Liquid Crystal Cell with Photo-Alignable Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process for liquid crystal display devices is complex and expensive, and polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) have a reduced contrast ratio compared to typical LCDs, limiting their switching capabilities between opacity and transparency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal cell with a phase-separated liquid crystal domain dispersed in an alignable network, where the alignable network is formed using a photo-alignable compound that can be orientationally ordered by light, allowing the liquid crystal compound to align without applied voltage, and a cross-linking agent is used to control the network's properties, achieving high contrast ratios and transparency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is used to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but contrast ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal layer is segmented into distinct liquid crystal domains dispersed within a polymer matrix network. This segmentation allows the liquid crystal molecules to be confined in separate regions, maintaining their alignment properties and enabling high contrast ratio while using the simpler PDLC manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material structure consisting of liquid crystal domains embedded in a polymer matrix. This composite structure combines the optical properties of liquid crystals with the structural stability of the polymer network, achieving both simplified manufacturing and high contrast ratio performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If liquid crystal compound is dispersed in polymer matrix without alignment, then manufacturing process is simplified, but transparency switching capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer matrix is prepared with pre-formed alignment structures before the liquid crystal domains are dispersed within it. This preliminary alignment structure guides the liquid crystal molecules into proper orientation, ensuring transparency switching capability is maintained while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer matrix acts as an intermediary that provides both structural support and alignment guidance for the liquid crystal domains. The matrix structure mediates between the simple dispersion process and the requirement for ordered liquid crystal alignment, enabling both manufacturing simplicity and reliable transparency switching.
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 enables the production of liquid crystal cells with excellent transparency and high contrast ratios, even without applied voltage, facilitating their use in applications like smart windows and flexible display devices.
Implementation Method 1
a photo-alignable compound may be used as the alignable compound. The term 'photo-alignable compound' as used herein may refer to a compound which is capable of being orientationally ordered by being irradiated with light such as linearly polarized light, and then is capable of aligning adjacent liquid crystal compounds to a predetermined direction through an anisotropic interaction under a state where it is orientationally ordered.
Implementation Method 2
capable of aligning adjacent liquid crystal compounds to a predetermined direction through an anisotropic interaction under a state where it is orientationally ordered
Implementation Method 3
When a voltage is applied to the PDLCs, the liquid crystal compound is aligned according to the alignment of the PDLCs. As a result, the PDLCs become transparent.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal cell, a precursor of the liquid crystal layer, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, and use of the liquid crystal cell are provided. The liquid crystal cell may be manufactured simply in a consecutive manner using a roll-to-roll process. Also, the liquid crystal cell may be realized as a flexible device, and have an excellent contrast ratio. Such a liquid crystal cell can be applied in various applications including smart windows, window-protecting films, flexible display devices, active retarders for displaying 3D images, or viewing angle-adjusting films.