Variable Diffusion Glazing with Liquid Crystal Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically controllable glazing with liquid crystals is expensive, heavy, bulky, and difficult to handle, with non-uniform optical performance due to thickness variations in the liquid crystal layer, leading to unacceptable light transmission and high dioptric defects.
Innovation Solution
The development of multiple glazing with flat float glass sheets sealed by an organic joint material, featuring transparent electrically conductive electrodes and a polymer-based liquid crystal layer with spacers, ensuring a uniform thickness of the liquid crystal layer between 5-15 μm, and dioptric defect scores less than 2+2E/3, to improve optical uniformity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the liquid crystal layer thickness is reduced to improve compactness, then the glazing becomes more compact and lighter, but the optical uniformity deteriorates due to thickness variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by strictly controlling the liquid crystal layer thickness within a specific range (5-15 μm) and establishing a quantitative relationship between thickness and dioptric defect score. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal thickness range that maintains both compactness and optical uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the dioptric defect score threshold formula (2+2E/3) before manufacturing, and selecting glass panes that meet this criterion. This preliminary quality control ensures optical uniformity is maintained even when using thin liquid crystal layers.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard glass panes are used to reduce manufacturing cost, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the dioptric defects increase leading to poor optical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the quality parameter specification for glass panes by establishing a maximum dioptric defect score threshold (2+2E/3) rather than using conventional specifications. This allows selection of cost-effective glass panes that still meet the optical performance requirements when combined with the optimized thin liquid crystal layer.
3Manufacturing precision
If thicker liquid crystal layers are used to improve optical performance, then the optical uniformity improves, but the glazing becomes bulkier and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the liquid crystal layer thickness parameter to the minimal effective range (5-15 μm) rather than using conventional thicker layers. Combined with the dioptric defect control formula, this achieves optical uniformity with minimal thickness, resolving the contradiction between optical performance and compactness.
4Manufacturing precision
If high-quality glass panes with low dioptric defects are selected, then the optical uniformity improves, but the manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the quality threshold definition by creating a thickness-dependent dioptric defect score formula (2+2E/3). This allows progressive quality requirements based on liquid crystal layer thickness, making manufacturing more economical while maintaining optical uniformity.
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
This solution results in a compact, reliable, and high-performance glazing with improved optical uniformity, reduced material costs, and enhanced handling capabilities, ensuring uniform light transmission and reduced dioptric defects, thus addressing the issues of cost, weight, and bulkiness in existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a layer containing liquid crystals in polymer material, the layer of liquid crystals alternating reversibly between a transparent state and a translucent state by application of an alternating electric field
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple glazing with variable scattering by liquid crystals can have first and second flat float glass sheets held on the edge of their internal faces by a joint made of a given joint material. In some examples, the glazing also includes first and second electrodes and a layer of liquid crystals with an average thickness E between 5 and 15 μm. The thickness of each of the first and second glass sheets may be less than or equal to 6.5 mm and each of the internal faces coated with the first and second electrodes may have a dioptric defect score, expressed in millidiopters, of less than or equal to 2+2E/3, where the thickness E of the liquid crystals is in μm.