Light control device, method for manufacturing light control device and display device comprising light control device
There are provided a light control device, a method for manufacturing the light control device, and a display device comprising the light control device. The light control device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, and a plurality of liquid crystal units between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the plurality of liquid crystal units includes a first liquid crystal unit including a droplet including a first liquid crystal and a polymer and a second liquid crystal unit which is disposed on or under the first liquid crystal unit and configured as a polymer networked liquid crystal (PNLC) including a second liquid crystal, a coloring member, and a network.
1. A display device comprising:
a display panel; and
a light control device disposed on one surface of the display panel,
wherein the light control device includes:
a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; and
a plurality of liquid crystal units which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and implemented in a transparent mode in which light is transmitted when an electric field is not applied and also implemented in a light shielding mode in which light is shielded when an electric field is applied, and
the plurality of liquid crystal units includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) including a droplet including a first liquid crystal and a polymer networked liquid crystal (PNLC) disposed on or under the polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC).
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is a transparent display panel including a transmissive area and an emissive area, and
in a display mode in which the display panel displays an image, the plurality of liquid crystal units is implemented in a light shielding mode, and in a non-display mode in which the display panel does not display an image, the plurality of liquid crystal units is implemented in a transparent mode or a light shielding mode.
3. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electrode between the first substrate and the plurality of liquid crystal units; and
a second electrode between the second substrate and the plurality of liquid crystal units,
wherein a second liquid crystal of PNLC is a negative liquid crystal, and
the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to apply a vertical electric field to the plurality of liquid crystal units.
4. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the first liquid crystal of PDLC is a negative liquid crystal and aligned in a vertical direction with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein a refractive index of a short axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
6. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the first liquid crystal of PDLC is a positive liquid crystal and aligned in a horizontal direction with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein a refractive index of a long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a short axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
8. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the first liquid crystal of PDLC is a positive liquid crystal or negative liquid crystal and has an isotropic state in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein an average refractive index of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a short axis or long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
10. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electrode disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of liquid crystal units and including a plurality of pattern electrodes,
wherein a second liquid crystal of PNLC is a positive liquid crystal, and
the first electrode includes the plurality of pattern electrodes configured to apply a horizontal electric field to the plurality of liquid crystal units.
11. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the first liquid crystal of PDLC is a negative liquid crystal and aligned in a horizontal direction with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
12. The display device of claim 11 , a refractive index of a long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a short axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
13. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the first liquid crystal of PDLC is a positive liquid crystal and aligned in a vertical direction with respect to the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
14. The display device of claim 13 , wherein a refractive index of a short axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
15. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the first liquid crystal in the PDLC is a positive liquid crystal or negative liquid crystal and has an isotropic state in a state where an electric field is not applied to the PDLC.
16. The display device of claim 15 , wherein an average refractive index of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC, a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC, a refractive index of a short axis of the second liquid crystal in the PNLC are identical to each other,
wherein a refractive index of a short axis or long axis of the first liquid crystal in the PDLC and a refractive index of the polymer in the PDLC are different from each other.
17. The display device of claim 10 , further comprising:
an insulating layer between the first substrate and the first electrode; and
a common electrode between the insulating layer and the first substrate,
wherein the first electrode and the common electrode are configured to apply a horizontal electric field to the plurality of liquid crystal units.
18. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wall positioned in the PNLC,
wherein the wall is formed of one of a photo resist, polydimethylsiloxane, and a photo curable polymer which are transparent materials capable of transmitting light.
19. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an alignment film which is disposed on or under the PNLC so as to align a second liquid crystal in the PNLC.