Electrically Switchable Shutter with Flexible Conductive Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shutters lack efficient control over light transmission and thermal insulation, particularly in applications like greenhouses and buildings, where variable thermal insulation and light control are necessary for energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electrically controllable shutter system comprising a stack of flexible sheets with non-metallic, electrically conductive layers, allowing the array of cells to reversibly transition between open and closed states in response to an electric potential, providing adjustable thermal insulation and light blocking capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional shutters are used to control light transmission, then light blocking is achieved, but thermal insulation control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one by applying electric potential between conductive layers on adjacent sheets. This causes the cell array to reversibly expand and compress, dynamically adjusting the degree of light blocking and thermal insulation. The dynamic state change is controlled by varying the electric potential magnitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the shutter cells by applying electric potential, which alters the spacing between adjacent sheets. This parameter change (from compressed to expanded state) directly affects both light transmission and thermal insulation properties, enabling variable control of these parameters.
2Temperature
If the shutter array is expanded to increase light blocking, then thermal insulation improves, but visible light transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic control over the trade-off between thermal insulation and light transmission. By adjusting the electric potential, users can achieve intermediate states between fully compressed (high light transmission, low insulation) and fully expanded (low light transmission, high insulation), optimizing both parameters simultaneously based on needs.
3Reliability
If metal conductive layers are used for electrical control, then electrical conductivity is high, but flexibility and durability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite material structures where conductive layers are deposited on flexible substrate sheets. This composite approach combines the electrical conductivity of conductive materials with the flexibility and durability of the substrate material, resolving the contradiction between electrical performance and mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive layers are implemented as thin film coatings on flexible sheets rather than rigid metal components. This allows the system to maintain high electrical conductivity while achieving the flexibility needed for the expanding and compressing cell array structure.
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 system enables optimal light transmission and thermal insulation control, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings by varying the electric potential to expand or compress the shutter array, reducing heat loss and maintaining visible light transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The cells of the array are configured to reversibly transition between an open state and a closed state in response to an electric potential having a magnitude greater than a threshold value applied between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a connected array of cells formed in a stack of flexible sheets. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack includes a first sheet and a second sheet bonded together at multiple bond locations. Each sheet has an electrically conductive layer disposed on an electrically non-conductive layer, the conductive layer comprising an electrically conductive non-metal material. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack is arranged so that the non-conductive layer of each first sheet is between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets. The cells of the array reversibly transition between an open state and a closed state in response to an electric potential having a magnitude greater than a threshold value applied between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets.