Optical Element

Abstract

An optical element and a method for using thereof are provided. The present application provides an optical element that may provide various modes, and has excellent durability, and the like.

Claims

1. An optical element having an optical film comprising first and second base films disposed to face each other; and a light modulation layer between the first and second base films, wherein a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer are formed on the surfaces of the first and second base films respectively that face each other, and each electrode layer comprises a first region configured to apply an electric field to the light modulation layer, and a second region configured to connect to an external power source to supply power to the first region for applying the electric field, and further comprising a transmittance control device, wherein an external power source is connected to the second region via the transmittance control device.

2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the transmittance control device comprises a driving device and a potential difference control device.

3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second region on the first base film and the second region on the second base film are offset so as not to face each other.

4. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second region of the first electrode layer on the first base film and the second region of the second electrode layer on the second base film are disposed to face each other.

5. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second region on the first base film comprises A and B regions formed on opposite edges of the first base film, respectively, and the second region on the second base film comprises C and D regions formed on opposite edges of the second base film, respectively, the A region and the C region face each other, and the B region and the D region face each other, and wherein the optical element is formed configured to switch between a first mode when the A and C regions or the B and D regions are connected to an external power source to generate an electric field in the first region and a second mode when the A and D regions or the B and C regions are connected to an external power source to generate an electric field in the first region.

6. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer positioned on the second regions on the first and second base films.

7. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the light modulation layer is an active liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal host and an anisotropic dye guest, and the active liquid crystal layer configured to switch between at least two differently oriented states.

8. The optical element according to claim 7, wherein the differently oriented states comprise a vertically oriented state and a horizontally oriented state.

9. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising a polarizing layer.

10. The optical element according to claim 8, further comprising a polarizing layer, wherein the polarizing layer is disposed so that an angle formed by an average optical axis of the active liquid crystal layer at the horizontally oriented state and a light absorption axis of the polarizing layer is in a range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees or 35 degrees to 55 degrees

11. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising alignment films present on the surfaces of the first and second base films toward the light modulation layer.

12. The optical element according to claim 11, wherein an angle formed by orientation directions of the alignment films on the first and second base films is in a range of −10 degrees to 10 degrees or in a range of 80 degrees to 90 degrees.

13. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising a polarizing layer disposed on at least one side of the optical film, wherein the optical film further comprises alignment films present on the surfaces of the first and second base films toward the light modulation layer, and an angle formed by an orientation direction of the alignment films formed on the base films close to the polarizing layer among the first and second base films and a light absorption axis of the polarizing layer is in a range of 80 degrees to 90 degrees.

14. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising two outer substrates disposed to face each other, wherein the optical film is present between the outer substrates.

15. The optical element according to claim 14, wherein an entire surface of the optical film is encapsulated with an encapsulant between the two outer substrates.

16. An automobile comprising an auto body having one or more openings formed therein; and the optical element of claim 1 mounted to the openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0159] FIGS. 1 to 4 are side views of exemplary optical films.

[0160] FIGS. 5 to 7 are side views of exemplary optical elements.

[0161] FIG. 8 is an exemplary side view of an optical film implementing a gradation mode.

[0162] FIG. 9 is an exemplary side view of an optical film implementing a uniform transparent mode.

[0163] FIG. 10 is a view showing regions in which light transmittance is measured in a test example of the present application.

MODE FOR DISCLOSURE

[0164] Hereinafter, the present application will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the scope of the present application is not limited to the following examples.

[0165] Measurement of Transmittance

[0166] In order to confirm whether an optical element implements the intended mode, the light transmittance control region of the optical element was arbitrarily divided to measure transmittance in each region. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the light transmittance control region of the optical element was divided into 12 regions with the same area, and the light transmittance was measured for each region. FIG. 10 shows a case where the light transmittance control region of the optical element is seen from the front. The light transmittance was measured based on ISO 13468 standard using Nippon Denshoku's NDH-5000SP.

[0167] Production of Optical Element

Production Example 1

[0168] An optical film having a GH (guest-host) liquid crystal layer as a light modulation layer was produced. In a state where two PC (polycarbonate) films (110 and 150 in FIG. 1), in which ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode layers (120 and 140 in FIG. 1) and a liquid crystal alignment film (not shown in FIG. 1) were sequentially formed on one side, were disposed to face each other so that a cell gap of about 12 μm or so was maintained, the optical film was manufactured by injecting a mixture of a liquid crystal host (Merck's MAT-16-969 liquid crystals) and a dichroic dye guest (BASF, X12) therebetween and sealing the edges with a sealant. In the opposite arrangement of the PC films, the surfaces, on which the alignment films were formed, were disposed to face each other. The GH liquid crystal layer may be in a horizontally oriented state when no voltage is applied, and may be switched to a vertically oriented state by applying a voltage. As the electrode layers with opposite edges of the electrode layers formed on the respective base films, the second regions were formed by forming terminals (161, 162) on the outside based on the site formed by the sealant so that a transmittance control device (KP's RV1601-15SP-500 and SMG 1 channel 5V relay module (SZH-EK082)) capable of applying an electric field from an external power source to the optical film could be connected thereto, as shown in FIG. 1. At this time, one terminal (161) was formed on the electrode layer on the first base film and one terminal (162) was also formed on the electrode layer on the second base film, and then the base films were arranged so as to cross each other (that is, only the terminal on the left side of the drawing was formed among the terminals (161) on the first base film in FIG. 1 and only the terminal on the right side of the drawing was formed among the terminals (162) on the second base film).

[0169] The optical film and a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based polarizing layer were encapsulated between two outer substrates with a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive film (thickness: about 0.38 mm, manufacturer: Argotec, product name: ArgoFlex) to produce an optical element. Here, as the outer substrates, glass substrates having a thickness of about 3 mm or so were used, where a substrate having a curvature radius of about 1030R (first outer substrate) and a substrate having a curvature radius of 1000R (second outer substrate) were used. A laminate was produced by laminating the first outer substrate, the adhesive film, the optical film, the adhesive film, the polarizing layer, the adhesive film and the second outer substrate in this order and also disposing the adhesive film on all sides of the optical film (the second outer substrate was disposed in the gravity direction as compared to the first outer substrate). Thereafter, an autoclave process was performed at a temperature of about 100° C. and a pressure of about 2 atmospheres or so to produce the optical element.

Production Example 2

[0170] An optical film having a GH (guest-host) liquid crystal layer as a light modulation layer was produced. In a state where two PC (polycarbonate) films (110 and 150 in FIG. 1), in which ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode layers (120 and 140 in FIG. 1) and a liquid crystal alignment film (not shown in FIG. 1) were sequentially formed on one side, were disposed to face each other so that a cell gap of about 12 μm or so was maintained, the optical film was manufactured by injecting a mixture of a liquid crystal host (Merck's MAT-16-969 liquid crystals) and a dichroic dye guest (BASF, X12) therebetween and sealing the edges with a sealant. In the opposite arrangement of the PC films, the surfaces, on which the alignment films were formed, were disposed to face each other. The GH liquid crystal layer may be in a horizontally oriented state when no voltage is applied, and may be switched to a vertically oriented state by applying a voltage. As the electrode layers with opposite edges of the electrode layers formed on the respective base films, the second regions were formed by forming terminals (161, 162) on the outside based on the site formed by the sealant so that a transmittance control device (KP's RV1601-15SP-500 and SMG 1 channel 5V relay module (SZH-EK082)) capable of applying an electric field from an external power source to the optical film could be connected thereto, as shown in FIG. 1. At this time, one terminal (161) was formed on the electrode layer on the first base film and one terminal (162) was also formed on the electrode layer on the second base film, and then the base films were arranged so as to face each other (that is, only the terminal on the right side of the drawing was formed among the terminals (161) on the first base film in FIG. 1 and only the terminal on the right side of the drawing was formed among the terminals (162) on the second base film).

[0171] The optical film and a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based polarizing layer were encapsulated between two outer substrates with a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive film (thickness: about 0.38 mm, manufacturer: Argotec, product name: ArgoFlex) to produce an optical element. Here, as the outer substrates, glass substrates having a thickness of about 3 mm or so were used, where a substrate having a curvature radius of about 1030R (first outer substrate) and a substrate having a curvature radius of 1000R (second outer substrate) were used. A laminate was produced by laminating the first outer substrate, the adhesive film, the optical film, the adhesive film, the polarizing layer, the adhesive film and the second outer substrate in this order and also disposing the adhesive film on all sides of the optical film (the second outer substrate was disposed in the gravity direction as compared to the first outer substrate). Thereafter, an autoclave process was performed at a temperature of about 100° C. and a pressure of about 2 atmospheres or so to produce the optical element.

Production Example 3

[0172] An optical film having a GH (guest-host) liquid crystal layer as a light modulation layer was produced. In a state where two PC (polycarbonate) films (110 and 150 in FIG. 1), in which ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode layers (120 and 140 in FIG. 1) and a liquid crystal alignment film (not shown in FIG. 1) were sequentially formed on one side, were disposed to face each other so that a cell gap of about 12 μm or so was maintained, the optical film was manufactured by injecting a mixture of a liquid crystal host (Merck's MAT-16-969 liquid crystals) and a dichroic dye guest (BASF, X12) therebetween and sealing the edges with a sealant. In the opposite arrangement of the PC films, the surfaces, on which the alignment films were formed, were disposed to face each other. The GH liquid crystal layer may be in a horizontally oriented state when no voltage is applied, and may be switched to a vertically oriented state by applying a voltage. As the electrode layers with opposite edges of the electrode layers formed on the respective base films, the second regions (A to D regions) were formed by forming terminals (161, 162) on the outside based on the site formed by the sealant so that a transmittance control device (KP's RV1601-15SP-500 and SMG 1 channel 5V relay module (SZH-EK082)) capable of applying an electric field from an external power source to the optical film could be connected thereto, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0173] The optical film and a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based polarizing layer were encapsulated between two outer substrates with a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive film (thickness: about 0.38 mm, manufacturer: Argotec, product name: ArgoFlex) to produce an optical element. Here, as the outer substrates, glass substrates having a thickness of about 3 mm or so were used, where a substrate having a curvature radius of about 1030R (first outer substrate) and a substrate having a curvature radius of 1000R (second outer substrate) were used. A laminate was produced by laminating the first outer substrate, the adhesive film, the optical film, the adhesive film, the polarizing layer, the adhesive film and the second outer substrate in this order and also disposing the adhesive film on all sides of the optical film (the second outer substrate was disposed in the gravity direction as compared to the first outer substrate). Thereafter, an autoclave process was performed at a temperature of about 100° C. and a pressure of about 2 atmospheres or so to produce the optical element.

Example 1

[0174] An external power source was connected to each terminal part of the optical element produced in Production Example 1. This form is the same as the case where the external power source is connected in the manner shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, the power source having an RMS (root mean square) voltage of 0V to 30V with a 60 Hz square waveform was applied, and light transmittance was measured for each region, and the results were shown in Table 1.

Example 2

[0175] An external power source was connected to each terminal part of the optical element produced in Production Example 2. This form is the same as the case where the external power source is connected in the manner shown in FIG. 8. Thereafter, the power source having an RMS (root mean square) voltage of 0V to 30V with a 60 Hz square waveform was applied, and light transmittance was measured for each region, and the results were shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Classification Example 1 Example 2 Position 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 Transmittance 12.53 12.14 12.2 12.57 9.35 9.94 11.05 12.09 (%) 12.52 12.11 12.26 12.6 9.26 9.8 10.67 12.12 12.53 12.11 12.21 12.58 9.09 9.64 10.53 11.89

[0176] Each value of the transmittance shown in Table 1 has been described to correspond to the position shown in FIG. 10, and this position is as described in the position item of Table 1.

[0177] In the case of Example 1 from the transmittance shown in Table 1, the uniform transmittance was implemented in the entire region. On the other hand, in the case of Example 2, the gradation mode was implemented, in which the transmittance was gradually reduced from the portion (Positions 4, 8 and 12 in FIG. 10) to which the external power was applied.

Example 3

[0178] An external power source having an RMS (root mean square) voltage of 0V to 30V with a 60 Hz square waveform was applied to the terminals (161, 162) of the optical film of the optical element produced in Production Example 3. On the other hand, the shape shown in FIG. 8 and the shape shown in FIG. 9 were switched using the SMG 1 channel 5V relay module (SZH-EK082).

[0179] It was confirmed that when the external power source was connected to be the shape of FIG. 8, the gradation mode was implemented, and when the external power source was connected to be the shape of FIG. 9, the uniform transparent mode was implemented. Through this, it can be confirmed that the optical element can easily implement various modes by the transmittance control device.