KR-102961629-B1 - PDLC FILM FOR VEHICLE SUN ROOF

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a PDLC film for a vehicle sunroof. A PDLC film according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal droplets are dispersed within a polymer material, a first metal electrode layer bonded to a first surface of the liquid crystal layer, a second metal electrode layer bonded to a second surface which is a surface opposite to the first surface of the liquid crystal layer, a first polymer electrode layer bonded to at least one surface of the first metal electrode layer, and a second polymer electrode layer bonded to at least one surface of the second metal electrode layer.

Inventors

• 이상섭

Assignees

• 주식회사 디아이테크

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241126

Claims (8)

1. As a PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) film for vehicle sunroofs, A liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal droplets are dispersed within a polymer material, A first metal electrode layer bonded to a first surface of the liquid crystal layer, A second metal electrode layer bonded to a second surface which is a surface opposite to the first surface of the liquid crystal layer, A first polymer electrode layer bonded to at least one surface of the first metal electrode layer and It includes a second polymer electrode layer bonded to at least one surface of the second metal electrode layer, and The first metal electrode layer and the second metal electrode layer are made of transparent electrodes, and The first metal electrode layer and the second metal electrode layer each comprise a first metal, a second metal located on both sides of the first metal, and an ITO located on the opposite side of the second metal relative to the first metal. The first metal is made of a metal having higher conductivity than the second metal, and the second metal is made of a metal having higher corrosion resistance than the first metal. PDLC film.
2. In paragraph 1, A PDLC film laminated in the order of a first metal electrode layer, a first polymer electrode layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second polymer electrode layer, and a second metal electrode layer.
3. delete
4. delete
5. In paragraph 1, A PDLC film wherein the first metal comprises silver (Ag) and the second metal comprises nickel-chrome plating.
6. In paragraph 1, The PDLC film, wherein the first polymer electrode layer and the second polymer electrode layer comprise PEDOT:PSS (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)) and MEG (mono ethylene glycol).
7. In paragraph 1, A first protective layer formed on the surface of the first metal electrode layer opposite to the liquid crystal layer, and A PDLC film comprising at least one of a second protective layer formed on the side of the second metal electrode layer opposite to the liquid crystal layer.
8. In paragraph 1, The PDLC film, wherein the first polymer electrode layer and the second polymer electrode layer are formed by applying a raw material in solution form to the first metal electrode layer and the second metal electrode layer, respectively, and then heat-curing.

Description

PDLC Film for Vehicle Sunroofs The present disclosure relates to a PDLC film for a vehicle sunroof. Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) films are known to have electrically controllable transmittance based on a material in which a polymer and a liquid crystal are mixed. When voltage is applied to a PDLC film, liquid crystal droplets dispersed within the polymer material are rearranged to scatter or transmit light, thereby switching the transmittance of the film. These PDLC films are primarily used in offices, homes, and shopping malls to block visible light or ultraviolet rays or to protect privacy, and recently, active research is also being conducted on their applications in displays and advertising. Meanwhile, it is common practice to install sunroofs in vehicles to provide natural lighting and ventilation while ensuring an unobstructed view upwards. In these automotive sunroofs, light transmittance is considered an important factor for purposes such as UV protection and privacy safeguards. While it is possible to consider applying PDLC films capable of selectively controlling light transmittance to such vehicle sunroofs, there are difficulties in applying conventional PDLC films because vehicle sunroofs typically consist of large-area curved surfaces. Unlike general tinting films, which can be adhered and installed along curved surfaces, PDLC films typically contain metal electrodes to apply voltage to polymer-dispersed liquid crystals, which limits installation along curved surfaces. Furthermore, if a PDLC film is installed forcibly along a curved surface, cracks may occur as the metal electrodes bend along the surface, and electrical connections may be severed due to these cracks, potentially causing the PDLC film to lose its functionality. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary form of use of a PDLC film according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the cross-sectional structure of a conventional PDLC film and the problems associated with its application to curved surfaces. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a PDLC film according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a first metal electrode layer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the operating state of a PDLC film according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the following, specific descriptions of already known functions and configurations are omitted where it is deemed that doing so would unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present disclosure. The terms used in this disclosure are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this disclosure. For example, a component expressed in the singular should be understood as a concept including a plural component unless the context clearly implies only the singular. Terms such as "comprising" or "having" used in this disclosure are intended only to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this disclosure, and the use of such terms is not intended to exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Unless otherwise defined in this specification, all terms used in this disclosure, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted as being overly restrictive or broad unless explicitly defined otherwise in this disclosure. Throughout the specification, identical or similar reference numerals are assigned to identical components. Furthermore, the size, thickness, location, etc., of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily or exaggeratedly for convenience of explanation, and thus the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to what is illustrated. That is, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described in the specification may be modified from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and it should be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary form of use of a PDLC film according to one embodiment of the pr