Smart Window Electrode Layer Without a Separate Substrate

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smart windows with fixed transmittance coatings face issues such as increased manufacturing costs, thickness, and poor adhesion during the manufacturing process, leading to potential separation and defects.

Innovation Solution

An electrode layer with a thickness of 250 to 350 nm, adhesive force of 3 mN or more, and surface resistance of 150Ω/□ or less, formed directly on a polarizing plate using a conductive polymer, eliminating the need for a separate substrate and improving adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate substrate is used to form the electrode layer, then the adhesion during manufacturing is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the laminate thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the separate substrate from the conventional structure. Instead of forming the electrode layer on a separate substrate and then bonding it, the invention forms the electrode layer directly on the polarizing plate, eliminating the substrate and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the electrode layer formation directly with the polarizing plate. By combining these two layers into a direct interface without an intermediate substrate, the manufacturing process is simplified and the laminate thickness is reduced while maintaining good adhesion between the electrode layer and polarizing plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate substrate is used to form the electrode layer, then the adhesion during manufacturing is improved, but the laminate thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidlaminate thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the separate substrate from the conventional structure. Instead of forming the electrode layer on a separate substrate and then bonding it, the invention forms the electrode layer directly on the polarizing plate, eliminating the substrate and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the electrode layer formation directly with the polarizing plate. By combining these two layers into a direct interface without an intermediate substrate, the manufacturing process is simplified and the laminate thickness is reduced while maintaining good adhesion between the electrode layer and polarizing plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the electrode layer is formed on a separate substrate, then the manufacturing process is established, but poor adhesion occurs during cutting and application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidadhesion during cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the separate substrate from the conventional structure. Instead of forming the electrode layer on a separate substrate and then bonding it, the invention forms the electrode layer directly on the polarizing plate, eliminating the substrate and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming the electrode layer directly on the polarizing plate before any cutting or application processes. This direct formation ensures strong adhesion is established beforehand, preventing separation during subsequent cutting and application operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enhances adhesion, prevents separation and defects during manufacturing, simplifies the process, and reduces thickness, ensuring stable operation of smart windows.

Implementation Method 1

The electrode layer may be formed of an electrode layer-forming composition including a conductive polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductive polymer deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The light control laminate is driven by varying the transmittance by driving the liquid crystal according to the voltage application

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid crystal optical switching: Liquid Crystals

Data Source

PatentUS20250284162A1Electrode layer for smart window, light control laminate including same, smart window, and automobile or building window using same

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 DONGWOO FINE CHEM CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure may provide an electrode layer for a smart window, which has excellent adhesion and thus it is not easily separated during the process such as cutting, and a light control laminate which can prevent defects or breakage during the process of manufacturing a smart window by including the electrode layer for a smart window, and thus improving adhesion between substrates, and which simplifies the manufacturing process and significantly reduces the thickness by not including a separate substrate for forming the electrode layer, and a smart window including the light control laminate, and an automobile or building window using the smart window.