JP2018018073A - Light control film, method for driving light control film, light control device, light control member and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light control film and a method for driving a light control film capable of changing the light and dark in the plane by changing the transmittance. SOLUTION: The light control film 10 of the present invention has a transparent first electrode 22A, a transparent second electrode 22B arranged to face the first electrode 22A, and a plurality of the light control films 10 arranged on the first electrode 22A. 221,222,223,224, a power source that supplies independent potentials to the plurality of feeding units 221,222, 223, 224, and the first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B. A dimming material 14 which is arranged in between and changes the transmission rate according to the potential difference between the first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B is provided. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control film, a light control film driving method, a light control device, a light control member, and a vehicle that can be used for an electronic blind that is attached to a window to control the transmission of external light, for example.

Conventionally, for example, a light control film that can be used for an electronic blind or the like that is attached to a window to control the transmission of external light has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2). One such light control film uses liquid crystal.
A light control film using liquid crystal is produced by sandwiching a liquid crystal material with a transparent plate material including a transparent electrode to produce a liquid crystal cell, and sandwiching the liquid crystal cell with a linear polarizing plate. This light control film changes the orientation of the liquid crystal by changing the electric field applied between the transparent electrodes, and controls the amount of transmitted extraneous light.

  In such a light control film, when a potential difference is applied between the transparent electrodes, the transmittance changes according to the potential difference, but the transmittance in the plane of the light control film is substantially constant.

JP 03-47392 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-184273

However, in recent years, applications of the light control film have been diversified, and there is a demand for a light control film and a method of driving the light control film that can change the light intensity by changing the transmittance in the plane.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a light control film capable of changing the transmittance in the plane to change the brightness, a light control film driving method, a light control device, a light control device, and a light control device. An object is to provide an optical member and a vehicle.

  The present inventor has intensively studied in order to solve the above problems, and has completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) A transparent first electrode, a transparent second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode, a plurality of power feeding units disposed on the first electrode, the first electrode, and the second electrode And a light control material that changes the transmittance according to the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode.

(2) In (1), the second electrode is preferably grounded.

(3) In (1) or (2), it is preferable that the plurality of power feeding portions extend parallel to each other on the surface of the first electrode.

(4) With respect to the transparent first electrode, the transparent second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode, the plurality of power feeding units disposed on the first electrode, and the plurality of power feeding units, respectively A power source capable of supplying an independent potential, and dimming that is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes the transmittance according to the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode And a material for generating a potential gradient between the power feeding units adjacent to each other in the first electrode by independently supplying a potential to the plurality of power feeding units. A method for driving a light control film, wherein the transmittance of the light control material between the first electrode and the second electrode is partially changed corresponding to the potential gradient.

(5) A transparent first electrode, a transparent second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode, and the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A light-modulating material that changes transmittance according to a potential difference with the electrode, and a power supply position that is disposed on the first electrode and receives power supply, and the width is widened to a far end portion away from the power supply position. A light control film comprising: a plurality of power supply portions extending while extending.

(6) The light control film according to (5), wherein the second electrode is grounded.

(7) A light control device comprising: the light control film according to (5) or (6); and a power source capable of supplying independent potentials to the plurality of power feeding units.

(8) A light control member comprising a transparent member and the light control film according to (5) or (6) disposed on the transparent member.

(9) A vehicle provided with the light control film of Claim 5 or Claim 6 arrange | positioned in the site | part which external light injects.

  It is possible to provide a light control film and a method of driving the light control film that can change the light and dark by changing the transmittance in the plane.

It is sectional drawing which shows the light control film of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the manufacturing process of a light control film. It is a figure explaining the electric power feeding part provided in a 1st electrode. FIG. 4 is a graph with the position in the x direction shown in FIG. 3 as the horizontal axis and the potential of the first electrode as the vertical axis, and is an example of the potential gradient of the first electrode. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the electrical potential difference between a 1st electrode and a 2nd electrode, and the transmittance | permeability. 4 is a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the position in the x direction of the light control film and the vertical axis represents transmittance T when the potential of the first electrode has a gradient as shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining the electric power feeding part provided in 22 A of 1st electrodes and 2nd electrode 22B of 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
[Light control film]
Drawing 1 is a sectional view showing light control film 10 of an embodiment. The light control film 10 is used by being arrange | positioned on a transparent member, such as sticking to the site | part which aims at light control, or being used for a laminated glass, for example. Examples of cases where light is applied to a part where light control is intended include, for example, parts (exterior windows, side windows, sunroofs, etc.) where external light from the vehicle is incident, window glass of buildings, showcases, indoor transparent partitions, etc. For example, when switching between transparent and opaque. Here, the transparent member is glass, a transparent resin substrate, or the like. Thus, the light control film arrange | positioned at a transparent member is called light control member.

The light control film 10 is a light control film that controls transmitted light using liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal cell 15 is manufactured by sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 14 between the film-like second laminate 13 and the first laminate 12. The liquid crystal cell 15 is formed by being sandwiched by linearly polarizing plates 16 and 17.
In the embodiment, the liquid crystal layer 14 is driven by a VA (Vertical Alignment) method, but is not limited to this, and various methods such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) method and an IPS (In-Plane-Switching) method are used. A driving method can be applied.
The VA method is a method in which the alignment of liquid crystal is changed between vertical alignment and horizontal alignment to control transmitted light. When no electric field is applied, the liquid crystal layer 14 is sandwiched between the vertical alignment layers by vertically aligning the liquid crystal. Thus, the liquid crystal cell 15 is configured, and the liquid crystal material is horizontally aligned by applying an electric field.

In the light control film 10, a spacer 24 for keeping the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14 constant is provided in the first laminate 12 and / or the second laminate 13. The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are respectively provided with retardation films 18 and 19 for optical compensation on the liquid crystal cell 15 side.
The first stacked body 12 and the second stacked body 13 are formed by sequentially forming the first electrode 22A, the second electrode 22B, and the alignment layers 23A, 23B on the base materials 21A, 21B, respectively. The retardation films 18 and 19 may be omitted as necessary. Moreover, you may manufacture the light control film 10 by a guest host system, and a linearly-polarizing plate can be abbreviate | omitted in this case. Moreover, you may arrange | position to one or both of a liquid crystal cell as needed.

The light control film 10 is configured to control the transmission of extraneous light by changing the potential difference between the first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B, and to switch the state between a transparent state and a non-transparent state. In the present embodiment, an example in which the liquid crystal layer 14 is driven by so-called normally black will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid crystal layer 14 may be driven by normally white. Further, in the case of using the IPS method, the first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B are naturally manufactured on the alignment layer 23A or 23B side. A two-layered product 13 is formed.
Note that normally black is a structure in which the transmittance is minimized when a voltage is not applied to the liquid crystal, resulting in a black screen. Normally white is a structure in which the transmittance is maximized and transparent when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal.

  When the light control film 10 is used by being attached to, for example, a window glass of a building, a showcase, an indoor transparent partition, etc., the linear polarizing plate 16 and / or 17 on the side opposite to the liquid crystal cell 15 is used. A protective layer such as a hard coat layer may be provided on the surface.

[Base material]
Various transparent film materials such as flexible TAC, polycarbonate, COP, acrylic, and PET applicable to the liquid crystal cell 15 can be applied to the base materials 21A and 21B. In this embodiment, hard coating is applied to both surfaces. A polycarbonate film material from which the layer is produced is applied.

[electrode]
The first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B can apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer 14 and can adopt various configurations that are perceived as transparent. In the present embodiment, ITO that is a transparent electrode material is used. A transparent conductive film made of (Indium Tin Oxide) is formed on the entire surface of the base materials 21A and 21B. As described above, in the IPS method or the like, the electrode is manufactured by being patterned in a desired shape.
The first electrode 22A is provided with a plurality of power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225, which will be described later.

[Alignment layer]
The alignment layers 23A and 23B are formed of a photo-alignment layer. As the photo-alignment material applicable to the photo-alignment layer, various materials to which the photo-alignment technique can be applied can be widely applied. In this embodiment, for example, a photodimerization type material is used. The photodimerization type material is described in “M. Schadt, K. Schmitt, V. Kozinkov and V. Chigrinov: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31, 2155 (1992)”, “M. Schadt, H. Seiberle and A. Schuster: Nature, 381, 212 (1996).

Instead of the photo-alignment layer, it may be produced by a rubbing process. In this case, the alignment layers 23A and 23B are manufactured by manufacturing various material layers applicable to the alignment layer such as polyimide, and then manufacturing a fine line-shaped uneven shape on the surface of the material layer by rubbing using a rubbing roll. Formed.
Instead of the alignment layer and the photo-alignment layer by such a rubbing treatment, a fine line-shaped uneven shape produced by the rubbing treatment may be produced by a shaping treatment to produce the orientation layer.

[spacer]
The spacer 24 is provided in order to define the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14, and various resin materials can be widely applied. In this embodiment, the spacer 24 is manufactured by a photoresist. The spacer 24 is manufactured by applying a photoresist on the base material 21B formed by manufacturing the second electrode 22B, and exposing and developing. The spacer 24 may be provided in the first stacked body 12 or may be provided in both the first stacked body 12 and the second stacked body 13. The spacer 24 may be provided on the alignment layer 23B. As the spacer, a so-called bead spacer may be applied. The bead spacer is not limited to a spherical shape, and may be a rod shape (cylindrical shape) or an elliptical spherical shape.
When a bead spacer is used as the spacer 24, the bead spacer is disposed by being spread on the alignment layer after forming the alignment layer. In this case, from the viewpoint of suppressing the movement of the bead spacer in the liquid crystal layer 14 (on the alignment layer), a fixing layer formed of an adhesive or the like may be provided on the surface of the bead spacer.
Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the movement of the bead spacers in the liquid crystal layer 14, the bead spacers are dispersed in advance in the resin for forming the alignment layer so that the bead spacers are arranged together with the formation of the alignment layer, or the liquid crystal layer is configured. It is also possible to disperse the bead spacers in advance in the liquid crystal material so that the bead spacers are arranged together with the formation of the liquid crystal layer. In addition, the bead spacer may be arranged in one of the first laminated body and the second laminated body as in the above-described photoresist spacer, and is arranged in each laminated body. You may be made to do.

[Liquid crystal layer]
Various liquid crystal materials applicable to this type of light control film can be widely applied to the liquid crystal layer 14. Specifically, a nematic liquid crystal compound, a smectic liquid crystal compound, and a cholesteric liquid crystal compound can be applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 as a liquid crystal compound having no polymerizable functional group.
Examples of nematic liquid crystal compounds include biphenyl compounds, terphenyl compounds, phenylcyclohexyl compounds, biphenylcyclohexyl compounds, phenylbicyclohexyl compounds, trifluoro compounds, phenyl benzoate compounds, and cyclohexyl phenylbenzoate compounds. , Phenylbenzoic acid phenyl compounds, bicyclohexyl carboxylic acid phenyl compounds, azomethine compounds, azo compounds, azooxy compounds, stilbene compounds, tolan compounds, ester compounds, bicyclohexyl compounds, phenyl pyrimidine compounds , Biphenylpyrimidine compounds, pyrimidine compounds, and biphenylethyne compounds.
Examples of smectic liquid crystal compounds include ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal compounds such as polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polychloroacrylate, polyoxirane, polysiloxane, and polyester.
Examples of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound include cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl oleate, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and polypeptides.
Moreover, as a commercial item, liquid crystal materials, such as Merck MLC2166, can be applied, for example. In the case of the guest-host method, the liquid crystal layer 14 is mixed with a liquid crystal material and a dye for dimming, but a mixture of a liquid crystal material and a dye proposed for the guest-host method can be widely applied. it can. In the liquid crystal cell 15, a sealing material 25 is disposed so as to surround the liquid crystal layer 14, and leakage of liquid crystal is prevented by the sealing material 25. Here, for example, an epoxy resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, or the like can be applied to the sealing material 25.

[Manufacturing process]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the light control film 10. In the second stacked body manufacturing step SP2, the second stacked body 13 of the liquid crystal cell 15 is manufactured. In the second laminate manufacturing process SP2, in the electrode manufacturing process SP2-1, the second electrode 22B made of ITO is manufactured on the base material 21B by sputtering or the like. In the subsequent spacer manufacturing step SP2-2, after applying the coating liquid (photoresist) according to the spacer 24, the spacer 24 is manufactured by drying, exposing and developing. Subsequently, in the alignment layer manufacturing step SP2-3, after applying and drying the coating liquid related to the alignment layer 23B, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is set by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, whereby the alignment layer 23B is manufactured. . Thus, in this embodiment, the second laminate 13 is manufactured.

  In the manufacturing process of the light control film 10, the first laminated body 12 is produced in the subsequent first laminated body producing process SP3 in the same manner as the second laminated body producing process SP2. That is, in the first laminate manufacturing process SP3, the first electrode 22A made of ITO is manufactured on the base material 21A by sputtering or the like, the coating liquid related to the alignment layer 23A is applied and dried, and then the liquid crystal molecular alignment is performed by ultraviolet irradiation. The orientation layer 23A is manufactured by setting the direction, and the first stacked body 12 is manufactured by these.

  In this manufacturing process, in the subsequent liquid crystal cell manufacturing process SP4, after applying the sealing material 25 in a frame shape using a dispenser, a liquid crystal material is disposed in the frame-shaped portion, and the first laminate 12 The laminated body 13 is laminated and pressed, and the sealing material 25 is cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or the like, whereby the liquid crystal cell 15 is manufactured. In the arrangement of the liquid crystal material, the first laminated body 12 and the second laminated body 13 are laminated first, and the first laminated body 12 and the second laminated body 13 are laminated in the gap formed. It may be arranged.

  The light control film 10 is formed by being laminated with the linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 in the subsequent lamination step SP5. The liquid crystal cell 15 is provided in the form of a long film in which the base materials 21A and 21B are wound on a roll, and all of these processes SP2 to SP5 or a part of these processes SP2 to SP5 are based on the roll. It is executed while the materials 21A and 21B are pulled out and conveyed. As a result, each step of the liquid crystal cell 15 is executed by a process one by one from an intermediate step as necessary.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225 provided in the first electrode 22A. The first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B are not limited to this, but are rectangular in this embodiment.
The first electrode 22A has a plurality of power feeding units 221, 222, and 223 that extend over the entire length in the short direction indicated by y in the drawing and are arranged in parallel with each other at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction indicated by x in the drawing. , 224, 225 are provided. That is, the first electrode 22A is divided into a plurality of regions by the power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225.

First row 221, second feed portion 222, third feed portion 223, fourth feed portion 224, fifth feed portion 225 and five rows from one end side to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of first electrode 22A Is provided. However, the number of power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225 is not limited to this, and may be more or less than five.
These power feeding portions 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225 are made of a conductive metal, and are manufactured by applying a silver paste having a width of about 10 μm, for example.
In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates the form in which the electric power feeding part 221,222,223,224,225 extended in a transversal direction is provided, it is not limited to this, Even if the electric power feeding part extended in a longitudinal direction is provided Good.

The first power feeding unit 221 is connected to the power source 201, the second power feeding unit 222 is connected to the power source 202, the third power feeding unit 223 is connected to the power source 203, the fourth power feeding unit 224 is connected to the power source 204, and the fifth The power feeding unit 225 is connected to the power source 205.
The first potential V1, the second potential V2, the third potential V3, the fourth potential V4, and the fifth potential V5, which are the potentials (voltages) of the power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225, respectively. Can be controlled independently by adjusting the outputs of the power supplies 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 connected to the. On the other hand, the second electrode 22 is grounded at one end.
In the present embodiment, the power sources 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205 are AC power sources, but are not limited thereto, and may be DC power sources.

FIG. 4 is a graph with the x direction (longitudinal direction) shown in FIG. 3 as the horizontal axis and the potential V of the first electrode 22A as the vertical axis, and is an example of the potential gradient of the first electrode 22A.
The potential V (A) of the first electrode 22A is continuously changed from the potential V1 to V2 from the first power supply unit 221 at one end toward the second power supply unit 222 adjacent to the first power supply unit 221 in the x-plus direction. Change. The potential continuously changes from the potential V2 to V3 from the second power feeding unit 222 toward the third power feeding unit 223 adjacent to the second power feeding unit 222 in the x-plus direction. The potential V3 continuously changes from V3 toward V4 from the third power feeding unit 223 toward the fourth power feeding unit 224 adjacent to the third power feeding unit 223 in the x-plus direction. The potential V4 continuously changes from V4 to V5 from the fourth power supply unit 224 toward the fifth power supply unit 225 adjacent to the fourth power supply unit 224 in the x-plus direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the potential difference V (A−B) between the first electrode 22A and the second electrode 22B and the transmittance T. In the present embodiment, since the second electrode 22B is grounded, the potential V (B) of the second electrode is zero, and the potential V (A) of the first electrode 22A is the first electrode 22A and the second electrode. It becomes a potential V (AB) with 22B.
Since this embodiment is normally black, as shown in the figure, the transmittance T decreases as the potential V (A) decreases, and the transmittance T increases as the potential V (A) increases.

  FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the transmittance T and the distance x when the potentials V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5 shown in FIG. 4 are given to the power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225, respectively. It is a graph. As illustrated, according to the present embodiment, the transmittance T can be gradually changed in the plane of the light control film 10.

Here, when the potentials V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5 are applied, as shown in FIG. 4, the change from the potential V1 to V3 is linear with respect to the distance x in the first electrode 22A. Since the relationship between the transmittance T and the potential V is not linear as shown in FIG. 5, the relationship between the transmittance T and the distance x is not linear as shown in FIG.
For example, when a linear relationship is desired between the transmittance T and the distance x, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, by reducing the value of V2 as appropriate, the transmittance T and the distance as shown by a dotted line in FIG. The relationship with x can also be approximated linearly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the potentials of the first potential V1, the second potential V2, the third potential V3, the fourth potential V4, and the fifth potential V5 are adjusted by the power sources 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205. Thus, the transmittance T in the x direction of the liquid crystal layer 14 can be arbitrarily changed.
Moreover, the contrast of the light and darkness of the light control film 10 (liquid crystal layer 14) can also be changed by changing the inclination of V (A). In other words, the transmittance T can be arbitrarily changed in the plane of the light control film 10 to change the brightness.

  In addition, when the 2nd electric power feeding part 222B is earth | grounded like this embodiment, the electric potential gradient of the 1st electrode 22A exists, but there is no electric potential gradient of the 2nd electrode 22B. When such a connection method is used, there is a possibility that a gradation is not added when viewed from an oblique direction. However, even in this case, when viewed from the front direction, gradation can be applied within the surface.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the first electrode 22A is divided into a plurality of regions by the plurality of power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225. For this reason, the area of the region boosted by one power feeding unit is smaller than that of the entire light control film 10.
On the other hand, for example, if there is only one power feeding portion in the light control film, the area of the region boosted by the potential supplied from one power feeding portion increases. If it does so, the distance to the location farthest from the electric power feeding part will become large, and when driving with an alternating current power supply, a time constant will become large. When the frequency of the supplied power is a certain value or more, the transmittance varies greatly during one cycle, and flicker is easily recognized.
However, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of power feeding units 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225 are provided, and the first electrode 22A is divided into a plurality of regions. Therefore, the area of each region is small, and flickering due to an increase in time constant can be prevented.

  Moreover, since the width | variety of the electric power feeding parts 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225 of this embodiment is as thin as about 10 μm, it is difficult to be recognized when the light control film 10 is observed.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a power feeding unit provided in the first electrode 22A of the second embodiment.
The light control film 10 of 2nd Embodiment is the form which improved the shape of the 1st electric power feeding part 221, the 2nd electric power feeding part 222, the 3rd electric power feeding part 223, the 4th electric power feeding part 224, and the 5th electric power feeding part 225, These Except for the shapes of the first feeding unit 221, the second feeding unit 222, the third feeding unit 223, the fourth feeding unit 224, and the fifth feeding unit 225, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the portions that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  The 1st electric power feeding part 221 of 2nd Embodiment is equipped with the electric power feeding position 221a in the end (end part by the side of + y in FIG. 7). A wiring from the power source 201 is connected to the power supply position 221a, and power is supplied from the power supply position 221a. In addition, the first power feeding unit 221 extends while the width is widened to the far end 221b far from the power feeding position 221a. Specifically, the first power supply unit 221 is configured in a trapezoidal shape with the power supply position 221a side as the upper bottom side and the far end 221b as the lower bottom side in plan view. By configuring the first power supply unit 221 in this way, the cross-sectional area of the cross section cut along the plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the first power supply unit 221 gradually increases as the distance from the power supply position 221a increases. ing. Thereby, it is possible to mitigate a voltage drop that occurs in proportion to the distance from the feeding position 221a.

  Here, the light control film 10 of this embodiment is used for a window of a building or a vehicle, and is very large such that one side is 1 m or more. Therefore, the transmittance unevenness in the extending direction of the first power feeding unit 221 occurs due to the influence of the voltage drop that occurs according to the distance from the power feeding position 221a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shape of the first power feeding portion 221 is a shape that extends while the width is widened to the far end portion 221b far from the power feeding position 221a. Thereby, even if it is the large sized light control film 10, the transmittance | permeability nonuniformity resulting from a voltage drop can be suppressed.

  The first power supply unit 221 may be formed in a shape that has a width of about 10 μm at the power supply position 221a, and thereafter increases about twice as much as 1 m away from the power supply position 221a. In other words, it is desirable that the width of the power feeding unit be increased at a rate of approximately twice or twice or more per 1 m. In the above description, the trapezoidal shape is used. However, the outline corresponding to the hypotenuse of the trapezoidal shape does not have to be a straight line, and may be configured by a curve.

  The second power feeding unit 222, the third power feeding unit 223, the fourth power feeding unit 224, and the fifth power feeding unit 225 are configured in the same manner as the first power feeding unit 221. In other words, the second power feeding unit 222 extends while the width is widened to the far end 222b far from the power feeding position 222a. The third power feeding unit 223 extends while increasing in width to the far end 223b far from the power feeding position 223a. The fourth power feeding unit 224 extends while the width is widened to the far end 224b far from the power feeding position 224a. The fifth power supply unit 225 extends while its width increases to the far end 225b far from the power supply position 225a. The operations and effects of the second power supply unit 222, the third power supply unit 223, the fourth power supply unit 224, and the fifth power supply unit 225 are the same as those of the first power supply unit 221, and a detailed description thereof will be repeated. Is omitted.

  According to the second embodiment, since the voltage drop caused by the length of the power feeding unit can be reduced, unintended transmittance unevenness can be prevented.

(Deformation)
(1) Although the VA liquid crystal light control film has been described as an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be another system capable of adjusting the light control amount by a potential difference.
For example, a TN system (twisted nematic) may be used as a liquid crystal light control film other than the VA system. In the TN system, when the voltage is not applied to the light control film, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned horizontally, and the light is allowed to pass through and the screen becomes “white”. When voltage is applied gradually, the liquid crystal molecules rise vertically and block the light and the screen becomes black.

Moreover, as a device using other than liquid crystal, for example, a device whose brightness (transmittance) changes according to a potential difference between electrodes, such as an EC method, SPD method, PDLC method light control film, or the like may be used.
A light control film using an EC system (Electrochromic) has a structure in which a light control layer (electrolyte layer) is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Depending on the potential difference between the electrodes, the color of the light control layer changes between transparent and dark blue using an oxidation-reduction reaction.
The light control film using the SPD method (Suspended Particle Device) is normally colored in dark blue using the orientation of fine particles, but changes to transparent when a voltage is applied, and changes to the original dark blue when the voltage is turned off. It is a return, and the shade can be adjusted by the voltage.
A light control film using a PDLC method (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) is a liquid crystal layer in which a network structure of a special polymer is formed, and the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules is irregular due to the action of the polymer network. Induces and scatters light. When a voltage is applied to align the liquid crystal molecules in the electric field direction, the light is not scattered and becomes transparent.

(2) In each embodiment, normally black having low transmittance when no voltage is applied has been described. However, depending on the type of liquid crystal, normally white may be used. As described above, normally black is a structure in which the transmittance is minimized and a black screen is obtained when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal. Normally white is a structure in which the transmittance is maximized and transparent when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal.

(3) In each embodiment, the power feeding unit is provided in parallel with the entire length of one side (short side) of the electrode. However, the power supply may be supplied not in the full length of one side but in a shorter length or in a dot shape. For example, when it is performed from one point, the equipotential line has an annual ring shape. Moreover, each electric power feeding part does not need to be mutually parallel, and can be variously changed according to the design of a liquid crystal film.

(4) In each embodiment, although the case where the 2nd electric power feeding part 222B was earth | grounded was demonstrated, it is not limited to this, You may attach a potential gradient in the 2nd electrode 22B.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the liquid crystal cell is sandwiched between the linear polarizing plates to form the light control film has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid crystal layer made of guest-host type liquid crystal is used. Thus, the present invention can be widely applied to the case where the light control film is configured by omitting the linear polarizing plate.

(6) In each embodiment, an example in which one power source is connected to one power feeding unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as a form of connection from a single power source to a plurality of power feeding units, a variable resistor that can be independently controlled may be disposed between the power source and each of the power feeding units.

(7) In FIG. 6, the example in which the voltage to be applied to each power feeding unit is set so that there is a point Q where the potential difference becomes zero has been described. For example, the voltage applied to each power feeding unit may be set so that there is no point where the potential difference becomes zero.

(8) In the second embodiment, the example in which the power feeding position is provided at the end of each power feeding unit (the end in the y direction in the figure) has been described. For example, the power feeding position may be provided near the center of the power feeding unit (in the drawing, near the center in the y direction). In this case, the width of the power feeding unit may be configured to increase from the power feeding position provided at the center in the y direction toward the end in the y direction along the extending direction of the power feeding unit.

(9) In the second embodiment, each power supply unit has been described with an example in which the thickness does not change and the width increases as the distance from the power supply position increases. For example, the shape may be configured such that the thickness increases as the distance from the power feeding position increases and the width does not change much.

  As mentioned above, although the specific structure suitable for implementation of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can be variously changed in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light control film 12 1st laminated body 13 2nd laminated body 14 Liquid crystal layer 15 Liquid crystal cell 16, 17 Linearly polarizing plate 18, 19 Phase difference film 21A, 21B Base material 22A 1st electrode 22B 2nd electrode 23A, 23B Alignment layer 24 Spacer 25 Sealing material 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 Power supply 221 First power supply unit 222 Second power supply unit 223 Third power supply unit 224 Fourth power supply unit 225 Fifth power supply unit 221a, 222a, 223a, 224a, 225a Position 221b, 222b, 223b, 224b, 225b Far end

Claims (9)

A transparent first electrode;
A transparent second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode;
A plurality of power feeding units disposed on the first electrode;
A light-modulating material that is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes transmittance according to a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode;
A light control film comprising: The second electrode is grounded;
The light control film of Claim 1. The plurality of power feeding units extend parallel to each other on the surface of the first electrode.
The light control film of Claim 1 or 2. A transparent first electrode;
A transparent second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode;
A plurality of power feeding units disposed on the first electrode;
A power supply capable of supplying independent potentials to the plurality of power supply units;
Driving a light control film comprising: a light control material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and changing a transmittance according to a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the method
By supplying a potential independently to each of the plurality of power supply units, a potential gradient is generated between the power supply units adjacent to each other in the first electrode,
Corresponding to the potential gradient, partially changing the transmittance of the dimming material between the first electrode and the second electrode,
Driving method of light control film. A transparent first electrode;
A transparent second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode;
A light-modulating material that is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and changes transmittance according to a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode;
A plurality of power feeding portions arranged on the first electrode, having a power feeding position for receiving power feeding, and extending while extending to a far end portion away from the power feeding position;
A light control film comprising: The second electrode is grounded;
The light control film of Claim 5. The light control film according to claim 5 or 6,
A power supply capable of supplying independent potentials to the plurality of power supply units;
Dimming device with A transparent member;
The light control film of Claim 5 or Claim 6 arrange | positioned at the said transparent member,
A light control member comprising:   A vehicle provided with the light control film of Claim 5 or Claim 6 arrange | positioned in the site | part which external light injects.

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