Electrochromic PDLC Vehicle Display for Adaptive Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices struggle to maintain favorable display properties across varying outdoor light intensities, as they often require high power consumption to overcome sunlight and fail to simultaneously provide transmissive, reflective, and scattering functions.

Innovation Solution

A display device comprising a transmissive first display panel with an electrochromic element and a second display panel with a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) element, bonded by an adhesive with an air layer and a light source unit between them, allowing for adaptive operation modes (indoor, daytime, and nighttime) to optimize visibility and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a high-luminance light source is used to exceed outside light intensity, then transmissive display properties are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay luminanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a transmissive electrochromic element that can dynamically change its optical properties between transmissive and reflective/scattering states. This dynamic adaptation allows the display to automatically adjust to varying outside light conditions, eliminating the need for continuously high light source output and thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining favorable display properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The electrochromic element changes its optical parameters (transmittance, reflectance, scattering) in response to control signals. By varying these optical parameters rather than relying solely on increasing light source intensity, the system achieves favorable display properties across different lighting conditions without proportionally increasing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a display panel is designed to provide transmissive, reflective, and scattering functions, then all-weather display properties are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveall-weather display capabilityVSAvoiddisplay panel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmissive electrochromic element serves multiple functions: it can provide transmissive display properties, reflective display properties, and scattering display properties by changing its optical state. This single multi-functional element replaces what would traditionally require separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining all-weather adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite structure combining the electrochromic element with a light source unit and control circuitry. This composite system integrates multiple functions within a unified architecture, where the electrochromic material's variable optical properties enable the display to adapt to different weather conditions without requiring separate dedicated components for each display mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 device achieves favorable display properties in all weather conditions by dynamically adjusting its transmissive and scattering states, reducing power consumption by limiting light source usage to nighttime mode, thus providing effective outdoor and indoor visibility without excessive energy expenditure.

Implementation Method 1

a first display panel (11) which includes an electrochromic element and has a color state to perform color display and a transmissive state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochromism: Electrochromism

Implementation Method 2

a second display panel (12) which includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal element and has a scatter state to scatter a light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3444665B1Display device comprising an electrochromic element which is suitable for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3444665B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3444665B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3444665B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A display device (10) includes: a first display panel (11) that includes an electrochromic element and is in a color state to perform color display and a transmissive state; a second display panel (12) that includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal element, is stacked on the first display panel (11), and is in a scatter state to scatter a light and a transmissive state; and a light source unit (13) between the first display panel (11) and the second display panel (12) and on one side portion of the second display panel (12), the light source unit (13) emitting light to the second display panel (12).