INTELLIGENT WINDOW

Abstract

An intelligent window includes two substrates and a dimming layer. Each substrate is electrically connected to a voltage source. A switchable electric field is formed between the two substrates. The dimming layer is formed by filling a liquid crystal material between the two substrates. The liquid crystal material is formed by mixing a chiral molecule, a dichroic dye, and a salt ion in a nematic liquid crystal. A weight percentage concentration of the chiral molecule in the liquid crystal material is determined according to a limitation formula (I). C is the weight percentage concentration, n is a birefringence index of the liquid crystal material, p is a chiral force of the chiral molecule in micrometer.sup.?1, D is a thickness of the dimming layer in micrometer, m.sub.1 is a constant of multiaxial absorption condition in micrometer, and m.sub.2 is a constant of normally transparent condition.

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{n}{4{\mathrm{pm}}_1}?C?\frac{m_2}{\mathrm{Dp}}& \left(I\right)\end{array}$

Claims

1. An intelligent window, comprising: two substrates each electrically connected to a voltage source, wherein a switchable electric field is formed between the two substrates; and a dimming layer formed by filling a liquid crystal material between the two substrates, wherein the liquid crystal material is formed by mixing a chiral molecule, a dichroic dye, and a salt ion in a nematic liquid crystal, and a weight percentage concentration of the chiral molecule in the liquid crystal material is determined according to a limitation formula $\frac{n}{4{\mathrm{pm}}_1}?C?\frac{m_2}{\mathrm{Dp}},$ wherein C is the weight percentage concentration, n is a birefringence index of the liquid crystal material, p is a chiral force of the chiral molecule in micrometer.sup.?1, D is a thickness of the dimming layer in micrometer, m.sub.1 is a constant of multiaxial absorption condition in micrometer, and m.sub.2 is a constant of normally transparent condition.

2. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant of multiaxial absorption condition is 0.56 micrometers, and the constant of normally transparent condition is 0.8.

3. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 1, wherein when no voltage is applied to the two substrates, liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material are in a continuous arrangement perpendicular to the two substrates from top to bottom, and the dimming layer is in a transparent state.

4. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a first voltage is applied to the two substrates, liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material are in a super twisted orientation, the liquid crystal material absorbs incident light in different polarization directions, and the dimming layer is in an absorption state.

5. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal material is mixed with a predetermined dichroic dye to increase an absorption rate of the dimming layer for light at a predetermined wavelength.

6. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 4, wherein a light absorption rate of the dimming layer is changed by adjusting a magnitude of the first voltage.

7. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 4, wherein when a second voltage is applied to the two substrates, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material are interfered by the salt ion and are in a discontinuous and chaotic arrangement, the incident light is dispersed in the dimming layer, and the dimming layer is in a scattering state, and wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage.

8. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 7, wherein a haze value of the dimming layer is changed by adjusting a magnitude of the second voltage.

9. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two substrates includes a conductive layer electrically connected to the voltage source, and wherein the conductive layer is made of indium tin oxide, a silver nanowire, or transparent conductive metal.

10. The intelligent window as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two substrates includes an alignment layer, wherein an included angle between a pre-tilt angle of each alignment layer and a plane of the substrate is greater than 85 degrees, and wherein the alignment layer is a polyimide film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2a is a situation diagram of switching of a transparent state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2b is a situation diagram of switching of an absorption state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2c is a situation diagram of switching of a scattering state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In order to make the foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and easier to understand, preferred embodiments of the present invention are specifically listed and described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of an intelligent window according to the present invention. The intelligent window includes two substrates 1 and a dimming layer 2. The dimming layer 2 is located between the two substrates 1.

[0027] The two substrates 1 are preferably parallel to each other, and the two substrates 1 are preferably made of transparent composite materials, so that light may penetrate the two substrates 1. Each of the two substrates 1 includes a conductive layer 11 and an alignment layer 12. The two conductive layers 11 are electrically connected to a voltage source, forming a switchable electric field between the two substrates 1. In addition, the two alignment layers 12 are respectively located on inner sides of the two substrates 1. An included angle between a pre-tilt angle of each of the alignment layers 12 and a plane of the substrate 1 is greater than 85 degrees. Each substrate 1 may be made of a sealed material, such as glass, acryl, and plastic, and configured to limit a fluid substance between the two substrates 1. The two conductive layers 11 may be made of transparent conductive materials, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), silver nanowire, and transparent conductive metal, and used as electrodes at two ends of the electric field between the two substrates 1. The two alignment layers 12 may be polyimide (PI) films and provide an alignment effect by a plurality of directionally arranged grooves formed on a surface of the two alignment layers 12.

[0028] The dimming layer 2 is formed by filling a liquid crystal material 21 between the two substrates 1, so that a thickness D of the dimming layer 2 is a spacing (in micrometer) between the two substrates 1. The liquid crystal material 21 is formed by mixing a chiral molecule, a dichroic dye, and a salt ion in a nematic liquid crystal. The liquid crystal material 21 has an anisotropic medium characteristic, and the chiral molecule has a helical chiral power (HTP). A range of a weight percentage concentration of the chiral molecule in the liquid crystal material 21 is limited by the following formula:

[00003]$\frac{n}{4{\mathrm{pm}}_1}?C?\frac{m_2}{\mathrm{Dp}}$

[0029] in which C is the weight percentage concentration, n is a birefringence index of the liquid crystal material 21, p is the chiral force of the chiral molecule (in micrometer.sup.?1), m.sub.1 is a constant of multiaxial absorption condition (in micrometer), and m.sub.2 is a constant of normally transparent condition. Values of the constant m.sub.1 of multiaxial absorption condition and the constant m.sub.2 of normally transparent condition are learned through experimental measurement of samples, where m.sub.1=0.56 micrometers and m.sub.2=0.8.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 2a, when no voltage is applied to the dimming layer 2, the two alignment layers 12 act on the dimming layer 2 in a homeotropic alignment respectively on an upper surface and a lower surface, so that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material 21 are in a continuous arrangement perpendicular to the two substrates 1 from top to bottom. Incident light may directly pass through the regularly arranged liquid crystal molecules, and the dimming layer 2 is in a transparent state, having effects of transmitting light and providing an open field of view.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2b, when a first voltage V1 is applied to the dimming layer 2, the liquid crystal material 21 is subjected to a high twisting power, so that the liquid crystal molecules are in a super twisted orientation. The liquid crystal material 21 may absorb incident light in different polarization directions, and the liquid crystal material 21 mixed with a specific dichroic dye can increase an absorption rate of light at a specific wavelength. Since most of the incident light is absorbed by the liquid crystal material 21, the dimming layer 2 is in an absorption state and has effects of light blocking and heat insulation. In addition, a light absorption rate of the dimming layer 2 may be changed by adjusting a magnitude of the first voltage V1, which provides an effect of adjusting a grayscale of light.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2c, a second voltage V2 is applied to the dimming layer 2, with the second voltage V2 greater than the first voltage V1. Under a relatively large electric field, an electrohydrodynamic effect is caused since the liquid crystal material 21 includes the salt ion, causing the liquid crystal molecules to be in a discontinuous and chaotic arrangement. The incident light is scattered due to the chaotic arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules and proceeds in different directions. The dimming layer 2 is in a scattering state and has the effects of providing a blurred field of view and protecting privacy. Moreover, different degrees of scattering effects may be presented by adjusting a magnitude of the second voltage V2, which provides an effect of changing a haze value of the dimming layer 2.

[0033] During manufacturing of the intelligent window of the present invention, a spacing between the two substrates 1 may be determined first, and types of the nematic liquid crystal and the chiral molecule of the liquid crystal material 21 may be selected. Thus, the thickness D of the dimming layer 2, the birefringence index n of the liquid crystal material 21, and the chiral force p of the chiral molecule may be learned. An appropriate concentration of the liquid crystal material 21 mixed with the chiral molecule may be calculated through the above limitation formula of the constant m.sub.1 of multiaxial absorption condition, the constant m.sub.2 of normally transparent condition, and the weight percentage concentration C. As a result, the dimming layer 2 has a high transmittance in the transparent state and effectively absorbs multiaxial light in the absorption state, providing effects of simplifying the manufacturing process and improving the dimming effect.

[0034] In an embodiment, the thickness D of the dimming layer 2 is 8 micrometers. A negative liquid crystal HNG707700-100 with a birefringence index n of 0.1 and a chiral molecule R811 with a chiral force p of 10 micrometer.sup.?1 are selected as the liquid crystal materials 21. The above parameters are substituted into the limitation formula of the weight percentage concentration C:

[00004]$\frac{n}{4{\mathrm{pm}}_1}?C?\frac{m_2}{\mathrm{Dp}},$

and 0.446%?C?1% may be obtained through calculation. The concentration range of the chiral molecule may be determined, and a multi-functional switchable intelligent window can be easily and quickly manufactured.

[0035] According to the above, the arrangements caused by the chiral force acting on the liquid crystal molecules under different voltages can be controlled through the limitation formula of the chiral molecule concentration of the liquid crystal material. The intelligent window of the present invention can be switchable between a normally transparent state, a multi-direction polarization absorption state, and a scattering state, providing effects of reducing the manufacturing difficulty, simple and quick switching of the light state, and improving the dimming effect.

[0036] Although the present invention has been described with respect to the above preferred embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to restrict the present invention. Various changes and modifications on the above embodiments made by any person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are still within the technical category protected by the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention shall include the literal meaning set forth in the appended claims and all changes which come within the range of equivalency of the claims.