A kind of electric-controlled light-regulating medium
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of electric-controlled light-regulating medium, specifically, relate to a kind ofly be applied to electric signal on the conductive electrode layer by control, and the electric-controlled light-regulating medium that can between vaporific shading and the bright state of full impregnated, switch.
Background technology
At present, the glass that can reach dimming effect is mainly realized by electrochromism, photochromic, temperature induced color changing and these four kinds of technology of piezallochromy.Wherein, it is very big that the dimming glass that photochromic, temperature induced color changing and piezallochromy technology are made is influenced by factor of environmental, is not the dimming glass of the Autonomous Control on the complete meaning.
But the suspended particles class dimming glass of known Korean's invention is a kind of dimming glass that uses the electrochromism technology to make.This kind glass is between the layer glass of this dimming glass, the number of particles that suspends by control is adjusted the transmission of light and scattering degree, the shortcoming of this dimming glass is that cost is high, and in order to prevent that particle from leaking, to having relatively high expectations of operation and environment for use.Except using the electrochromism technology to do the dimming glass, also can finish light modulation (consulting Chinese utility model patent ZL200320116206.8) by mechanical means.This mechanical means mainly is to place two spools at the two ends of the laminated glass of hollow, being wrapped with multiple colorful film above the spool realizes, when needing shading, a kind of film of color is spun out shading, and when needing printing opacity, can utilize the motor of control spool that the colorful film of shading is accepted, as seen, it is similar to the roadside rotary advertisment picture carrier in the daily life, and different is, and that its thickness can control is thinner.The disadvantage of this mechanical means needs manual operation exactly, and is very inconvenient.
In addition, to shown in Figure 9, it is to adopt liquid crystal polymer technology (PDLC) to realize that known a kind of electricity causes dimming glass as Fig. 7.This liquid crystal polymer technology mainly be with the nematic state liquid crystal with after Molecularly Imprinted Polymer mixes, by the arrangement attitude of control liquid crystal, make innerly to produce different refraction coefficients, and present the macrostate conversion between printing opacity and the astigmatism.Specifically, this technology is: select an amount of nematic state liquid crystal to mix with a certain amount of molecule list compound, potpourri is recorded in the crack of layer glass 101 (glass has certain thickness) or two layers of plastic substrate 101 and formed a mixolimnion 103, be coated with transparency electrode 102 in layer glass or plastic base 101 corresponding surfaces, as shown in Figure 7, ultraviolet light by certain wavelength and intensity carries out treatment with irradiation, thereby make these molecule list compound generation chemical changes, agglomerated together and become Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, these polymkeric substance are transparent.Because liquid crystal molecule evenly mixes with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, in the process that these Molecularly Imprinted Polymers form, liquid crystal molecule is divided into one by one little blister space (be that Molecularly Imprinted Polymer becomes from fusion with liquid crystal molecule and separates, Molecularly Imprinted Polymer has carried countless little liquid crystal bubbles as netted) equably.As shown in Figure 8, under the no-voltage situation, for these different liquid crystal bubbles 220, the arrangement of liquid crystal molecule 201 is very strong directivity not, be a kind of mixed and disorderly relatively state generally, so because each of liquid crystal molecule 201 is to the refractive index difference of diversity and large-area Molecularly Imprinted Polymer carrier 202, at the edge that these liquid crystal bubbles 220 and Molecularly Imprinted Polymer carrier 202 have a common boundary, formed optical index tempestuously, change brokenly, thereby will in mixolimnion, be scattered from the light 210 of glass or plastic base 101 1 side incidents, the light 211 of scattering penetrates towards different directions.Because the volume of these liquid crystal bubbles 220 is very little, the area that contacts with polymer support 202 is very big again, so scattering phenomenon is very obvious, produces light tight state, as ground glass.As shown in Figure 9, be applied to the voltage of two lateral electrodes on glass or the plastic base 101 by control, the arrangement form of may command liquid crystal molecule 201 changes.For example, when applying the ac voltage signal (about 30V to 200V) of certain frequency by power supply 300, liquid crystal molecule 201 has just become orderly arrangement attitude from mixed and disorderly arrangement attitude.Because the even distribution of the arrangement in the same way of liquid crystal molecule 201 and Molecularly Imprinted Polymer carrier 202 inner liquid crystal bubbles 220, when incident ray 210 sees through mixolimnion, the ray refraction rate is not too big variation on light direct projection direction, so do not produce strong astigmatism, but light 211 ejaculations of nature have presented certain transparent effect.The transparency that this electricity of having used the liquid crystal polymer technology causes dimming glass is stronger, and still, this liquid crystal polymer technology is not " multistable ", and pellucidity is kept in the power supply that needs to continue.
Summary of the invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a kind of electric-controlled light-regulating medium, control voltage swing, frequency and the action time that is applied on the conductive electrode layer by the drives control device, and this medium is switched between the bright and vaporific shading of full impregnated, this medium can be widely used in fields such as building decoration and fitment, automotive electronics.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is by the following technical solutions:
A kind of electric-controlled light-regulating medium, it is characterized in that: it comprises two base layers, in the middle of these two base layers, be provided with a mixolimnion, this mixolimnion is formed by smectic phase liquid crystal and additives mixed, be provided with conductive electrode layer at these two base layers towards a side of mixolimnion, this conductive electrode layer is connected with the drives control device; Wherein: this smectic phase liquid crystal is a category-A smectic phase liquid crystal organic compound; This additive is the compound of band conductive characteristic.。
Described two base layers are glass, and perhaps described two base layers are plastics, and perhaps a described base layer is a glass, and another described base layer is plastics.Wherein, plastics can be transparent plastic film or transparent hard plastic plate.
The thickness of described mixolimnion is 2 microns~30 microns, the consisting of of described mixolimnion: described smectic phase liquid crystal accounts for and mixes 90%~99.999% of general assembly (TW), and described additive accounts for and mixes 0.001%~10% of general assembly (TW).Described smectic phase liquid crystal is with silica-based compound, four cyano four octyl group biphenyl, tetraacethyl ester in last of the ten Heavenly stems four cyano biphenyl etc.Described additive is the compound that cetyltriethylammonium bromide etc. contains conductive ion.
Described mixolimnion also is mixed with dichroic dye.
Described conductive electrode layer is a transparency electrode, and described electrode layer is divided into some unit by the needs of display pattern or literal.
The outside surface of described two base layers posts layer protecting film, hurts sb.'s feelings to prevent the glass fragment that accident collision produces.
During use, be applied to voltage swing, frequency or action time on the conductive electrode layer by reasonable control, make liquid crystal molecule present different arrangement form, thereby on macroscopic view, medium is switched between vaporific shading and the bright state of full impregnated, even between the multiple progressive state on different gray scales rank, switch.If be added with dichroic dye in the smectic phase liquid crystal, then can be applied to voltage swing, frequency or action time on the conductive electrode layer by reasonable control, make liquid crystal molecule and dye molecule present different arrangement form, thereby on macroscopic view, medium is switched between the bright and coloured shading state of full impregnated.
Advantage of the present invention is:
1, owing to the electric signal that is applied to by control on the conductive electrode layer, the smectic phase liquid crystal molecule can present different arrangement form, thereby medium of the present invention can switch between vaporific shading and the bright state of full impregnated, even switches between the multiple progressive state on different gray scales rank.
2, because the conductive characteristic of additive, make remove electric signal after, the luminous effect that medium of the present invention produces in the time of still keeping on-load voltage has well " multistable " characteristic.And because this " multistable " characteristic, the required working current of medium of the present invention is little, only just need power up when changing the moment of smectic phase Liquid Crystal Molecules Alignment form, and energy consumption is low.And because should " multistable " characteristic, medium of the present invention almost have electromagnetic radiation, and smectic phase liquid crystal material itself just do not have any toxic action, so medium health environment-friendly of the present invention.
3, the switching time between the bright state of vaporific shading and full impregnated very short, be generally several to dozens of milliseconds, if switch between the multiple progressive state on different gray scales rank, then switch speed is faster.
4, if two base layers all adopt plastic sheeting, medium so of the present invention is very frivolous, and it can be attached to the glass, duroplasts of plane or curved surface arbitrarily or above the body of wall, and is very withstand voltage anti-crushing.
5, if be mixed with dichroic dye in the medium of the present invention, then medium can present different colours.And if electrode layer is divided into some unit, then can on medium, present various decorative patterns, pattern or literal,, even use as display with the lifting aesthetic property by the control of electric signal.
Electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention can be widely used in fields such as building decoration and fitment, private control area, automotive electronics and broadcasting bulletin system.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is that the structure of electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention is formed synoptic diagram;
Fig. 2 is the smectic phase liquid crystal arrangement form synoptic diagram of low-frequency voltage when acting on conductive electrode layer;
Fig. 3 is the smectic phase liquid crystal arrangement form synoptic diagram of HF voltage when acting on conductive electrode layer;
Fig. 4 is smectic phase liquid crystal and the dichroic dye arrangement form synoptic diagram under the HF voltage effect;
Fig. 5 is smectic phase liquid crystal and the dichroic dye arrangement form synoptic diagram under the low-frequency voltage effect;
Fig. 6 is divided into the conductive electrode layer synoptic diagram of array-like anyhow;
Fig. 7 is that the structure of known liquid crystal polymer is formed synoptic diagram;
Fig. 8 is the liquid crystal arrangement form synoptic diagram under the no-voltage situation;
Fig. 9 is the liquid crystal arrangement form synoptic diagram under certain electric field situation.
Embodiment
The present invention is described in further detail below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.
As shown in Figure 1 to Figure 3, electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention comprises base layer 1 and base layer 2, and base layer 1 and base layer 2 all are glass, and perhaps base layer 1 and base layer 2 all are plastics, and perhaps in the base layer 1,2 is a glass, and another is plastics.Wherein, plastics can be transparent plastic film, transparent hard plastic plate.Centre at base layer 1 and base layer 2 is provided with a mixolimnion 3, and this mixolimnion 3 is formed by smectic phase liquid crystal and additives mixed.Generally, the THICKNESS CONTROL of mixolimnion 3 is at 2 microns~30 microns, and in mixolimnion 3, the smectic phase liquid crystal accounts for and mixes 90%~99.999% of general assembly (TW), and additive accounts for and mixes 0.001%~10% of general assembly (TW).Usually, in the time of between room temperature ± 50 ℃, the branch sub-cluster of smectic phase liquid crystal is the layered arrangement structure, presents the starchiness of thickness.In the present invention, the smectic phase liquid crystal is category-A smectic phase liquid crystal (Smectic-A) organic compound, as with silica-based compound, four cyano four octyl group biphenyl, tetraacethyl ester in last of the ten Heavenly stems four cyano biphenyl etc.Additive is the compound of band conductive characteristic, contains the compound of conductive ion as cetyltriethylammonium bromide etc.All be coated with a conductive electrode layer 4 at base layer 1,2 towards a side of mixolimnion 3, this conductive electrode layer 4 is connected with drives control device 5, and these two conductive electrode layers 4 have formed a capacitance structure that area is very big with the mixolimnion 3 of centre.This conductive electrode layer 4 is transparent, as ITO (tin indium oxide) etc., and can use auxiliary metal electrode as required, as aluminium, copper, silver etc.
In the practical application, the potpourri that smectic phase liquid crystal and additives mixed form is to record in the crack of 2 of base layer 1 and base layers, and promptly mixolimnion 3 forms for recording.This records process and traditional STN (SuperTwisted Nematic, the nematic state liquid crystal of reinforcement distortion) process of recording is similar, different is: the process of recording that the present invention uses does not have traditional STN to record three links of paster of PI (polyimide, polyimide) the brush system of oriented layer, the paster of light polarizing film and color screen in the process.And because the problem of the viscosity of smectic phase liquid crystal material own, before recording the smectic phase liquid crystal that is mixed with additive, need be heated uniform temperature, be generally more than 60 ℃, show as mobilely when liquid up to the smectic phase liquid crystal that is mixed with additive, just can use traditional STN process of recording to carry out vacuum and record.
Use when of the present invention, be applied to two voltage swing, frequency and action times on the conductive electrode layer 4 by control, change the arrangement form of the smectic phase liquid crystal in the mixolimnion 3, thereby light is switched between transmission and scattering, between the bright and vaporific shading of full impregnated, switch showing as electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention on the macroscopic view.Describe in detail below.
As shown in Figure 2, this mixolimnion 3 is 10 microns, and additive accounts for and mixes 0.001% to 10% of general assembly (TW).By drives control device 5 output control voltages, on two conductive electrode layers 4, apply alternating voltage about 100v, 50Hz (in the reality, magnitude of voltage is controlled at 30v to 200v and gets final product, electric voltage frequency is controlled at 50Hz to 200Hz and gets final product), when voltage action time the time less than 1 second, smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 in the mixolimnion 3 just twists, and forms out of order arrangement form shown in Figure 2.Because each of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 (promptly passed through the long optical axis difference of each liquid crystal to diversity owing to incident ray, the anaclasis angle difference of each liquid crystal, thereby the refractive index difference of each liquid crystal), make the ray refraction of each smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 of incident exist very big difference, promptly in the mixolimnion 3 of this meagre thickness, optical index is producing violent variation, thereby strong scattering has taken place in light, on macroscopic view, the electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention of this moment is a kind of astigmatic effect, present vaporific shading state, as acute-matte.
As shown in Figure 3, this mixolimnion 3 is 2 microns, and additive accounts for and mixes 0.001% of general assembly (TW).By drives control device 5 output control voltages, on two conductive electrode layers 4, apply 100v, the alternating voltage of 1000Hz is (in the reality, magnitude of voltage is controlled at 30v to 200v and gets final product, electric voltage frequency gets final product more than being controlled at 1000Hz), when voltage action time the time less than 1 second, smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 in the mixolimnion 3 just becomes regularly arranged form, at this moment, the long optical axis of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 is perpendicular to the conductive electrode layer plane, the ray refraction of each smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 of incident does not produce acute variation, light can freely see through mixolimnion 3, therefore, on macroscopic view, this moment, electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention presented the bright state of full impregnated.
After producing luminous effects such as scattering, full impregnated be bright for conductive electrode layer 4 on-load voltages, medium of the present invention, just can remove voltage.And the maintenance of this luminous effect does not need voltage to keep, promptly remove voltage after, the luminous effect that medium of the present invention produces in the time of still can keeping on-load voltage, and the voltage signal of effect is just in order to change the arrangement form of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31.In the present invention, this state that does not need electricity to drive and keep luminous effect is called " multistable " or " quasistatic ".And this " multistable " is because the additive in the mixolimnion 3 has adopted the compound of band conductive characteristic, when electric signal is applied on two conductive electrode layers 4, ion in the compound of band conductive characteristic changes the generation to-and-fro movement according to electric potential difference, this motion can change the arrangement form of liquid crystal molecule 31, and liquid crystal molecule 31 arrangement form after changing do not need the persistent movement of ion to keep, and are stable." multistable " effect that this smectic phase liquid crystal and additive produce and liquid crystal polymer technology produce, and to keep effect different, and the liquid crystal that has added high molecular polymer in the liquid crystal polymer technology is to lean on surface force, intermolecular force and friction force in the number of polymers network to keep.
Certainly, be applied to voltage swing, frequency or action time on the conductive electrode layer 4 by reasonable control, can make the arrangement form of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 become the part distortion, to produce astigmatic effect in various degree, thereby on macroscopic view, make medium of the present invention between bright two states of vaporific shading and full impregnated, produce multiple progressive state, as translucent etc. with different gray scales rank.
In actual applications, additive can suitably add with the thickness of mixolimnion 3, and as when mixolimnion thickness is 30 microns, additive can be controlled in to account for and mixes 0.001% of general assembly (TW).Certainly, this thickness range and additive doping content ratio be very tight regulation not, if with THICKNESS CONTROL between 2 microns to 30 microns, with additive be controlled at account for mix general assembly (TW) 0.001% to 10% between get final product.
To shown in Figure 5, in mixolimnion 3, also can be mixed with a certain amount of dichroic dye, as Fig. 4 as flaxen azo group dichroic dye.By mixing dichroic dye, can make the switching between the bright and coloured shading of media implementation full impregnated of the present invention.In the present invention, dichroic dye is selected the dichroic dye that is long molecularity for use, the optical axis similar of this dichroic dye and smectic phase liquid crystal.In parallel direction along long optical axis, a little less than the absorption very of 33 pairs of light of this dichroic dye molecule, and the vertical direction of the long optical axis in edge, this dichroic dye molecule 33 can absorb the light of certain wave band dramatically.
As shown in Figure 4, on two conductive electrode layers 4, apply 30v~200v, during the above alternating voltage of 1000Hz, be used as with time the time less than 1 second, smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 and dichroic dye molecule 33 in the mixolimnion 3 all become regularly arranged form, at this moment, the long optical axis of liquid crystal molecule 31 and the long optical axis of dichroic dye molecule 33 are all perpendicular to the conductive electrode layer plane, therefore, the ray refraction of each smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 of incident does not produce acute variation, and because the long optical axis of dichroic dye molecule 33 is perpendicular to the conductive electrode layer plane, light is along the parallel direction incident of dichroic dye molecule 33 long optical axises, 33 of dichroic dye molecules absorb small light (this absorbing amount depends on regularly arranged degree and the solubleness of dye molecule 33 with respect to liquid crystal molecule 31), so incident ray 6 is through behind the mixolimnion 3, have only a small amount of light to be absorbed, the final mixolimnion 3 (as the light among Fig. 4 7) that freely sees through, therefore, on macroscopic view, the medium of the present invention of this moment presents the bright state of full impregnated.
As shown in Figure 5, when on two conductive electrode layers 4, applying the alternating voltage of 30v~200v, 50Hz~200Hz, be used as with time the time less than 1 second, smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 in the mixolimnion 3 becomes the out of order arrangement form of reversing, and because dichroic dye molecule 33 is very little with smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 spacings, so when smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 reverses, it is disorderly and unsystematic that dichroic dye molecule 33 also becomes thereupon, even the long optical axis of a large amount of dye molecules 33 is parallel to the conductive electrode layer plane.When light 6 was injected mixolimnion 3, because the ray refraction difference of each smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31, strong scattering took place in light.Under the scattering that smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 produces, a large amount of light are injected dye molecule 33 along the vertical direction of dye molecule 33 long optical axises, thereby the light of certain wave band is greatly absorbed by dye molecule 33, the light 7 that scatters presents the color (color that presents is difference with the difference of dichroic dye structure) of dye molecule, like this, on macroscopic view, the medium of the present invention of this moment presents certain color, remains on vaporific fuzzy coloured shading state.In the practical application, dyes in different colors can be mixed with the smectic phase liquid crystal, thereby make medium of the present invention show different colours, even can form the grey black look by making dye molecule 33 evenly absorb visible light.
Above-mentioned smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 is long molecularity, and the smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 of this long molecularity has very strong birefraction.In actual applications, can adjust the strand of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31, reduce the birefraction of smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31, like this, be parallel to smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 long optical axis directions and perpendicular to smectic phase liquid crystal molecule 31 long optical axis directions on, the refractive index that light passes through is very approaching, the scattering effect of the liquid crystal molecule 31 during twisted state can weaken thereupon thus, strong astigmatic phenomenon can not appear in the mixolimnion 3 that has added dyestuff, but dye molecule 33 a large amount of light that absorb certain wavelength coverage, the coloured filter of image-tape is the same, and medium of the present invention vaporific hazy sensations can not occur, but presents unambiguous coloured shading state.Certainly, above-mentioned mixolimnion 3 of sneaking into dyestuff is realized " multistable " characteristic by additive equally.
In actual the enforcement, the needs of display pattern or literal on the medium according to the present invention, conductive electrode layer 4 may be partitioned into some unit.As shown in Figure 6, conductive electrode layer 4 is cut apart by strip and is arranged in array-like anyhow, and control the locational pixel 10 of electrode crossing anyhow by the electric signal of controlling on perpendicular array electrode 8 and the horizontal array electrode 9, thereby demonstrate various decorative patterns, pattern, even literal.For example, by applying low-frequency voltage, Schilling entire mixed layer 3 presents vaporific shading or coloured shading state, then, when erecting array electrode 8 by high-frequency voltage signal driving delegation, the horizontal array electrode 9 of respective drive delegation (voltage that drives horizontal array electrode 9 is generally the twice that drives perpendicular array electrode 8), the drive signal of the horizontal array electrode of remaining row is 0, make the pixel 10 on driven crossover location of array electrode anyhow present transparence, finish the light and shade control of pixel, like this, drive each perpendicular array electrode 8 line by line, and the horizontal array electrode 9 of respective drive, so that form decorative pattern on the medium of the present invention, pattern or literal.
According to the density that electrode layer is cut apart, pixel is changeable.If each pixel is less, just can working as display screen, uses in medium so of the present invention, be used to show abundant pattern and character information.At this moment, can attach a reflecting plate,, can improve the contrast of displaying contents so effectively as versicolor paper, plastics, fibre, woodwork or metallic article etc. in medium one side of the present invention.
In addition, when reality is used medium of the present invention, can on the outside surface of base layer 1,2, paste layer protecting film, hurt sb.'s feelings to prevent the glass fragment that accident collision produces.The control of electric signal among the present invention can be direct-connected by electric wire, remote control or light self-induction mode realize.
Advantage of the present invention is:
1, owing to the signal of telecommunication that is applied to by control on the conductive electrode layer, the smectic phase liquid crystal molecule can present different arrangement forms, thereby medium of the present invention can switch between vaporific shading and all-transparent state, even switches between the multiple progressive state on different gray scales rank.
2, because the conductive characteristic of additive, so that after removing the signal of telecommunication, the luminous effect that medium of the present invention produces in the time of still keeping on-load voltage has well " multistable " characteristic. And because this " multistable " characteristic, the required operating current of medium of the present invention is little, only just need to power up when the smectic phase liquid crystal molecule is arranged moment of form changing, and energy consumption is low. And because should " multistable " characteristic, medium of the present invention almost have electromagnetic radiation, and smectic phase liquid crystal material itself just do not have any toxic action, so medium health environment-friendly of the present invention.
3, the switching time between vaporific shading and all-transparent state very short, be generally several to dozens of the millisecond, if switch between the multiple progressive state on different gray scales rank, it is faster then to switch speed.
If 4 two base layers all adopt plastic sheeting, medium so of the present invention is very frivolous, and it can be attached to arbitrarily the glass, duroplasts of plane or curved surface or above the body of wall, and is very withstand voltage anti-crushing.
If be mixed with dichroic dye in 5 media of the present invention, then medium can present different colours. And if electrode layer is divided into some unit, and then can present various decorative patterns, pattern or literal at medium by the control of the signal of telecommunication, promoting aesthetic property, even use as display.
Electric-controlled light-regulating medium of the present invention can be widely used in the fields such as building decoration and fitment, private control area, automotive electronics and broadcasting bulletin system.