Compartmented Switchable Glazing for High Light Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switchable glazing devices for light transmission regulation, particularly in automotive applications, face limitations in achieving high transmission rates above 50% due to the constraints of polarizer-based technologies, which are not suitable for applications requiring over 70% transmission, and existing liquid crystal devices are complex and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A switchable glazing device with a compartmented structure, allowing for locally varied material compositions and device settings, utilizing a multi-stack configuration of dye-doped liquid crystal (ddLC) cells with dichroic dyes and conductive layers, enabling flexible and efficient production of high-transmission states without additional electronics or processing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If polarizer-based liquid crystal devices are used to achieve high transmission rates, then transmission can be regulated, but transmission cannot exceed 50% due to polarizer limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes polarizers from the device structure entirely, extracting the limiting component that prevented transmission rates above 50%. The invention uses dichroic dyes in liquid crystal compartments to achieve high transmission without polarizer-based constraints, directly resolving the contradiction between transmission rate and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from polarizer-based optical modulation to dichroic dye-based absorption modulation. By using dichroic dyes that can be switched between different absorption states, the device achieves transmission rates above 50% (up to 70-80%) without the 50% transmission ceiling imposed by polarizers.
2Illumination intensity
If multi-stack liquid crystal devices with different mixtures are stacked to achieve varied transmission ranges, then transmission regulation is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid crystal layer into multiple compartments separated by barriers, with each compartment containing liquid crystal mixture with different dichroic dye concentrations. This segmentation allows different transmission ranges in different areas without requiring multiple stacked cells, simplifying the device structure while achieving varied transmission regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by having different compartments with different dichroic dye concentrations in different spatial locations. Each compartment is optimized for specific transmission requirements, allowing local adaptation of transmission properties without increasing overall device complexity through stacking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional electronics and processing steps are added to achieve compartmented structure with locally varied settings, then functional versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compartmentation structure with the liquid crystal filling process itself. Barriers are placed in the cell before filling, and liquid crystal mixtures with different dichroic dye concentrations are introduced into different compartments during the same manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate electronics or post-processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a universal manufacturing approach where a single device structure with multiple compartments can serve different transmission requirements simultaneously. The same basic cell structure and filling process accommodates various dichroic dye concentrations in different compartments, providing multi-functionality without additional manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for high transmission rates up to 70% while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness in production, ensuring high durability and stability against solar irradiation, and flexibility in design, including curved forms, making it suitable for mass production and various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The ECD mixture includes a liquid crystal material, dichroic dyes and an ionic material capable of inducing dynamic scattering of liquid crystal molecules
Implementation Method 2
an ionic material capable of inducing dynamic scattering of liquid crystal molecules
Implementation Method 3
The device has a voltage supply coupled with the conductive layers for applying a voltage waveform across the liquid crystal cell
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present application concerns a switchable device for the regulation of light transmission, which has a compartemented structure, where the switching state of each of the compartments can be controlled individually.