Switching Mirror Panel with Transparent Conductive Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional switching mirror panels fail to display information such as letters and images in the mirror mode, and they suffer from low transmittance in the transparent mode due to metal conductive lines interrupting display light.
Innovation Solution
A switching mirror panel configuration with a liquid crystal panel including an array substrate with divided pixel regions, featuring a pixel electrode, transparent insulating film, and transparent conductive lines, where the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the conductive lines through an aperture in the insulating film, allowing for voltage control of liquid crystal molecule alignment to switch between transparent and mirror modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a reflective polarizing plate is used as a half mirror layer, then the mirror display can reflect external light to function as a mirror, but the display quality deteriorates because the reflective polarizing plate always reflects external light even when the display device provides black display
Solution Approach 1:
The half mirror layer is divided into multiple pixel regions corresponding to the display device pixels. Each pixel region can independently control light reflection or transmission, allowing selective mirroring of specific display areas while maintaining display quality in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The half mirror layer dynamically switches between reflecting and transmitting light based on the display content. By applying voltage to liquid crystal molecules in each pixel region, the optical properties change to match the display state, preventing unnecessary light reflection that would degrade display quality.
2Reliability
If metal conductive lines are used in the liquid crystal panel, then electrical connections can be established, but the transmittance decreases due to interruption of display light by the metal conductive lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable metal conductive lines with transparent conductive materials that can be deposited as thin films. These transparent conductive layers provide the necessary electrical conductivity while being optically transparent, eliminating the light-blocking effect of metal lines.
Solution Approach 2:
Thin transparent conductive films are used instead of thick metal conductors. These thin films maintain electrical connectivity while minimizing optical interference, allowing light to pass through with high transmittance to the liquid crystal panel.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional switching mirror panels are used, then the transparent mode and mirror mode can be switched, but information such as letters and images cannot be displayed in the mirror mode
Solution Approach 1:
The half mirror layer is segmented into pixel regions that correspond to the display device. This segmentation allows each pixel to independently control whether it reflects or transmits light, enabling the mirror mode to display information by selectively reflecting light from specific pixel regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The half mirror layer performs multiple functions: it acts as a mirror when reflecting light, allows light transmission when in transparent mode, and can display information in mirror mode by selective reflection. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between mode switching and information display capability.
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
Enables high transmittance and the ability to display information in the mirror mode while maintaining transparency, by effectively managing light transmission and reflection without the interference of metal conductive lines.
Implementation Method 1
applying voltage to the pixel electrode to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer
Implementation Method 2
reflecting light incident on the absorptive polarizing plate from the front surface side by the reflective polarizing plate
Implementation Method 3
transmitting light incident on the reflective polarizing plate from the back surface side through the absorptive polarizing plate
Data Source
AI summary
The switching mirror panel of the present invention includes, in the following order: a reflective polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates; and an absorptive polarizing plate, at least one of the substrates including divided pixel regions, the pixel regions each including, in the following order from the liquid crystal layer side, a pixel electrode, a transparent insulating film, and transparent conductive lines superimposed on the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode being electrically connected to at least one of the transparent conductive lines through an aperture formed in the transparent insulating film, the switching mirror panel being configured to switch between a transparent mode and a mirror mode by applying voltage to the pixel electrode to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.