Search

EP-4737993-A1 - LIGHT CONTROL MEMBER AND LAMINATED PLATE

EP4737993A1EP 4737993 A1EP4737993 A1EP 4737993A1EP-4737993-A1

Abstract

A light modulating member (20) is capable of adjusting visible light transmittance. The light modulating member (20) includes a first laminated body (30), a second laminated body (40), a liquid crystal layer (21), a seal member (25), and a wall portion (27). The first laminated body (30) includes a first electrode (33) and a first base member (31) that supports the first electrode 33). The second laminated body (40) includes a second electrode (43) separated from the first electrode (33) and a second base member (41) that supports the second electrode (43). The liquid crystal layer (21) is located between the first laminated body (30) and the second laminated body (40). The seal member (25) surrounds the liquid crystal layer (21). The wall portion (27) divides the liquid crystal layer (21) into a plurality of sections (A) in plan view of the light modulating member (20). An area of the sections (A) is equal to or less than 2500 mm 2 .

Inventors

  • IKEZAWA, TAKAO
  • TAMAKI, ATSUSHI
  • SHIRAISHI, Isamu

Assignees

  • Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (12)

  1. A light modulating member that is capable of adjusting visible light transmittance, the light modulating member comprising: a first laminated body including a first electrode and a first base member that supports the first electrode; a second laminated body including a second electrode separated from the first electrode and a second base member that supports the second electrode; a liquid crystal layer located between the first laminated body and the second laminated body; a seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer; and a wall portion that divides the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of sections in plan view of the light modulating member, wherein an area of a largest section among the sections is equal to or less than 2500 mm 2 .
  2. A light modulating member that is capable of adjusting visible light transmittance and is placed so as to extend at least in a vertical direction, the light modulating member comprising: a first laminated body including a first electrode and a first base member that supports the first electrode; a second laminated body including a second electrode separated from the first electrode and a second base member that supports the second electrode; a liquid crystal layer located between the first laminated body and the second laminated body; a seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer; and a wall portion that divides the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of sections in plan view of the light modulating member, wherein a value obtained by dividing an area [mm 2 ] of a largest section among the sections by a longest length [mm] among lengths of the largest section in a horizontal direction is equal to or less than 50.
  3. The light modulating member according to claim 2, wherein the area of the largest section among the sections is equal to or less than 2500 mm 2 .
  4. The light modulating member according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the area of the largest section among the sections is equal to or more than 13 mm 2 .
  5. The light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a width of the wall portion is equal to or more than 10 µm and equal to or less than 1000 µm.
  6. The light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a length of projection of a segment connecting centroids of two sections divided by a same wall portion in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the wall portion extends is equal to or more than 1 mm and equal to or less than 50 mm.
  7. The light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a value obtained by dividing the area [mm 2 ] of the largest section among the sections by an average of widths [µm] of the wall portions that define the largest section is equal to or less than 250.
  8. The light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a support portion provided in each of the sections.
  9. A substrate with a light modulating member, comprising: a first substrate; and the light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2 supported on the first substrate.
  10. A laminated plate comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate that are opposed to each other; and the light modulating member according to claim 1 or 2 located between the first substrate and the second substrate.
  11. The laminated plate according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is curved.
  12. The laminated plate according to claim 10, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate have a flat plate shape.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a light modulating member and a laminated plate including the light modulating member. Background Art A light modulating member that can regulate visible light transmittance, such as the one disclosed in Patent Literature 1, is known. The light modulating member disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes, for example, a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystals. The light modulating member including a liquid crystal layer can change visible light transmittance upon application of a voltage. The light modulating member including a liquid crystal layer is advantageous in that the change in the visible light transmittance is fast. The light modulating member is, for example, used for a transparent part of a partition member such as a window. Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-350111 Summary of Invention Technical Problem In a conventional liquid crystal layer, liquid crystal molecules are sometimes unevenly distributed. For example, in a case where a light modulating member including a liquid crystal layer is processed under high temperature and high pressure, expansion of the light modulating member caused by heat and deformation of the light modulating member caused by pressure may cause liquid crystal molecules to move and be unevenly distributed in the liquid crystal layer. For example, in a case where a light modulating member including a liquid crystal layer is placed obliquely with respect to a horizontal direction, liquid crystal molecules may move and be unevenly distributed in the liquid crystal layer due to gravity. The unevenly distributed liquid crystal molecules are visibly noticeable from an outside of the light modulating member. This may degrade outer appearance of the light modulating member. An object of the present disclosure is to suppress uneven distribution of liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal layer. Solution to Problem An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to the following [1] to [12]. [1] A light modulating member that is capable of adjusting visible light transmittance, the light modulating member including: a first laminated body including a first electrode and a first base member that supports the first electrode; a second laminated body including a second electrode separated from the first electrode and a second base member that supports the second electrode; a liquid crystal layer located between the first laminated body and the second laminated body; a seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer; and a wall portion that divides the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of sections in plan view of the light modulating member, in which an area of a largest section among the sections is equal to or less than 2500 mm2.[2] A light modulating member that is capable of adjusting visible light transmittance and is placed so as to extend at least in a vertical direction, the light modulating member including: a first laminated body including a first electrode and a first base member that supports the first electrode; a second laminated body including a second electrode separated from the first electrode and a second base member that supports the second electrode; a liquid crystal layer located between the first laminated body and the second laminated body; a seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer; and a wall portion that divides the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of sections in plan view of the light modulating member, in which a value obtained by dividing an area [mm2] of a largest section among the sections by a longest length [mm] among lengths of the largest section in a horizontal direction is equal to or less than 50.[3] The light modulating member according to [2], in which the area of the largest section among the sections is equal to or less than 2500 mm2.[4] The light modulating member according to [1] or [3], in which the area of the largest section among the sections is equal to or more than 13 mm2.[5] The light modulating member according to any one of [1] to [4], in which a width of the wall portion is equal to or more than 10 µm and equal to or less than 1000 µm.[6] The light modulating member according to any one of [1] to [5], in which a length of projection of a segment connecting centroids of two sections divided by a same wall portion in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the wall portion extends is equal to or more than 1 mm and equal to or less than 50 mm.[7] The light modulating member according to any one of [1] to [6], in which a value obtained by dividing the area [mm2] of the largest section among the sections by an average of widths [µm] of the wall portions that define the largest section is equal to or less than 250.[8] The light modulating member according to any one of [1] to [7], further including a support portion provided in each of the sections.[9] A substrate with a light mod