Light control body

Abstract

To provide a light control body which can prevent a part of a light control sheet from peeling off from a transparent member, the light control sheet from wrinkling, and the position of the light control sheet from changing relative to a transparent member when the light control body is attached to a sash.SOLUTION: A light control body 10 includes a light controlling sheet 11, a transparent member 12 that supports the light controlling sheet 11, and an adhesive layer 13 that is positioned between the light controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12 and that attaches the light controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. When viewed from a viewpoint facing a plane on which the transparent member 12 extends, the transparent member 12 is larger than the light controlling sheet 11, and the entire periphery of the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 is located within the transparent member 12. When viewed from a viewpoint facing a plane on which the transparent member 12 extends, the light controlling body 10 includes a fixing portion 14 made of resin that fixes at least a portion of the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to photochromators. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a light-controlling sheet includes a pair of transparent conductive sheets and a light-controlling layer located between the transparent conductive sheets. Each transparent conductive sheet includes a transparent electrode layer and a transparent resin layer. The pair of transparent electrode layers sandwich the light-controlling layer. The light-controlling layer includes, for example, a transparent polymer layer having a plurality of voids and a liquid crystal composition located in the voids of the transparent polymer layer. The light-controlling sheet has a first scattering state and a second scattering state depending on whether a voltage is applied to the light-controlling layer. The diffuse transmittance differs between the first scattering state and the second scattering state. The light-controlling sheet is attached to a support substrate by an adhesive layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-124939 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A light control element including a transparent member and a light control sheet is attached to a sash, which is a support member for the light control element, thereby forming a light control window. When the light control element is fixed to the sash, for example, after the light control element is inserted into the sash, a caulking agent is filled into the gap between the light control element and the sash. The caulking agent is cured to fix the light control element to the sash. Alternatively, a light control element with a glazing channel wound around it is fixed to the sash so that the glazing channel fills the groove in the sash.

[0005] When the light control body is fixed to the sash with a caulking agent, the shrinkage of the caulking agent may cause a part of the light control sheet to peel off from a part of the transparent member.When the light control body is fixed to the sash with a glazing channel, the frictional force generated between the light control sheet and the glazing channel may cause the light control sheet to wrinkle or change its position relative to the transparent member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A light control unit for solving the above problems includes a light control sheet, a transparent member supporting the light control sheet, and an adhesive layer positioned between the light control sheet and the transparent member and attaching the light control sheet to the transparent member. When viewed from a viewpoint facing the plane on which the transparent member extends, the transparent member is larger than the light control sheet, and the entire periphery of the outer edge of the light control sheet is located within the transparent member. When viewed from the viewpoint facing the plane on which the transparent member extends, the light control unit includes a resin fixing portion that fixes at least a portion of the outer edge of the light control sheet to the transparent member.

[0007] According to the above-mentioned light control unit, the outer edge of the light control sheet is fixed to the transparent member by a fixing portion. Therefore, even if a force that would peel the light control sheet from the transparent member acts on the light control sheet when attaching the light control unit to the sash, it is possible to prevent a portion of the light control sheet from peeling off from the transparent member. Furthermore, even if a frictional force that would change the position of the light control sheet relative to the transparent member acts on the light control sheet when attaching the light control unit to the sash, it is possible to prevent the light control sheet from wrinkling or its position from changing relative to the transparent member.

[0008] In the above light control body, the fixing portion may be a cured body of an ultraviolet curable resin. In the above light control element, the fixing portion may be a cured body of a solvent-evaporating resin. In the above light control element, the fixing portion may be a hardened body of a moisture-curable resin.

[0009] In the above light control element, the adhesive layer may have self-adhesive properties. According to the above-mentioned light control unit, since the adhesive layer has only adhesive strength due to self-adhesion, the effectiveness of the light control unit having a fixing portion is increased.

[0010] In the above light control element, the transparent member may include any one of glass, acrylic resin, and polycarbonate resin. According to the above light control material, it is possible to obtain a light control material with high transparency, and therefore, a light control material suitable for use in windows can be obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the dimming element of the present disclosure, when attaching the dimming element to a sash, it is possible to prevent parts of the dimming sheet from peeling off from the transparent member, the dimming sheet from wrinkling, and the position of the dimming sheet from changing relative to the transparent member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a light control element. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a light control window including the light control body shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a light control window provided with a light control body in which the outer edge of the light control sheet is not fixed to a transparent member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of a light control window including the light control body shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a light control window provided with a light control body in which the outer edge of the light control sheet is not fixed to a transparent member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] One embodiment of a photochromic element will be described with reference to FIGS. [Dimmer] The light control element will be described with reference to FIG.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the light control body 10 includes a light control sheet 11, a transparent member 12, and an adhesive layer 13. The transparent member 12 supports the light control sheet 11. The adhesive layer 13 is located between the light control sheet 11 and the transparent member 12 and attaches the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. The adhesive layer 13 is sandwiched between the light control sheet 11 and the transparent member 12 in the thickness direction of the light control sheet 11.

[0015] In the example shown in Figure 1, the adhesive layer 13 has the same size as the light-adjusting sheet 11 when viewed from a perspective opposite to the plane on which the transparent member 12 extends. The adhesive layer 13 may be larger or smaller than the light-adjusting sheet 11. From the perspective of increasing the peel strength between the light-adjusting sheet 11 and the transparent member 12, the size of the adhesive layer 13 is preferably equal to or larger than the light-adjusting sheet 11. From the perspective of improving the design of the light-adjusting body 10, the size of the adhesive layer 13 is preferably equal to or smaller than the light-adjusting sheet 11.

[0016] In the light controlling body 10, when viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the plane on which the transparent member 12 extends, the transparent member 12 is larger than the light controlling sheet 11, and the entire periphery of the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 is located within the transparent member 12. A gap 10G is located between the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 and the outer edge 12E of the transparent member 12 around the entire periphery of the light controlling sheet 11. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the width of the gap 10G is equal around the entire periphery of the light controlling sheet 11, but the width of the gap 10G may include two or more values.

[0017] The light controlling body 10 includes a fixing portion 14 made of resin. When viewed from a viewpoint opposite the plane on which the transparent member 12 extends, the fixing portion 14 fixes at least a portion of the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. In this embodiment, when viewed from a viewpoint opposite the plane on which the transparent member 12 extends, the fixing portion 14 fixes the entire periphery of the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. The fixing portion 14 has a closed ring shape. From the viewpoint of preventing misalignment of the light controlling sheet 11 with respect to the transparent member 12, it is preferable that the area of ​​the portion of the outer edge 11E fixed by the fixing portion 14 is as large as possible, and it is even more preferable that the entire periphery of the outer edge 11E is fixed by the fixing portion 14. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the width of the fixing portion 14 is uniform around the entire periphery of the fixing portion 14, but the width of the fixing portion 14 may include two or more values.

[0018] In the fixing portion 14, the width of the portion located within the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 is the first width, and the width of the portion extending beyond the outer edge 11E of the light controlling sheet 11 is the second width. The first width may be equal to the second width, or the first width may be smaller than the second width, or the first width may be larger than the second width. When the first width is larger than the second width, the fixing portion 14 is less likely to peel off from the light controlling sheet 11. When the second width is larger than the first width, the area over which the light controlling sheet 11 is fixed to the transparent member 12 can be increased.

[0019] In the example shown in Figure 1, both the light controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12 have a rectangular shape when viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the plane on which the transparent member 12 extends. That is, the outer shape of the light controlling sheet 11 and the outer shape of the transparent member 12 are the same. The outer shape of the light controlling sheet 11 and the outer shape of the transparent member 12 may be different from each other. Each outer shape may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or an irregular shape.

[0020] The light controlling sheet 11 has a first appearance and a second appearance depending on whether or not a voltage is applied to the light controlling sheet 11. The first appearance and the second appearance may differ in total light transmittance or diffuse transmittance. When the first appearance and the second appearance differ in diffuse transmittance, the first appearance and the second appearance differ in haze.

[0021] The light-controlling sheet 11 includes, for example, a pair of transparent conductive sheets and a light-controlling layer. The light-controlling layer is located between the pair of transparent conductive sheets. The light-controlling layer includes, for example, a liquid crystal compound and a transparent polymer layer. In this case, the transparent polymer layer includes a plurality of voids, and the liquid crystal compound is located in the voids.

[0022] The transparent conductive sheet includes, for example, a transparent supporting substrate and a transparent conductive layer. The transparent supporting substrate supports the transparent conductive layer. The transparent conductive sheet may further include, for example, a hard coat layer, an ultraviolet absorbing layer, an infrared absorbing layer, an alignment layer, or the like.

[0023] The fixing portion 14 may be a cured product of an ultraviolet curable resin, a cured product of a solvent volatilization type resin, or a cured product of a moisture curable type resin. The material for forming the fixing portion 14 may be, for example, an acrylic resin.

[0024] The adhesive layer 13 may be self-adhesive. The self-adhesive property of the adhesive layer 13 allows the light-controlling sheet 11 to peel off from the transparent member 12 due to external stress and to re-adhere the light-controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12. The self-adhesive adhesion of the adhesive layer 13 does not require processing such as heating or drying when the adhesive layer 13 is in contact with the light-controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12. Furthermore, the self-adhesive adhesion of the adhesive layer 13 adheres the light-controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12 by its own weight, without pressing the light-controlling sheet 11 against the transparent member 12. In this case, since the adhesive layer 13 only has adhesive strength due to its own adhesion, the effectiveness of the light-controlling body 10 having the fixing portion 14 is enhanced. The adhesive layer 13 may not be self-adhesive and may be photocurable or thermosetting.

[0025] The material for forming the adhesive layer 13 may be, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefin-based resins, polystyrene-based resins, polyamide-based resins, polyester-based resins, polyvinyl-based resins, polycarbonate-based resins, polyacrylate-based resins, polyurethane-based resins, and silicone-based resins.

[0026] When it is required to improve the transparency of the photochromic body 10, the thickness of the adhesive layer 13 is preferably, for example, 50 μm or less. When it is required to improve the self-peeling suppression of the photochromic sheet 11, the thickness of the adhesive layer 13 is preferably, for example, 10 μm or more.

[0027] The transparent member 12 may contain, for example, glass, an acrylic resin, or a polycarbonate resin, which makes it possible to obtain a highly transparent photochromic element 10 suitable for use in windows.

[0028] [First example of a dimming window] A first example of a light control window will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The first example of a light control window has a structure in which a light control element 10 is fixed to a sash with a caulking agent.

[0029] 2, the light control body 10 may further include a sealing portion 15 that seals the edge surface of the light control sheet 11. The edge surface of the light control sheet 11 that is the target of sealing portion 15 is the surface that connects the front and back surfaces of the light control sheet 11. The edge surface includes a surface that extends along the thickness direction of the transparent conductive sheet and a surface that extends along the thickness direction of the light control layer. The edge surface of the light control sheet 11 is approximately perpendicular to the front and back surfaces of the light control sheet 11.

[0030] The sealing portion 15 contacts the edge surface of the light-controlling sheet 11 over the entire circumferential direction of the light-controlling sheet 11 and covers the edge surface of the light-controlling sheet 11, thereby sealing the edge surface of the light-controlling sheet 11. In the example shown in Figure 2, of the pair of transparent conductive sheets, the first transparent conductive sheet that is not in contact with the adhesive layer 13 and the outer edge of the light-controlling layer are located within the second transparent conductive sheet. The sealing portion 15 covers only the edge surface of the first transparent conductive sheet and the edge surface of the light-controlling layer, but it may also cover the edge surface of the second transparent conductive sheet.

[0031] The sealing portion 15 may not have self-adhesive properties and may be photocurable or thermosetting. The material for forming the sealing portion 15 may be at least one selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate resins, epoxy resins, allyl resins, polyurethane resins, and silicone resins.

[0032] The fixing portion 14 covers the sealing portion 15. In the example shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the sealing portion 15 is exposed from the fixing portion 14, but the fixing portion 14 may cover the entire sealing portion 15. The fixing portion 14 covers the entire end face of the light controlling sheet 11, and covers the end face of the adhesive layer 13 together with the end face of the light controlling sheet 11. The end face of the adhesive layer 13 is the surface that connects the front surface of the adhesive layer 13 to the back surface.

[0033] The light control window 20 shown in FIG. 2 includes a light control element 10, a sash 21, a support portion 22, and a caulking agent 23. The sash 21 has a substantially U-shape in cross section along the thickness direction of the light control element 10. A support portion 22 is disposed within the sash 21, at the outer edge of the light control element 10, and supporting the outer edge 12E of the transparent member 12. The support portion 22 is disposed in a portion of the sash 21 facing an end face of the transparent member 12. The support portion 22 is formed of, for example, an elastic member. The end face of the transparent member 12 is a surface that extends along the thickness direction of the transparent member 12 and connects the front and back surfaces of the transparent member 12.

[0034] The caulking agent 23 is filled into a part of the sash 21 so as to fill the gap between the light control body 10 and the sash 21, and also seals the opening of the sash 21. The caulking agent 23 is located in the gap between the light control sheet 11 in the light control body 10 and the sash 21, and in the gap between the transparent member 12 in the light control body 10 and the sash 21.

[0035] In the light control window 20 in which the light control body 10 is fixed to the sash 21 using the caulking agent 23, the outer edge of the light control body 10 is fitted into a groove in the sash 21, and then the caulking agent 23 before hardening is filled between the light control body 10 and the sash 21. Next, the caulking agent 23 is hardened, thereby fixing the light control body 10 to the sash 21. At this time, the caulking agent 23 shrinks, and as the caulking agent 23 hardens, a tensile force is generated that pulls the light control sheet 11 toward the sash 21.

[0036] Because the light control body 10 includes the fixing parts 14, the fixing parts 14, together with the adhesive layer 13, exert a force that resists the tensile force of the caulking agent 23, i.e., a force that adheres the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. As a result, the light control window 20 is configured so that the force with which the hardened caulking agent 23 pulls the light control sheet 11 toward the sash 21 is equal to or less than the sum of the force with which the fixing parts 14 adhere the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12 and the force with which the adhesive layer 13 adheres the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. As a result, after the caulking agent 23 hardens, peeling of part of the adhesive layer 13 from the transparent member 12 or peeling of part of the adhesive layer 13 from the light control sheet 11 is suppressed.

[0037] The tensile strength of the caulking agent 23 tends to increase, for example, as the shrinkage rate of the caulking agent 23 increases during hardening. The force with which the fixing portion 14 adheres the light-controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12 can be adjusted by the level of adhesion of the material forming the fixing portion 14 to the light-controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12. The force with which the adhesive layer 13 adheres the light-controlling sheet 11 to the transparent member 12 can be adjusted by the level of adhesion of the material forming the adhesive layer 13 to the light-controlling sheet 11 and the transparent member 12.

[0038] The dimming window 110 shown in Figure 3 differs from the dimming window 20 shown in Figure 2 in that the dimming body 100 does not have a fixing portion 14, and therefore the dimming sheet 11 is adhered to the transparent member 12 only by the adhesive layer 13.

[0039] The light control window 110 is configured so that the force with which the hardened caulking agent 23 pulls the light control sheet 11 toward the sash 21 is greater than the force with which the adhesive layer 13 adheres the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. As a result, after the caulking agent 23 hardens, peeling P occurs in part of the adhesive layer 13 or part of the light control sheet 11 from the transparent member 12.

[0040] [Second example of a dimming window] A second example of the light control window will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In the second example of the light control window, a transparent member 12 to which a light control sheet 11 is attached is fitted into a sash by a glazing channel.

[0041] 4, a glazing channel 32 is wrapped around the outer edge 12E of the transparent member 12 provided in the light control body 10 and the outer edge 11E of the light control sheet 11, at portions that are fitted into the sash 31. Next, the light control body 10 is attached to the sash 31 by sliding the light control body 10 relative to the sash 31 in the direction of the arrow so that the glazing channel 32 is fitted into the groove of the sash 31.

[0042] The light control body 10 is slid relative to the sash 31 while the glazing channel 32 is tightly fitted into the groove of the sash 31, and frictional force is generated between the glazing channel 32 and the light control body 10. In the light control body 10, the outer edge 11E of the light control sheet 11 is fixed to the transparent member 12 by the fixing portion 14, and therefore the frictional force is prevented from exceeding the force fixing the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. In other words, the light control body 10 is configured so that the frictional force generated between the glazing channel 32 and the light control body 10 does not exceed the force fixing the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. This prevents wrinkles from forming in the light control sheet 11 and the light control sheet 11 from shifting position relative to the transparent member 12.

[0043] 5, in the light control window 120, the light control sheet 11 in the light control body 100 is attached to the transparent member 12 only by the adhesive layer 13. Therefore, the frictional force generated between the glazing channel 32 and the light control body 100 exceeds the adhesive force of the adhesive layer 13, which causes wrinkles to form in part of the light control sheet 11 or changes the position of the light control sheet 11 relative to the transparent member 12.

[0044] As described above, according to one embodiment of the light control body, the following effects can be obtained. (1) As the caulking agent 23 hardens, the light controlling sheet 11 is prevented from peeling off from the transparent member 12 .

[0045] (2) The frictional force generated between the glazing channel 32 and the light control body 10 is prevented from exceeding the force fixing the light control sheet 11 to the transparent member 12. This prevents the light control sheet 11 from wrinkling and the position of the light control sheet 11 relative to the transparent member 12 from changing.

[0046] (3) When the adhesive layer 13 has only self-adhesive adhesive strength, the effect of the photochromic body 10 having the fixing portion 14 is enhanced. (4) When the transparent member 12 contains any of glass, acrylic resin, and polycarbonate resin, it is possible to obtain a photochromic element 10 with high transparency, and therefore a photochromic element 10 suitable for use in windows can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10,100...Dimming body 11...Light-adjusting sheet 12...Transparent material 13…Adhesive layer 14...Fixed part 15...Sealing part 20, 30, 110, 120...Dimmable window 21,31...Sash 22...Support part 23...Caulking agent 32...Glazing channel

Claims

1. A light-adjusting sheet and A transparent member that supports the light controlling sheet; a light-adjusting body including an adhesive layer positioned between the light-adjusting sheet and the transparent member, and attaching the light-adjusting sheet to the transparent member, When viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the plane on which the transparent member extends, the transparent member is larger than the light-regulating sheet, and the entire periphery of the outer edge of the light-regulating sheet is located within the transparent member; a fixing portion made of resin that fixes at least a part of the outer edge of the light controlling sheet to the transparent member when viewed from the viewpoint opposite to the plane on which the transparent member extends; Dimming body.

2. The fixing portion is a cured body of ultraviolet curable resin. The light control body according to claim 1 .

3. The fixing portion is a hardened body of a solvent-evaporating resin. The light control body according to claim 1 .

4. The fixing portion is a hardened body of moisture-curable resin. The light control body according to claim 1 .

5. The adhesive layer has self-adhesive properties. The light control body according to claim 1 .

6. The transparent member includes any one of glass, acrylic resin, and polycarbonate resin. The light control body according to claim 1 .

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