Perpendicular Strip Electrodes for Liquid Crystal Dye Light Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light modulating devices for smart windows face issues such as low light transmittance, insufficient darkness, high cost, large thickness, and heavy weight, limiting their effectiveness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a light modulation layer comprising a liquid crystal material and a dye material, featuring a unique electrode configuration where the extension directions of first and second strip electrodes are perpendicular, allowing for improved light transmission and shading control without additional polarizers or multiple laminated panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional light modulating devices are used, then light transmission control is achieved, but light transmittance in transmissive state is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines liquid crystal material and dye material in the light modulation layer to create a composite material system. The liquid crystal provides light transmission control while the dye enhances light absorption in the blocking state, achieving both high transmittance in transmissive state and sufficient darkness in non-transmissive state without requiring additional polarizers.
2Reliability
If additional polarizers or multiple laminated panels are added to improve light control, then light transmission control improves, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of light transmission control and light absorption into a single light modulation layer by combining liquid crystal and dye materials. This eliminates the need for separate polarizers or multiple laminated panels, thereby maintaining effective light control while reducing overall device thickness.
3Reliability
If conventional light modulating devices are used, then light modulation is achieved, but device weight is heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The use of liquid crystal and dye materials in the light modulation layer provides effective light modulation functionality while maintaining a lightweight structure. This composite material approach avoids the need for heavy additional components such as polarizers or multiple glass panels, thereby reducing overall device weight.
4Reliability
If conventional light modulating devices are used, then light modulation is achieved, but manufacturing cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines light transmission control and light absorption functions into a single light modulation layer, eliminating the need for separate polarizers or multiple laminated panels. This reduces the number of manufacturing steps, materials required, and assembly complexity, thereby lowering overall manufacturing cost while maintaining light modulation functionality.
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
Enhances light transmittance in the transmissive state and achieves effective darkness in the non-transmissive state, reducing overall thickness, weight, and manufacturing costs while improving light transmission control and anti-glare properties.
Implementation Method 1
Through electronic control, the light modulating devices can be in a transmissive state, a gray scale state or a dark state, etc., to achieve light transmission or shading effects
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first strip electrodes disposed between the first substrate and the light modulation layer; a plurality of second strip electrodes disposed between the second substrate and the light modulation layer; wherein an extension direction of the plurality of first strip electrodes is different from an extension direction of the plurality of second strip electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes: a panel, including: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; a light modulation layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of first strip electrodes disposed between the first substrate and the light modulation layer; a plurality of second strip electrodes disposed between the second substrate and the light modulation layer; a first electrode disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of first strip electrodes; and a second electrode disposed between the second substrate and the plurality of second strip electrodes, wherein the light modulation layer includes a liquid crystal material and a dye material, and an extension direction of the plurality of first strip electrodes is different from an extension direction of the plurality of second strip electrodes.