Patent Application
20130164460
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film, and particularly to a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film including two opposite transparent rigid substrates. A hollow and insulation design for a PDLC light shuttle film is arranged between the two transparent rigid substrates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Transparent glass curtain walls are usually adopted for many modern designs of curtain walls, greenhouse, and partition walls or screen partitions for ornamental and lighting purposes. Besides, transparent glass curtains are usually arranged with window curtains, dyed glass design or insulation paper adhered. However, installation of window curtains occupies more space and must be maintained regularly; using dyed glass and insulation paper cannot control the amount of light passing through; insulation paper is usually stuck on the outside surface of glass curtain walls and easily becomes dirty and damaged.
Recent years a type of smart glass is developed, which is based on characteristics of crystal liquid materials installed within. The glass transparency can be adjusted by changing the electric current. However, this type of smart glass lacks functions for thermal insulation, vapor resistance, heat preservation, soundproofing and so on; the useful life is easily affected due to long-term sunlight exposure.
The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned states of the art and it is an object of the present invention to provide a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film which can change its transparency according to users' needs with the advantages of blocking sight from viewers outside and protecting privacy, wherein a hollow and insulation design of air spacer is applied to the gap between the PDLC light shuffle film and the transparent rigid substrate or between the transparent rigid substrates to make the plane structure better thermal-insulated. In addition to better safety, it also can form a constant temperature environment indoors with the advantage of energy saving.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film, which can be applied to construction industry regarding of doors and windows, glass curtain walls and screen partitions with nice performance of soundproofing, thermal insulation and vapor resistance.
In order to achieve the objectives described above, a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: two opposite transparent rigid substrates separately arranged, which are a first transparent rigid substrate and a second transparent rigid substrate; the first transparent rigid substrate and the second transparent rigid substrate respectively have a first inner surface and a second inner surface opposite to each other; a PDLC light shuffle film is arranged on the first inner face; a first sealed structure is arranged on the periphery between the first inner surface and the second inner surface, for forming a first hollow space between the first transparent rigid substrate and the second transparent rigid substrate.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film comprises: two opposite transparent rigid substrates arranged separately; a sealed structure arranged on the periphery between the two transparent rigid substrates, whereof at least two opposite inner faces forming a groove; and a PDLC light shuffle film, whereof at least two opposite sides arranged in the groove, for arranging the PDLC light shuffle film between the two transparent rigid substrates.
The foregoing aspects and many of the accompanying advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The detail description is provided below and the preferred embodiments described are only for the purpose of description rather than for limiting the present invention.
Wherein, the PDLC light shuffle film 20 is a polymeric dispersed liquid crystal, which is arranged between two parallel substrates with transparent conductive electrodes (not shown). Under the low driving voltage of the transparent conductive electrodes, the PDLC light shuffle film 20 changes from strong-scattering opaque state to clean transparent state. When the voltage is removed (i.e. natural condition), the PDLC light shuffle film 20 will change from clean transparent state to strong-scattering opaque state.
Continuing the above description, the first transparent rigid substrate 12 and the second transparent rigid substrate 14 are made from glass, Poly Carbonate, plastic, laminated glass or gluing plastic. Further, the first sealed structure 22 is made from Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), ethylene naphthalate (EN), Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN), Ethylvinyl Acetate (EVA), poly urethane (PU), thermoplastic poly urethane (TPU) or adhesive gel but not limited to materials described above. The first sealed structure 22 is a hollow and insulation design between the first transparent rigid structure 12 and the second transparent 14 as an air spacer. According to an embodiment, a hollow space can be filled with dry air or inert gas and so on according to different needs.
Continuing the above description, the plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film 10 is can be applied to doors and windows, glass curtain walls, greenhouses, screen partitions, and partition walls for construction industry or showcases for furniture industry. Because of the hollow and insulation design of air spacer between the PDLC light shuffle film 20 and the second transparent rigid substrate 14, the plane structure 10 is capable of thermal insulation and soundproofing and is a kind of ideal energy-saving building material. Wherein, if the first hollow space 24 is filled with dry air, it is capable of vapor resistance; if filled with inert gas such as argon and so on, it is capable of better thermal insulation. The PDLC light shuffle film 20 is arranged between the first and the second transparent rigid substrates 12 and 14. By changing driving voltage, transparency of the plane structure 10 can be adjusted wholly so as to change transparency of the plane structure 10 freely. For example, when the PDCL light shuffle film is in strong-scattering opaque state, the plane structure 10 will act as ground glass; when the PDLC light shuffle film is in clean transparent state, the plane structure appears transparent.
According to the aforementioned description, the plane structure of polymeric dispersed liquid crystal film can change its transparency freely with the advantages of blocking sight from viewers outside and protecting privacy. Wherein, the hollow and insulation design between the PDLC light shuffle film and the transparent rigid substrate or between two transparent rigid substrates make the plane structure better thermal-insulated. In addition to higher safety, a constant temperature environment can be formed indoors to efficiently reduce expenditure on air conditioning with the advantages of energy saving. Furthermore, effect of vapor resistance is good because dry air is filled into the hollow space, which can be applied to construct outside wall in the circumstance with greater temperature difference between indoor and outdoor.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific example thereof has been shown in the drawings and is herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
