Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Patent
1994-10-26
1997-03-25
Cain, Edward J.
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
359289, 349169, 349182, H04N 117
Patent
active
056150407
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a laminated body, its production and its use, which becomes cloudy and blocks light due to the action of heat resulting from absorption of light when irradiated with light. The present invention can be realized in buildings, automobiles and so forth having windows in which only the surface that is directly irradiated with light selectively blocks light. In addition, it can also be used in partitions, doors and so forth equipped with electronic curtains by combining it with a heating element.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, light regulating glass that reversibly controls light by physicochemical means using compound glass incorporating functional materials has been proposed as an alternative to mechanical methods. Examples of such glass include liquid crystal, electrochromic, fine particle polarized orientation, photochromic and thermochromic types. In addition, heat absorbing glass and heat reflecting glass and so forth have come to be used in windows to prevent the entry of solar energy into living space. However, although heat absorbing glass and heat reflecting glass certainly prevent the entry of solar energy into living space, this glass leaves residual coloring and surface glare, thus having the disadvantage of losing the inherent advantages of glass in terms of being colorless and transparent. Moreover, in terms of energy conservation as well, control of visible light, which has roughly half of the energy of sunlight, is inadequate. Furthermore, as is described in detail in the research report of the 1991 Survey of Countermeasures of the New Glass Industry of the New Glass Forum (Measures for Preventing Global Warming), the use of light regulating glass is related to energy conservation policies, and there are strong expectations with respect to its future development.
The inventors of the present invention therefore focused their attention on solar energy irradiated onto windows. A comfortable living space could be obtained if window glass would cause a reversible change between transparency and opacity by automatically responding to the presence or absence of this energy. This self-responding quality is extremely appealing not only in terms of the characteristic of blocking out light from only the irradiated surface and its effect on energy conservation, but also with respect to installation, maintenance and upkeep costs. Although photochromic and thermochromic types could also be selected from this viewpoint, in contrast to the mechanism of action of photochromic types being complex and dependent on wavelength, thermochromic types are superior since they are dependent on thermal action only, thereby enabling temperature to be easily adjusted artificially as necessary. Furthermore, it should be noted that the wavelengths of solar energy that reaches the earth are within the range of 290-2140 nm, light within the range of visible light to near infrared light at a wavelength of 400-1100 nm accounts for roughly 80% of that energy, and the region of visible light is larger than that of near infrared light. This indicates that controlling sunlight in the region of visible light is important not only for screening the eyes, but also in terms of energy conservation and glare shielding effects. Furthermore, the present invention attempts to utilize the fact that, When an object is irradiated by light, that light is absorbed and converted into heat which causes the temperature of the object to rise due to that heat. In addition, the present invention may also be used by artificially controlling temperature with a heating element.
As indicated in the above-mentioned references and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,132,464 and 4,169,661, the properties of the materials used in thermochromic types of light regulating glass are inadequate, and have yet to be put into practical use. It is therefore necessary to satisfy the following conditions for thermochromic glass to be used on a broad basis. separation.
The inventors of the present invention focused their attention on an
REFERENCES:
patent: 4132464 (1979-01-01), Maeno
patent: 4169661 (1979-10-01), Yamada et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 11 No.4 (E-468), Jan. 7, 1987 & JP-A-61 179535 (Matsushita Electric Ind. Co.).
Database WPI, week 8008, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB, An 80-13702c, Jan. 12, 1980 & JP-A-55 003 953 (Ishii H).
Affinity Co., Ltd.
Cain Edward J.
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