportation means, for example, the front window, rear window, side window, and sunroof window of an automobile, or building fixtures, etc. In addition to the use for blocking external light, it can also be used for partitioning the internal space or protecting privacy inside an automobile or building, such as internal partitions, and can also be used for wearable devices such as helmets, glasses, or watches. More specifically, the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is characterized in that it can not only adjust the external light transmitted therethrough, but also block the light reflected at adjacent positions, maximizing the privacy protection function. In particular, when the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is applied to the sunroof of a vehicle, not only is it thin in thickness and advantageous in bending characteristics, but it also has an anti-reflection function without reducing the transmittance of external light. Therefore, when operating at night, it has the advantage of significantly improving the glare induced by the reflected image of the front seat panel reflected by the sunroof in the field of view of the passengers in the rear seat.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings. However, the following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the above-described content of the invention, serve to better understand the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to the matters described in these drawings.

[0035] The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specifically stated in the text. For example, the "polarizing plate" used in this specification may mean at least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate, and the "transparent conductive layer" may mean at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.

[0036] As used in this specification, "comprises" and / or "comprising" are used in the sense of not excluding the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and / or elements other than the recited components, steps, operations and / or elements. The same reference numerals throughout the specification refer to the same components.

[0037] Spatially relative terms such as "under", "bottom surface", "lower part", "above", "upper surface", "upper part", etc. can be used to easily describe the correlation between one element or component and another element or component as shown in the drawings. Spatially relative terms should be understood as terms including different directions of the elements relative to each other during use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings. For example, when covering an element shown in the drawings, the element described as "under" or "lower part" of another element may be placed "above" the other element. Therefore, the exemplary term "under" may include both the downward and upward directions. The element can also be oriented in other directions, whereby the spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to the orientation.

[0038] As used herein, the "plane direction" can be interpreted as the direction perpendicular to the polarizing plate and / or the transparent conductive layer, that is, the direction viewed from the user's viewing side. Also, the "vertical direction" as used herein may be the thickness direction of the polarizing plate and / or the transparent conductive layer, that is, the direction perpendicular to the direction viewed from the user's viewing side with respect to the "plane direction". Further, the "vertical cross-section" can mean the cross-section when the transmissivity variable optical laminate of the present invention is cut in the vertical direction.

[0039] As used herein, the "indoor side" can mean the viewing side of the main user. For example, when the transmissivity variable optical laminate is applied to a vehicle, it can mean the inside of the vehicle, which is the viewing side of the passenger. When the transmissivity variable optical laminate is applied to a building, it can mean the inside of the building, which is the viewing layer of the user inside the building, but is not limited thereto. The "outdoor side" or "outside" is a concept in contrast to the indoor side and can mean the opposite side of the main user's viewing side with respect to the variable optical laminate.

[0040] <Transmissivity variable optical laminate> FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b are diagrams showing the laminated structure of a transmissivity variable optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention. (An inclined light-shielding pattern, not shown)

[0041] The transmissivity variable optical laminate of the present invention includes a dimming laminate 100 containing an electric field-driven liquid crystal between polarizing plates; and a louver film 700 disposed on at least a part of the indoor side of the dimming laminate. The louver film 700 includes a light-shielding pattern 720, and the light-shielding pattern 720 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adhesion surface in a vertical cross-section.

[0042] The adherend surface of the present invention means the layer to which the light-shielding pattern 720 of the louver film 700 is attached. As an example, when the light-shielding pattern 720 of the louver film 700 of the present invention is directly formed on the light-adjusting laminate 100 without an additional base material or film, the adherend surface may be one surface of the light-adjusting laminate 100, preferably, one indoor surface of the light-adjusting laminate 100, and may be, for example, a polarizing plate 200, a polarizer 210, a protective layer 220, a laminated retardation adjusting layer 230 or a refractive index adjusting layer 240. In another example of the present invention, when the light-shielding pattern 720 of the louver film 700 of the present invention is formed on an additional base material or film such as a transparent film and attached to the light-adjusting laminate, the adherend surface may be an additional base material or film such as a transparent film.

[0043] Louver film 700 FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are diagrams showing the structure of a louver film according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] The variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention includes a louver film 700 disposed on at least a part of the indoor side of the light-adjusting laminate, and the louver film 700 necessarily includes a light-shielding pattern 720.

[0045] The louver film 700 of the present invention may not further include an additional base material or film for supporting the light-shielding pattern 720 in addition to the light-shielding pattern 720. In this case, the light-shielding pattern 720 may be directly formed on one surface of the light-adjusting laminate 100. In this case, the light-shielding pattern 720 is formed on one indoor surface of the light-adjusting laminate 100 and is formed so as to protrude toward the indoor side. The louver film 700 of the present invention can also directly form the light-shielding pattern 720 on one indoor surface of the light-adjusting laminate 100. In this case, there is an advantage that the overall thickness of the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention can be minimized, and after forming a pattern including a separation layer in advance, a method of transferring it with an adherend surface and an adhesive interposed therebetween can be used. At this time, the thinner the thickness of the adhesive, the thinner the overall thickness of the variable transmittance optical laminate.

[0046] In addition, as shown in FIG. 1b, the louver film 700 of the present invention can further include an additional base material or film for supporting the light-shielding pattern 720, and preferably, can further include a transparent film.

[0047] The light-shielding pattern 720 is characterized in that it is inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section. The fact that the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section means that it includes the case where it is substantially inclined. The meaning of being substantially inclined in the present invention means that, as an overall image shown by two or more light-shielding patterns 720, for example, when there is a multi-layer light-shielding pattern as will be described later, the overall image connecting one point on the outside of these may be inclined in the direction facing the user in a vertical cross-section.

[0048] Specifically, referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the louver film 700 of the present invention includes an image in which light-shielding patterns 720 having a predetermined height h are repeatedly formed at a predetermined interval ω2, and at this time, by forming the light-shielding patterns 720 to be inclined, it can include a vertical light transmission portion ω3 between the inclined light-shielding patterns and a light-shielding portion ω1 by the light-shielding patterns.

[0049] More specifically, the fact that the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adherend surface in a vertical cross-section may mean that it forms an angle that is not perpendicular to the adherend surface. More specifically, the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention may be inclined in the direction facing the user in a vertical cross-section. As an example, when the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is applied to a sunroof of a vehicle, the light-shielding pattern 720 may be inclined in the direction facing the occupant of the rear seat. Thereby, it has the advantage of minimizing the transmittance loss of external light to the occupant of the rear seat of the vehicle and significantly improving the glare induced by the reflected image in the field of view of the occupant of the rear seat.

[0050] The light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention is inclined and may be single-layer or multi-layer.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a view showing the angle between the light-shielding pattern of the present invention and the adherend surface when the light-shielding pattern is single-layer. When the light-shielding pattern is single-layer, the light-shielding pattern may be one of a polygon, a circle, a semi-circle, a dotted line, a straight line, a slanted line, a wavy line, a serrated line, and a lattice pattern, and the cross-sectional form is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present application are achieved. Preferably, the cross-section of the light-shielding pattern may be an inclined quadrangular form as shown in FIG. 3, whereby a light-shielding pattern inclined at a predetermined angle θ can be embodied.

[0052] The angle between the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention and the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section may be the same or different from each other depending on the position. As an example, when the transmissivity variable optical laminate of the present invention is applied to a sunroof of a vehicle, the angle between the light-shielding pattern 720 and the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section may be such that the angle increases as it approaches the occupant of the rear seat of the vehicle, or the angle may decrease as it is farther from the occupant of the rear seat, but is not limited thereto. In this case, the transmissivity of external light to the occupant of the rear seat of the vehicle can be more efficiently improved.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a view showing the unit pattern of the light-shielding pattern when the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is multi-layer. When the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is multi-layer, two or more unit patterns are laminated with a shift from each other, and a light-shielding pattern inclined in a predetermined direction as a whole can be configured. The meaning of being laminated with a shift in the present invention may mean that the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is laminated so as to be inclined as a whole. The unit pattern may have a cross-section that is polygonal, circular, or semi-circular, and preferably may be in a quadrangular form. In this case, it is possible to embody a light-shielding pattern with an inclined cross-section by a photolithography method, and the manufacturing advantages are great.

[0054] More specifically, in FIG. 5, the light-shielding pattern has a multi-layer structure of three layers, and includes a first unit pattern 721, a second unit pattern 722, and a third unit pattern 723. This is merely for explaining one aspect of the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto. When the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is multi-layered, the overall shape of the light-shielding pattern of the present invention, the angle between them, the interval between the patterns ω2, and the height h can be adjusted by adjusting the width ω1 of a plurality of unit patterns, the height of each, the number of stacked layers, the degree of displacement from each other, etc. Thus, the transmittance variable optical laminate of the present invention can adjust the range of the viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the range of the viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light.

[0055] FIGS. 5a and 5b are diagrams showing the substantial inclination formed by the unit patterns. As described above, the fact that the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention is inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section means that it includes being substantially inclined. As an example, when the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is multi-layered, a line connecting one point of the outermost contour of each of two or more unit patterns constituting the light-shielding pattern (FIG. 5a) or a line connecting the centers of each of two or more unit patterns constituting the light-shielding pattern (FIG. 5b) may be inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the adherend surface.

[0056] FIG. 5c is a diagram showing an example of adjusting the substantial inclination of the light-shielding pattern of the present invention by adjusting the degree of displacement from each other of a plurality of unit patterns when the light-shielding pattern of the present invention is multi-layered.

[0057] The light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention may protrude toward the indoor side. The viewing angle θ1 cutoff function with respect to the reflected image of the variable optical laminate of the present invention with such a shape will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 and the like.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the progress of reflected light of the transmittance variable optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 6, the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention projects toward the indoor side, so that the reflected image can be blocked by the side surface of the light-shielding pattern 720. Thereby, only the reflected images not blocked by the side surface of the light-shielding pattern 720 are visible, and the viewing angle θ1 range of the reflected image can be adjusted.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the progress of external light of the transmissivity variable optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, by embodying the light-shielding pattern 720 of the present invention in a form inclined at a predetermined angle θ in a vertical cross-section, the transmittance loss of external light in the inclined direction can be minimized.

[0061] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing reflected light when the viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image is maximum in a transmissivity variable optical laminate in which the light-shielding pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention is substantially inclined in a single layer or multiple layers.

[0062] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention constituted by a single-layer or multi-layer light-shielding pattern, in a vertical cross-section with respect to the adherend surface, the pattern is formed at a predetermined interval ω2. At this time, the length of the inclined surface of the light-shielding pattern projected onto the adherend surface in the form of a substantially inclined pattern is referred to as the inclined surface projection length a. Referring to FIG. 8, the inclined surface projection length a can be said to be obtained by subtracting the vertical light transmission portion ω3 from the interval ω2 between the patterns. The inclined surface projection length a may be 5 to 50% of the light-shielding portion ω1. When the pattern sizes are the same, the smaller the angle θ at which the light-shielding pattern is substantially inclined with respect to the adherend surface, the longer the inclined surface projection length a.

[0063] The transmissivity variable optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention can adjust the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to the external light by the light-shielding portion ω1 of the adjacent light-shielding patterns, the interval ω2 between the patterns, the height h of the light-shielding pattern, and / or the inclined surface projection length a.

[0064] As an example, when the light-shielding portion ω1 is the same, the angular field range θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the angular field range θ2 with respect to external light can be adjusted by the interval ω2 between the patterns, the height h of the light-shielding pattern, and / or the inclined surface projection length a. As an example, referring to the experimental example of the present invention, when the light-shielding portion ω1 is the same, the smaller the width of the interval ω2 between the patterns and the larger the height h of the light-shielding pattern, the smaller the maximum angular field θ1 with respect to the reflected image. Also, when the light-shielding portion ω1 is the same, the smaller the width of the interval ω2 between the patterns and the larger the height h of the light-shielding pattern, the smaller the maximum angular field θ2 with respect to external light.

[0065] Further, when the light-shielding portion ω1 is the same, the angular field range θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the angular field range θ2 with respect to external light can be adjusted by the light-shielding portion ω1 and the height h of the light-shielding pattern.

[0066] Also, for the height h of the light-shielding pattern and the light-shielding portion ω1, h / ω1 can satisfy 0.5 to 4.0. For the interval ω2 between the patterns and the vertical light transmission portion ω3, the aperture ratio p defined by ω3 / (ω2 + ω1)×100 (%) based on the direction perpendicular to the plane may be 70% or more. At this time, the pattern shape can be determined by specifying the range of each value according to the relationship that satisfies all of h, ω1, and p.

[0067] When the aperture ratio p of the louver film 700 of the present invention in the planar direction is 70% or more, there is an advantage that the antireflection performance on the surface of the light control laminate can be ensured and the transmittance can be maintained high in the transmission mode of the light control laminate. Generally, when the aperture ratio p of the louver film 700 is low, the transmittance deteriorates. However, in the case of the present application, since the light-shielding pattern is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section, when the main user is located on the indoor side in the inclined direction, a relatively high transmittance can be achieved even when the aperture ratio is low.

[0068] In the present invention, as described above, the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light, which are set by the light-shielding portions ω1, light-transmitting portions ω2 of adjacent light-shielding patterns, the height h of the light-shielding pattern, and / or the inclined surface projected length a, can more precisely maximize the anti-reflection function and external light transmission function with respect to any image on the indoor side when considering both the distance from the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention to the main user located on the indoor side and / or the line-of-sight height of the main user.

[0069] In an example of the present invention, when the dimming laminate of the present invention is applied to a sunroof of a vehicle, the line-of-sight height of the main user can be the straight-line distance (D1 in FIG. 9) from the ceiling of the vehicle to the field of view of the vehicle occupant, preferably the occupant in the rear seat. The distance from the variable transmittance optical laminate to the main user located on the indoor side can be the shortest distance (L' in FIG. 9) from the center between adjacent light-shielding patterns to the position of the main user.

[0070] In an example of the present invention, when setting the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light such that the line-of-sight position of the main user located on the indoor side from the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention deviates from the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and is included within the range of the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light, the anti-reflection function and external light transmission function with respect to any image on the indoor side can be maximized. Thus, the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light of the present invention may be set such that the line-of-sight position of the main user located on the indoor side from the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention deviates from the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image and is included within the range of the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light, and the light-shielding portion ω1, light-transmitting portion ω2 of the light-shielding pattern of the louver film of the present invention and / or the height h of the light-shielding pattern and / or the inclined surface projected length a may be set to achieve such a viewing angle range.

[0071] More specifically, referring to FIG. 9 showing an example of the present invention, for a variable transmittance optical laminate having an arbitrary light-shielding pattern, light starting from the front seat panel of a vehicle and forming a maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to a reflected image in the field of view of a seated person arrives at a point that is not the center of the interval ω2 between patterns but a point shifted by a, which is the projected length of the inclined surface of the light-shielding pattern.

[0072] As an example of the present invention, the range θ1 of the maximum viewing angle with respect to the reflected image may be from 40° to 75°, and the viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image is the angle of the reflected image with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate.

[0073] As an example of the present invention, the range of the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light transmitted from the outside may be from 60° to 85°, and the viewing angle θ2 with respect to the external light is the angle of the external light with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adherend surface in the vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate.

[0074] In an example of the present invention, when the dimming laminate of the present invention is applied to a sunroof of a vehicle, in order not to reduce the transmittance of external light without inducing glare in the field of view of a seated person in the rear seat due to a reflected image on the indoor side such as a front seat panel, the range of the field of view of the seated person in the rear seat is important. Therefore, the range where the field of view of the seated person in the rear seat is located must be adjusted so as to include the viewing angle range θ2 with respect to external light and not include the viewing angle range θ1 with respect to the reflected image.

[0075] The appropriate curvature range of the variable transmittance optical laminate applied to the vehicle can be varied depending on the height of the vehicle body, the seat height of the seated person, etc., but may be affected by the ceiling height. The ceiling height means the vertical distance from the eye height of the seated person in the rear seat to the innermost surface on the indoor side of the ceiling, and specifically, this can satisfy 300 mm to 600 mm, preferably 300 mm to 500 mm. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the transmissivity variable optical laminate. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, the height h of the light-shielding pattern, the light-shielding portion ω1, the interval ω2 between the patterns, and the inclined surface projection length a are described in more detail so as not to reduce the transmissivity of outside light without inducing glare in the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat by the reflected image of the front seat panel.

[0076] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a reflected image (dotted arrow) starting from the front seat panel and arriving at the field of view of the occupant, and outside light (solid arrow) transmitted outside and arriving at the field of view of the occupant. For example, the interval ω2 between the patterns where no light-shielding pattern is formed on the louver film, the straight-line distance L' from the point where the light starting from the front seat panel arrives at the transmissivity variable optical laminate to the ceiling of the occupant in the rear seat, the distance D2 from the point where the outside light arrives at the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat to the ceiling of the occupant in the rear seat, and the distance D1 from the point where the reflected light arrives at the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat to the ceiling of the occupant in the rear seat, the D1 - D2 value means ΔD. The ΔD value is the range of the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat where the reflected image of the front seat panel does not induce glare in the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat and does not reduce the transmissivity of outside light, and the field of view of the occupant in the rear seat can be located within the range of ΔD.

[0077] The ΔD value is the range of the subject's field of view where the reflected image does not induce glare in the subject's field of view and does not reduce the transmissivity of outside light. Specifically, when the position of the eyes is within the ΔD range, only the outside light is visually recognized without the reflected light being visually recognized, and when outside the ΔD range, not only the outside light but also the reflected light is visually recognized. As an example, assuming that the transmissivity variable optical laminate of the present invention is applied to the sunroof of a vehicle, it is preferable that the range from 300 mm to 500 mm, which is the vertical distance from the eye height of the occupant in the rear seat to the innermost surface on the indoor side of the ceiling (transmissivity variable optical laminate), overlaps with the ΔD value range.

[0078] The ΔD value can be determined according to the light-shielding portion ω1 of the light-shielding pattern, the interval ω2 between patterns, the height h of the light-shielding pattern, and the inclined surface projection length a. Specifically, the viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image is tan^(-1)(ω2 / 2h), the viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light is tan^(-1)((ω2 + a) / h), the distance D1 from the point where the reflected light reaches the field of view of the seated person in the rear seat to the ceiling of the seated person in the rear seat is L’ / tan(θ1), and the distance D2 from the point where the external light reaches the field of view of the seated person in the rear seat to the ceiling of the seated person in the rear seat is (L’ + ω2 / 2 + a) / tan(θ2). Therefore, the viewing angles θ1 and θ2 are adjusted by the light-shielding portion ω1 and the height h of the light-shielding pattern, the values of D1 and D2 are adjusted by the values of θ1, θ2, the interval ω2 between patterns, and the inclined surface projection length a, and the ΔD range value is determined.

[0079] Also, the larger the value of θ2 and the smaller the value of θ1, the larger the range of ΔD. Preferably, D2 may be 500 mm or less and D2 + ΔD may be 300 mm or more.

[0080] At this time, when the inclined surface projection length a increases, it may cause an aperture ratio loss, but the value of θ1 becomes smaller and the end point of ΔD becomes farther from the upper transmissivity variable optical laminate, so the range of ΔD can be widened.

[0081] As an example, referring to FIG. 9, if D2 that determines the start point of the ΔD value range satisfies D2 ≤ 500 mm at the subject position 1000 mm away from the center between adjacent light-shielding patterns, and the range through which the external light is transmitted becomes wider and D1 (D2 + ΔD) that determines the end point of the ΔD value range satisfies D1 (D2 + ΔD) ≥ 300 mm, it can be confirmed that the reflected image blocking range reflected in the field of view of the subject also becomes wider.

[0082] In an example of the present invention, the louver film 700 includes a light-shielding pattern 720. The light-shielding pattern 720 may be directly formed on the dimming laminate, or may be formed on a separate transparent film and adhered to the dimming laminate. When the light-shielding pattern 720 is formed on the transparent film, an adhesive layer (not shown for convenience) may further be included between the transparent film and the dimming laminate.

[0083] The transparent film may be a conventional or later-developed film. The material of the transparent film layer used in manufacturing the louver film 700 used in the present invention can be any known synthetic resin or natural resin that exhibits a predetermined light transmittance when manufactured in film form. Synthetic resins are preferred from the viewpoints of economy and processability. Examples of resins that can be used for the material of the transparent film layer preferably include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), or copolymers thereof.

[0084] The adhesive layer (not shown for convenience) can be formed using an adhesive and preferably has excellent heat-resistant adhesiveness. The heat-resistant adhesiveness means that the adhesion change rate after being put into an 80°C oven for 240 hours is 30% or less or no bubbles are generated as compared with the adhesion before being put into the oven.

[0085] The above-mentioned adhesive can use conventional or later-developed adhesives. In one or more embodiments, acrylic adhesives, rubber adhesives, silicone adhesives, urethane adhesives, polyvinyl alcohol adhesives, polyvinyl pyrrolidone adhesives, polyacrylamide adhesives, cellulose adhesives, vinyl alkyl ether adhesives, etc. can be used. The adhesive is not particularly limited as long as it has adhesive strength and viscoelasticity. However, from the perspective of easy availability, etc., it may preferably be an acrylic adhesive, for example, it may contain a (meth)acrylate copolymer, a crosslinking agent, a solvent, etc. Further, it may be selected in consideration of the adhesion characteristics to the light-shielding pattern 720 and ensuring viscoelasticity. For example, the adhesive layer can contain an acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) substance or an optically clear adhesive (OCR) substance.

[0086] The above-mentioned light-shielding pattern 720 can be applied without being limited to the material used for the light-shielding purpose. For example, it may be manufactured containing a light-shielding agent, a light diffusing and / or coloring agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light-shielding pattern of the present invention can be manufactured by applying a composition containing a black coloring material, and mainly composed of a composition containing a black pigment dispersion and / or a black dye, and can further contain a resin, a polymerization initiator, and additional additives as necessary.

[0087] The method for forming the above-mentioned light-shielding pattern 720 is not particularly limited. As an example, a method of making grooves on the adherend surface 710 and filling the material for forming the light-shielding pattern 720; or a method of manufacturing a photosensitive resin composition for forming the light-shielding pattern 720 and forming the light-shielding pattern 720 on the adherend surface 710 by a photolithography method can be applied.

[0088] The adherend surface 710 may be one side on the indoor side of the dimming laminate of the present invention, or may be a transparent film separately added in addition to the dimming laminate, but is not limited thereto.

[0089] Dimming laminate 100 The dimming laminate of the present invention includes an electric field-driven liquid crystal between polarizing plates, and in particular, has a structure in which a transparent conductive layer is in direct contact with a polarizing plate. As a result, the thickness of the dimming laminate and the transmissivity variable optical laminate including the same is reduced, and not only has advantages in manufacturing processes and applications, but in particular, the viewing angle (θ1) adjustment characteristics and transmissivity adjustment characteristics with respect to the main object of the present invention, the reflected image, can be maximized.

[0090] Specifically, the dimming laminate of the present invention includes a first polarizing plate, a first transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the first polarizing plate, a second polarizing plate facing the first polarizing plate, a second transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the second polarizing plate and facing the first transparent conductive layer, and a dimming laminate including a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer is formed in direct contact with one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate.

[0091] Figs. 10a to 10e are diagrams showing the laminated structure of polarizing plates according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0092] Referring to FIGS. 10a to 10e, the polarizing plate 200 includes a polarizer 210, and may further include functional layers such as a protective layer 220, a retardation adjustment layer 230, and a refractive index adjustment layer 240 on one or both surfaces of the polarizer 210. For example, the polarizing plate 200 may include a polarizer 210 and a protective layer 220 laminated on one or both surfaces of the polarizer 210 (see FIGS. 10a and 10b), a polarizer 210, a protective layer 220 laminated on one surface of the polarizer 210, and a retardation adjustment layer 230 laminated on the other surface opposite to the one surface of the polarizer 210 (see FIG. 10c), a polarizer 210, a protective layer 220 laminated on one surface of the polarizer, a retardation adjustment layer 230 and a refractive index adjustment layer 240 laminated in sequence on the other surface opposite to the one surface of the polarizer 210 (see FIG. 10d), or a polarizer 210, a protective layer 220 laminated on one surface of the polarizer, and a protective layer 220 and a retardation adjustment layer 230 laminated in sequence on the other surface opposite to the one surface of the polarizer 210 (see FIG. 10e).

[0093] The polarizer 210 can use a conventional or later-developed polarizer. For example, a stretched polarizer or a coating polarizer can be used.

[0094] In one embodiment, the stretched polarizer may include a stretched polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based resin. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based resin may be a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin obtained by saponifying a polyvinyl acetate-based resin. Examples of the polyvinyl acetate-based resin include polyvinyl acetate which is a homopolymer of vinyl acetate, and copolymers of vinyl acetate and other monomers copolymerizable therewith. Examples of the other monomers may include unsaturated carboxylic acid-based, unsaturated sulfonic acid-based, olefin-based, vinyl ether-based, acrylamide-based monomers having an ammonium group, and the like. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based resin also includes modified ones, for example, polyvinyl formal or polyvinyl acetal modified with aldehydes.

[0095] In one embodiment, the coating polarizer may be formed of a liquid crystal coating composition. At this time, the liquid crystal coating composition may include a reactive liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye, and the like.

[0096] The reactive liquid crystal compound can mean a compound that includes, for example, a mesogen skeleton and further includes one or more polymerizable functional groups. Such reactive liquid crystal compounds are variously known under the name of so-called RM (Reactive Mesogen). The reactive liquid crystal compound can form a cured film in which a polymer network is formed while maintaining a liquid crystal alignment by being polymerized by light or heat.

[0097] The reactive liquid crystal compound may be a monofunctional or polyfunctional reactive liquid crystal compound. The monofunctional reactive liquid crystal compound is a compound having one polymerizable functional group, and the polyfunctional reactive liquid crystal compound can mean a compound including two or more polymerizable functional groups.

[0098] The dichroic dye is a component contained in the composition for liquid crystal coating that imparts polarization characteristics and has the property that the absorbance in the long-axis direction of the molecule is different from the absorbance in the short-axis direction. The dichroic dye may be a conventional or newly developed dichroic dye. For example, it may contain one or more selected from the group consisting of azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, perylene dyes, merocyanine dyes, azomethine dyes, phthaloperylene dyes, indigo dyes, dioxazine dyes, polythiophene dyes, and phenoxazine dyes.

[0099] The composition for liquid crystal coating may further contain a solvent capable of dissolving the reactive liquid crystal compound and the dichroic dye. For example, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), xylene, chloroform, etc. may be used. Also, the composition for liquid crystal coating may further contain a leveling agent, a polymerization initiator, etc. within a range that does not impair the polarization characteristics of the coating film.

[0100] The protective layer 220 is for preserving the polarization characteristics of the polarizer 210 from subsequent processes and the external environment and can be embodied in the form of a protective film or the like.

[0101] As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, the protective layer 220 may be formed in direct contact with one or both surfaces of the polarizer 210, but is not limited thereto. For example, the protective layer may be used as a multilayer structure in which one or more protective layers are continuously laminated, or may be formed in direct contact with other functional layers.

[0102] In one or more embodiments, the protective layer 220 may include one or more selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), diacetyl cellulose, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polymethyl acrylate (PMA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polyethyl methacrylate (PEMA), and cyclic olefin polymer (COP).

[0103] The retardation adjusting layer 230 may be formed in direct contact with one surface of the polarizer 210 as shown in FIGS. 10c and 10d, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 10e, the retardation adjusting layer 230 may be formed on one surface of the protective layer 220, and the polarizer 210, the protective layer 220, and the retardation adjusting layer 230 may be sequentially laminated.

[0104] The retardation adjusting layer 230 may use a polymer stretched film or a liquid crystal polymer film obtained by stretching a polymer film capable of imparting optical anisotropy by stretching in an appropriate manner.

[0105] In one embodiment, the polymer stretched film may use a polymer layer including polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), cyclic olefin polymers (COP) such as polynorbornene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polysulfone (PSU), acryl resin, polycarbonate (PC), polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, cellulose ester polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or triacetyl cellulose (TAC), and copolymers of two or more monomers among the monomers forming the polymer.

[0106] The method for obtaining the polymer stretched film is not particularly limited. For example, it can be obtained by stretching the polymer material after forming it into a film shape. The method for forming it into a film shape is not particularly limited, and it can be formed into a film by known methods such as injection molding, sheet molding, blow molding, injection blow molding, inflation molding, extrusion molding, foam molding, and cast molding. Secondary processing molding methods such as pressure air molding and vacuum molding may also be used. Among them, extrusion molding and cast molding are preferably used. At this time, for example, an unstretched film can be extrusion molded using an extruder equipped with a T-die, a circular die, or the like. When obtaining a molded product by extrusion molding, a material obtained by previously melt-kneading various resin components, additives, etc. can be used, or it can also be molded through melt-kneading during extrusion molding. Further, after dissolving various resin components using a solvent common to the various resin components, such as a solvent such as chloroform or methylene dichloride, the unstretched film may be cast molded by cast drying and solidifying.

[0107] The polymer stretched film may be uniaxially stretched in the machine direction (MD; Mechanical Direction, longitudinal direction or length direction) of the formed film, uniaxially stretched in the direction transverse to the machine direction (TD; Transverse Direction, transverse direction or width direction), or may be stretched by a sequential biaxial stretching method of roll stretching and tenter stretching, a simultaneous biaxial stretching method by tenter stretching, a biaxial stretching method by tubular stretching, etc. to produce a biaxially stretched film.

[0108] The liquid crystal polymer film can contain the reactive liquid crystal compound in a polymerized state. The content regarding the reactive liquid crystal compound of the coating type polarizer described above can be similarly applied to the reactive liquid crystal compound of the liquid crystal polymer film.

[0109] In one or more embodiments, the thickness of the retardation adjusting layer 230 may be 10 to 100 μm in the case of a polymer stretched film, and may be 0.1 to 5 μm in the case of a liquid crystal polymer film.

[0110] The refractive index adjusting layer 240 is provided to compensate for the refractive index difference of the optical laminate by the transparent conductive layer 300, and may serve to improve visual recognition characteristics, etc. by reducing the refractive index difference. Also, the refractive index adjusting layer 240 may be provided to correct the hue caused by the transparent conductive layer 300. On the other hand, when the transparent conductive layer has a pattern, the transmittance difference between the pattern region where the pattern is formed and the non-pattern region where the pattern is not formed can be compensated through the refractive index adjusting layer 240.

[0111] Specifically, the transparent conductive layer 300 is laminated adjacent to another member (e.g., a polarizer, etc.) having a refractive index different from that thereof, and a difference in light transmittance may be induced due to the difference in refractive index from the adjacent other layer. Particularly when a pattern is formed on the transparent conductive layer, there may occur a problem that it can be visually recognized so as to distinguish between the pattern region and the non-pattern region. Therefore, by including the refractive index adjustment layer 240, the refractive index is compensated so that the difference in light transmittance of the optical laminate can be reduced. Particularly when a pattern is formed on the transparent conductive layer, the pattern region and the non-pattern region are not distinguished and not visually recognized.

[0112] In one embodiment, the refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer 240 may be appropriately selected depending on the material of another adjacent member, but is preferably from 1.4 to 2.6, and more preferably may be from 1.4 to 2.4. In this case, it is possible to prevent light loss due to a sharp difference in refractive index between the transparent conductive layer 300 and another member such as the polarizer 210.

[0113] The refractive index adjustment layer 240 is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent a sharp difference in refractive index between another member such as the polarizer 210 and the transparent conductive layer 300, and a compound used for forming a conventional or later-developed refractive index adjustment layer may be used. For example, it may be formed from a refractive index adjustment layer forming composition containing a polymerizable isocyanurate compound.

[0114] In one embodiment, the polarizing plate 200 may further include another configuration for assisting or enhancing the characteristics of the polarizer in addition to the above-described components. For example, in order to further improve mechanical durability, it may further include an overcoat layer or the like.

[0115] In one or more embodiments, the polarizing plate 200 may have a thickness of 30 to 200 μm, preferably may be 30 to 170 μm, and more preferably may be 50 to 150 μm. In this case, it is possible to manufacture an optical laminate having a thin thickness while maintaining the optical characteristics.

[0116] The transparent conductive layer 300 is provided for driving the liquid crystal layer 400 and may be formed in direct contact with the polarizing plate 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first transparent conductive layer 300-1 and the second transparent conductive layer 300-2 may be formed in direct contact with the first polarizing plate 200-1 and the second polarizing plate 200-2, respectively.

[0117] An optical laminate used in the manufacture of conventional smart windows or the like is manufactured by forming a conductive layer for liquid crystal driving on one surface of a substrate and bonding the other surface of the substrate to a polarizing plate. However, the light control laminate 100 according to the present invention directly forms a conductive layer on one surface of a polarizing plate without including a separate substrate for forming the conductive layer, thereby reducing the thickness of the laminate and improving the transmittance and bending characteristics in the light transmission mode. Further, the light control laminate 100 according to the present invention directly forms a conductive layer on one surface of a polarizing plate, and even when a louver film 700 is further included on the indoor side of the light control laminate for an antireflection function with respect to a reflected image, the thickness of the variable transmittance optical laminate of the present invention is reduced, and an antireflection function can be imparted without a decrease in the light transmittance adjusting function.

[0118] In one embodiment, the transparent conductive layer 300 may be formed by directly depositing on one surface of the polarizing plate 200. At this time, the transparent conductive layer 300 may be formed in direct contact with the surface of the polarizing plate 200 that has been pretreated, such as corona treatment or plasma treatment, on one surface of the polarizing plate 200 in order to improve the adhesion to the polarizing plate 200. The pretreatment is not limited to corona treatment or plasma treatment, and pretreatment steps that are conventional or developed later may be used within a range that does not impair the object of the present invention.

[0119] In another embodiment, the transparent conductive layer 300 may be formed in direct contact with the polarizing plate 200 with an easy adhesion layer (not shown) provided on one surface of the polarizing plate 200 interposed therebetween in order to improve the adhesion to the polarizing plate 200.

[0120] The transparent conductive layer 300 preferably has a transmittance of 50% or more with respect to visible light. For example, it may include one or more selected from the group consisting of transparent conductive oxides, metals, carbon-based substances, conductive polymers, conductive inks, and nanowires, but is not limited thereto, and materials of conventional or later-developed transparent conductive layers may also be used.

[0121] In one or more embodiments, the transparent conductive oxide may include one or more selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO), fluorine tin oxide (FTO), and zinc oxide (ZnO). Further, the metal may include one or more selected from the group consisting of gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and alloys containing at least one of these, for example, it may include a silver-palladium-copper (APC) alloy or a copper-calcium (CuCa) alloy. The carbon-based material may include one or more selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene, and the conductive polymer may include one or more selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyacetylene, PEDOT, and polyaniline. The conductive ink may be an ink in which a metal powder and a curable polymer binder are mixed, and the nanowire may be, for example, a silver nanowire (AgNW).

[0122] Further, the transparent conductive layer 300 may be formed in a structure of two or more layers by combining the substances. For example, it may be formed in a two-layer structure including a metal layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer so as to reduce the reflectance of incident light and increase the transmittance.

[0123] The liquid crystal layer 400 can change the driving mode of the optical laminate by adjusting the transmittance of light incident from one or more directions by an electric field.

[0124] The liquid crystal layer 400 may include a liquid crystal compound and a spacer. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may mean a region defined by a first alignment film 500-1, a second alignment film 500-2, and a sealant 600.

[0125] The liquid crystal compound is driven by an electric field and is not particularly limited as long as it can control the light transmittance. Conventional or newly developed liquid crystal compounds can be used. For example, the content related to the reactive liquid crystal compound of the coating type polarizer described above can be similarly applied.

[0126] The liquid crystal behavior mode of the liquid crystal compound 400 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be driven in a TN (Twisted nematic) mode, but is not limited thereto, and may be driven in an STN (Super twisted nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical alignment) mode, an ECB (Electrically controlled birefringence) mode, etc.

[0127] The spacer may include at least one or more spacers among ball spacers and column spacers, and is particularly preferably a ball spacer. The spacer may be one or more, and preferably has a height of 1 μm to 10 μm. Also, when viewed from the planar direction, the area occupied by the spacer in the liquid crystal layer 400 is preferably 0.01 to 10% of the area of the liquid crystal layer 400 from the viewpoints of user visibility and improvement of transmittance in the light transmission mode.

[0128] In one embodiment, the liquid crystal layer 400 may further include an alignment film 500 as needed, for example, it may be formed on both surfaces of the liquid crystal layer 400 containing a liquid crystal compound.

[0129] The alignment film 500 is not particularly limited as long as it can impart alignment properties to the dispersed liquid crystal, and preferably may contain a photo-aligning or photocurable polymer or the like. For example, the alignment film 500 can be produced by applying and curing an alignment film coating composition containing a photo-aligning or photocurable polymer, a photoinitiator, and a solvent.

[0130] The photo-aligning or photocurable polymer is not particularly limited, and a cinnamate-based polymer, a polyimide-based polymer, or the like may be used. For example, poly(vinyl cinnamate) (PVCi), poly(siloxane cinnamate) (PSCN), poly(ω(4-chalconyloxy)alkoxyphenylmaleimide, 6-FDA-HAB-Cl, or the like may be used, and a polymer capable of exhibiting alignment properties, whether conventional or developed in the future, may also be used.

[0131] The sealant 600 is located between the first polarizing plate 200-1 and the second polarizing plate 200-2 in the non-active region, serves to bond the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate, and may be provided to secure a space for providing the liquid crystal layer 400 between the first polarizing plate 200-1 and the second polarizing plate 200-2 together with the spacer.

[0132] The sealant 600 may contain a curable resin as a base resin. As the base resin, an ultraviolet curable resin or a thermosetting resin known to be used for sealants in the art may be used. The ultraviolet curable resin may be a polymer of an ultraviolet curable monomer. The thermosetting resin may be a polymer of a thermosetting monomer.

[0133] As the base resin of the sealant 600, for example, an acrylate resin, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a phenol resin, or a mixture of the resins may be used. In one embodiment, the base resin may be an acrylate resin, and the acrylate resin may be a polymer of an acrylic monomer. The acrylic monomer may be, for example, a polyfunctional acrylate. In other embodiments, the sealant may further contain a monomer component in the base resin. The monomer component may be, for example, a monofunctional acrylate. In the present specification, the monofunctional acrylate can mean a compound having one acrylic group, and the polyfunctional acrylate can mean a compound having two or more acrylic groups. The curable resin can be cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays and / or heating. The ultraviolet irradiation conditions or heating conditions may be appropriately carried out within a range that does not impair the object of the present application. The sealant may further contain an initiator, for example, a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator, if necessary.

[0134] The sealant 600 may be formed by a method commonly used in the art. For example, it may be formed by drawing the sealant onto the outer contour (i.e., the inactive region) of the liquid crystal layer using a dispenser equipped with a nozzle.

[0135] <Smart Window and Sunroof> In addition to the variable transmittance optical laminate, the present invention includes a smart window including the same. Further, the present invention includes an automobile in which the smart window is applied to at least one or more of a front window, a rear window, a side window, a sunroof window, and an interior partition, and a building fixture including the smart window.

[0136] For example, an automobile including the smart window of the present invention may bond vehicle glass on both surfaces of a variable transmittance optical laminate, and the vehicle glass may include the above-described louver film. For example, the smart window including the vehicle glass may be manufactured by placing an adhesive film and vehicle glass on both surfaces of the optical laminate and then heating at a temperature of 90°C and a vacuum state of about 1 bar for 10 to 20 minutes using a press machine. The adhesive film may include an EVA film, a PVB film, or the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0137] 100: Dimming laminate 200: Polarizing plate 210: Polarizer 220: Protective layer 230: Retardation adjustment layer 240: Refractive index adjustment layer 300: Transparent conductive layer 400: Liquid crystal layer 500: Alignment film 600: Sealant 700: Louver film 710: Adhesive surface 720: Light-shielding pattern 721, 722, 723: First unit pattern, second unit pattern, third unit pattern

Claims

1. A dimming laminate including an electric field-driven liquid crystal between polarizing plates; and A variable transmittance optical laminate including a louver film disposed on at least a part of the indoor side of the dimming laminate, The louver film includes a light-shielding pattern, and the light-shielding pattern is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the adhesion surface in a vertical cross-section. A variable transmittance optical laminate.

2. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1, wherein in a vertical cross-section, the length a of the projection of the inclined surface of the light-shielding pattern with respect to the adhesion surface is 5 to 50% of the light-shielding portion ω1.

3. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1, wherein the range of the maximum viewing angle θ1 with respect to the reflected image is 40° to 75°, and the viewing angle with respect to the reflected image is in a vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate, It is the angle of the reflected image with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adhesion surface.

4. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1, wherein the range of the maximum viewing angle θ2 with respect to external light transmitted from the outside is 60° to 85°, and the viewing angle with respect to the external light is in a vertical cross-section of the variable transmittance optical laminate, It is the angle of the external light with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the indoor side with respect to the adhesion surface.

5. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding pattern is formed by laminating at least a part of two or more unit patterns with a shift.

6. The louver film includes an interval between patterns where the light-shielding pattern is not formed; and a light-shielding portion where the light-shielding pattern is formed, When the height of the light-shielding pattern is h and the light-shielding portion is ω1, h / ω1 is 0.5 to 4.

0. When the interval between the patterns is ω2 and the vertical light transmission portion is ω3, the aperture ratio p defined by ω3 / (ω2 + ω1)×100(%) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the plane is 70% or more. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1.

7. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding pattern protrudes toward the indoor side.

8. The dimming laminate includes A first polarizing plate, A first transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the first polarizing plate, A second polarizing plate facing the first polarizing plate, A second transparent conductive layer formed on one surface of the second polarizing plate and facing the first transparent conductive layer, and A dimming laminate including a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, At least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer is formed in direct contact with one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 1.

9. At least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer contains one or more selected from the group consisting of a transparent conductive oxide, a metal, a carbon-based material, a conductive polymer, a conductive ink, and a nanowire. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 8.

10. At least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate contains one or more functional layers selected from the group consisting of a protective layer, a retardation adjusting layer, and a refractive index adjusting layer. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 8.

11. At least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate has a thickness of 30 μm to 200 μm. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 8.

12. The liquid crystal layer contains one or more spacers selected from the group consisting of a ball spacer and a column spacer. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 8.

13. The variable transmittance optical laminate according to claim 8, further comprising alignment films on both surfaces of the liquid crystal layer.

14. A sunroof including the variable transmittance optical laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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