DEVICE FOR THE REGULATION OF LIGHT TRANSMISSION

• US 20180210272A1
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: VAN OOSTEN, Casper Laurens
• Granted Patent: US 10,705,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10504 Liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2405 Areas of differing opacity for light transmission control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133374 for displaying permanent signs or marks
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133377 Cells with plural compartments or having plurality of liquid crystal microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. one microcell per pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133391 Constructional arrangement for sub-divided displays

Abstract

The present application concerns a switchable device for the regulation of light transmission, which has a compartemented structure, where the switching state of each of the compartments can be controlled individually.

Claims

1. Switchable device for the regulation of light transmission, comprising a stack of layers which comprises a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer, a compartemented switching layer which is positioned between the first and the second substrate layer comprising at least two separated compartments, a first conductive layer which is positioned between the compartemented switching layer and the first substrate layer, and a second conductive layer which is positioned between the compartemented switching layer and the second substrate layer, where each of separated compartments of the switching layer comprise a material which changes its light transmissivity upon the application of voltage.

2. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartments are formed by surrounding solid borders.

3. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second compartment is formed by a surrounding solid border within the compartment of a first compartment.

4. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the separated compartments comprises a different composition of a switching layer material with respect to the other separated compartment.

5. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the separated compartments is switched by application of an electric field between at least two different switching states, where one of the states is a dark state or a scattering state, and the other state is a clear state.

6. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that each separated compartment is switched by application of an electric field between at least two different switching states, individually.

7. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that each compartment shows a different transmission while being switched by application of an electric field between at least two different switching states, individually.

8. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the isolating sections of the conducting layer are created by a method selected from laser ablation, chemical etching, laser photolithography, mechanical embossing techniques, and photo embossing;

or by sputtering an ITO (indium tin oxide) or similar conductive material coating as a conductive layer while certain sections are covered, and later on remove the covering material to obtain a glass section without the coating;

or by coating conductive material only in specific sections by inkjet printing of solution processable conductors.

9. Switchable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching layer material of each compartment is each and independently of another selected from electrochromic switching layer material, suspended particle switching layer material, and liquid crystal switching layer material.

10. Switchable device according to claim 9, characterized in that the liquid crystal switching layer materials are selected from polymer comprising liquid crystal switching layer materials and from small molecule based liquid crystal switching layer materials.

11. Switchable device according to claim 9, characterized in that the liquid crystal switching layer materials are selected from polymer comprising liquid crystal switching layer materials, which are polymer dispersed liquid crystal switching layer materials.

12. Switchable device according to claim 9, characterized in that the switching layer material of each compartment comprises one or more dichroic dyes dissolved in a liquid crystalline material, where the liquid crystalline material comprises one or more liquid crystalline organic compounds, which are selected from small molecules and polymeric materials.

13. Switchable device according to claim 12, characterized in that in the dark state, the liquid crystalline material is in a state selected from nematic non-twisted, nematic twisted and nematic supertwisted, whereas in the clear state, the material is in a homeotropic state.

14. Switchable device, characterized in that it comprises a stack, comprising a first switchable device according to claim 1 and a second switchable device according to claim 1.

15. Window, comprising a switchable device according to claim 1, preferably characterized in that it comprises an insulated glass unit, where the switchable device is positioned inside of the insulated glass unit.

16. Window according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a separate touch sensitive device, which is preferably positioned on a frame of the window.

17. Use of a device according to claim 1 in a building or in a vehicle.