Light Control Film Layout for Hidden Non-Electrode Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light control members with divided transparent electrodes on windows have visible non-electrode areas that intervene between electrodes, affecting their appearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A light control member with an undivided common electrode and divided electrodes, featuring non-electrode lines that do not overlap when viewed normally, and utilizing two liquid-crystal layers with specific alignment configurations to minimize visibility of these lines, ensuring the non-electrode areas are not visually identifiable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transparent electrodes are divided into a plurality of areas to enable independent light control of each area, then light control functionality is improved, but non-electrode areas become visually identifiable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by stacking multiple liquid crystal layers (first and second liquid crystal layers) with their non-electrode lines positioned at different depths. When viewed from the front, these non-electrode lines do not overlap, creating a three-dimensional arrangement that hides the division lines. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining area-independent control functionality while eliminating the visual harm of visible non-electrode areas through spatial arrangement in the thickness direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nesting by placing the first liquid crystal layer and second liquid crystal layer one above the other, with non-electrode lines nested at different positions in the thickness direction. The non-electrode line of the first layer is positioned such that when viewed from the front, it does not overlap with the non-electrode line of the second layer. This nested arrangement allows both layers to contribute to independent area control while their offset positions prevent visual identification of division lines.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-electrode lines are made narrower to reduce visibility, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply narrowing the non-electrode lines in two dimensions, the patent utilizes the third dimension (thickness direction) by stacking liquid crystal layers with offset non-electrode line positions. This approach reduces visibility of division lines without requiring extremely narrow line widths, thereby avoiding excessive manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving the aesthetic goal of minimizing visible non-electrode areas.
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 provides a light control member with reduced visible non-electrode areas, enhancing the aesthetic and functional performance by preventing the identification of these areas, thereby improving the light blocking and transmission characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a member that uses guest-host liquid crystals has been proposed. With the guest-host liquid crystals, the state is changed between a state in which guest-host liquid crystal compositions and dichroism pigment compositions are randomly oriented and another state in which the compositions are oriented in twist alignment, by electric field control, thus controlling the intensity of transmitted light.
Data Source
AI summary
A light control member and a light control device in which a non-electrode region is less visible. A light control film is a light control member having controllable transmissivity and includes: an undivided first common electrode; divided first electrodes; a first liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first common electrode and the first electrodes; an undivided second common electrode; divided second electrodes; and a second liquid-crystal layer disposed between the second common electrode and the second electrodes. First non-electrode lines dividing the first electrodes and second non-electrode lines dividing the second electrodes are arranged at positions not overlapping one another when viewed in the direction normal to the light control film.