Vehicle-mounted display window

Abstract

To suppress multilayering of a transparent electrode in an on-vehicle display window.SOLUTION: The in-vehicle display window 20 includes an exterior electrode layer 24, an interior electrode layer 36, an intermediate electrode layer 32, a liquid crystal layer 28, and an organic light-emitting layer 34. Liquid crystal layer 28 is disposed between outboard electrode layer 24 and intermediate electrode layer 32. The organic light-emitting layer 34 is arranged between the inner electrode layer 36 and the intermediate electrode layer 32. The outer electrode layer 24, the inner electrode layer 36, and the intermediate electrode layer 32 are transparent electrode layers. The outer electrode layer 24 and the inner electrode layer 36 are one of an anode layer and a cathode layer. The intermediate electrode layer 32 is the other of the anode layer and the cathode layer. A control signal line 40B for the liquid-crystal layer 28 and a control signal line 42B for the organic light-emitting layer 34 are connected to the intermediate-electrode layer 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification discloses a display window for an automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid crystal display system. This system includes a liquid crystal display panel and a light-scattering liquid crystal display panel. The light-scattering liquid crystal display panel includes a memory liquid crystal layer. When the liquid crystal display panel is not in use, the memory liquid crystal layer displays a bright color. This allows images to be displayed on the light-scattering liquid crystal display panel while reducing power consumption. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2012 / 004922 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] By the way, it is conceivable to use the side windows or sunroof of a vehicle as a display window. In this case, a mechanism for blocking light from outside the vehicle and a mechanism for displaying images are required. Therefore, for example, the display window could have a two-layer structure consisting of a light-control glass and a display panel.

[0005] Here, a transparent electrode layer is used in light control glass and display panels. In the transparent electrode layer, for example, a transparent electrode is patterned on a transparent base film. For example, the transparent electrode forms an anode layer and a cathode layer. In the case of light control glass, a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. In the case of an organic EL display panel, an organic light emitting layer is disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer.

[0006] In other words, in conventional technology, a total of four transparent electrode layers are used in a two-layer structure of light control glass and a display panel. Here, a transparent electrode refers to a layer with a light transmittance of, for example, 80% or more. In other words, a transparent electrode does not transmit 100% of light. Therefore, when multiple layers of transparent electrodes are arranged so that they overlap in the stacking direction, the light transmittance of the overlapping parts is lower than that of other parts. Such overlapping of multiple transparent electrodes can cause black (dark) streaks to appear, for example, in part of the display panel.

[0007] Therefore, this specification discloses an in-vehicle display window that can suppress the need for multi-layered transparent electrodes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The in-vehicle display window disclosed in this specification comprises an exterior electrode layer, an interior electrode layer, an intermediate electrode layer, a liquid crystal layer, and an organic light-emitting layer. The exterior electrode layer is disposed relatively on the exterior side of the vehicle. The interior electrode layer is disposed relatively on the interior side of the vehicle. The intermediate electrode layer is disposed between the exterior electrode layer and the interior electrode layer. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the exterior electrode layer and the intermediate electrode layer. The organic light-emitting layer is disposed between the interior electrode layer and the intermediate electrode layer. The exterior electrode layer, the interior electrode layer, and the intermediate electrode layer are transparent electrode layers. The exterior electrode layer and the interior electrode layer are either an anode layer or a cathode layer. The intermediate electrode layer is the other of the anode layer and the cathode layer. A control signal line for the liquid crystal layer and a control signal line for the organic light-emitting layer are connected to the intermediate electrode layer.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the intermediate electrode layer is shared between the two-layer structure of the light control glass and the display panel, resulting in a total of three transparent electrode layers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The in-vehicle display window disclosed in this specification makes it possible to suppress the need for multiple layers of transparent electrodes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view illustrating a window of a vehicle on which an in-vehicle display window according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a laminated structure of an in-vehicle display window according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a laminated structure of an in-vehicle display window according to another example of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 1 illustrates an overall perspective view of a vehicle 10. An in-vehicle display window 20 (see FIG. 2) according to this embodiment is mounted as, for example, a roof glass 12 or a side window 14 of the vehicle.

[0013] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a display window 20 according to this embodiment. In the example of Fig. 2, the display window 20 is mounted on a vehicle 10 as roof glass 12 (see Fig. 1). In other words, the upper side of the page is the outside of the vehicle, and the lower side of the page is the inside of the vehicle.

[0014] The display window 20 includes a light control glass 50 and a display panel 60. Both the light control glass 50 and the display panel 60 are made of a light-transmitting material.

[0015] 1. Dimmable glass The light control glass 50 blocks light from outside the vehicle while an image is displayed on the display panel 60. When the display panel 60 is not in use, the light blocking properties of the light control glass 50 can be controlled to adjust the amount of light entering the vehicle interior.

[0016] The light control glass 50 is composed of a laminated body. Starting from the vehicle exterior, the light control glass 50 is composed of a glass substrate 22, an exterior electrode layer 24, an alignment film 26, a liquid crystal layer 28, an alignment film 30, and an intermediate electrode layer 32. Each layer is composed of a light-transmitting material.

[0017] Of the three transparent electrode layers (external electrode layer 24, intermediate electrode layer 32, and internal electrode layer 36) in the display window 20, the external electrode layer 24 is disposed relatively closer to the exterior of the vehicle. The external electrode layer 24 is a transparent electrode layer. The external electrode layer 24 is formed, for example, by patterning transparent electrodes 24A-24I on a transparent film. The transparent electrodes 24A-24I are made of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO).

[0018] The transparent electrodes 24A-24I are, for example, row electrodes and are perpendicular to the transparent electrodes 32A-32I of the intermediate electrode layer 32, which are column electrodes. In other words, the transparent electrodes 24A-24I and the transparent electrodes 32A-32I form a matrix electrode. The intersections of the row electrodes and column electrodes form pixels.

[0019] A liquid crystal layer 28 is disposed between the exterior electrode layer 24 and the intermediate electrode layer 32. Alignment films 26 and 30 are laminated above and below the liquid crystal layer 28. The number of intersections in the matrix electrode formed by the exterior electrode layer 24 and the intermediate electrode layer 32, i.e., the number of pixels per unit area, represents the resolution of the liquid crystal layer 28 (and the light control glass). For example, a reverse-type liquid crystal material is used for the liquid crystal layer 28. That is, when the power is off and no voltage is applied from the exterior electrode layer 24 and the intermediate electrode layer 32, the liquid crystal layer 28 is in a light-transmitting state. When the power is on, the liquid crystal layer 28 is in a light-blocking state.

[0020] The intermediate electrode layer 32 is disposed between the exterior electrode layer 24 and the interior electrode layer 36 of the three electrode layers (exterior electrode layer 24, intermediate electrode layer 32, and interior electrode layer 36) in the display window 20. The intermediate electrode layer 32 is a transparent electrode layer. The intermediate electrode layer 32 includes transparent electrodes 32A-32I. For example, the transparent electrodes 32A-32I are patterned on a transparent film. The transparent electrodes 32A-32I are made of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO). As described above, the transparent electrodes 32A-32I are perpendicular to the transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24 and the transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36.

[0021] The transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24 are connected to a light control glass control signal line 40A. The transparent electrodes 32A-32I of the intermediate electrode layer 32 are connected to a light control glass control signal line 40B. The control signal is, for example, a voltage signal. A control signal for the liquid crystal layer 28 is transmitted to the light control glass control signal lines 40A and 40B. The light control glass control signal lines 40A and 40B are connected to an auxiliary ECU (electronic control unit) not shown.

[0022] The vehicle-external electrode layer 24 is one of an anode layer and a cathode layer, and the intermediate electrode layer 32 is the other of an anode layer and a cathode layer. For example, the vehicle-external electrode layer 24 is a cathode, and the intermediate electrode layer 32 is an anode.

[0023] A voltage signal (ON signal) is applied to one of the transparent electrodes 24A-24I, 32A-32I. For example, a negative voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 24A. A positive voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 32A. At the intersection of the transparent electrodes 24A and 32A, the potential difference exceeds a threshold. If the light control glass 50 is in reverse mode, the intersection of the transparent electrodes 24A and 32A in the liquid crystal layer 28 switches from transparent to opaque. If the light control glass 50 is in normal mode, the intersection of the transparent electrodes 24A and 32A in the liquid crystal layer 28 switches from opaque to transparent.

[0024] 2. Display Panel The display panel 60 is composed of a laminated body. From the exterior side, the display panel 60 includes an intermediate electrode layer 32, an organic light-emitting layer 34, an interior electrode layer 36, and a glass substrate 38. Each layer is made of a light-transmitting material.

[0025] The organic light-emitting layer 34 is composed of a laminated body (not shown). For example, the organic light-emitting layer 34 includes, in order from the cathode side, an electron transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and a hole transport layer. A transparent phosphor is added to the light-emitting layer. The transparent phosphor is not excited by sunlight or the like and remains transparent, but is excited by light generated by the light-emitting layer to emit fluorescence of a predetermined color. For example, the organic light-emitting layer 34 has red (R), green (G), and blue (B) elements as one pixel.

[0026] The organic light-emitting layer 34 is disposed between the intermediate electrode layer 32 and the interior electrode layer 36. Of the three transparent electrode layers in the display window 20 (the exterior electrode layer 24, the intermediate electrode layer 32, and the interior electrode layer 36), the interior electrode layer 36 is disposed closer to the interior side of the vehicle.

[0027] The interior electrode layer 36 includes transparent electrodes 36A-36I. The interior electrode layer 36 is a transparent electrode layer. The interior electrode layer 36 is formed, for example, by patterning the transparent electrodes 36A-36I on a transparent film. The transparent electrodes 36A-36I are made of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO).

[0028] The transparent electrodes 36A-36I extend parallel to the transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24. Therefore, the transparent electrodes 36A-36I are arranged perpendicular to the transparent electrodes 32A-32I of the intermediate electrode layer 32. In other words, the transparent electrodes 36A-36I are row electrodes. The transparent electrodes 32A-32I (column electrodes) of the intermediate electrode layer 32 and the transparent electrodes 36A-36I (row electrodes) of the interior electrode layer 36 form a matrix electrode. The intersections of the row electrodes and column electrodes form pixels.

[0029] The wiring width W3 and wiring pitch W4 of the transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36 may be equal to the wiring width W1 and wiring pitch W2 of the transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24. The wiring widths W1 and W3 and the wiring pitches W2 and W4 may also be equal. For example, the transparent electrodes 24A-24I are aligned with the transparent electrodes 36A-36I in the stacking direction. For example, the transparent electrode 24A is disposed directly above the transparent electrode 36A.

[0030] The interior electrode layer 36 has the same polarity as the exterior electrode layer 24 and the opposite polarity to the intermediate electrode layer 32. In other words, the exterior electrode layer 24 and the interior electrode layer 36 are either an anode layer or a cathode layer. The intermediate electrode layer 32 is the other of an anode layer and a cathode layer. In the above example, the exterior electrode layer 24 is a cathode layer and the intermediate electrode layer 32 is an anode layer. In this example, the interior electrode layer 36 is a cathode layer.

[0031] A display control signal line 42A is connected to the transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36. A display control signal line 42B is connected to the intermediate electrode layer 32. The control signal is, for example, a voltage signal. A control signal for the organic light-emitting layer 34 is transmitted to the display control signal lines 42A and 42B. The display control signal lines 42A and 42B are connected to an auxiliary ECU (not shown).

[0032] A negative voltage is applied to one of the transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36. A positive voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 32A-32I of the intermediate electrode layer 32. For example, a negative voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 36A, and a positive voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 32A. At the intersection of the transparent electrodes 36A and 32A, the potential difference exceeds a threshold. At this time, light is emitted from the light-emitting layer of the organic light-emitting layer 34. This light excites the transparent phosphor, which then emits light of a predetermined color.

[0033] As described above, in this embodiment, the intermediate electrode layer 32 is connected to the light control glass control signal line 40B and the display control signal line 42B. That is, the intermediate electrode layer 32 serves as an electrode for both the light control glass 50 and the display panel 60. For example, a logical OR signal of the control signal for the light control glass control signal line 40B and the control signal for the display control signal line 42B is input to the intermediate electrode layer 32. In this way, by sharing an electrode between the light control glass 50 and the display panel 60, the number of laminated transparent electrode layers can be reduced.

[0034] 3. Another example of this embodiment Figure 3 illustrates a display window 20 that further reduces light transmittance using transparent electrodes. In Figure 3, the arrangement of transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24 and transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36 is different from that of the example in Figure 2. The other structures are the same in Figures 2 and 3, so a description thereof will be omitted below.

[0035] The wiring widths W1 and W3 of the transparent electrodes 24A-24I and 36A-36I are equal. The wiring pitches W2 and W4 of the transparent electrodes 24A-24I and 36-36I are equal. The wiring widths W1 and W3 and the wiring pitches W2 and W4 are equal.

[0036] The transparent electrodes 24A-24I are arranged so as not to overlap with the transparent electrodes 36A-36I when viewed from the stacking direction. For example, the transparent electrodes 24A-24I are arranged between the transparent electrodes 36A-36I when viewed from the stacking direction. In other words, overlap between the transparent electrodes 24A-24I of the exterior electrode layer 24 and the transparent electrodes 36A-36I of the interior electrode layer 36 along the stacking direction (in other words, along the light transmission direction) is avoided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 vehicle, 12 roof glass, 14 side window, 20 in-vehicle display window, 22 glass substrate, 24 exterior electrode layer, 24A-24I transparent electrodes of the exterior electrode layer, 28 liquid crystal layer, 32 intermediate electrode layer, 32A-32I transparent electrodes of the intermediate electrode layer, 34 organic light-emitting layer, 36 interior electrode layer, 36A-36I transparent electrodes of the interior electrode layer, 38 glass substrate, 40A, 40B dimming glass control signal line, 42A, 42B display control signal line, 50 dimming glass, 60 display panel.

Claims

[Claim 1] an exterior electrode layer disposed relatively on the exterior side of the vehicle; an interior electrode layer disposed relatively on the interior side of the vehicle; an intermediate electrode layer disposed between the exterior electrode layer and the interior electrode layer; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the exterior electrode layer and the intermediate electrode layer; an organic light-emitting layer disposed between the interior electrode layer and the intermediate electrode layer; Equipped with the exterior electrode layer, the interior electrode layer, and the intermediate electrode layer are transparent electrode layers, the vehicle exterior electrode layer and the vehicle interior electrode layer are one of an anode layer and a cathode layer, the intermediate electrode layer is the other of the anode layer and the cathode layer, a control signal line for the liquid crystal layer and a control signal line for the organic light-emitting layer are connected to the intermediate electrode layer; In-car display window.

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