Smart Window Laminate Structure to Prevent Bonding Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart windows face issues during transport due to bending and damage of polarizing plates, generation of defects like lifting and pressing during bonding, and visibility problems from wave-like patterns, which affect handling and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A smart window design with a specific thickness ratio of adhesive layers to optical laminate, using substrates like silicon or glass, and direct formation of transparent conductive layers on polarizing plates, along with elastic modulus-adapted adhesive layers to prevent damage and defects, ensuring excellent visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a polarizing plate is used in the optical laminate without supporting substrates, then the smart window can achieve light transmittance control functionality, but the polarizing plate is easily bent and damaged during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The optical laminate is embedded between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, which are respectively bonded to the first substrate and the second substrate. This nested structure provides mechanical support to the optical laminate during transport while preserving its light transmittance control functionality through voltage application.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layers serve as intermediary elements between the substrates and the optical laminate. These adhesive layers provide mechanical support and protection to the polarizing plate during transport, preventing bending and damage while allowing the optical laminate to maintain its electrical and optical properties.
2Strength
If bonding pressure is applied during bonding of the optical laminate to the substrate, then the optical laminate is securely attached, but defects such as lifting and pressing defects are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the ratio of the thickness of each adhesive layer to the thickness of the optical laminate should be 1.5 to 3.5. This parameter optimization allows the adhesive layers to provide sufficient bonding strength while distributing the bonding pressure uniformly, thereby preventing lifting and pressing defects in the optical laminate.
3Ease of manufacture
If bonding is performed to attach the optical laminate to the substrate, then the smart window structure is completed, but wave-like patterns become visible in the bonded portion reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the thickness ratio of the adhesive layers to the optical laminate (1.5 to 3.5), the patent ensures that bonding pressure is distributed evenly across the optical laminate surface. This prevents the formation of wave-like patterns that would otherwise reduce visibility, while still achieving secure attachment of the optical laminate to the substrates.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the overall transmittance is preset low, then glare is prevented during day, but the driver cannot properly check the surroundings at night when ambient light is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The optical laminate is designed to dynamically change its light transmittance in response to applied voltage. During the day, the optical laminate can be set to low transmittance to prevent glare, while at night, voltage can be applied to increase transmittance, allowing the driver to properly check the surroundings. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between glare prevention and nighttime visibility.
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 design enhances handling during transport, prevents defects, and maintains visibility by avoiding wave-like stains, thus improving the overall performance and functionality of smart windows.
Implementation Method 1
an optical laminate that changes transmittance by driving liquid crystals in response to voltage application
Implementation Method 2
a first adhesive layer formed on the first substrate; a second adhesive layer formed on one surface of the second substrate and opposite to the first adhesive layer
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a smart window including: a first substrate; a first adhesive layer; a second substrate; a second adhesive layer; and an optical laminate embedded between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, wherein the optical laminate includes: a first polarizing plate; a first transparent conductive layer; a second polarizing plate; a second transparent conductive layer; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, wherein the ratio of the thickness of each of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to the thickness of the optical laminate is 1.5 to 3.5. The smart window is easy to handle, prevents defects from being generated when bonding the optical laminate to the substrates, and has excellent visibility. Also disclosed is an automobile or a window for a building using the smart window.