Liquid Crystal Light Control Device with Inorganic Insulating Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light control devices using liquid crystal cells require high precision in adhering substrates, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for precise alignment and expensive equipment.
Innovation Solution
A light control device configuration featuring a first and second liquid crystal cell with a polarized light conversion element in between, where one substrate of each cell has insulating substrates with strip electrodes and inorganic insulating films, allowing for reduced precision in alignment and simplified manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrodes are disposed to oppose each other via a liquid crystal layer, then light control functionality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
An inorganic insulating film is introduced as an intermediary layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. This mediator layer eliminates the need for high-precision substrate alignment while maintaining effective light control functionality through the liquid crystal cell configuration.
2Manufacturing precision
If high precision alignment equipment is used, then substrate adhesion quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple inorganic insulating film structure that can be manufactured using conventional, low-cost equipment rather than expensive high-precision alignment equipment. This approach uses readily available materials and processes to achieve the required functionality without investing in costly specialized manufacturing equipment.
3Illumination intensity
If strip electrodes are arranged in overlapping patterns, then light scattering control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into two distinct layers: a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, separated by an inorganic insulating film. This segmentation allows for simplified individual electrode designs while achieving complex light scattering control through the layered configuration.
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 reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for high-precision alignment and expensive equipment, while maintaining effective light control and scattering capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first liquid crystal cell (10) including a first liquid crystal layer (LC1) between a pair of substrates
Implementation Method 2
one polarization component is modulated in one liquid crystal cell and the other polarization component is modulated in the other liquid crystal cell
Implementation Method 3
a polarized light conversion element disposed between the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a light control device includes a first liquid crystal cell, a second liquid crystal cell and a polarized light conversion element disposed between the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell. One substrate of an pair of substrates of each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of first electrodes arranged along one direction on the insulating substrate and formed in a strip shape, a first inorganic insulating film covering the first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes intersecting the first electrodes on the first inorganic insulating film and formed in a strip shape.