Liquid Crystal Sealing Material for Thin Image Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image display devices using plastic substrates face challenges with thickness due to the combination of gas barrier films and circular polarizing plates, leading to increased thickness and reduced display quality from outdoor daylight reflection.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a liquid crystal compound into the organic layer of a gas barrier film, which combines gas barrier and polarization conversion functions, reducing the overall thickness of the image display device by using a laminate structure with an inorganic layer and an organic layer, where the organic layer functions as both a spacer and a polarization converter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas barrier film and a circular polarizing plate are used separately, then the gas barrier function and polarization conversion function are achieved, but the total number of layers increases and the thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas barrier film and circular polarizing plate into a single integrated sealing material. The sealing material comprises a substrate, an inorganic layer (providing gas barrier function), and an organic layer containing a liquid crystal compound (providing polarization conversion function). This combination achieves both gas barrier and polarization conversion functions simultaneously, reducing the total number of layers and overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing material is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides gas barrier protection through the inorganic layer, polarization conversion through the liquid crystal compound-containing organic layer, and sealing function through the substrate. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate gas barrier film and polarizing plate components.
2Reliability
If a gas barrier film is used for sealing, then gas barrier property is improved, but the thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas barrier film is merged with the circular polarizing plate functionality in a single sealing material structure. The inorganic layer provides the gas barrier function while the organic layer with liquid crystal compound provides polarization conversion, achieving both functions in one component rather than separate layers.
3Reliability
If a circular polarizing plate is used to suppress reflection of outdoor daylight, then display quality is improved, but the thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circular polarizing plate functionality is merged into the sealing material structure. The organic layer containing the liquid crystal compound provides the polarization conversion function needed to suppress outdoor daylight reflection, while the overall structure maintains the gas barrier function through the inorganic layer.
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
This configuration achieves a novel image display device with both gas barrier and polarization conversion functions, reducing thickness and improving outdoor visibility by integrating the polarization conversion function into the gas barrier film, thereby enhancing display quality.
Implementation Method 1
a layer including a liquid crystal compound is used as a layer having a polarization conversion function
Implementation Method 2
the organic layer contains a liquid crystal compound
Implementation Method 3
plastic is poorer in gas barrier property for shielding oxygen and water vapor than glass
Implementation Method 4
the inorganic layer is produced by obliquely vapor-depositing the inorganic compound
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the invention is to provide a novel image display device which has both of a gas barrier function and a polarization conversion function and has a reduced thickness as compared to those in the related art. An image display device of the invention has a sealing material and an image display element in this order from the visible side, the sealing material is a laminate having a substrate, an inorganic layer, and an organic layer, and the organic layer contains a liquid crystal compound.