Smart Window Laminate With Conductive Polymer for Low-Voltage LC Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light control laminates for windows have fixed transmittance, leading to issues such as difficulty in visibility at night or daytime glare, increased manufacturing costs due to separate substrates, and high power consumption, along with adhesion issues between liquid crystal and conductive layers.
Innovation Solution
A light control laminate with a conductive polymer layer directly formed on polarizing plates, incorporating a liquid crystal layer composed of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal compound, allowing for uniform initial orientation and adhesion without a separate substrate, and operating at low voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate substrate is used to form a conductive layer, then the liquid crystal can be driven, but the manufacturing cost increases and the manufacturing process becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the substrate and conductive layer into a single integrated transparent conductive substrate, eliminating the need for separate substrate and conductive layer formation processes. This integration maintains the liquid crystal driving capability while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent conductive substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the structural substrate and the conductive layer for driving the liquid crystal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and reduces manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If a separate substrate is used to form a conductive layer, then the liquid crystal can be driven, but the thickness of the laminate increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the substrate and conductive layer into a single transparent conductive substrate, the patent eliminates the additional thickness that would result from stacking separate substrate and conductive layer components, thereby reducing the overall laminate thickness while maintaining driving capability.
3Reliability
If a separate substrate is used to form a conductive layer, then the liquid crystal can be driven, but transmittance changes due to phase difference occur
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of substrate and conductive layer into a single transparent conductive substrate eliminates the interfaces between separate layers that cause phase differences and transmittance changes, thereby improving light transmittance while maintaining liquid crystal driving functionality.
4Reliability
If liquid crystal compound without reactive group is used, then the liquid crystal can be driven, but adhesion with conductive layer is poor and sealant is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the liquid crystal compound by introducing reactive groups (epoxy, hydroxyl, or carboxyl groups) that can chemically bond with the conductive layer. This chemical modification enables direct adhesion without requiring sealants, while the liquid crystal driving capability is preserved.
5Reliability
If polymer dispersed liquid crystal is used, then the liquid crystal can be driven, but the liquid crystal compounds are phase-separated and cannot have constant initial orientation, requiring continuous voltage application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by using a specific ratio of liquid crystal compound to polymer (liquid crystal compound: polymer = 95:5 to 5:95 by weight) and incorporating reactive groups that enable uniform distribution and orientation. This prevents phase separation and allows the liquid crystal to maintain constant initial orientation without continuous voltage application, reducing power consumption.
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 laminate provides excellent adhesion, reduced thickness, simplified manufacturing, and lower power consumption, enabling flexible transmittance control without a separate substrate or alignment film.
Implementation Method 1
the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer contain a conductive polymer
Implementation Method 2
driven by varying the transmittance by driving the liquid crystal according to the voltage application
Implementation Method 3
the liquid crystal layer is a cured product of a liquid crystal layer-forming composition including a polymerizable monomer and a liquid crystal compound
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 2C~2E
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a light control laminate which has excellent adhesion between the liquid crystal and the conductive layer and does not fall off easily so that damage to the laminate can be prevented, which has good cell drivability even at low voltage when implementing the light-transmitting mode even if the liquid crystal layer contains a polymer, which enables normal white to be implemented when no voltage is applied, and which has a significantly reduced thickness and a simplified manufacturing process compared to the conventional light control laminate, a smart window including the same, and an automobile or building window to which the same is applied.