Light Control Sheet Sealing With Slit-Bridged Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing light control sheets face challenges in achieving high sealability at the terminals and edges due to the division of terminal sealing sections between different transparent substrates, which compromises the overall sealing and mechanical strength of the light control layer.

Innovation Solution

A light control sheet design that incorporates a back-directed and front-directed sealing section, supported by different transparent substrates, connected through a slit, to ensure continuous sealing and enhanced mechanical strength at the edges and terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal sealing section is divided between different transparent substrates, then each substrate can support its own sealing section, but the overall sealability and mechanical strength of the light control layer is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport capabilityVSAvoidsealability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the front-directed sealing section and back-directed sealing section through a connection portion that spans the slit between transparent substrates. This merging creates a unified sealing system that maintains continuous sealing around the terminal, preventing the division between substrates from compromising overall sealability while still allowing each substrate to support its respective sealing section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection portion acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the front-directed sealing section on the front substrate and the back-directed sealing section on the back substrate. This intermediary component enables the two separate sealing sections to function together as a unified sealing system, maintaining both the adaptability of substrate-supported sealing and the reliability of continuous sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the sealing section is divided between front and back substrates, then each substrate can independently support sealing, but the mechanical strength at the slit region is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent supportVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection portion merges the sealing sections from both substrates into a unified structure that spans the slit region. This merging creates a continuous mechanical path that distributes and transfers mechanical loads across the slit, preventing stress concentration and maintaining overall mechanical strength while preserving the independent support capability of each substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing structure functions as a composite system combining the front-directed sealing section, connection portion, and back-directed sealing section. This composite structure leverages the strengths of both substrates and the connecting material to achieve mechanical strength that exceeds what either substrate could provide independently, particularly in the critical slit region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a continuous sealing section is implemented across both substrates, then sealability is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealabilityVSAvoidsealing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous sealing section is segmented into three functional portions: the front-directed sealing section supported by the front substrate, the back-directed sealing section supported by the back substrate, and the connection portion bridging them. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function while collectively achieving continuous sealing, thereby reducing overall complexity compared to a fully integrated single-structure approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design achieves improved sealability and mechanical strength at the edges and terminals, ensuring the light control layer is securely sealed and resistant to mechanical loads, thereby enhancing the overall performance and durability of the light control sheet.

Implementation Method 1

Changing the voltage between the front transparent electrode layer and the back transparent electrode layer changes the alignment state of a liquid crystal compound included in the liquid crystal composition of the light control layer, thereby changing the degree of transparency of the light control sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal alignment change: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

Changing the voltage between the front transparent electrode layer and the back transparent electrode layer changes the alignment state of a liquid crystal compound included in the liquid crystal composition of the light control layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectro-optic effect: Electro-Optic Effects

Data Source

PatentEP4597211A1Light control sheet
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP4597211A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4597211A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4597211A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A light control sheet further includes a back-directed sealing section (42E) that is supported by a portion between a front outer edge face (21E) of a front transparent substrate exposed from a light control layer and a rear-facing terminal definition surface (32E) in plan view and seals a portion of an edge face of the light control layer overlapping with the rear-facing terminal definition surface (32E), and a front-directed sealing section (42E) that is a front-directed sealing section (41E) which is supported by a portion between a back outer edge face (31E) of a back transparent substrate exposed from the light control layer and a front inner edge face (22E) and seals a portion of the edge face of the light control layer overlapping with the front inner edge face (22E). The front-directed sealing section (42E) is connected to the back-directed sealing section (42E) through a slit (S) and superimposed on the back-directed sealing section (42E) in a region including the slit (S).