JP2018172037A - vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle in which external light can be sufficiently incident on the entire interior of a vehicle from an opening provided in a roof, and external light incident from the opening can be limited as necessary.
A vehicle includes a light control film disposed in an opening provided in a roof portion, and a drive control unit that changes the transmittance of the light control film. Only the amount of external light passing through the opening 33 is changed, and the area of the opening 33 is 50% or more and 100% or less of the area of the roof part 32.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle having a light control member.

Conventionally, various devices have been proposed for vehicles in which a roof window is provided at an opening of a roof portion to sufficiently take in external light (Patent Documents 1, 2 and the like).
In the configurations disclosed in these, a roof window is formed by arranging a roof window in an opening formed in the roof, and a storage area for storing a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped light shielding member in a position adjacent to the roof window. Is provided. Accordingly, in the configurations disclosed in these, the light shielding member is housed in the housing area and external light is taken in by the roof window, and if necessary, the light shielding member is electrically and manually disposed on the roof window from the roof window. Incident light can be blocked.

It is conceivable that such a light shielding member accommodating portion accommodates the light shielding member by sliding or winding the light shielding member. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the thickness of the storage area to ensure a sufficient interior height in the vehicle, a conventional vehicle mainly employs a method of storing the storage member in the storage area by sliding the storage member.
However, in such a conventional vehicle, since it is necessary to provide an area for housing the light shielding member in the roof portion, the area occupied by the opening portion (roof window) provided in the roof portion is limited and incident on the opening portion. In some cases, it becomes difficult to sufficiently take in the outside light into the entire vehicle interior.

JP 2003-2062 A JP 2007-131208 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle capable of sufficiently allowing external light to enter the entire interior of the vehicle from an opening provided in a roof portion and restricting external light incident from the opening as necessary. And

  Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) a light control member disposed in an opening provided in the roof portion;
A drive control unit that changes the transmittance of the light control member,
Only the light control member changes the amount of external light passing through the opening,
The area of the opening is 50% or more and 100% or less of the area of the roof part;
A vehicle characterized by
(2) In (1),
The light control member is
A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first laminate having at least a substrate and a second laminate having at least a substrate;
A transparent electrode provided on at least one of the first laminate and the second laminate,
The drive control unit changes the transmittance of the light control member by controlling a voltage applied to the transparent electrode;
A vehicle characterized by
(3) In (2),
The light control member includes a bead spacer sandwiched between the first laminate and the second laminate and defining a thickness of the liquid crystal layer;
A vehicle characterized by

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while making external light fully enter into the vehicle interior from the opening part provided in the roof part, the external light which injects from an opening part can be restrict | limited as needed.

It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the roof window used for the vehicle of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the vehicle of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the conventional sedan type vehicle. It is a figure explaining the roof part of a vehicle. It is a figure explaining the vehicle of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the conventional minivan type vehicle.

[First Embodiment]
[Roof window]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a roof window used in the vehicle according to the first embodiment.
The roof window 31 is a transparent plate material disposed in an opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 of the vehicle (see FIG. 2), and is composed of laminated glass.
As shown in FIG. 1, the roof window 31 is configured by sandwiching the light control film 10 between the glass sheets 2 and 3 through the intermediate layers 4 and 5, respectively.
Various materials applicable to this type of laminated glass can be widely applied to the plate glasses 2 and 3, and examples thereof include transparent inorganic glass and organic glass.
As the inorganic glass, soda lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, aluminoborosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, alkali-free glass, quartz glass, and the like are used without particular limitation. Of these, soda lime glass is particularly preferred. The method of forming the inorganic glass is not particularly limited, but for example, a float plate glass formed by a float method or the like is preferable.
Examples of the organic glass include polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, aromatic polyester resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyarylate resin, vinyl chloride resin, and acrylic urethane resin. Among these, polycarbonate resin is more preferable. In addition, you may make it the plate glass 2 and 3 contain 2 or more types of above resins.

The intermediate layers 4 and 5 are configured to function as an adhesive layer between the light control film 10 and the plate glasses 2 and 3, and various configurations applied to this type of laminated glass can be widely applied. The intermediate layers 4 and 5 are transparent adhesive layers for joining the respective plate glasses and the light control film 10, and resins such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) are used as organic materials. Things are used. In addition, you may add an ultraviolet absorber, antioxidant, an antistatic agent, a light stabilizer, an adhesion | attachment adjusting agent, etc. to the intermediate | middle layers 4 and 5 suitably. In particular, it is more preferable to add an ultraviolet absorber to the resin for the interlayer film because it can block ultraviolet rays.
Note that the roof window 31 may be provided with a defroster function by arranging a linear heating element in the intermediate layer 4 or 5.

The roof window 31 is provided with the intermediate layers 4 and 5 on the glass plates 2 and 3, laminated with the light control film 10, and then heated and pressurized, whereby the glass plates 2 and 3 and the glass plates 2 and 3 are adjusted via the intermediate layers 4 and 5. The optical film 10 is integrated.
Note that the roof window 31 may be formed into a curved shape during the integration.
Moreover, although the light control film 10 showed the structure clamped by the glass plates 2 and 3 via the intermediate | middle layers 4 and 5 in the above-mentioned description, it is not limited to this, For example, an intermediate | middle layer is 2 A laminated glass sandwiched between a plurality of plate glasses may be used as a roof window, and the light control film 10 may be attached to the roof window.

[Light control film]
The light control film 10 is a film-like member that controls light transmittance using liquid crystal, and is configured by sandwiching a liquid crystal cell 15 between linearly polarizing plates 16 and 17.

[Linear polarizing plate]
The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are not particularly limited as long as they include a polarizer, and may have a polarizing plate protective film on one side or both sides of the polarizer.
For example, a polarizer is formed by immersing a film made of a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in an aqueous solution containing iodine, which is a dichroic dye, to form a complex of polyvinyl alcohol and iodine. And a polarizer made of a polyene oriented by treating a plastic film such as polyvinyl chloride.
In addition, when a dichroic dye is used instead of iodine, an azo dye, a stilbene dye, a methine dye, a cyanine dye, a pyrazolone dye, a triphenylmethane dye is used as the dichroic dye. Quinoline dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, anthraquinone dyes and the like are used.

The above polarizing plate protective film is not particularly limited as long as it can protect the above-mentioned polarizer and has desired transparency. Examples of the material for the polarizing plate protective film include acetyl cellulose resin, cycloolefin resin, polyether sulfone resin, amorphous polyolefin, modified acrylic polymer, polystyrene, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, and polyamide. Resin, polyimide resin, polyester resin, etc., thermosetting resin such as acrylic resin, urethane resin, acrylic urethane resin, epoxy resin, and silicone resin, or ultraviolet curable resin can be used. Among these, it is preferable to use an acetyl cellulose resin, a cycloolefin resin, or an acrylic resin as the above-described resin material. Among these, triacetyl cellulose (TAC) which is an acetyl cellulose resin is particularly preferable.
The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 are arranged in the liquid crystal cell 15 by an adhesive layer made of an acrylic transparent adhesive resin or the like in a crossed Nicol arrangement. 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. However, the retardation films 18 and 19 may be omitted if necessary. . Further, instead of the crossed Nicol arrangement, a parallel Nicol arrangement may be used.

The linear polarizing plates 16 and 17 may be E-type linear polarizing plates formed of a coating film composed of a dichroic organic dye that exhibits optical anisotropy in the vertical direction. Thereby, the total thickness of the light control film 10 can be made thinner.
In this case, each linearly polarizing plate has a liquid crystal layer on the liquid crystal layer 14 side of the base material 21 </ b> A of the upper laminate 12 and the liquid crystal layer 14 side of the base material 21 </ b> B of the lower laminate 13. It is desirable to arrange so as to sandwich 14. As will be described later, the base materials 21A and 21B are desired to have small optical anisotropy, but by arranging the E-type linear polarizing plate as described above, the transmitted light is variously polarized in the base material. However, since it is possible to prevent any influence on the transmitted light of the liquid crystal layer, it is possible to use a highly versatile transparent resin film, such as a PET film, for the base materials 21A and 21B. .

[Liquid crystal cell]
The liquid crystal cell 15 is configured by sandwiching a liquid crystal layer 14 between a film-like lower laminate 13 and an upper laminate 12.

[Lower laminate, upper laminate]
The lower laminate 13 is formed by laminating a transparent electrode 22B, an alignment layer 23B, and a spacer 24 on a base material 21B.
The upper laminate 12 is formed by laminating a transparent electrode 22A, an alignment layer 23A, and a spacer 24 on a base material 21A.

〔Base material〕
Various transparent resin films can be applied to the base materials 21A and 21B, but the optical anisotropy is small, and the transmittance at a visible wavelength (380 to 800 nm) is 80% or more. It is desirable to apply.
Examples of the material for the transparent resin film include acetyl cellulose resins such as triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). Polyolefin resins such as polystyrene, polymethylpentene, EVA, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, polysulfone (PEF), polyethersulfone (PES), polycarbonate ( PC), polysulfone, polyether (PE), polyether ketone (PEK), (meth) acrylonitrile, cycloolefin polymer (COP), cycloolefin copolymer and the like can be mentioned.
In particular, resins such as polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin polymer (COP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are preferable.
In the present embodiment, a polycarbonate film having a thickness of 100 μm is applied to the base materials 21A and 21B, but transparent resin films having various thicknesses can be applied.

[Transparent electrode]
Transparent electrode 22A, 22B is comprised from the transparent conductive film laminated | stacked on the said transparent resin film and a transparent resin film.
As the transparent conductive film, various transparent electrode materials applied to this type of transparent resin film can be applied, and examples thereof include a transparent metal thin film having an oxide-based total light transmittance of 50% or more. . For example, a tin oxide system, an indium oxide system, and a zinc oxide system are mentioned.

Examples of the tin oxide (SnO ₂ ) system include Nesa (tin oxide SnO ₂ ), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide), and fluorine-doped tin oxide.
Examples of indium oxide (In ₂ O ₃ ) include indium oxide, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide).
Examples of the zinc oxide (ZnO) system include zinc oxide, AZO (aluminum doped zinc oxide), and gallium doped zinc oxide.
In the present embodiment, the transparent conductive film is formed of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

〔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. Here, there are mainly two types of spacers 24, spherical spacers (hereinafter referred to as “bead spacers”) and columnar spacers (hereinafter referred to as “photo spacers”).
Here, it is conceivable that the light control film 10 forms a photo spacer using a photolithographic method in which a photopolymer is applied, exposed and developed after an alignment layer is formed on a substrate. In such a case, the alignment layer is damaged by the exposure or development process, which may cause alignment failure. In addition, it is conceivable to apply an alignment layer after first producing the photo spacer on the substrate, but in this case, the alignment layer around the photo spacer cannot be given sufficient alignment regulating force, This is not preferable because it causes alignment failure. Therefore, the light control film manufactured with the photospacer may not be accurately controlled to a desired transmittance due to poor alignment.
On the other hand, the bead spacer is dispersed on the alignment layer after forming the alignment layer, and the contact area with the alignment layer is narrow. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems such as
Therefore, by applying a bead spacer as the spacer 24, the transmittance of the produced light control film 10 can be changed more finely and finely than when a photo spacer is used.
Here, since the light control film 10 of this embodiment is arrange | positioned at the vehicle 30, it is necessary to control to a transmittance | permeability with sufficient precision as needed. Therefore, in this embodiment, a bead spacer is applied to the spacer 24.

Here, as the bead spacer used for the spacer 24, a known bead used for a liquid crystal display device, a color filter or the like can be applied. Specifically, glass, silica, metal oxide (MgO, Al ₂ O ₃ ), etc. for inorganic components, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, unsaturated polyester resins, for organic components, Use core particles obtained by suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and emulsion polymerization of materials such as divinylbenzene copolymer, divinylbenzene-acrylic ester copolymer, diacrylphthalate copolymer, and allyl isocyanurate copolymer. A spherical body, a cylindrical body, a granular body such as a cylindrical body obtained by a polymerization method such as a seed polymerization method, a porous body, a hollow body, or the like can be used.
Further, from the viewpoint of improving the dispersibility and adhesion of beads on the alignment layer, the surface of the bead spacer may be subjected to a surface treatment. The surface coating material is not particularly limited as long as immobilization on the bead surface and the outflow of chemical substances into the liquid crystal material are not a problem. For example, polyethylene, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer Polymers, ethylene / acrylic acid ester copolymers, polymethyl (meth) acrylate polymers, SBS type styrene / butadiene block copolymers, epoxy resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, and the like can be used.
In the above description, the example in which the spacer 24 is provided in both the upper laminate 12 and the lower laminate 13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper laminate 12 and the lower laminate are not limited thereto. 13 may be provided at any one of the numbers.

(Orientation 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, for example, photodecomposition type, photodimerization type, photoisomerization type, and the like. it can.
In this embodiment, a light dimerization type material is used. Examples of the photodimerization type material include cinnamate, coumarin, benzylidenephthalimidine, benzylideneacetophenone, diphenylacetylene, stilbazole, uracil, quinolinone, maleimide, or a polymer having a cinnamilidene acetic acid derivative. Among them, a polymer having one or both of cinnamate and coumarin is preferably used in that the orientation regulating force is good. Specific examples of such a photodimerization type material include compounds described in, for example, JP-A-9-118717, JP-T-10-506420, JP-T2003-505561, and WO2010 / 150748. Can be mentioned.
In addition, it may replace with a photo-alignment layer, an alignment layer may be produced by a rubbing process, and an alignment layer may be produced by shaping a fine line-shaped uneven | corrugated shape.

[Liquid crystal layer]
Various liquid crystal materials applicable to this kind of light control film 10 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. , Phenyl benzoic 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.

In the liquid crystal cell 15, a sealing material 25 is disposed so as to surround the liquid crystal layer 14. The upper laminate 12 and the lower laminate 13 are integrally held by the sealing material 25, and leakage of the liquid crystal material is prevented.
As the sealing material 25, for example, a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, or the like can be applied.

  In the light control film 10, an alternating voltage whose polarity is switched at a predetermined cycle is applied to the transparent electrodes 22 </ b> A and 22 </ b> B, and an electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer 14 by the alternating voltage. In addition, the orientation of liquid crystal molecules provided in the liquid crystal layer 14 is controlled by this electric field, and transmitted light is controlled.

For alignment control of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the light control film 10 of the embodiment, a VA method (Virtual Alignment, vertical alignment type) is applied. In the VA method, an alignment film having an alignment regulating force is provided in the vertical direction on a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 14 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates.
In the VA mode, when no electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 14 are vertically aligned, whereby the light control film 10 blocks incident light and blocks light, and the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 14 is applied by applying this electric field. Are horizontally oriented, and the light control film 10 transmits incident light and enters a transmissive state.
As in the VA method, a light control mode in which a light is blocked when no electric field is applied and a light is transmitted when an electric field is applied is referred to as a normally black mode.

However, instead of the VA method, various drive methods such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) method, an IPS (In Plane Switching) method, and a GH (Guest Host) method may be applied.
Here, the TN system has a configuration in which an alignment film subjected to a rubbing process or the like with a different orientation direction of 90 ° is attached on a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, and the liquid crystal layer 14 is sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates. Due to the alignment regulating force of the alignment film, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the alignment direction of the alignment film, and other liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the liquid crystal molecules, so that the direction of the liquid crystal molecules is aligned 90 degrees. A polarizing plate is disposed outside the upper and lower substrates in parallel with the alignment direction of the alignment film.
In the TN mode, when there is no electric field, light passing through the polarizing plate becomes linearly polarized light and enters the liquid crystal. Since the liquid crystal molecules are oriented by twisting by 90 °, the incident light is twisted by 90 ° and passes therethrough, so that it can pass through the lower polarizing plate. Thereby, the light control film 10 permeate | transmits incident light and will be in a permeation | transmission state.
In addition, the liquid crystal molecules are upright and twisted by the application of the electric field, but the alignment regulating force is stronger on the alignment film surface, so the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules remains along the alignment film. In such a state, since the liquid crystal molecules are isotropic with respect to the light passing therethrough, the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 14 does not rotate. Accordingly, the linearly polarized light that has passed through the upper polarizing plate cannot pass through the lower polarizing plate, and the light control film 10 shields incident light and enters a light shielding state.
A light control mode that is in a transmissive state when there is no electric field and is in a light-shielded state when an electric field is applied, as in the TN method, is referred to as a normally white mode.

  The IPS method is a method of controlling the amount of transmitted light by making electrodes on one base material together and rotating liquid crystal molecules aligned by an electric field by this electrode in a horizontal (horizontal) direction with respect to the substrate. is there.

Further, the GH method is a method using a liquid crystal composition in which a dichroic dye is dissolved as a guest in a nematic liquid crystal as a host. The dichroic dye has a uniaxial light absorption axis and absorbs only light that vibrates in the direction of the light absorption axis. Therefore, the orientation of the dichroic dye is changed in accordance with the movement of the liquid crystal due to the electric field, The transmission state of the liquid crystal cell can be changed by controlling the direction of the light absorption axis.
Liquid crystal compositions used in the GH method are roughly classified into positive types and negative types depending on the difference in the major axis direction of liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied.
A positive nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal whose dielectric constant anisotropy is large in the major axis direction and small in the direction perpendicular to the major axis and has a positive dielectric anisotropy. It is vertical, and the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the optical axis when an electric field is applied.
On the other hand, negative type nematic liquid crystal is a liquid crystal whose dielectric constant anisotropy is small in the major axis direction and large in the direction perpendicular to the major axis and negative in dielectric constant anisotropy. In parallel, the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules is perpendicular to the optical axis when an electric field is applied.
Here, since the dichroic dye molecules are aligned in the same direction as the liquid crystal molecules, when a positive nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, the dichroic dye molecules are in a light shielding state when no electric field is applied, and are in a transmissive state when an electric field is applied (normally). Black mode).
On the other hand, when a negative nematic liquid crystal is used as a host, conversely, it is in a transmissive state when no electric field is applied and is in a light-shielding state when an electric field is applied (normally white mode).
Examples of the dichroic dye used in the GH method include dyes that are soluble in liquid crystals and have high dichroism, and preferably have an order parameter (S value) of 0.7 or more. Dichroic dyes such as phthalocyanine, anthraquinone, quinophthalone, perylene, indigo, thioindigo, merocyanine, styryl, azomethine, and tetrazine.
In addition, when the light control film 10 is manufactured by GH system, a linearly-polarizing plate can be abbreviate | omitted.
The liquid crystal cell 15 may be driven by a so-called multi-domain method by patterning the photo-alignment layer or the like, or may be driven by a single domain.

  In addition, the light control film 10 may be composed of normally black that has the minimum transmittance (light-shielded state) when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 22A and 22B. You may comprise normally white from which a rate becomes the maximum (light transmission state).

  In the above description, the light control film 10 has been illustrated as being made of laminated glass sandwiched between the plate glasses 2 and 3, but is not limited thereto. For example, the light control film 10 is made of plate glass or laminated glass. You may make it stick on the inside of a vehicle.

〔vehicle〕
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the vehicle 30 according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 30 in FIG. 2 is a schematic view viewed from vertically above.
The vehicle 30 of this embodiment is a sedan type four-seat passenger car as shown in FIG. Therefore, the vehicle 30 is provided with seats S1 to S4. The seat S1 is a driver seat, and the passenger M1 of the seat S1 is a driver of the vehicle 30. Seats S2 to S4 are seats on which passengers sit.

In the vehicle 30, an opening 33 is formed in an upper roof portion (ceiling) of the passengers of the seats S <b> 1 to S <b> 4, and a roof window 31 is disposed so as to close the opening 33.
In addition to the roof window 31, the opening 33 of the vehicle 30 is not provided with a light blocking member that blocks external light passing through the opening 33. That is, only the light control film 10 provided on the roof window 31 changes the amount of external light such as sunlight transmitted through the opening 33 of the vehicle 30. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 and the vehicle When viewed from the inside, the roof window 31 is always exposed.
The roof window 31 may be disposed so as not to be opened and closed with respect to the opening 33, or may be disposed so as to be able to be opened and closed with respect to the opening 33 via an opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventional sedan type vehicle.
Here, instead of the light control film, the opening 33 ′ (roof window 31 ′) provided in the roof portion 32 ′ of the conventional sedan type vehicle 30 ′ passes through the opening 33 ′ as necessary. A plate-shaped light shielding member 35 ′ is provided to be openable and closable so as to shield external light. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a storage area for storing the light shielding member 35 ′ in the roof portion 32 ′ of the vehicle 30 ′. Since the light shielding member 35 ′ is formed in substantially the same shape as the opening 33 ′, the opening 33 ′ can be provided only in an area that is half or less of the roof portion 32 ′.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the opening 33 ′ is provided at a position corresponding to the front seat of the roof portion 32 ′, a storage area for the light shielding member 35 ′ is provided at a position corresponding to the rear seat. . Therefore, even if the conventional vehicle 30 ′ is provided with the opening 33 ′, a sufficient amount of external light cannot be incident on the rear seat.

  On the other hand, since the vehicle 30 of this embodiment is provided with the light control film 10 that changes the amount of external light without using the light shielding member, as described above, the roof window 31. Can be provided as wide as possible with respect to the roof portion 32. More specifically, in the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the opening 33 is formed in the roof 32 so that the area of the opening 33 is 50% or more and 100% or less of the area of the roof 32. . In the example shown in FIG. 2, the opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 of the vehicle 30 is provided in an area of about 100% of the area of the roof portion 32.

  By forming the opening 33 in the roof portion 32 of the vehicle 30 as described above, the vehicle 30 according to the present embodiment allows a sufficient amount of external light such as sunlight to enter the interior of the vehicle from the opening 33. it can. Moreover, since the light control film 10 is provided in the roof window 31 arrange | positioned at the opening part 33, the light quantity of the external light which injects from the opening part 33 can be adjusted without providing a light-shielding member.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the roof portion of the vehicle. 4A is a front view seen from the front side (front side) of the vehicle shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is seen from the left side side (passenger seat side) of the vehicle shown in FIG. It is a side view. FIG. 4C is a left side view of another vehicle having a rear door different from the vehicle of FIG.
Here, the roof portion 32 of the vehicle 30 refers to a region that forms the roof of the vehicle 30. As shown in FIG. 4B, the area of the roof portion 32 is sandwiched between a boundary a with the front window of the vehicle 30 and a boundary b with the rear window, as shown in FIG. 4B. When the rear window is disposed on the rear door 36, as shown in FIG. 4C, the rear window is sandwiched between the boundary a with the front window and the boundary b 'with the rear door 36. It is an area. Further, with respect to the vehicle width direction of the region of the roof portion 32, the region sandwiched between the boundaries where the angle changes abruptly with respect to the left and right side surfaces (surfaces with side windows) of the vehicle, that is, FIG. ), A region sandwiched between a boundary c and a boundary d with the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle 30.

Moreover, the area of the roof part 32 means the area calculated | required from the flat surface when the roof part 32 is flat in the front-back direction and a vehicle width direction, and the roof part 32 curves in the front-back direction and / or the vehicle width direction. 4, the area (X × Y) obtained by the product of the dimension Y in the front-rear direction measured along the curved surface and the dimension X in the vehicle width direction.
Similarly, the area of the opening 33 refers to the area obtained from the area of the flat surface when the roof 32 is flat and the opening 33 is also flat in the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. When the roof portion 32 is curved in the front-rear direction and / or the vehicle width direction, the area is measured along the curved surface. Here, when the shape of the opening 33 is a rectangle, it means an area (xx) obtained by the product of the dimension y in the front-rear direction of the opening 33 and the dimension value x in the vehicle width direction. When the opening 33 is a circle, the area is determined by the radius r of the opening and the circumference ratio π (π × r ² ). When the opening 33 is an ellipse, the major radius r1 of the opening 33 is obtained. And the area (π × r1 × r2) determined by the minor radius r2 and the circumference ratio π.
When the roof portion 32 is curved in the front-rear direction and / or the vehicle width direction, each dimension (dimensions x, y, radius r, major radius r1, minor radius r2) of the opening 33 is the curved surface of the roof portion 32. The dimensions measured along are applied.

If the area of the opening 33 is less than 50% of the area of the roof 32, the ratio of the opening 33 to the roof 32 becomes too narrow, and the above-described opening 33 of the conventional vehicle 30 ′ described above. As shown in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 3), it is not desirable because a sufficient amount of outside light cannot be taken into the entire vehicle interior. Note that the area of the opening 33 is more preferably 70% or more of the area of the roof portion 32 from the viewpoint of allowing more outside light to uniformly enter the entire interior of the vehicle.
Further, the area of the opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 is the area of the roof portion 32 from the viewpoint of sufficiently maintaining the strength for holding the roof window 31 and also sufficiently maintaining the strength of the roof portion 32 itself of the vehicle 30. It is preferably 90% or less, and more preferably 80% or less.
When the plurality of openings 33 are provided in the roof 32, the total area of the plurality of openings may satisfy 50% or more and 100% or less with respect to the area of the roof 32.

  The vehicle 30 includes a roof window 31 provided with the above-described light control film 10 and a vehicle light control system 34 having a drive control unit 42 of the light control film 10.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle light control system 34 including the drive control unit 42 of the light control film 10 is an information processing device that executes a control program for the light control film (for example, an electronic control unit (ECU 40) provided in the vehicle 30). ).
Here, the ECU 40 is an input circuit unit for inputting various signals output from various sensors provided in the vehicle, an operation signal output from the operation panel, an arithmetic processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”), and a CPU. Various control programs to be executed, control program for the above-described light control film, storage circuit unit for storing the calculation results, control signals for controlling each part such as a drive source (engine) of the vehicle 30, and control of the light control film 10 An output circuit unit for outputting a control signal and the like.
In addition, the vehicle light control system 34 is not limited to the structure by the said control program, You may make it comprise the drive control part 42 which comprises the vehicle light control system 34 as a processing circuit.

The vehicle light control system 34 is a system for adjusting the amount of incident external light incident on the vehicle from the roof window 31. The vehicle light control system 34 controls the light control film 10 provided on the roof window 31 to control the external light incident on the vehicle. The amount of light can be adjusted.
The drive control unit 42 includes a power supply unit that outputs a drive power supply to the transparent electrode of the light control film 10, and includes an arithmetic processing unit that controls the power supply unit.
More specifically, the drive control part 42 can change the transmittance | permeability of the light control film 10 according to a passenger | crew's operation by the operation panel not shown.
Here, as described above, since the light control film 10 of the present embodiment uses a bead spacer as the spacer 24, the light control film 10 according to the passenger's preference more accurately than when a photo spacer is applied. The transmittance can vary.
An operation panel may be provided in each seat so that any of the passengers can operate the light control film, and one operation panel is provided in the instrument panel on which the instruments are arranged, and the driver's seat and the passenger seat. May be operated by a passenger.

The drive control unit 42 may include a plurality of control modes having different modes of change in the transmittance of the light control film 10, and may change the transmittance according to the selected control mode.
For example, a light-shielding mode in which the light control film 10 has the lowest light-transmitting state, a light-transmitting mode in which the light-transmitting state has the highest transmittance, an individual control mode in which the passenger's desired transmittance is changed, It has an automatic mode that changes the transmittance according to the amount of external light such as sunlight that enters the vehicle, and any control mode can be selected and executed by operating the passenger's operation panel. Good.

The vehicle light control system 34 operates when electric power is supplied from an alternator and a battery mounted on the vehicle 30.
Here, the alternator is a generator connected to the axle of the vehicle 30 or the engine, a rectifier called a rectifier that rectifies the generated AC voltage and converts it into a DC output voltage, and an integrated circuit. And a voltage control device called a voltage regulator that controls the output voltage.
Since the voltage output from the alternator changes according to the rotational speed of the axle of the vehicle 30 or the rotational speed of the engine, the voltage regulator monitors the output voltage and controls the field current of the alternator. The output voltage is adjusted. The voltage regulator supplies power at a voltage at which the electrical components of the vehicle 30 normally operate even under ever-changing driving conditions.
The battery is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lead battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a lithium ion battery. The battery stores the output voltage from the alternator and discharges the stored output voltage to supply power to the vehicle dimming system 34. Supply.
In addition, although the example of supplying electric power from the alternator and the battery mounted on the vehicle 30 is shown as a method for supplying electric power to the vehicle light control system 34, the present invention is not limited to this. Power is supplied from either the alternator or the battery mounted on the vehicle, or a battery for the vehicle light control system 34 is separately provided so that the power is supplied from the battery, or other publicly known The power supply method may be applied.

In addition, the drive control part 42 of the vehicle light control system 34 may drive the light control film 10 with an alternating voltage, and may drive it with a direct current voltage. In this case, a converter may be provided in the power supply unit to the light control film 10, and the power supplied from the battery or the alternator may be converted according to the type of voltage used by the light control film 10.
The light control film 10 of this embodiment is controlling the fluctuation | variation of the transmittance | permeability normally by application of an alternating voltage. However, since light emitted from an external light emitter such as a traffic light may be difficult to see due to the frequency of the AC voltage, in such a case, the drive control unit 42 of the present embodiment. The voltage supplied from the converter can be switched from an AC voltage to a DC voltage, and it is possible to suppress as much as possible that the light irradiated from the light emitter is difficult to see.

As described above, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment has the following effects.
(1) The vehicle 30 of the present embodiment includes the light control film 10 disposed in the opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 and the drive control unit 42 that changes the transmittance of the light control film 10. Only the optical film 10 changes the amount of external light passing through the opening 33, and the area of the opening 33 is 50% or more and 100% or less of the area of the roof part 32. Thereby, the vehicle 30 allows the outside light to be sufficiently incident on the entire interior of the vehicle through the opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 and adjusts the outside light incident from the opening 33 by the light control film 10 as necessary. (Restricted).
Moreover, since the transmittance | permeability of the light which injects into the opening part 33 can be changed with the light control film 10, the brightness in a vehicle can be adjusted more finely compared with the case where a light shielding member is used.

(2) The vehicle 30 of the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal layer 14 in which the light control film 10 is sandwiched between the upper laminate 12 having at least the base material 21A and the lower laminate 13 having at least the base material 21B. Transparent electrode 22A, 22B provided in the upper laminated body 12 and the lower laminated body 13, and the drive control part 42 controls the voltage applied to transparent electrode 22A, 22B, and transmission of the light control film 10 is carried out. Change the rate. Thereby, the light control film 10 provided in the vehicle 30 can be realized more specifically by the configuration using the liquid crystal cell 15, and the amount of external light such as sunlight that enters the vehicle through the opening 33 is adjusted. can do.

(3) In the vehicle 30 of this embodiment, the light control film 10 is sandwiched between the upper laminate 12 and the lower laminate 13 and includes a bead spacer 24 that defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14. As compared with the case where the light is applied, the light control film 10 can be changed to the transmittance according to the passenger's preference with higher accuracy, and the interior space can be made comfortable.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle according to the second embodiment. The vehicle in FIG. 5 is a schematic view as viewed from above.
Note that, in the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are given to portions that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above, and redundant descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment is a minivan type six-seat passenger car. Therefore, the vehicle 30 is provided with seats S1 to S6. The seat S1 is a driver seat, and the passenger M1 of the seat S1 is a driver of the vehicle 30. Seats S2 to S6 are seats on which passengers sit.

In the vehicle 30, an opening 33 is formed in a roof portion (ceiling) that is an upper part of the passengers of the seats S <b> 1 to S <b> 6, and a roof window 31 is disposed so as to close the opening 33.
In addition to the roof window 31, the opening 33 of the vehicle 30 is not provided with a light blocking member that blocks external light passing through the opening 33. That is, only the light control film 10 provided on the roof window 31 changes the amount of external light such as sunlight transmitted through the opening 33 of the vehicle 30. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 and the vehicle When viewed from the inside, the roof window 31 is always exposed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional minivan type vehicle.
Here, the opening 33 ′ (roof window 31 ′) provided in the roof portion 32 ′ of the conventional minivan type vehicle 30 ′ passes through the opening 33 ′ as needed instead of the light control film. A plate-shaped light shielding member 35 ′ is provided to be openable and closable so as to shield external light. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a storage area for storing the light shielding member 35 ′ in the roof portion 32 ′ of the vehicle 30 ′. Since the light shielding member 35 ′ is formed in substantially the same shape as the opening 33 ′, the opening 33 ′ can be provided only in an area that is half or less of the roof portion 32 ′.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the roof portion 32 ′ of the conventional vehicle 30 ′ includes positions corresponding to the first row seats S 1 and S 4 and positions corresponding to the second row seats S 2 and S 5. Each has an opening 33A'33B '.
Between the first row of openings 33A ′ and the second row of openings 33B ′, there is provided a storage region for the light shielding member 35A ′ that shields the first row of openings 33A ′. The opening area of the eye opening 33A ′ is very narrow. In addition, the opening corresponding to the third row seats S3 and S6 is not provided with an opening, and the second row opening 33B ′ provided at the position corresponding to the second row seats S2 and S5. A storage area for the light shielding member 35B ′ is provided.
As described above, the conventional vehicle 30 ′ shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a sufficiently wide opening for the seats S1 and S4 in the first row even if the openings 33A′33B ′ are provided. In addition, since the openings themselves cannot be provided for the three rows of seats, a sufficient amount of outside light cannot be incident on the entire interior of the vehicle.

  On the other hand, since the vehicle 30 of this embodiment is provided with the light control film 10 that changes the amount of external light without using the light shielding member, as described above, the roof window 31. Can be provided as wide as possible with respect to the roof portion 32. More specifically, in the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment, the area of the opening 33 is not less than 50% and not more than 100% of the area of the roof portion 32, similarly to the vehicle 30 of the first embodiment described above. An opening 33 is formed in the roof portion 32. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the opening 33 provided in the roof portion 32 of the vehicle 30 is provided in an area of about 100% of the area of the roof portion 32.

By forming the opening 33 in the roof portion 32 of the vehicle 30 in this way, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment allows a sufficient amount of external light such as sunlight to enter the entire interior of the vehicle from the opening 33. Can do. Moreover, since the light control film 10 is provided in the roof window 31 arrange | positioned at the opening part 33, the light quantity of the external light which injects from the opening part 33 can be adjusted without providing a light-shielding member.
Moreover, since the transmittance | permeability of the light which injects into the opening part 33 can be changed with the light control film 10, the brightness in a vehicle can be adjusted more finely compared with the case where a light shielding member is used.
As described above, the vehicle 30 of the present embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although the specific structure suitable for implementation of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can change the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment variously in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

The light control film 10 may be divided into a plurality of segments.
Specifically, the transparent electrode 22A and / or the transparent electrode 22B of the light control film 10 are divided into a plurality of insulated partial electrodes (regions) that can be individually supplied with driving power, and transmitted independently. You may comprise a light control film by the multi segment provided with the several area | region (segment) which can change a rate. This multi-segment light control film can change the transmittance for each segment.
For example, the light control film 10 provided on the roof window can be divided into a plurality of segments corresponding to each seat, and the transmittance of each segment can be controlled according to the request of the passenger of each seat, Such a control mode can be further added to the drive control unit 42.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the light control film having flexibility is applied as the light control member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may make it apply the light control member which does not have flexibility by making the base material of the above-mentioned light control film 10 into plate-shaped glass.
In this case, this light control member may be applied instead of any one of the glass plates 2 and 3 of the roof window 31. Further, this light control member may be disposed in the opening 33 instead of the roof window 31.

  In addition, a transparent resin plate may be applied to the roof window 31 instead of the plate glasses 2 and 3. Thereby, the weight of the roof window can be reduced, and the weight of the vehicle can be reduced and the center of gravity can be lowered.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 30 is an example of a sedan type or minivan type vehicle. However, the vehicle 30 is not limited to this, but a coupe type, an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) type, a station, or the like. It can be applied to various vehicles such as a wagon type vehicle.

2, 3 Plate glass 4, 5 Intermediate layer 10 Light control film 12 Upper laminated body 13 Lower laminated body 14 Liquid crystal layer 15 Liquid crystal cell 16, 17 Linearly polarizing plate 21A, 21B Base material 22A, 22B Transparent electrode 23A, 23B Alignment layer 24 Spacer 25 Sealing material 30 Vehicle 31 Roof window 32 Roof portion 33 Opening portion 34 Light control system for vehicle 42 Drive control portion S1 to S6 Seat

Claims (3)

A light control member disposed in an opening provided in the roof portion;
A drive control unit that changes the transmittance of the light control member,
Only the light control member changes the amount of external light passing through the opening,
The area of the opening is 50% or more and 100% or less of the area of the roof part;
A vehicle characterized by The light control member is
A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first laminate having at least a substrate and a second laminate having at least a substrate;
A transparent electrode provided on at least one of the first laminate and the second laminate,
The drive control unit changes the transmittance of the light control member by controlling a voltage applied to the transparent electrode;
The vehicle according to claim 1. The light control member includes a bead spacer sandwiched between the first laminate and the second laminate and defining a thickness of the liquid crystal layer;
The vehicle according to claim 2.

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