Electrochromic Patents (Class 359/265)
  • Patent number: 8817355
    Abstract: An electrochromic device according to example embodiments may include a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, an electrochromic layer positioned between the first electrode and second electrode and including an electrochromic material, and an electrolyte contacting the electrochromic layer between the first electrode and second electrode and including an electron accepting molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rupasree Ragini Das, Seog Jin Jeon, Chang Ho Noh, Jae Eun Jang
  • Patent number: 8817356
    Abstract: An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel J Gentry, Robert E Roush, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8810887
    Abstract: Disclosed is ink for an electrochromic device including an electrochromic material, a metal salt, and a solvent. Disclosed also is an electrochromic device that includes a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, an auxiliary electrode disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode, an electrochromic layer applied on the auxiliary electrode, and an electrolyte interposed between the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the electrochromic layer is formed using ink including an electrochromic material and a metal salt. Disclosed also is a method of manufacturing the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seog Jin Jeon, Rupasree Ragini Das, Seon-Jeong Lim, Chang Ho Noh
  • Patent number: 8810888
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to electrochemical devices including an electrochemically active layer having the ability of electrochemically altering its redox state. By providing a portion of an electrode of corrosion resistant material between an electrolyte and an electrochemically active layer, undesired discoloration due to the electrochemical reaction of an electrochemical device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Acreo Swedish ICT AB
    Inventors: Peter Andersson Ersman, David Nilsson, Magnus Berggren, Per-Olof Svensson, Nathaniel D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8801220
    Abstract: A color temperature adjusting device of a light source module is revealed. The light source module includes at least one light source and at least one electrochromic device arranged at one side of the light source with a light emitting surface. The light source module is electrically connected to a control module. The control module consists of a light-source driver circuit and a control circuit for electrochromic devices that controls colored/bleached state of the electrochromic device. The light-source driver circuit is used to drive the light source to emit light. After passing through the electrochromic device, a light source is turned into a warm color light source or a cool color light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Tintable Smart Material Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Wen Chung
  • Patent number: 8797627
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a variable reflectance mirror reflective element. A mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element includes a stack of thin films having at least two thin films. At least one of the thin films is formed of a material that has a specific resistivity of less than about 1×10?2 ohm·cm, and at least one of the thin films is a thin metal film. An electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity of the mirror reflective element and is bounded by a perimeter seal. A reflective perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of a front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate. The perimeter layer generally conceals the perimeter seal from view by a driver of the vehicle normally viewing the front substrate when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Ian A. McCabe, Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8786929
    Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
  • Patent number: 8786932
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a display device and a method to manufacture the display device. The display device includes: a transparent layer; a coloring electrode; a separator; a second electrode; an electrolyte permeating throughout the display device; and a back layer positioned on the back side of the display. The transparent layer, which has a top surface and a bottom surface, is positioned at the viewer side of the display. The coloring electrode is positioned on the transparent layer bottom surface and includes: a connected conductor system formed from one or more heterogeneous conductive layers and a coloring layer, with the proviso that the heterogeneous conductive layers are not positioned between the transparent layer bottom surface and the coloring layer. The conductor heterogeneity includes variations in one or more of: conductor material composition; conductor layer dimension; conductor layer pattern; conductor layer grid design, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Ntera, Inc., Ntera Limited
    Inventors: Gavin Copeland, Alain Briancon, Martin Moeller, Nigel Leyland, Chris Giacoponello, Micheal Cassidy, Christian Grave, David Corr, David Bevk, Michael Ryan
  • Publication number: 20140198370
    Abstract: A robust solid-state electro-chromic film stack including one or more electro-chromic layers composed of at least one bi-layer having a first and second layer. At least one of the first and second layer in each bi-layer includes electro-chromic nanoparticles formed of an electro-chromic material. A method of forming the robust solid-state electro-chromic film stack using a layer-by-layer deposition process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: PIXELOPTICS, INC. (ESTATE OF)
    Inventors: Anita Trajkovska-Broach, William Kokonaski
  • Patent number: 8780432
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide electrochromic devices and materials and processes for forming such electrochromic devices and materials. In one embodiment, an electrochromic device contains a lower transparent conductor layer disposed on a substrate, wherein an upper surface of the lower transparent conductor layer has a surface roughness of greater than 50 nm and a primary electrochromic layer having planarizing properties is disposed on the lower transparent conductor layer. The upper surface of the primary electrochromic layer has a surface roughness less than the surface roughness of upper surface of the lower transparent conductor layer, such as about 50 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Phong Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140192392
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly that includes a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface; a rear substrate spaced from and substantially parallel to the front substrate, and having a third surface and a fourth surface substantially parallel to the third surface; and a carrier operably connected to at least one of the front substrate and the rear substrate. Further, the electro-optic assembly includes an appliqué layer directly on at least a first portion of the fourth surface and having an opening over a second portion of the fourth surface; and an assembly component that is coupled to the carrier, behind the fourth surface and substantially coincident with the opening. The portions of the fourth surface are in a transmissive region of the rear substrate, and the front and rear substrates define a cavity at least partially filled with an electro-optic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Cammenga, Adam R. Heintzelman, Joel A. Stray, Autumn W. Trombka
  • Patent number: 8773745
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochromic polymer compound composed of a hyperbranched polymer having electrochromic characteristics derived from a quaternary pyridinium salt, a terephthalic acid diester or a biphenyl-4,4?-diester structure, and a varnish, a thin film structure and an electrochromic device that are obtained by the polymer compound. The electrochromic material has high response speed, high coloring efficiency, and excellent repetition stability and can be used for a long time, and has excellent solubility in various solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Kyushu University, Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nagamura, Masaaki Ozawa, Akihiro Tanaka, Osamu Hirata, Keisuke Odoi, Takeshi Sakano
  • Publication number: 20140185123
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an electrochromic working electrode is disclosed, comprising electroplating a first conductive polymer and nanoparticles in order on a surface of an ITO conductive glass using an electrochemical method so as to obtain a electrochromic working electrode coated with the first conductive polymer and the nanoparticles. The invention further discloses an electrochromic device. By adopting the invention, the reaction rate of an electrochromic material on a surface of the electrochromic working electrode can be improved, and the response time of the electrochromic material can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juan CHEN, YOU- JAE- GEON, Jikai YAO, Xiaodong ZHOU
  • Patent number: 8764951
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
  • Patent number: 8764950
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
  • Publication number: 20140177027
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert T. Rozbicki
  • Publication number: 20140176615
    Abstract: A transparent display device and method of forming such device. The transparent display device includes a substrate, wherein the substrate allows greater than 50% of incident light to pass through the substrate. The device also includes a plurality of pixels formed on the substrate, wherein the pixels are formed of an adjustable permittivity material wherein the adjustable permittivity material exhibits a change in permittivity upon the application of a voltage and is normally transparent. The device further includes interconnects operatively coupled to the adjustable permittivity material in each pixel, wherein the interconnects are configured to provide voltage to the adjustable permittivity material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: UYGAR E. AVCI, MICHAEL C. MAYBERRY
  • Patent number: 8760749
    Abstract: An electrochromic layer structure with at least one active layer and at least two electrodes is described. At least one of the electrodes has an electrically conductive network of conductor tracks and the conductor tracks contain nanoparticles. An electrochromic device, a method for production of an electrochromic layer structure and use of an electrochromic layer structure and an electrochromic device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Philippe Letocart, Emily Bressand, Jean-Christophe Giron
  • Patent number: 8760748
    Abstract: Stretchable electrochromic devices are disclosed including a stretchable electrochromic substrate; and a stretchable and transparent polymeric electrolyte coating or impregnating the stretchable electrochromic substrate. The stretchable electrochromic devices can find utility in the preparation of wearable electronic garments. Other devices using a stretchable and transparent polymeric electrolyte are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Yujie Ding
  • Patent number: 8758575
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert T. Rozbicki
  • Publication number: 20140168746
    Abstract: Provided is an electrochromic element having: a pair of electrodes; an electrochromic layer which is provided between the pair of electrodes and has an electrolyte and an electrochromic material; and a spacer which surrounds a periphery of the electrochromic layer, the element having a change mechanism that changes a thickness of the electrochromic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Kazuya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8754844
    Abstract: Provided is a display device using electrowetting including a reservoir layer in which a reservoir for storing oil and transparent water-soluble liquid is formed. A first electrode and a second electrode may be formed on an upper surface of the reservoir layer and on an inner wall of the reservoir, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-mok Bae
  • Publication number: 20140160549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a colloidal electrolyte composition comprising a polyelectrolyte selected from one or more cationic polymers, a particulate phase forming a colloidal dispersion, and a binder system able to form a cross-linked network upon curing the electrolyte composition. Also, the invention relates to a method of preparation the colloidal electrolyte composition, to an electrochemical cell and to a method of preparation the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ACREO SWEDISH ICT AB
    Inventors: Mats Sandberg, Anurak Sawatdee, Jessica Åhlin
  • Patent number: 8749870
    Abstract: A window assembly comprises a plurality of dynamic electrochromic zones formed on a single transparent substrate in which at least two electrochromic zones are independently controllable. In one exemplary embodiment, the window assembly comprises an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and at least one transparent substrate comprises a lite. In another exemplary embodiment, the IGU comprises at least two lites in which at least one lite comprises a plurality of independently controllable dynamic zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Egerton, Drew Gaskell
  • Patent number: 8749868
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
  • Publication number: 20140146381
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically variable thin film with electrochemical capacitance property, comprising electrochromic particles embedded with transparent gel-type electrochemical-capacitor material; the present invention also provides a product with a discoloration appearance, comprising an optically variable thin film of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Lin-Chi Chen, Tzu-Chieh Liao, Siang-Fu Hong, Chia-Hao Chang
  • Publication number: 20140146380
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent electrochromic polyimide, polymerized of a diamine and a cycloaliphatic dianhydride. The diamine includes a diamino triphenylamine having the formula: wherein R1 consists of hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl group, C1-6 alkoxy group, or and R2 consists of hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl group, or C1-6 alkoxy group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yu-Ruei KUNG, Chyi-Ming LEU
  • Patent number: 8736941
    Abstract: An electrochromic display apparatus is disclosed that includes a stacked body which includes a display electrode and an electrochromic layer that are stacked on each other; a film which includes through holes, and is disposed on one of the display electrode and the electrochromic layer of the stacked body; and an opposed substrate on which an opposed electrode that faces toward the display electrode is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Naijo, Tohru Yashiro, Shigenobu Hirano, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Masahiro Masuzawa, Akishige Murakami, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Koh Fujimura, Yoshinori Okada
  • Patent number: 8736944
    Abstract: A transparent electrochromic system includes a cellular structure, two power supply electrodes together supported on a single wall, and at least one additional electrode. The additional electrode can be used as a reference electrode or as a polarization electrode. The additional electrode can also form a condenser with a fourth electrode that is added to the system, in order to control a migration of certain electroactive substances responsible for coloring and decoloring the system. The operation of the system can thus be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Claudine Biver, Jean-Paul Cano, Sandrine Duluard, Anthony Saugey
  • Patent number: 8736942
    Abstract: An electrochromic device that is capable of changing the transmission of either visible or infrared radiations as a function of the polarity of a voltage applied to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Steven M. Risser, Vincent D. McGinniss, Amy M. Heintz, Kevin B. Spahr, James D. Browning
  • Patent number: 8736946
    Abstract: The invention relates to transparent electrochromic systems which each include one pair of supply electrodes and at least one pair of polarization electrodes. The polarization electrodes prevent a reaction of mutual neutralization of the electroactive substances of the systems from causing unnecessary consumption of electric current. Said electrodes also prevent a neutralization reaction from limiting a lower value of light transmission of the systems. For this purpose, the polarization electrodes produce an electric field inside the systems, which attracts the electroactive substances that have already reacted with the supply electrodes to different areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Samuel Archambeau, Claudine Biver, Christian Bovet, Jean-Paul Cano, Sandrine Duluard, Anthony Saugey
  • Patent number: 8730552
    Abstract: An improved ion conductor layer for use in electrochromic devices and other applications is disclosed. The improved ion-conductor layer is comprised of at least two ion transport layers and a buffer layer, wherein the at least two ion transport layers and the buffer layer alternate within the ion conductor layer such that the ion transport layers are in communication with a first and a second electrode. Electrochromic devices utilizing such an improved ion conductor layer color more deeply by virtue of the increased voltage developed across the ion conductor layer prior to electronic breakdown while reducing the amount of electronic leakage. Also disclosed are methods of making electrochromic devices incorporating the improved ion conductor layer disclosed herein and methods of making ion conductors for use in other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Samuel Burdis, Bryan D. Greer, Douglas Glenn John Weir
  • Patent number: 8730551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Neuman, William L. Tonar, John S. Anderson, Henry A. Luten, David J. Cammenga, Juan C. Lara, Jeffrey A. Forgette
  • Patent number: 8727547
    Abstract: An exterior mirror reflective element includes front and rear substrates and a mirror reflector having a stack of thin films. No part of the rear substrate extends beyond any part of the front substrate. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic to a person viewing the reflective element when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. The substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic is established by the refractive index and physical thickness of the individual thin films of the stack of thin films. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends out under the seal towards a perimeter edge of the rear substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam, Donald L. Bareman
  • Patent number: 8730554
    Abstract: A variable transmittance element includes two substrates, two transparent electrode layers held between the two substrates, an electrochromic layer held between the two transparent electrode layers and having transmittance that is reversibly changed by electric control, and a first dielectric layer provided between one of the two substrates and one of the two transparent electrode layers closest to the one of the two substrates and configured to reduce reflections. The first dielectric layer is a multilayer film made by alternately laminating two or more layers each having a high refractive index and two or more layers each having a low refractive index, a refractive index difference for a wavelength of 550 nm between the layer having the high refractive index and the layer having the low refractive index being 0.2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Reona Ushigome
  • Publication number: 20140133005
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a system comprising an electrochromic device having at least one bus bar and a color obscuration material wherein the at least one bus bar is coated with an over-coating material that is 1) substantially non-porous; and 2) substantially color-matched to one of said color obscuration material, a spacer, or a polymer seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SAGE ELECTROCHROMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Neil L. Sbar, Jean-Philippe Savary
  • Patent number: 8724208
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a color display provides a bottom substrate, injects a liquid display media onto the bottom substrate, and disposes a sealing substrate on the liquid display media, such that the liquid display media is contained between the sealing substrate and the bottom substrate. The method also aligns an image device corresponding to the bottom substrate and transfers a color coating onto the sealing substrate by a laser device through a laser thermal transfer process to form a color filter layer on the sealing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chun Yeh, Yao-Chou Tsai, Henry Wang, Ted-Hong Shinn
  • Patent number: 8717658
    Abstract: A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard S. Bergh, John Bass, Jonathan Ziebarth, Nicolas Timmerman, Zachariah Hogan, Karin Yaccato, Howard Turner
  • Patent number: 8699114
    Abstract: A multifunctional building component is capable of serving as one or more of a window, a wall, a shading device, a roofing element, a color panel, a display, and an energy harvesting, storage, and distribution element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ravenbrick LLC
    Inventors: Wil McCarthy, Richard M. Powers, Alex K. Burney
  • Publication number: 20140098282
    Abstract: An organic compound having the following general formula [1]: wherein A1 and A2 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R7 denotes a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R2 to R5 denote a substituent, R1 and R6 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and m is 2 or 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Shinjiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8693078
    Abstract: This invention contemplates integrating laser scribing/patterning the component layers of electrochromic devices by directly removing (ablating) the material of the component layers. To minimize redeposition of laser ablated material and particulate formation on device surfaces a number of approaches may be used: (1) ablated material generated by the focused laser patterning may be removed by vacuum suction and/or application of an inert gas jet in the vicinity of the laser ablation of device material; (2) spatial separation of the edges of layers and patterning of lower layers prior to deposition of upper layers; and (3) the laser patterning step may be performed by a laser beam focused directly on the deposited layers from above, by a laser beam directed through the transparent substrate, or by a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Byung Sung Kwak, Nety Krishna
  • Publication number: 20140092462
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein describe electrochromic devices and methods for forming electrochromic devices. The electrochromic devices include a transparent substrate, a transparent conducting oxide layer coupled to the transparent substrate, and a layer of electrochromic material coupled to the transparent conducting oxide layer. The transparent conducting oxide layer includes indium and zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Minh Huu Le, Thai Cheng Chua, Guowen Ding, Minh Anh Nguyen, Yu Wang, Guizhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 8687262
    Abstract: An ion conductor includes a mixture including an electrolyte including a salt including inorganic or organic pairs of negative and positive ions, and a low-molecular liquid crystal material. Further, an impedance of the ion conductor varies in accordance with an increase of a voltage applied to the ion conductor due to an orientation response of the low-molecular liquid crystal material, the impedance being determined by an AC impedance method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yashiro, Shigenobu Hirano, Koh Fujimura, Yoshihisa Naijo, Yoshinori Okada, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Akishige Murakami
  • Patent number: 8687261
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising a counter electrode layer comprised of lithium metal oxide which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long-term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising such a counter electrode are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc., Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Dane T. Gillaspie, Douglas G. Weir
  • Publication number: 20140085578
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a color filter substrate which comprises a first glass substrate, a first transparent electrode layer, a color filter, a black matrix, a second transparent electrode layer, a second glass substrate; wherein the color filter is made of electrochromic materials. The embodiments of the present invention further provide a LCD panel having the color filter substrate, and a method of making the color filter substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Gu, Jaegeon You
  • Patent number: 8681014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device (1, 20) in a motor vehicle, consisting of a display (3, 25), a transilluminatable screen (4, 21) disposed behind the display (3, 25), a lighting means (6, 23) and a reflector (7, 24), wherein the lighting means (6, 23) is attached in the display device (1, 20) between the screen (4, 21) and the reflector (7, 24) and the light (L) of the lighting means (6, 23) can be parallelized and directed towards and through the screen (4, 21) onto the display (3, 25) by means of the reflector (7, 26), so that symbols that can be changed by means of the screen (4, 21) can be shown on the display (3, 24), and wherein the reflector (7, 24) is a facetted reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Jeitner
  • Publication number: 20140071513
    Abstract: Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Neuman, William L. Tonar, John S. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Forgette, David J. Cammenga, Henry A. Luten, Scott D. Frasher
  • Publication number: 20140063584
    Abstract: An electrochromic thin film, an electrochromic device, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The electrochromic device comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate provided opposite to each other, a first transparent electrically-conductive layer provided on the inner side of the first substrate, a second transparent electrically-conductive layer provided on the inner side of the second substrate, an organic-inorganic electrochromic thin film provided between the first transparent electrically-conductive layer and the second transparent electrically-conductive layer. The organic-inorganic electrochromic thin film is obtained by forming a mesh-like microsphere-film on the first transparent electrically-conductive layer; forming an inorganic electrochromic film in the voids of the microsphere-film and removing the microsphere-film; and making the inorganic electrochromic film and an organic electrochromic solution undergo a polymerization reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yue SHI
  • Patent number: 8665512
    Abstract: Window units, for example insulating glass units (IGU's), that have at least two panes, each pane having an electrochromic device thereon, are described. Two optical state devices on each pane of a dual-pane window unit provide window units having four optical states. Window units described allow the end user a greater choice of how much light is transmitted through the electrochromic window. Also, by using two or more window panes, each with its own electrochromic device, registered in a window unit, visual defects in any of the individual devices are negated by virtue of the extremely small likelihood that any of the visual defects will align perfectly and thus be observable to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Friedman, Sridhar Kailasam, Rao Mulpuri, Ron Powell, Dhairya Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 8665509
    Abstract: A method of bonding metal and glass using an optical contact bonding includes depositing an optical contact bonding medium on a surface of a metal substrate; and bonding the metal substrate on which the optical contact bonding medium is formed to a glass substrate using optical contact bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon-Hyung Kim