Optical laminate and manufacturing method therefor, smart window including same, and window and door for vehicle or building to which same is applied

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024272486-A1
Application number	US-202218566538-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2022
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a transmittance variable optical laminate, a manufacturing method therefor, a smart window including the same, and a vehicle to which the same is applied. The transmittance variable optical laminate includes a first polarizing plate including a first transmission axis, a second polarizing plate including a second transmission axis, a first transparent conductive layer provided on one surface of the first polarizing plate, a second transparent conductive layer provided on one surface of the second polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer. The liquid crystal layer is driven in a twisted nematic (TN) mode, at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer is formed in directly contact with the polarizing plate, and a cross angle of the first transmission axis and the second transmission axis is less than or equal to 50°.

First claim

1 . A transmittance variable optical laminate comprising:
a first polarizing plate including a first transmission axis; a second polarizing plate including a second transmission axis; a first transparent conductive layer provided on one surface of the first polarizing plate; a second transparent conductive layer provided on one surface of the second polarizing plate; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, wherein the liquid crystal layer is driven in a twisted nematic mode, at least one of the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer is formed in directly contact with the polarizing plate, and a cross angle of the first transmission axis and the second transmission axis is less than or equal to 50°.

2 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein each transparent conductive layer formed in directly contact with each polarizing plate is formed in directly contact with each polarizing plate without a separate substrate between each polarizing plate and each transparent conductive layer.

3 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein each transparent conductive layer formed in directly contact with each polarizing plate is formed in directly contact with each polarizing plate with a highly adhesive layer between each polarizing plate and each transparent conductive layer.

4 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein total light transmittance in a light blocking mode is 10% to 30%.

5 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate comprises a polarizer and at least one or more protective layers.

6 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 5 , wherein the protective layer is a protective film or an optical functional film.

7 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 6 , wherein the optical functional film is a retardation film.

8 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 7 , wherein a value of in-plane phase difference of the retardation film is less than or equal to 100 nm.

9 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 6 , wherein the protective film comprises one or more kinds selected from a group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, diacetyl cellulose, triacetyl cellulose, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl acrylate), polyethyl methacrylate, and cyclic olefin polymer.

10 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate have the thicknesses of 30 μm to 200 μm.

11 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer comprise one or more kinds selected from a group consisting of transparent conductive oxide, metal, carbonaceous matters, conductive polymers, conductive ink, and nanowires.

12 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises one or more kinds selected from a group consisting of a ball spacer and a column spacer.

13 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 12 , wherein the ball spacer has a diameter of 1 μm to 10 μm.

14 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 12 , wherein the ball spacer has an occupancy area in the liquid crystal layer of 0.01% to 10% of the area of the liquid crystal layer.

15 . The transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 , further comprising:
a refractive index-matching layer having a refractive index of 1.4 to 2.6.

16 . A manufacturing method of a transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 .

17 . A smart window comprising a transmittance variable optical laminate of claim 1 .

18 . A vehicle in which a smart window of claim 17 is applied to at least one of a front window, a rear window, a side window, a sunroof window, and an inner partition thereof.

19 . A window and a door for a building, the window and the door comprising a smart window of claim 17 .

Assignees

• Dongwoo Fine Chem Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Dong-Hwi
• Kim Sung-Su
• Song Seung-Won

Classifications

• B32B17/10504

  Liquid crystal layer · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• G02F1/133531 Primary

  characterised by the arrangement of polariser or analyser axes · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title

• G02F1/1396

  the liquid crystal being selectively controlled between a twisted state and a non-twisted state, e.g. TN-LC cell (G02F1/141 takes precedence) · CPC title