Optical Film Viewing Angle Control Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle display systems face challenges in effectively shielding light from unwanted directions and reducing glare on window glass, leading to reduced visibility and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
An optical film with a light absorption anisotropic layer composed of a liquid crystal composition containing a thermotropic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic substance, and an interface improver, where the dichroic substance content is 10.0% or greater by mass, and the angle between the transmittance central axis and the normal direction is between 5° and 45°, combined with a polarizer having a specific alignment, is used to control viewing angles and reduce glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a first polarizer and second polarizer are used in combination to control viewing angles, then light transmission in unwanted directions is shielded, but light transmittance in the desired viewing direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of dichroic substance content from conventional levels to 10.0% or greater by mass, and adjusts the angle θ to 5° or greater and less than 45°. These parameter changes enable the light absorption anisotropic layer to achieve both high light transmittance in the desired viewing direction (0° to 30° from normal) and effective shielding in unwanted directions, resolving the contradiction between visibility and glare reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite light absorption anisotropic layer by combining thermotropic liquid crystal compound, dichroic substance, and interface improver in a specific formulation. This composite material achieves superior optical properties that neither component could achieve alone, providing both high front-direction transmittance and effective side-direction shielding.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the dichroic substance content is increased to improve light shielding, then reflected glare on window glass is reduced, but visibility in the desired direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dichroic substance content to a specific range (10.0% or greater by mass) and controls the angle θ between 5° and 45°, achieving the counterintuitive result that high dichroic substance content combined with specific angular orientation produces both bright front-direction images and effective glare reduction, rather than the expected trade-off.
3Reliability
If the viewing angle control is strengthened to eliminate glare, then safety is improved, but the ease of obtaining visual information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the angle θ to 5° or greater and less than 45° and setting dichroic substance content at 10.0% or greater, the patent achieves a viewing angle control system that maintains excellent image brightness and visibility in the front direction (0° to 30° from normal), ensuring fast visual recognition while effectively eliminating glare on windshields and windows for improved driving safety.
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 bright and easy-to-see image in the desired direction while effectively shielding light and reducing glare on window glass, enhancing visibility and safety in in-vehicle displays.
Implementation Method 1
a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a thermotropic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic substance, and an interface improver
Implementation Method 2
a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a thermotropic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic substance
Implementation Method 3
a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a thermotropic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic substance, and an interface improver
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a viewing angle control system and a display device that are capable of providing a bright and easy-to-see image in a desired direction, shielding light from the image in a direction other than the desired direction, and limiting reflected glare on window glass, and an optical film therefor. The optical film of the present invention includes a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a thermotropic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic substance, and an interface improver, in which a content of the dichroic substance is 10.0% by mass or greater with respect to a total mass of a solid content of the liquid crystal composition, and an angle θ between a transmittance central axis of the light absorption anisotropic layer and a normal direction of a surface of the optical film is 5° or greater and less than 45°.