Windshield Sun Visor PDLC Tinted Layer Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrically controllable windshields with PDLC sun visors have an unaesthetic milky appearance, making them less acceptable to the vehicle industry and end customers, and offer limited design freedom due to restricted tinting options.
Innovation Solution
A windshield with an electrically controllable sun visor featuring a PDLC functional element embedded in a tinted or colored thermoplastic intermediate layer, where the thermoplastic layers are clear in the central field of view but tinted or colored around the sun visor area, enhancing aesthetic appeal while maintaining high light transmission in the central viewing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a PDLC functional element is used for electrically controllable sun visor, then glare protection and electric control are achieved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to milky appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the windshield: the central field of view maintains high transparency while the sun visor area exhibits milky scattering behavior. This local differentiation allows the PDLC functional element to provide glare protection in the sun visor region without compromising the aesthetic appearance and light transmission in the central viewing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The windshield is divided into functionally distinct segments: a central field of view region and a sun visor region. The PDLC functional element is selectively positioned in the sun visor area, creating separate optical zones with different characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of aesthetics in the central area and glare protection in the sun visor area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PDLC functional element is used for sun visor, then electrically controllable optical properties are achieved, but light transmission in sun visor area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The PDLC functional element provides dynamically controllable optical properties in the sun visor area. By applying voltage, the liquid crystals transition between scattered (milky) and aligned (transparent) states, allowing electrically controlled adjustment of light transmission. This dynamic control enables the sun visor to adapt to different lighting conditions while maintaining the ability to block glare when needed.
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 improves the aesthetic appearance of electrically controllable sun visors by providing a neutral, pleasant visual effect and effective glare protection without compromising the central field of view's light transmission, thus addressing the unaesthetic issues of conventional PDLC sun visors and offering enhanced design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
If no voltage is applied, the liquid crystals are aligned in a disorderly manner, which leads to strong scattering of the light passing through the active layer.
Implementation Method 2
If a voltage is applied to the surface electrodes, the liquid crystals align in a common direction and the transmission of light through the active layer is increased.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a windscreen with an electrically regulatable sun visor (4), at least comprising an outer screen (1) and an inner screen (2) which are interconnected by means of an intermediate layer (3), wherein above a central field of vision (B), a functional element (5) with electrically regulatable optical properties is inserted into the intermediate layer (3), which is connected to the outer screen (1) by means of a region (6a) of a first thermoplastic layer (6) and to the inner screen (2) by means of a region of a second thermoplastic layer (7), the region (6a) of the first thermoplastic layer (6) and/or the region of the second thermoplastic layer (7) being toned or coloured.