Abstract:
A smart flexile smart curtain film is disclosed, a light transparency for the smart curtain film can be adjusted according to a voltage applied thereon. One of the embodiment shows that the smart curtain film is designed normal dark, and the transparency is related to the voltage applied. The greater voltage is applied the more transparent the smart curtain film displays. The smart curtain film is adaptive to be attached onto a surface of a window glass to form a smart window glass. During daytime, a person can adjust the transparency of the smart curtain to block some light beams from entering the room; and vice versa, during nighttime, a person can adjust the transparency of the smart curtain to block some light beams from exiting the room to keep one&#39;s privacy.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a smart curtain film. Especially relates to a smart curtain film of which the transparency can be adjusted. 
         [0003]    Description of Related Art 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1A ˜ 1 B Show a Prior Art. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  shows a traditional window which has a window glass  10  fitted within a frame  11 . 
         [0006]      FIG. 1B  shows a traditional curtain made of clothes  12  configured in front of the window glass  10  for adjusting an amount of light beams entering the room. The traditional window glass  10  has a fixed transparency and can not be adjusted. The outside light beams pass through the traditional window glass  10  and enter the room without any change. A traditional curtain  12  made of clothes can be configured to control an amount of the light beams passing through; however the traditional curtain  12  is not easy to maintain. 
         [0007]    It is desirable for a long time to develop a smart electronic window glass whereby the brightness of the window glass can be easily controlled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A ˜ 1 B show a prior art. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A ˜ 2 D show light transparency adjusting according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A ˜ 3 B show a roll of the smart curtain film according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A ˜ 4 B show a first embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a first structure for the cell wall according to line AA′ of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a second structure for the cell wall according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7A ˜ 8 B show a structure for the top substrate according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9A ˜ 9 C show a second embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 10 ˜ 13 C show an application for the second embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 14A ˜ 14 C show a modification embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 15A ˜ 15 B show a second roll of the smart curtain film according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    A smart window glass is disclosed whereby the brightness of the window glass can be adjusted according to a person&#39;s desire. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A ˜ 2 D show light transparency adjusting according to the present invention. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2A  shows that a smart curtain film  20  is pasted on a top surface of a window glass  10  to form a smart window glass, see  FIG. 2D , a section view of  FIG. 2A . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  shows a normal black (or normal dark) for the smart window glass according to the present invention. The smart window glass shows a normal dark when no voltage (V 0 ) is applied on two electrodes of the smart curtain film  20 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2B  shows a first transparency displayed for the smart window glass according to the present invention.  FIG. 2B  shows a brighter screen is displayed for the smart window glass when a first voltage (V 1 ) higher than zero voltage (V 0 ) is applied on two electrodes of the smart curtain film  20 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2C  shows a second transparency displayed for the smart window glass according to the present invention.  FIG. 2B  shows an even brighter screen is displayed for the smart window glass when a second voltage (V 2 ) higher than the first voltage (V 1 ) is applied on two electrodes of the smart curtain film  20 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2D  shows a section view of  FIG. 2A ˜ 2 C. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2D  shows a piece of smart curtain film  20  is pasted on a top surface of a window glass  10  to make the window glass  10  smart. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3A ˜ 3 B show a roll of the smart curtain film according to the present invention. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  shows a roll of the smart curtain film  20  is prepared and can be cut off randomly according to any patterns like a heart, a flower, a figure . . . etc. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3B  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the smart curtain film  20 . The smart curtain film  20  comprises a flexible top substrate  21 , a common top electrode  22  configured on a bottom surface of the flexible top substrate  21 , and a top sealing layer  251  configured on a bottom surface of the top electrode  22 . A plurality of independent cells  25  is configured on a bottom side of the top sealing layer  251 ; a bottom sealing layer  251 B configured on a bottom of the cells  25 . A common bottom electrode  22 B is configured on a bottom of the bottom sealing layer  251 B; and a flexible bottom substrate  21 B is configured on a bottom of the common bottom electrode  22 B. 
         [0030]    Each of the cells  25  is formed by cell wall, top sealing layer  251  and bottom sealing layer  251 B. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A ˜ 4 B show a first embodiment according to the present invention. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  shows a piece of the smart curtain film  20  cut to prepare a first embodiment of the smart curtain film  201  of  FIG. 4B . A liquid crystal recipe  255  comprising Cholesteric liquid crystal, Chiral dopant, and Monomer, is filled in each cell. 
         [0033]    The cholesteric liquid crystal can be one of Nematic liquid crystal, for example E48 from Merk Co. The chiral dopant can be CB 15 from Merk Co., and the monomer can be one of BAB-6, 4-bis[6-(acryloyloxy)hexyloxy]biphenyl. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4B  shows a first embodiment of the smart curtain film  201 . A portion of the common top electrode  22  is exposed and faces downwards as a top electrode contact  22 K for electrically coupled to a control system; the top electrode contact  22 K is exposed by a removal of the top sealing layer  251 , the cells  25 , the bottom sealing layer  251 B, the bottom electrode  22 B, and the bottom substrate  21 B under the exposed top electrode contact  22 K. 
         [0035]    A portion of the common bottom electrode  22 B is exposed in a left side and faces upwards as a bottom electrode contact  22 BK for electrically couple to a control system; the bottom electrode contact  22 BK is exposed by a removal of the bottom sealing layer  251 B, the cells  25 , the top sealing layer  251 , the top electrode  22 , and the top substrate  21  above the exposed bottom electrode contact  22 BK. 
         [0036]    The smart curtain film  201  of  FIG. 4B  displays a normal dark based on the recipe  255  filled in the cells  25  according to the present invention if no voltage is applied on the product. A light transparency from dark to white of the smart curtain film  201  is positively related to an amount of the voltage applied on the two electrodes  22 ,  22 B of the smart curtain film  201 . The recipe  255  comprises a weight percentage more than 95% of the Cholesteric liquid crystal, with chiral dopant, and weight percentage less than 5% of a monomer. 
         [0037]    The electrodes  22 ,  22 B is made of a material either Indian-Tin-Oxide (ITO) or silver paste, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) which also abbreviated as PEDOT, or other conductive paste material. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows a first structure for the cell wall according to the present invention. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows a section view according to line AA′ of  FIG. 4B . Each of the cells  25  is formed by a square wall in a top view as an example. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows a second structure for the cell wall according to the present invention. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5  but with different cell wall for the cell  25 .  FIG. 6  shows that each of the cells  25  is formed by a polygon wall in a top view as an example. Additional polygon wall such as triangle, pentagon, hexagon . . . etc., can also be designed for the cells  25 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 7A ˜ 8 B show a structure for the top substrate according to the present invention. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7A  shows a plurality of openings  211  formed on the top substrate  21 . Each of the openings  211  passes through the top substrate  21 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7B  shows a section view of  FIG. 7A  where a plurality of openings  211  configured passing through the top substrate  21 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 8A  shows that a silver paste  215  fills in the each opening  211 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 8B  shows a section view of  FIG. 8A  where the silver paste  215  fills in the through openings  211  and extending to cover a bottom surface of the top substrate  21 . The silver paste  215  functions as a common top electrode. The silver paste  215  within the opening  211  functions as an electrode contact. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 9A ˜ 9 C show a second embodiment according to the present invention. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9A  is the same as  FIG. 8B , a top view of  FIG. 9B . 
         [0049]      FIG. 9B  is the second embodiment for the smart curtain film  202  according to the present invention.  FIG. 9B  shows the silver paste  215 ,  215 B electrically coupled to a control system for controlling the transparency of the smart curtain film  202 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 9C  is a bottom view of  FIG. 9B .  FIG. 9C  shows a bottom view of the bottom substrate  21 B which is similar with the top substrate  21 . A plurality of openings  211 B formed passing through the bottom substrate  21 B. Silver paste  215 B fills in each of the openings  211 B. The silver paste  215 B extends to cover a top surface of the bottom substrate  21 B ( FIG. 9B ). The silver paste  215 B within the opening  211 B functions as a bottom electrode contact for electrically coupling to a control system. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 10 ˜ 13 C show an application for the second embodiment according to the present invention. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of a piece of the smart curtain film  202  which shows a top substrate  21  with a plurality of openings  211  passing through, and silver paste  215  filled in the openings  211 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  shows a random cut can be performed. A heart pattern  26  is taken as an example ready to cut. The heart pattern  26  is prepared to cut off from the smart curtain film  202  with an area comprising at least one of the silver paste  215 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 12  shows the heart pattern  26  cut off from the smart curtain film  202  with the area comprising at least one of the silver paste  215 . The exposed top silver paste  215  functions as a top electrode contact. An exposed bottom silver paste (not shown) functions as a bottom electrode contact. The top electrode contact and the bottom electrode contact are then electrically coupled to a control system. The transparency of the heart pattern is adjusted by the voltage applied. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 13A ˜ 13 C show an application of the heart 
         [0056]      FIGS. 13A ˜ 13 C show that a piece of the heart pattern  26  is pasted onto a surface of a window glass  10 . In a sunny daytime, the window glass  10  can be used as a back light. The heart pattern  26  is made of the smart curtain film  202  which is normal dark as shown in  FIG. 13A . A first transparency of  FIG. 13B , lighter than  FIG. 13A , is displayed when a first voltage is applied on the heart pattern  26 . A second transparency of  FIG. 13C , lighter than  FIG. 13B , is displayed when a second voltage larger than the first voltage is applied on the heart pattern  26 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 14A ˜ 14 C show a modification embodiment according to the present invention. 
         [0058]    In order to prevent the hazardous from UV and/or IR light beams, a layer of UV-resistant film or IR-resistant film can be configured on a top surface of the top substrate or on a bottom surface of the bottom substrate. 
         [0059]      FIG. 14A  shows a layer of UV-resistant film or IR-resistant film  27  configured on a top surface of the top substrate  21 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 14B  shows a section view of the modified embodiment. A layer of UV-resistant film or IR-resistant film  27  is configured on a top surface of the top substrate  21 . Similarly, a layer of UV-resistant film or IR-resistant film  27 B is configured on a bottom surface of the bottom substrate  21 B. 
         [0061]      FIG. 14C  shows a bottom view of  FIG. 14C .  FIG. 14C  shows a layer of UV-resistant film or IR-resistant film  27 B configured on a bottom surface of the bottom substrate  21 . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 15A ˜ 15 B show a second roll of the smart curtain film according to the present invention. 
         [0063]      FIG. 15A  shows a second roll of the smart curtain film  30  is prepared and can be cut off randomly according to any patterns like a heart, a flower, a figure . . . etc. 
         [0064]      FIG. 15B  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the smart curtain film  30 . The smart curtain film  30  is similar to the smart curtain film  20  only different in alignment layer.  FIG. 15B  shows a common top electrode  22  configured on a bottom surface of the flexible top substrate  21 , and a top sealing alignment layer  351 , such as polyimide, configured on a bottom surface of the top electrode  22 . A plurality of independent cells  25  is configured on a bottom side of the top sealing alignment layer  351 ; a bottom sealing alignment layer  351 B configured on a bottom of the cells  25 . A common bottom electrode  22 B is configured on a bottom of the bottom sealing alignment layer  351 B; and a flexible bottom substrate  21 B is configured on a bottom of the common bottom electrode  22 B. 
         [0065]    Each of the cells  25  is formed by cell wall, top sealing alignment layer  351 , and bottom sealing alignment layer  351 B. 
         [0066]    The smart curtain film  30  of  FIG. 15B  displays a normal white based on the recipe  355  filled in the cells  25  according to the present invention if no voltage is applied on the product. A light transparency from white to dark of the smart curtain film  30  is positively related to an amount of the voltage applied on the two electrodes  22 ,  22 B of the smart curtain film  30 . The recipe  355  comprises a weight percentage more than 90% and less than 95% of the Cholesteric liquid crystal, with chiral dopant, and weight percentage less than 10% and larger than 5% of a monomer. 
         [0067]    The cholesteric liquid crystal can be one of Nematic liquid crystal, for example E48 from Merk Co. The chiral dopant can be R1011 from Merk Co., and the monomer can be one of BAB-6, 4-bis[6-(acryloyloxy)hexyloxy]biphenyl. 
         [0068]    While several embodiments have been described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be configured without departs from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.