TECHNICAL FIELD

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, falls within the following field: Antiglare equipment (protection against strong light) associated with windows or windshields, adjustable in transparency, pursuant to the International Patent Classification (IPC), class designation: B60J 3/04 (2012.01).

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, falls within the following field: windows, doors, or similar wing elements for closing of openings; installing fixed or movable closures, e.g. windows; properties of rigid outer frames versus the installation of wing frames featured with an additional device or arrangement for thermal or sound insulation, pursuant to the International Patent Classification (IPC), class designation: E06B 3/67 (2012.01).

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, falls within the following field: arrangements or devices for the control of intensity, colour, phase, polarization or direction of light rays coming from an independent light source, e.g. interruption, commutation or modulation, for controlling the intensity, phase, polarization or colour, pursuant to the International Patent Classification (IPC), class designation: G02F 1/01 (2012.01).

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, resolves the problem of design and application of the compact, monolithic and laminate photochromic panels, which, according to the generally accepted definition, belong to the group of passive protective devices, i.e. protective devices whose protective properties depend solely upon the external factors, in this case upon the factors of natural solar uv radiation and enables the design of compact, layered, monolithic and laminate photochromic panels as the active protective devices, whose protective properties absolutely do not depend on the external factors, but solely on the will or requirements of the panel user who has an option to control and adjust the level of panels’ protective properties.

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, further resolves the problem of installing the protective devices on windows of the structures, vehicles etc. which can regulate the openings’ transparency in a range from relatively maximal transparency to the relatively minimal transparency, i.e. opaqueness, which are being applied to the architectural-civil engineering, transportation and other structures, enabling a sufficient level of various protective properties, that is reliable and long-lasting in exploitation, whereby the procedure of manufacturing, installation, control, maintenance, de-installation and repair may be standardized, thus enabling a potential replacement of the existing windows without the protective devices, or windows with the classical protective devices, with this layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention.

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, further resolves the problem of short shelf life of the passive photochromic materials due to destructive influence of solar uv radiation on the photochromic materials, during application of passive photochromic materials in the architectural-civil engineering, transportation and other structures, in real conditions. The layered variable transparent panel prevents a destructive influence of solar uv radiation on the photochromic layers, given that photochromic layers are not exposed to the solar uv radiation, but are solely exposed to the uv radiation generated by certain electrical sources of uv radiation, enabling an optimal and efficient uv radiation wavelength, with the possibility of adjusting the uv radiation’s intensity and interval, thus extending multiple times the lifecycle of photochromic layers.

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, resolves as well the problem of achieving an efficient, active privacy protection against the curious eyes from the outside in night conditions, given that, at request, it can transmit with its entire surface a homogenous light beam of certain wavelength, whereby achieving an additional feature of functional and decorative lighting of the surrounding area.

The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, resolves as well the problem of achieving an efficient indoor protection from the outside temperature, sound and mechanical influences, as well as the light protection, especially from the sunlight and solar energy.

BACKGROUND ART

In the patent application number P-2010/0271 from June 21, 2010, a technical problem of designing the regulatory variable transparent panel had been resolved. A layered variable transparent panel is based on a compact, monolithic or laminate design, therefore, there are no significant design similarities with the technical solutions, according to the cited invention application number P-2010/0271 from June 21, 2010, which is based on a design of regulatory variable transparent panel in a form of insulating glass.

In the patent application number P-2015/0212 from March 23, 2015, a technical problem of designing the adjustable variable transparent curtain had been resolved. The invention is based on the application of photochromic layers which get activated by the uv radiation produced by the electrical sources of uv radiation. As part of the invention’s design, the optimal and homogenous uv illumination of photochromic layers should be enabled by a transparent optical diffusion plate made of the acrylic polymer material. However, a practical, technical realisation of the invention showed that the optical diffusion plate does not provide an optimal and homogenous uv illumination of photochromic layers due to optical contact of the optical diffusion plate with other parts of the design, that caused a disorder of internal light reflection in the optical diffusion plate itself, and by extension, the inhomogeneity of transmitted uv light beam. Also, over the course of invention’s practical realisation, a problem was perceived in terms of separation of certain design elements, which are connected to the optical diffusion plate, due to thermal expansion of optical diffusion plate which has a coefficient of thermal expansion markedly different compared to the glass plate and other design elements. The layered variable transparent panel is based on a compact monolithic or laminate design, therefore, there are no significant design similarities with the technical solution, according to the cited invention application number P-2015/0212 from May 23, 2015, which is based on a design of regulatory variable transparent panel in a form of insulating glass. The layered variable transparent panel does not manifest the technical deficiencies of technical solution, according to the cited patent application, number P- 2015/0212, from March 23, 2015.

Patent application, number JP 20090 53533 (A) from March 12, 2009, (applicant: MITSUBISHI CHEMICALS CORP) shows a completely impractical technical solution for the variable transparent photochromic curtain, because it uses the solar uv radiation for activating the photochromic layer, whereas dosing of the solar uv radiation is conducted by means of an impractical mechanical-optical assembly. Furthermore, the cited patent application also includes several other variant solutions for a variable transparent photochromic curtain which are both theoretically unfeasible and in a practical sense utterly unacceptable and unviable, given that they imply the use of fluorescent uv lamps which have a short shelf life and pose a danger to human health and the environment because they are not adequately protected mechanics-wise, and are subject to the mechanical damages, while containing very poisonous mercury compounds which can be released into the environment in cases of their mechanical damage. Generally, all the variants of technical solutions for the variable transparent photochromic curtain offered by the cited patent application are not safe from the health and environmental point of view, given that they inevitably imply the use of uv radiation whose wavelength manifests a carcinogenic effect and other hazardous effects in case of a mechanical or other damage to the design’s protective parts.

Patent application number JP 2007 04111 (A) from February 15, 2007, (applicant: RAILWAY TECHNICAL RES INST) includes a technical solution regarding design of a device for reducing the level of noise and vibrations on transparent windows. A technical solution presented in the cited patent application contains no similarities with the technical solution from this patent application, neither regarding the purpose nor design type.

Patent application, number CH 616 11 (A5) from January 15, 1991 (applicant: Josif Jenicek, Dilbendorf) includes a technical solution for design of the variable transparent panel based on a technology of liquid crystals in a form of film that is activated by the electric field. This technical solution, compared to the other technical solution from this patent application, has a partially identical purpose type, however, it is about completely different design types which are based on the completely disparate technical-technological principles.

Patent application, number KR 2010 0029307 (A) from March 17, 2010 (applicant: PARK, JONG TAE) includes a technical solution for a mechanically improved insulating glass. Technical solution presented in a cited patent application has no similarities whatsoever with the technical solution from this patent application, neither regarding the purpose nor design type.

Background art includes as well the other technical solutions for glasses based on the application of photochromic layers. These glasses are operating as the passive protective elements which are not providing a satisfactory level of protective properties, given that they use only the natural solar uv radiation as a regulating-activating parameter, which has the adverse effect on their energy efficiency and practical applicability, especially in the winter conditions.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Functioning of the layered variable transparent panel is based on a design of a complex optical system which eliminates the influence of a natural solar uv radiation on the photochromic layers, while enabling, at the same time, the influence of independent adjustable electrical sources of uv radiation on the photochromic layers. A permanent elimination of influences of a natural uv radiation on the photochromic layers is enabled by the uv-absorbing layers. Activation, that is, tinting of the photochromic layers, at request, is facilitated by the independent, adjustable electrical sources of uv radiation, based on the uv led diodes as part of design of the light modules. A uniform illumination of frontal surface of the layered variable transparent panel, at request, in the function of a decorative, ambient illumination of the surrounding area, is enabled by the independent, adjustable electric sources of a visible light, based on the rgb led diodes as part of design of the light modules. Activation of the photochromic layers, at request, is achieved with uniform illumination of the photochromic layers by means of a uv light beam of an adequate wavelength. A uniform uv illumination of photochromic layers, at request, is enabled by a highly transparent clearly translucent acrylic light diffusion plate, which is capable of transforming the uv light beams, coming from a direction of their edges, into the uniform uv light beams which are being transmitted by its frontal surfaces. A uniform illumination of frontal surface of the variable transparent panel, at request, in the function of decorative ambient illumination of a surrounding area, is provided by the highly transparent clearly translucent acrylic light diffusion plate, which is capable of transforming the visible light beams of selected wavelength, coming from a direction of their edges, into the uniform light beams which are being transmitted by its frontal surfaces. A uniform internal reflection of the uv light or visible light in the interior of acrylic light diffusion plate is enabled by the highly transparent clearly translucent layers with a low light refraction coefficient, applied to the both frontal surfaces of the acrylic light diffusion plate. The independent uv light sources within the design of light modules are connected to the independent module for power supply and control of the uv light sources. The independent rgb light sources within the design of light modules are connected to the independent module for power supply and control of rgb light sources. Adjustment of operating parameters of the layered variable transparent panel is conducted by setting the uv light sources power supply and control module or by setting the rgb light sources power supply and control module. The uv light sources power supply and control module can be programmable in a way to define and control the radiation interval and intensity of uv light beams. The rgb light sources power supply and control module can be programmable in a way to define and control the wavelength, interval of radiation and intensity of the rgb light beams.

Such design of the layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, allows it a completely autonomous operating, upon the user’s request. Photochromic layers which have been used until now as the passive protective elements, thus completely restricting their more significant practical application, have now become, according to the invention, a part of an active protective system that can be practically applied in a successful manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, shall be presented and described with reference to the associated drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 - shows a diagram of a seemingly typical layered variable transparent panel, with a rectangle-shaped frontal surface, indicating the cross-sections where a design of layered variable transparent panel shall be displayed and examined;

Figure 2 - shows a monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, in a mode of maximum light transparent condition, in a vertical cross-section A-A’;

Figure 3 - shows a detail design of a light module, in a vertical cross-section A-A’;

Figure 4 - shows a monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, in a mode of tinted condition, in a vertical cross-section A-A’;

Figure 5 - shows a monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, in a mode of transmitting a uniform beam of visible light, in a vertical cross-section A-A’;

Figure 6 - shows a monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, in a horizontal cross-section B-B’;

Figure 7 - shows a laminate design of the layered variable transparent panel with one glass plate, in a mode of maximum light transparent condition, in a vertical cross-section A- A’;

Figure 8 - shows a laminate design of the layered variable transparent panel with two glass plates, in a mode of maximum light transparent condition, in a vertical cross-section A- A’;

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A general principle of monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, in an inactive, maximum light transparent operating condition, with a typical rectangle-shaped frontal surface, is shown in detail on Figure 2, in a vertical cross-section A-A’. The light modules LM are placed on the longer parallel edges of the highly transparent optically clearly translucent light diffusion acrylic plate AP. The light modules LM contain a led strip with a series of uv led diodes UVLED and a led strip with a series of rgb led diodes RGBLED. The led strip with a series of uv led diodes UVLED is electrically connected to a power supply and control device UVM that regulates the interval and intensity of uv light radiation and can be programmable. The led strip with a series of rgb led diodes RGBLED is electrically connected to a power supply and control device RGBM that regulates the wavelength, interval and intensity of a visible light radiation. The acrylic plate AP is made of a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymers where, prior to the plate casting and extrusion processes, the colloidal microparticles capable of reflecting and diffusely scattering the light were dispersed into. The acrylic plate AP has the ability to transform the light beams coming from a direction of its edges, and which are generated by the light modules LM, into the uniform light beams transmitted through the both frontal surfaces of the acrylic plate AP. On both frontal surfaces of the acrylic plate AP, a highly transparent optically clearly translucent polymer layer LL has been applied, which has the light refraction coefficient value of 1.38 or lower. The polymer layers LL enable a uniform internal light reflection through the cross-section of acrylic plate AP. Over the polymer layers LL, by means of a gluing technique, the optically clearly translucent polymer photochromic films PF have been applied, with the associated layers of highly transparent optically clearly translucent adhesive TA. Over the photochromic polymer films PF, the highly transparent optically clearly translucent uv-absorbing polymer films UF with the associated layers of highly transparent optically clearly translucent adhesive TA, have been applied by means of a gluing technique. The uv-absorbing polymer films UF are resistant to the mechanical, temperature and other external influences.

A design detail of the light module LM is shown on Figure 3, in a vertical crosssection A-A’. Compactness and mechanical strength of the light module LM are enabled by the profile AL, which is manufactured by using a technique of extrusion from the alloyed aluminium. The led strip with a series of uv led diodes UVLED is made of flexible electrical circuit board CB with the associated layer of thermoconductive glue TG. The led strip with a series of rgb led diodes RGBLED is made of a flexible electrical circuit board CB with the associated layer of thermoconductive glue TG. The profile AL takes away the excess heat generated by the operation of uv led diodes UVLED or the rgb led diodes RGBLED.

A monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, at request, may have the tinted frontal surfaces, in case the light modules LM activate the uv led strips with a series of uv led diodes UVLED, by using a power supply and control device UVM, as shown on Figure 4, in a vertical cross-section A-A’. The light modules LM generate on the longer parallel edges of acrylic plate AP the uv light beams of a chosen interval and intensity. The acrylic plate AP transmits through its frontal surfaces the uniform uv light beams illuminating the polymer photochromic films PF. The uniform uv illumination of polymer photochromic films PF is causing their uniform opaqueness. In case the interval and intensity of a transmitted uniform uv light beam is higher, the transparency of polymer photochromic films PF, and by extension, the transparency of the layered variable transparent panel’s frontal surface is lower, and vice versa. The highly transparent optically clearly translucent polymer layers LL, that have a light refraction coefficient of 1.38 or lower, enable a uniform reflexion of uv light through the cross-section of acrylic plate AP. The highly transparent optically clearly translucent uv-absorbing polymer films UF prevent that natural solar uv light performs the activation of photochromic polymer films PF. The layered variable transparent panel functions as an active protective device, in case that, at request, the light transparency of its frontal surface is being regulated, therefore, the layered variable transparent panel provides an efficient protection of interior area against the curious eyes from the outside, against the temperature, sound and mechanical influence of external environment and protection against the excess sunlight and solar energy.

The monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, at request, may have the frontal surfaces illuminated by a visible light of a selected wavelength, if the light modules LM activate the led strips with a series of rgb led diodes RGB LED, by means of a power supply and control device RGBM, as shown on Figure 5, in a vertical cross-section A-A’. The light modules generate, on the longer parallel edges of the acrylic plate AP, the visible light beams of a selected wavelength, interval and intensity. The acrylic plate AP transmits with its frontal surfaces the uniform visible light beams of a selected wavelength. The highly transparent optically clearly translucent polymer layers LL, that have the light refraction coefficient of 1.38 or lower, enable the uniform reflexion of visible light of a selected wavelength, through the cross-section of acrylic plate AP. The layered variable transparent panel operates as an active protective device in night conditions and in the low daily light conditions, in case that, at request, the layered variable transparent panel’s frontal surface gets illuminated by a visible light of a selected wavelength, therefore, the layered variable transparent panel provides an efficient protection of the interior area against the curious eyes from the outside and a functional ambient illumination of the interior space.

The general principle of monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel, with a typical rectangle-shaped frontal surface, is shown in detail on Figure 6, in a horizontal cross-section B-B’. The reflective polymer films RF with the associated layer of a highly transparent optically clearly translucent adhesive TA are applied to the shorter parallel edges of the acrylic plate AP, by means of a gluing technique. The reflective polymer films RF have a function of preventing the unwanted dispersion of uv light beams or visible light beams over the shorter parallel edges of acrylic plate AP.

The general principle of laminate design of the layered variable transparent panel, in an inactive, maximum light transparent operating mode, with a typical rectangle-shaped frontal surface, is shown in detail on Figure 7, in a vertical cross-section A-A’. A monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel may be mechanically-statically improved if a glass plate GP is added on one frontal surface of the layered variable transparent panel’s monolithic design, by using a liquid lamination technique, through the polymeric highly transparent optically clearly translucent laminate interlayer PI. In general case, a glass plate GP can be made of a non-tempered, semi-tempered or tempered colourless glass or the glass refined with the functional, reflective or other spectrally selective coatings. The laminate interlayer PI is made of a synthetic resin or combination of synthetic resins which are in liquid condition during the lamination procedure, and are subsequently transformed into a solid state by means of polymerisation. All the operating principles of the layered variable transparent panel of monolithic design, which are previously mentioned in detail, completely correspond to the operating principles of the layered variable transparent panel with laminate design.

The general principle of laminate design of the layered variable transparent panel, in an inactive, maximum light transparent operating mode, with a typical rectangle-shaped frontal surface, is shown in detail on Figure 8, in a vertical cross-section A-A’. A monolithic design of the layered variable transparent panel may be mechanically-statically improved if glass plates GP are added on both frontal surfaces of the layered variable transparent panel’s monolithic design, by using a liquid lamination technique, through the polymeric highly transparent optically clearly translucent laminate interlayers PI. In general case, the glass plates GP can be made of a non-tempered, semi-tempered or tempered colourless glass or the glass refined with the functional, reflective or other spectrally selective coatings. The laminate interlayers PI are made of a synthetic resin or combination of the synthetic resins which are in liquid condition during the lamination procedure, and by means of polymerisation are subsequently transformed into a solid state. All the operating principles of the layered variable transparent panel of monolithic design, which are previously mentioned in detail, completely correspond to the operating principles of the layered variable transparent panel with laminate design.

The foregoing modes for carrying out the invention have presented the different design variants of the layered variable transparent panel, according to the invention, in a form of typical rectangle-shaped flat frontal surface. If it is necessary to make the layered variable transparent panel in a form of curved frontal surface in a random, e.g. triangle or round shape, the identical general design principles are applied, as described above for the layered variable transparent panel in a form of rectangle or square-shaped flat frontal surface.

It is clear that design details and individual accomplishments, as well as the certain stages of adjusting the transparency of layered variable transparent panel may be even modified, compared to those described and displayed on the drawings, without deviating from the idea of subject-matter invention, as defined in the following claims.