EP2062095A2 - Fenster mit elektrisch steuerbarer durchlassung und reflektion - Google Patents
Fenster mit elektrisch steuerbarer durchlassung und reflektionInfo
- Publication number
- EP2062095A2 EP2062095A2 EP06802534A EP06802534A EP2062095A2 EP 2062095 A2 EP2062095 A2 EP 2062095A2 EP 06802534 A EP06802534 A EP 06802534A EP 06802534 A EP06802534 A EP 06802534A EP 2062095 A2 EP2062095 A2 EP 2062095A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- polarization
- layer
- light
- glazing structure
- polarizer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133528—Polarisers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
- B60J3/06—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles using polarising effect
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
- E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
- E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
- E06B2009/2464—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133528—Polarisers
- G02F1/133536—Reflective polarizers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133528—Polarisers
- G02F1/133545—Dielectric stack polarisers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133528—Polarisers
- G02F1/133548—Wire-grid polarisers
Definitions
- Windows that can transmit a controllable fraction of incident light intensity would be beneficial in a variety of applications.
- windows of buildings or vehicles, windows between rooms, and personal items such as glasses or goggles are often used in situations in which it would be advantageous if their optical transparency could be adjusted, for example by electrical means.
- a common approach to light control involves using an opaque window shade to reduce the transmission of electromagnetic radiation. Such shades may either be purely mechanical (the most common type) or may be controlled by a motor.
- Another approach to variable control of light transmission can be achieved by mechanically rotating a pair of polarizing films where the relative angle between polarizing axes of the polarizing films are changed.
- Another approach to light control involves the use of polymer films or doping glass with metal ions to absorb or reject certain wavelength range of the electromagnetic radiation. Light transmission through windows using such technologies is fixed once the window structures are constructed.
- variable tinting window developments can be found in, for example, "Chromogenic Switchable Glazing, Towards Development of the Smart Window” by Carl Lempert, published in the June 1995 Proceedings of the Window Innovation Conference, Toronto, Canada; and "Optical Switching Technology for Glazings” by Carl Lempert, published in Thin Solid Films, Volume 236, 1993, pages 6-13.
- chromogenic switchable glazing structures have been discovered using suspended particle devices, electrochromic effects, and certain types of liquid crystal.
- the structures absorb the incident light or diffuse the incident light.
- a glazing structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,150 proposes an adjustable trans-reflective window that is primarily based on two layers of cholesteric liquid crystals and their ability to reject or to transmit one circular polarized light depending on the electric stimulus applied while capable of transmitting the other.
- a specific cholesteric liquid crystal typically works in only a narrow bandwidth of light and a stack of liquid crystal materials are needed to broaden the working wavelength range of the device.
- significant material as well as device development effort is needed in order that the glazing structure be practical.
- the patent also teaches a glazing structure sandwiching a controllable retardation film between two linear reflective polarizers.
- Such a glazing structure will reflect theoretically 50% to 100%, and transmit 50% to 0%, of naturally polarized light depending on the external stimulus applied.
- the theoretical contrast ratio between the maximum reflection state and the minimum reflection state of the glazing structure employing linear reflective polarizers disclosed in that patent is therefore only 2: 1, making it less desirable as an electrically controllable mirror.
- One aspect of the present invention relates to a glazing structure that includes a first layer transmissive to light; a second layer transmissive to light; a layer of electrically controllable optically active material disposed between the first layer and the second layer; a first polarization layer disposed to one side of the optically active layer that transmits light of a first polarization orientation and reflects light of the second polarization orientation; and a second polarization layer disposed to an opposite side of the optically active layer that transmits light of one polarization orientation and absorbs light of another polarization orientation.
- the optically active layer can be controlled to either pass light without affecting the polarization or to pass light while rotating the polarization thereof.
- the glazing structure is transmissive to light when the optically active layer passes light without affecting the polarization and the glazing structure reflects a substantial portion of the light that first enters the glazing structure from the opposite side when the optically active layer passes light while rotating the polarization thereof.
- the optically active layer may include nematic liquid crystal material.
- the optically active layer may be controlled to rotate the polarization orthogonally.
- the glazing structure may further include a pair of layers of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) acting as electrodes to allow an electric field to be applied to the optically active layer. At least one of the electrode layers may be divided into a plurality of separate segments to allow different electric fields to be applied to different portions of the optically active layer.
- the first and second transmissive layers include glass.
- the first polarization layer may be a reflective polarizer.
- the second polarization layer may be an absorptive polarizer.
- the second polarization layer may be a reflective polarizer.
- the second polarization layer may include an absorptive polarizer and a reflective polarizer.
- the first polarization layer and the second polarization layer may each be linear polarizers.
- a glazing structure that includes a substrate; and means associated with the substrate for selectably controlling the amount of light transmitted through the glazing structure and the amount of light reflected by the glazing structure, the means including at least one reflective linear polarizer and at least one absorptive linear polarizer.
- the means controls the transmission and reflection of light at wavelengths across the entire visible and infrared light spectrum.
- the means also controls the amount of transmission and reflection with the selective application of electrical signals and without movement of mechanical components.
- Another aspect relates to a method for controlling the amount of light transmitted through and reflected by a glazing structure.
- the method includes providing a substrate with multiple layers applied thereto, wherein the multiple layers include an optically active layer, a reflective linear polarizer layer, and an absorptive linear polarizer layer; and applying an electrical signal to at least one of the layers to change the amount of light transmitted through the glazing structure, wherein the transmission of light at wavelengths across the entire visible and infrared light spectrum is changed. Applying the electrical signal may also change the amount of light reflected by the glazing structure.
- a glazing structure that includes a first glass layer; a second glass layer; a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first layer and the second layer; a first polarization layer disposed to one side of the liquid crystal layer that transmits light of a first polarization orientation and reflects light of the second polarization orientation; a second polarization layer disposed to an opposite side of the liquid crystal layer that transmits light of one polarization orientation and absorbs light of another polarization orientation; and a pair of transparent, electrically conductive layers disposed on opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer.
- the liquid crystal layer can be controlled by selective application of electrical signals to the transparent conductive layers to either pass light without affecting the polarization or to pass light while rotating the polarization thereof.
- the glazing structure is transmissive to light when the liquid crystal layer passes light without affecting the polarization and the glazing structure reflects a substantial portion of the light that first enters the glazing structure from the opposite side when the liquid crystal layer passes light while rotating the polarization thereof.
- At least one of the electrically conductive layers may be divided into a plurality of separate segments to allow different electric fields to be applied to different portions of the optically active layer.
- Figure 1 is a schematic view of layers in a window of the present invention.
- Figures 2A and 2B are schematic views of a prior art window.
- Figures 3 A and 3B are schematic views of the operation of a first embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are parallel.
- Figures 4A and 4B are schematic views of the operation of the first embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are crossed.
- Figures 5 A and 5B are schematic views of the operation of a second embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are parallel.
- Figures 6A and 6B are schematic views of the operation of the second embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are crossed.
- Figures 7A and 7B are schematic views of the operation of a third embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are parallel.
- Figures 8 A and 8B are schematic views of the operation of the third embodiment of a window of the present invention, in which the polarizers are crossed.
- Figure 9 is a schematic view of a glazing structure using one of the windows of the present invention.
- Figures 1OA and 1OB show the structure and characteristics of birefringence- based polarizers.
- Figure 11 shows a wire grid polarizer.
- Figures 12A and 12B show the operation of a twisted nematic liquid crystal.
- Figure 13 shows waveforms representing the reflectivity of a window of the present invention when different levels of electrical signal are applied thereto.
- Figure 14 shows waveforms representing the transmissivity of a window of the present invention when different levels of electrical signal are applied thereto.
- Figure 15 is a front view of a window having multiple segments that are separately controllable.
- Embodiments disclosed herein relate to providing windows with controllable reflectivity, which for example can be changed from being substantially transmitting to substantially reflecting.
- a glazing structure with high contrast in the reflected light between minimum and maximum reflecting states is provided.
- a glazing structure that could substantially control the transmittance and reflectance of the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation, and separately control the infrared spectrum is provided.
- a trans-reflective glazing structure as a standalone unit that can be operated by batteries and or solar cells is provided.
- Figure 1 shows the multiple layers in a multi-layered structure making up an exemplary window 20.
- the electrically active optical layer 100 is a nematic liquid crystal thin film of about 4 to 25 microns in thickness.
- the nematic liquid crystal materials can be used as an electrically active optical layer in this structure.
- the electrically active optical layer 100 is aligned by treated surface layers 101 which can be rubbed polyimides such as SE610 from Nissan Chemicals.
- the electrical stimulus is applied to the electrically active optical layer 100 via optically transparent, conductive Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) layers 102, which are directly ' deposited on substrates 103.
- ITO Indium Tin Oxide
- Such a standard glass substrate is the ITO coated Corning 1737F borosilicate glass from Corning, Inc.
- the ITO layer 102 may cover the entire substrate 103, or may be pixellated so that different regions of the window structure may be controlled in opacity and reflectance independently.
- a desirable substrate in some instances could be an ITO coated plastic substrate that is flexible, where the assembled window structure will be able to assume curved shapes.
- Assembled structures 103, 102, 101, and 100 are generally commercially available, if the substrates 103 are glass, from a large number of companies including, for example, Shenzhen Shenhui Technology Co., Ltd. of China, Samsung Electronics of South Korea, and Chunghwa Picture Tubes, LTD of Taiwan.
- the next layer in one direction is an absorptive polarizer 105A.
- the next layer in the other direction is a reflective polarizer 104.
- Absorptive polarizer 105B can be pre-assembled to reflective polarizer 104 such that the polarized light transmission direction of the reflective polarizer 104 is parallel to that of the absorptive polarizer 105B. If the reflective polarizer 104 is linear, it reflects one polarization while transmits the orthogonal polarization of light incident on it. On the other hand, the absorptive polarizer 105, if linear, absorbs one polarization while transmitting the orthogonal polarization of light incident on it.
- Absorptive polarizers with pressure sensitive adhesive layers are available from companies such as Sanritz Corporation of Japan.
- polarizers preassembled with a compensation film such as those wide viewing angle absorptive polarizers from Sanritz Corporation, are particularly attractive in electrooptic glazing applications to provide high contrast tinted windows even for obliquely incident light.
- Linear reflective polarizers are becoming available relatively recently, including Dual Brightness Enhancement Films (DBEF) with adhesive layer (DBEF-a) from 3M Corporation, and wire grid based polarizers from Moxtek, Inc.
- the next layers are transparent polymer layers 106 where the layers serve multiple purposes including shock absorption, UV blocking, index matching, and anti-glass shattering.
- a common polymer layer is that of polyvinyl butyrate from Solutia, Inc.
- the next layers are protective substrates 107, where glass used for conventional window glass can be used and is laminated on the interior structures 106 through 100 using either a pressure treatment process or heat curing process, depending on adhesive films used in the stack.
- treated glass such as those from DENGLAS Technologies, LLC, offers advantages of increased transmission, reflection, and antiglare when used as protective substrates 107, where the glass substrates are coated with broadband antireflection coatings.
- laminate antireflection polymer films 108 such as those from Toppan Printing Co. Ltd of Japan, on uncoated glass of 106 to reduce glare and to increase transmission of the window stack.
- UV absorbing or rejecting film 109 such as the Llumar series from CPFilms, Inc. is laminated on the stack to reduce the amount of UV from ambient or from Sunlight to enter into the building and to reduce potential damage to the electrically active optical layer 100 or other polymer based components in the window structure.
- FIGS. 1 A and 2B show the glazing structures described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,150. As illustrated in the figure, the minimum reflection on either side of the glazing structure is always 50% of the light incident on the structure.
- Figures 3 A and 3B show an embodiment of operation of an electrically controllable reflective window.
- Light in the infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum is incident on the window and must be either absorbed, transmitted, or reflected.
- the window includes optical elements (as discussed further below) that in combination enable control of the reflection and transmission characteristics of incident light.
- the transmitting state which is obtained by applying appropriate voltage to the electrically active optical element or elements of the window
- the incident light is substantially transmitted (perhaps in the range of 50%) and reflection is minimized.
- the reflecting state obtained by appropriately applying a different voltage to the electrically active optical element or elements of the window, the incident light is substantially reflected and transmission minimized.
- intermediate states of reflection and transmission can be obtained by intermediate voltage conditions.
- Such controllable reflection/transmission effects may be operative over a selected range of optical wavelengths.
- electrically controllable reflective windows operative in the infrared can be used to control the heat transmission or rejection of the window.
- Embodiments of the invention relate to the creation of windows with actively-controllable reflectivity through the use of an electrically active optical element or elements that affect the polarization state of light transmitted or reflected, in combination with an optical element or elements that act as polarizers, exhibiting optical effects on one optical polarization state that are substantially distinct from those on another optical polarization.
- optically active optical elements include for example films of electrically active materials, such as liquid crystals that change the polarization of light in a way that depends on the voltage applied.
- inactive optical elements includes, for example, absorptive polarizers that absorb one optical polarization state while transmitting the other or reflective polarizers that reflect one optical polarization state while transmitting the other.
- a window in one embodiment, includes at least one optical element that is active, (e.g., with electrically controllable optical characteristics), and at least one element that acts as a reflective polarizer. These two functionalities may be obtained in a single optical element or in a combination of electrically active and electrically passive elements. Reflective electrooptic polarizers are advantageous in many window and lens tinting applications, particularly those for which there is a need for privacy, or where it is beneficial for the unwanted transmitted radiation to be reflected rather than absorbed.
- a reflective polarizer can be understood by considering how light travels in optical media.
- Light is electromagnetic radiation that can only propagate as one or the other of a pair of normal modes of polarization (polarization eigenstates).
- polarization eigenstates For isotropic optical media, an infinite number of distinct pairs of normal modes are possible, but for propagation in an anisotropic (birefringent) or gyrotropic (optically active) medium only specific pairs of polarization eigenstates are available to the light.
- These polarization states are orthogonal, meaning that any arbitrary polarization state can be made up as a unique linear combination of the two.
- pairs of orthogonal polarization eigenstates are: (a) perpendicular linear polarizations; (b) left and right circular polarizations; and (c) orthogonal elliptical polarizations.
- the polarization eigenstates are linearly polarized along the mutually perpendicular optic axis symmetry directions, and for gyrotropic media the polarization eigenstates are left and right handed circular polarization.
- the orthogonal polarization eigenstates may have very different transmission and reflection characteristics in anisotropic or gyrotropic media, depending on the details of the material.
- one linear polarization can be strongly absorbed while the orthogonal linear polarization is transmitted with little loss.
- a variety of ways are known in the art of making reflective polarizers, including: exploitation of the polarization dependence of the interface reflectivity of birefringent crystals at non-normal incidence and of multilayer stacks of birefringent films; and by use of interference of light in periodically modulated optical media, such as chiral liquid crystals. Any of these known means can be used as the reflective polarizer element in the windows of the current invention.
- a reflective electrooptic polarizer derives its polarization selectivity principally by exhibiting a different optical reflectivity for different polarization states, and has no absorptive elements specifically introduced to select polarization.
- a further advantage of reflective polarizers is that in the visible spectrum range they can be made with very little loss of the transmitted polarization, as opposed to absorptive polarizers where the transmittance is reduced by imperfect alignment of the light absorbing dyes affecting the polarization selection.
- reflective polarizers in combination with an active optical element the unwanted optical energy is dispersed externally to the window or lens rather than being absorbed and causing radiation damage or being converted to heat.
- reflective polarizers can effectively assist in providing protection against UV transmission through the window or lens.
- systems employing reflective polarizers such as shown in Figures 3A-3B can be structured to provide very effective rejection of infrared radiation, the wavelengths of light longer than that of visible light which carry a significant portion of the energy of sunlight.
- the active layer is designed to have little effect on polarization at infrared wavelengths, with a crossed polarizer and analyzer, incident infrared radiation would then be nearly completely reflected, reducing the heat passing through the window or lens.
- An additional advantage of the use of reflective polarizers in window and lens tinting applications is that they can provide privacy under a wide range of natural lighting conditions. Since natural light is at best only weakly polarized, on the order of 50% of incident natural light is reflected by a reflective polarizer. This reflected light is much stronger than that passing through a window or lens from behind in typical applications. Thus objects on the dimmer interior side of the window will be obscured to observers on the brighter side by the reflected exterior light, as illustrated in Figures 3A-3B and 4A-4B. Privacy can be further enhanced by controlling the tint to allow less transmission of light through the window or lens.
- Figures 3A-4B show a first embodiment of a controllable tint optical structure, including a sandwich of an absorptive polarizing film, an active layer that changes the polarization of light in response to an external stimulus, and a reflective polarizing film acting as an analyzer, to provide polarization selective reflection of the light exiting the active layer.
- the absorptive polarizer side For light entering from the absorptive polarizer side (the front side), one polarization state of the light is absorbed and the other state is transmitted. For light entering the reflective side, one polarization state of the light is reflected and the other is transmitted into the active layer. For the case of linear polarization and with the parallel polarizer orientations in Figures 3A-3B, when the active layer is activated, the polarization of the light is rotated. The light entering from the absorptive polarizer side is reflected by the reflective polarizer, which subsequently transmits through the absorptive polarizer. In such case, this light is reflected by the device.
- FIG. 4A-4B show another configuration of the device in which the transmitting polarization state of the absorptive and that of the reflective polarizing films are orthogonal or crossed. In this latter case, the device is transparent when active and, for linear polarization, rotates the plane of polarization as well, and is opaque when the layer is not active.
- FIGS 5 A-6B show a second embodiment of a controllable tint optical structure, including a sandwich of a first absorptive polarizing film 105A, an active layer 200 that changes the polarization of light in response to an external stimulus, a reflective polarizing film 104, and a second absorptive polarizing film 105B transmitting the same polarization state as the reflective polarizing film 104.
- the transmission axis of the second absorptive polarizing film 105B is parallel to that of the reflective polarizing film 104 so that the reflective/absorptive polarizing film combination selectively reflects the light exiting the active layer but absorbs the reflection of the light entering from the second absorptive polarizing film.
- the polarizer orientations in Figures 5A-5B when the active layer is activated, the polarization of the light is rotated. The light entering from the first absorptive polarizing film side is reflected by the reflective polarizer, which subsequently transmits through the absorptive polarizer. The light entering from the reflective/absorptive film combination side is absorbed by the absorptive polarizer, and the device is opaque in transmission.
- FIGS. 6A-6B show another configuration of the device in which the polarization directions of the polarizing films are crossed, so that the polarization direction of the reflective polarizer/second absorptive polarizer is orthogonal to the polarization direction of the first absorptive polarizer.
- the device is transparent when the device is active or has the polarization rotation power and opaque when the layer is not active.
- the devices can be tuned between the two extreme transparency states when an active layer with continuously tunable polarization rotation power is used.
- Figures 7A-8B show a third embodiment of a controllable tint optical structure, including a sandwich of a first absorptive polarizing film 105A, a first reflective polarizing film 104A whose transmission state is substantially the same as the transmission state of the first absorptive polarizer 105 A, an active layer 200 that changes the polarization of light in response to an external stimulus, and a second reflective polarizing film 104B, and a second absorptive polarizing film 105B whose transmission state is substantially the same as the transmission state of the second reflective polarizer 104B.
- Figures 8A-8B show a slightly different configuration of the device in which the polarization direction of the polarizers on the first side are crossed relative to those on the left side.
- the device is transparent when the device is active or has the polarization rotation power and opaque when the layer is not active.
- the devices can be tuned between the two extreme transparency states when an active layer with continuously tunable polarization rotation power is used.
- Controllable windows exploiting the structure shown in the embodiment of Figures 7A-8B may be particularly desirable if the absorptive polarizing film absorbs visible spectrum of light but not the infrared heat while the reflective polarizer shows uniform reflectance and transmittance to the respect polarization of light across the visible and infrared spectrum.
- the controllable window unit will substantially reject or allows nominally 50% of heat to transmit through the window, while maintaining desirable controllable reflective effects in the visible spectrum.
- Figure 9 shows a glazing structure using any structure shown in Figures 3A to 8B and shown in Figure 9 as element 300.
- the glazing structure could be a standalone insert to the existing window structures, or could be used as the center piece of a framed window structure.
- the glazing structure is electrically controlled via electrodes 301A and 301B, or multiple of which if the transparent conductive film ITO of the element 300 is segmented.
- the optically active layer may require a low power to activate, de-activate, and to maintain the chosen state.
- the glazing structure could be operated using batteries, and or solar panels, and could be made into standalone units remotely controlled by a remote controller, or an automated light and temperature system as part of the standalone window system.
- a remote controller typically operates based on either an infrared pulse signal or a radio frequency signal.
- Such remote controlled and standalone units thus can be installed into existing window structures as retrofit units.
- a variety of reflective polarizers can be employed within the scope of this invention. These include (but are not limited to) various birefringence based reflective polarizers as shown in Figures 10A-10B that come from M.F. Weber, CA. Stover, L.R. Gilbert, TJ. Nevitt, AJ. Ouderl ⁇ rk, Science 287, 2451 (2000) and show the reflectance for multilayer reflecting polarizer whose indices include alternating layers that are matched along both the x and z axes and mismatched along the y axis.
- n lx 1.57
- n ly 1.86
- n lz 1.57
- n 2x 1.57
- n 2y 1.57
- n 2z 1.57
- n n 1.0.
- reflection shows a strong band at near 100% intensity.
- Such reflective polarizing films are made by laminating highly birefringent uniaxial polymer films with isotropic films that index matches the birefringent layers in the stacking direction and in the direction perpendicular to the optic axis of the birefringent films.
- Wire grid polarizers have found applications in the microwave regime. Recent advances in lithography provide for construction of, for example, aluminum wires spaced 100 nm apart that can act as efficient polarizers in the ultraviolet regime. Contrast ratio of over 1000:1 can be achieved for wire grid polarizers for wavelengths a few times larger than the minimum wire spacing, with minimal loss in reflected and transmitted polarization components of light and over a large incident angle. Such a wire grid polarizer has excellent properties over a wide wavelength range and a broad temperature range.
- a third type of reflective polarizer is the chiral nematic liquid crystal polarizer.
- Such polarizers can reflect one handedness of circularly polarized light while passing the other.
- Chiral nematic polarizers are based on optical Bragg reflection by a helical winding of molecular orientation and are thus highly wavelength selective, but can be made broadband by spatial variation of the periodicity of the reflecting helix.
- active layers can be employed in embodiments of the invention. For example, most any type of liquid crystal in various operational modes can be used to achieve active modulation of polarization of light propagating through the layer.
- twisted nematic liquid crystal as shown in Figures 12A-12B, super twisted nematic, ⁇ cells, electrically controlled birefringence mode, vertical aligned nematic modes, and various chiral nematic modes, as well as electro-optical active polymers, solid state materials, and other forms of liquid crystals.
- twisted nematic liquid crystals including chiral nematic liquid crystal modes
- polarizer orientations are possible, including parallel polarizers as shown in Figures 3A-3B, 5A-5B, 7A-7B, 7A-7B and crossed polarizers as shown in Figures 4A-4B, 6A-6B, 8A-8B.
- the liquid crystals may also align in different positions relative to the polarizers.
- the polarizers are nominally in the crossed geometry as shown in Figures 4A-4B, 6A-6B, 8A-8B, and the liquid crystal optic axis in the optically activated state is substantially 45° away from the direction of the polarizers.
- These liquid crystal modes depending on the application of an electric stimulus, generally can continuously modify the state of the polarization of the light propagating in the liquid crystal layer due to the fact that their molecular alignment structure changes according to the applied electric stimulus.
- the active layer/reflective polarizer structure When inserted in the structure as the active layer shown in Figure 1, the active layer/reflective polarizer structure can achieve continuous tinting control by application of a continuously variable electric field.
- optical response of an example of the variable tinting structure is shown in Figure 13 and 14.
- absorptive polarizing film used is a conventional stretched dichroic dye polymer film
- a twisted nematic liquid crystal device is used as the active filter
- a stacked birefringent film is used as the reflective/absorptive polarizing film combination, where the transmission axes of the absorptive and reflective polarizing film is parallel to each other, and where the reflective polarizing film is adjacent to the active liquid crystal film.
- such devices can also employ polymeric liquid crystals, wherein the liquid crystal molecules, although attached to polymer chains, may still be reoriented by an applied field to modify the polarization of the transmitted light.
- Nonlinear optical materials which change refractive index or birefringence in response to applied electric field can be used as active layers in the present invention as well.
- the properties, most notably their ability to modulate the off-axis or skewed rays of light, of active layers often times can be significantly enhanced when combined with auxiliary passive films.
- a preferred structure employs compensation films.
- the compensation film can be optically birefringent films and a combination of which, and or birefringent plates with varying properties such as those using discotic liquid crystals.
- Compensation films are generally attached to both sides of the active layer and are designed to achieve maximum compensation. Such films could be combined with a polarizer.
- the transparent ITO electrodes could be patterned into multiple segments that could be separately controlled so that the opacity, reflectivity, or transmissivity of the window could be separately controlled for each of those segments. This could effectively allow a portion of a window to become opaque while a portion remained transmissive, akin to a window blind that can be used to cover and block light through only a portion of a window.
- Another application may be a large reflective signage display.
- Figure 15 shows an example of a window 400 with multiple transparent electrode segments 402, 404, and 406.
- the electrical signal to each of these three segments 402, 404, and 406 can be separately and independently controlled.
- electrical signals to the segments could be such as to cause the regions of the window corresponding to segments 402 and 406 to be opaque while the regions of the window corresponding to segment 404 is transmissive.
- adjustable tinting not only can serve to reduce excessive illumination through the window or through a lens, depending on the brightness of the environment, but can also provide privacy when such needs arise. Adjustable reflection of light of such windows can further provide aesthetic effects where the windows can behave like mirrors when the reflectivity of the window is adjusted to maximize reflectivity. For example, this may provide a spacious feeling for a home.
- An additional advantage of windows with controllable reflectivity is that the incident light or electromagnetic radiation (in particular, the infrared heat) from the Sun can be reflected rather than absorbed by the window or transmitted through the window into the interior.
- windows with controllable reflectivity i.e. which can be changed from being substantially transmitting to substantially reflecting, can be particularly useful.
- the use of partially reflecting windows and lenses could be substantially enhanced if the degree of reflection can be altered at will.
- a partially reflecting window provides privacy and optically isolates spaces in a controllable way.
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Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PCT/US2006/033646 WO2008027031A2 (en) | 2006-08-29 | 2006-08-29 | Windows with electrically controllable transmission and reflection |
Publications (2)
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EP2062095A2 true EP2062095A2 (de) | 2009-05-27 |
EP2062095A4 EP2062095A4 (de) | 2010-04-14 |
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EP06802534A Withdrawn EP2062095A4 (de) | 2006-08-29 | 2006-08-29 | Fenster mit elektrisch steuerbarer durchlassung und reflektion |
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EP (1) | EP2062095A4 (de) |
CN (1) | CN101578553A (de) |
WO (1) | WO2008027031A2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (16)
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GB2475102A (en) * | 2009-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | Paul Slevin | A vehicle windscreen with a liquid crystal light polarising layer |
JP6166176B2 (ja) | 2010-04-28 | 2017-07-19 | メルク パテント ゲゼルシャフト ミット ベシュレンクテル ハフツングMerck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung | 液晶媒体を含む光学的スイッチ素子 |
JP6166656B2 (ja) | 2010-05-19 | 2017-07-19 | メルク パテント ゲゼルシャフト ミット ベシュレンクテル ハフツングMerck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung | 液晶媒体を含む光学的スイッチ素子 |
GB201009488D0 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-07-21 | Merck Patent Gmbh | Switch element comprising a liquid-crystaline medium |
EP2423294A1 (de) | 2010-08-24 | 2012-02-29 | Merck Patent GmbH | Schaltelement, das ein flüssigkristallines Medium umfasst |
PL2630217T3 (pl) | 2010-10-20 | 2017-05-31 | Merck Patent Gmbh | Element przełączalny zawierający ciekłokrystaliczny ośrodek |
CN105900000A (zh) * | 2014-01-11 | 2016-08-24 | 拉瓦勒大学 | 形成和电调谐空间非均匀光反射的方法和装置 |
US10317594B2 (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2019-06-11 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical constructions |
CN105676455B (zh) * | 2016-02-01 | 2017-07-18 | 深圳超多维光电子有限公司 | 头戴式显示设备 |
CN108303812B (zh) * | 2017-01-12 | 2019-11-05 | 江苏集萃智能液晶科技有限公司 | 一种具有调光功能的后视镜 |
US10384645B1 (en) * | 2018-02-27 | 2019-08-20 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle entry systems |
CN108267886A (zh) * | 2018-03-21 | 2018-07-10 | 深圳市唯酷光电有限公司 | 液晶调光膜及其制备方法 |
CN108628050A (zh) * | 2018-05-07 | 2018-10-09 | 深圳市唯酷光电有限公司 | 可调液晶偏光膜及其制备方法 |
CN110888248B (zh) * | 2018-09-10 | 2020-11-27 | 江苏集萃智能液晶科技有限公司 | 一种液晶手写板局部擦除装置及液晶手写板书写擦除笔 |
CN109835149B (zh) * | 2019-04-03 | 2021-01-12 | 福耀玻璃工业集团股份有限公司 | 一种防眩夹层玻璃 |
KR102471941B1 (ko) * | 2021-06-04 | 2022-11-29 | 동우 화인켐 주식회사 | 광학 적층체 및 이의 제조방법과, 이를 포함하는 스마트 윈도우 및 이를 적용한 자동차 또는 건물용 창호 |
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- 2006-08-29 WO PCT/US2006/033646 patent/WO2008027031A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-08-29 EP EP06802534A patent/EP2062095A4/de not_active Withdrawn
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US5986730A (en) * | 1998-12-01 | 1999-11-16 | Moxtek | Dual mode reflective/transmissive liquid crystal display apparatus |
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WO2008027031A2 (en) | 2008-03-06 |
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EP2062095A4 (de) | 2010-04-14 |
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