Liquid Crystal Display UV Curing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid crystal display devices using PDLC or PNLC face challenges in achieving homogeneous polymer network formation due to difficulties in controlling UV light intensity, wavelength, and temperature, leading to impaired optical properties and adhesion between the liquid crystal layer and alignment film, especially under harsh environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A liquid crystal display device is developed with a UV irradiation apparatus capable of controlling UV light intensity and wavelength, using a liquid crystal composition containing specific compounds and a polymerizable compound, and a liquid crystal alignment film with a side chain structure to enhance vertical alignment and adhesion, ensuring stable optical properties and adhesion even in high temperature and humidity environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a metal halide lamp or high-pressure mercury lamp is used as UV light source for curing, then the liquid crystal composition can be cured to form a polymer network, but it is difficult to control the intensity, wavelength and temperature of ultraviolet rays, leading to non-homogeneous polymer network formation and poor optical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of polymer networkVSAvoidcontrol system for UV light source
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic metal halide lamp or high-pressure mercury lamp from the system and replaces it with an LED ultraviolet irradiation apparatus. This extraction eliminates the difficulty of controlling intensity, wavelength, and temperature while achieving homogeneous polymer network formation through the inherent controllability of LED technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the traditional thermal-based curing system (metal halide lamp or high-pressure mercury lamp) with a solid-state LED-based system. This replacement enables precise control of irradiation parameters without the complexity of thermal management required by traditional lamp-based systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If the polymer network is densified to increase adhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment film, then adhesion is improved, but the vertical alignment property of liquid crystal is impaired and optical properties are deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment filmVSAvoidvertical alignment property of liquid crystal
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the liquid crystal composition by introducing a specific compound with hydroxyl groups that can form hydrogen bonds. This parameter change enables strong adhesion without requiring high polymer network density, thereby preserving the vertical alignment properties and optical characteristics of the liquid crystal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system where the liquid crystal composition includes both polymerizable compounds for network formation and specific compounds (with hydroxyl groups) for adhesion enhancement. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of adequate adhesion and preserved liquid crystal alignment properties through synergistic interaction between different components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a highly hydrophobic liquid crystal alignment film is used to achieve vertical alignment, then vertical alignment property is improved, but adhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment film becomes low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical alignment property of liquid crystalVSAvoidadhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment film
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific compound acting as an intermediary between the hydrophobic alignment film and the liquid crystal composition. This intermediary compound contains hydroxyl groups that form hydrogen bonds, creating a chemical bridge that enhances adhesion while allowing the alignment film to maintain its hydrophobic nature and vertical alignment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface chemistry parameters of the liquid crystal composition by adding compounds with hydroxyl groups. This parameter change enables chemical interaction (hydrogen bonding) with the alignment film surface, overcoming the adhesion problem caused by the film's hydrophobicity while preserving its alignment functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If a liquid crystal display device is used in high temperature and humidity environments, then the device can be applied in harsh conditions, but the adhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment film deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental resistance of deviceVSAvoidadhesion between liquid crystal layer and alignment film
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating hydroxyl-containing compounds into the liquid crystal composition before device assembly and operation. These compounds form hydrogen bonds with the alignment film in advance, creating a strong chemical adhesion foundation that resists degradation under subsequent high temperature and humidity conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite liquid crystal composition that includes polymerizable compounds and hydroxyl-containing compounds. This composite formulation creates a chemically bonded interface between the liquid crystal layer and alignment film, providing long-term adhesion stability in harsh environments through the robust hydrogen bonding network.

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 solution achieves good optical properties, maintaining transparency without voltage and scattering with voltage, while ensuring high adhesion between the liquid crystal layer and alignment film, even in harsh conditions, by controlling UV irradiation and using specific compounds and alignment films.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid crystal composition containing the polymerizable compound which undergoes polymerization by ultraviolet rays and curing the liquid crystal composition by irradiation with ultraviolet rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

is in a transmission state when a voltage is applied, since liquid crystal molecules are aligned in an electric field direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric field alignment: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP3217212B1Liquid crystal display device
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 NISSAN CHEM CORP
  • EP3217212B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3217212B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3217212B1 patent drawing

AI summary

To provide a liquid crystal display device, whereby transparency when no voltage is applied and scattering properties when a voltage is applied, are good, adhesion between a liquid crystal layer and a vertical liquid crystal alignment film is high, and its lifespan is long even in a severe environment. The liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer formed by disposing a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound between a pair of substrates provided with electrodes, and irradiating and curing the composition with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus, and at least one of the substrates is provided with a liquid crystal alignment film to vertically align a liquid crystal, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus is an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus capable of controlling the irradiation light intensity and wavelength of the ultraviolet rays to be irradiated and the surface temperature of the pair of the substrates, the liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by the formula [1], and the liquid crystal alignment film is a liquid crystal alignment film obtained from a liquid crystal alignment treating agent containing a polymer having a side chain structure represented by the formula [2-1] or formula [2-2]. (X1 is a specific side chain structure; X2, X3, X4 and X6 are each a single bond, etc.; X5 and X7 are each a benzene ring, etc.; p is an integer of from 0 to 4; and X8 is a C1-18 alkyl group, etc.), (Y1, Y2 and Y3 are each a single bond; Y4 and Y5 are each a benzene ring, etc.; n is from 0 to 4; and Y6 is a C1-18 alkyl group, etc.,         -Y7-Y8     [2-2] (Y7 is a single bond; and Y8 is a C8-22 alkyl group, etc.).