Light control member and light control device

Inventors: Takao Ikezawa (Tokyo, JP); Tomoya Kawashima (Tokyo, JP)

Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.

G02F1/134309 G02F1/1347

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,174,494
App. No.: 18/575,959
Granted: Dec 24, 2024
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A light control member and a light control device in which a non-electrode region is less visible. A light control film is a light control member having controllable transmissivity and includes: an undivided first common electrode; divided first electrodes; a first liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first common electrode and the first electrodes; an undivided second common electrode; divided second electrodes; and a second liquid-crystal layer disposed between the second common electrode and the second electrodes. First non-electrode lines dividing the first electrodes and second non-electrode lines dividing the second electrodes are arranged at positions not overlapping one another when viewed in the direction normal to the light control film.

Claims (61)

1. A light control member having a controllable transmittance, comprising:

an undivided first common electrode;

divided first electrodes;

a first liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first common electrode and the first electrodes;

an undivided second common electrode;

divided second electrodes;

a second liquid-crystal layer disposed between the second common electrode and the second electrodes;

first non-electrode lines that divide the first electrodes; and

second non-electrode lines that divide the second electrodes,

wherein the first and second non-electrode lines are disposed at positions where the first and second non-electrode lines do not overlap with each other when viewed from a direction normal to the light control member.

2. The light control member according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first laminate that includes a first base material;

a second laminate that includes a second base material; and

a third laminate that includes a third base material, wherein,

the first liquid-crystal layer is held between the first laminate and the third laminate,

the second liquid-crystal layer is held between the second laminate and the third laminate,

the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines each have a width equal to or less than 50 μm, and

a shortest distance between the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines is equal to or more than a sum of a layer thickness of the first liquid-crystal layer, a layer thickness of the third laminate, and a layer thickness of the second liquid-crystal layer, when viewed in a direction in which the divided first electrodes are arranged.

3. The light control member according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines each have a width equal to or less than 50 μm, and

a shortest distance between the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines is equal to or less than ½ of a shortest interval between the first non-electrode lines which are adjacent to each other, when viewed in a direction in which the divided first electrodes are disposed.

4. The light control member according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines do not overlap with each other when viewed from a direction forming an angle of 45° or more with the light control member.

5. The light control member according to claim 1 ,

wherein with respect to relationships between the first non-electrode lines and the second non-electrode lines that are disposed closest in a direction in which the divided first electrodes are arranged, the light control member has two areas that are disposed to have different deviations in orientation of the first non-electrode lines with reference to the second non-electrode lines.

6. The light control member according to claim 1 , further comprising:

alignment layers on the first electrodes, the alignment layers being divided and laminated respectively on the first electrodes in accordance with division of the first electrodes; and

alignment layers on the second electrodes, the alignment layers being divided and laminated respectively on the second electrodes in accordance with division of the second electrodes, wherein

the first liquid-crystal layer and the second liquid-crystal layer are configured to be normally dark so as to be in a light blocking state when no electric field is applied and in a transmitting state when an electric field is applied,

an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid-crystal layer in the light blocking state and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid-crystal layer in the light blocking state intersect with each other when viewed from the direction normal to the light control member, and

the first liquid-crystal layer and the second liquid-crystal layer are disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.

7. The light control member according to claim 6 ,

wherein the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid-crystal layer in the light blocking state and the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid-crystal layer in the light blocking state are orthogonal to each other when viewed from the direction normal to the light control member.

8. A light control device, comprising:

a first transparent plate;