Complementary Device Patents (Class 359/268)
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Patent number: 5822107Abstract: A process for electrical power supply of at least one electrically drivable glazing of the electrochromic type for the purpose of causing variation of the state of coloration thereof. An electrical drive circuit includes an electrical connection to connect electrically conductive layers of the glazing to the drive circuit. An electricity generator supplies power to the electrochromic glazing under instruction of a control unit equipped with a user interface, and which utilizes a counter for counting a time and which measures and computes physical characteristics of the drive circuit and of the glazing, including at least measuring the electrical voltage between two distinct points of the electrochromic structure of the glazing, and measuring the electric current and measuring the state of coloration of the glazing.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1995Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Saint-Gobain VitrageInventors: Christine Lefrou, Didier Perrin
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Patent number: 5801873Abstract: The present invention provides variable reflectance automobile mirrors wherein the component of variable transmittance is an electrochromic device wherein the medium of variable transmittance comprises an electrochromic compound in a gel or a thickened solution.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1993Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventor: Harlan J. Byker
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Patent number: 5764402Abstract: A control system for an optical cell (light valve) is provided which comprises a first (oscillator) circuit supplied by a low voltage power source and including a primary winding of an induction coil and a secondary (resonant) circuit which includes the optical cell and a secondary winding of the induction coil. The secondary circuit includes the inductance of the secondary winding and the optical cell, and the induction coil provides a weak coupling between the primary and secondary windings. The resonant circuit provides a large over-voltage coefficient and great stability and the configuration made possible by the invention facilitates a significant reduction in the bulk of the control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: GlaverbelInventors: Jean-Fran.cedilla.ois Thomas, Pierre Vezin
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Patent number: 5757537Abstract: Electrochromic devices are disclosed which may be used for large surface area applications. The devices utilize optical tuning to minimize optical interference between layers of the structure and to maximize uniform optical transparency. Optical tuning also enables transparent conductive oxide layers to be replaced by thin conductive metal layers, thereby reducing the overall thickness of these devices and facilitating the manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1995Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Sun Active Glass Electrochromics, Inc.Inventors: Frank B. Ellis, Jr., John E. Van Dine, Vijay D. Parkhe
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Patent number: 5737114Abstract: A label for electrochemical cell employs an electrochromic material so that when the material is connected to power provided by the electrochemical cell, the material will undergo a visible change as a result of a chemical reaction.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1995Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventor: John C. Bailey
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Patent number: 5673150Abstract: Anti-glare EC mirror comprises a transparent glass substrate with ITO film, IrO.sub.x film, SnO.sub.2 film, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film, WO.sub.3 film and Al film in the order written. Because of this layer arrangement, SnO.sub.2 film insures an ample supply of water during the aging of IrO.sub.x film, thereby allowing the aging operation to be completed within a short period of time.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1996Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki SeisakushoInventors: Koichi Ono, Yutaka Yoshida, Hideki Miyatake, Tamotsu Horiba
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Patent number: 5519531Abstract: There is disclosed a microscope provided with a parallel ray optical system, for forming parallel light rays, between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. A lens barrel supporting the parallel ray optical system is axially extended or retracted with respect to the objective lens, such as by mutual engagement of a ratchet and a claw member, thereby varying the optical path length of the parallel light rays and thus adjusting the height of the eyepiece lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1994Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Manabu Sato
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Patent number: 5457564Abstract: Electrochromic device having electrode surface confined complementary polymer electrochromic materials, and materials, systems and methods of fabrication therefore. The electrochromic devices employ a polypyrrole-prussian blue composite material on the oxiatively coloring electrode, and a heteroaromatic substance containing at least one quaternized nitrogen atom group on the reductively coloring electrode. A bilayer material consisting substantially of metallic oxide which is conductive in at least one of its redox states and electroplated with a polymer is also disclosed for use as an electrochromic material on either the oxidatively colored or reductively colored electrodes. A method for electrodeposition of viologen polymers at a substantially neutral pH is also disclosed. A method for self-powering and self-modulating electrochromic devices by means of photovoltaic cells is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1993Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Molecular Displays, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Young C. Chung
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Patent number: 5410426Abstract: An electrochromic system comprising a layer of anode electrochromic material with all iridium oxide bass formatted by intensiostatic cycling in a liquid medium comprising a salt of a cation, excluding the proton, that can be inserted in said anode electrochromic material of an alkaline metal.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1993Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Saint Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventor: Xavier Ripoche
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Patent number: 5403680Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to produce a thin film three dimensional microelectrode of an electrically conductive polymer having an organized array of identical microprotrusions, which method comprises:(a) depositing at least one conductive metal thin film on an essentially smooth substrate,(b) depositing a thin film of a micropositive photoresist on the surface of the at least one conductive metal thin film,(c) subjecting the combination of step (b) to photolithographic or electron beam lithographic conditions with a mask capable of producing a metallic microwell,(d) electrochemically polymerizing an electrically conductive polymer onto the conducting metal,(e) removing the photoresist to produce the three dimensional microelectrode array of the electrically conductive polymer. Preferred electrically conductive polymers of step (d) are selected from polypyrrole or polyaniline.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1992Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Osaka Gas Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takaaki Otagawa, Marc J. Madou, Leonor A. Wachsman
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Patent number: 5377039Abstract: An improved multilayer electrochromic device, the improvement being to the electrochromic layer which necessarily must include an anion exchanging polymer having a polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion. An example is the use of PW.sub.12 O.sub.40.sup.3- as the polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion of an anion exchanging polymer of 90% quaternized 4-vinylpyridine and 10% styrene. Another example is the use of H.sub.2 W.sub.12 O.sub.40.sup.6- as the polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion of an anion exchanging polymer of 90% protonated 4-vinylpyridine and 10% styrene.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1993Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Assignee: The Dow Chemical CompanyInventor: Susan J. Babinec
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Patent number: 5280381Abstract: A solid polymeric fast ion conducting layer for an electrochromic device is prepared by forming a plurality of partially cured fast ion conducting polymer spacers, inserting the spacers and additional fast ion conducting polymer between an electrochromic material layer and a counterelectrode, and fully curing the spacers and fast ion conducting polymer.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1992Date of Patent: January 18, 1994Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Claude F. Mason
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Patent number: 5215821Abstract: A solid-state electrochromic device is disclosed comprising tungsten oxide-Prussian blue complementary configuration in combination with a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1990Date of Patent: June 1, 1993Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.Inventor: Kuo-Chuan Ho
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Patent number: 5209980Abstract: Novel transparent complementary electrode materials for electrochromic cells are disclosed, of the general formula [M.sup.1 ].sub.4 [M.sup.2 (CN).sub.6 ].sub.3 wherein M.sup.1 may be indium, gallium, gadolinium, lanthanum, and M.sup.2 is iron. Unlike Prussian blue (where M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are both iron), the complementary electrode materials of the present invention are stable, and do not have to be precharged.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1990Date of Patent: May 11, 1993Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.Inventor: Ralph E. Spindler
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Patent number: 5189549Abstract: A display having an array of matrix addressable pairs of electrodes mounted face up on the same substrate. The pairs of electrodes are derivatized with either electrochromic materials or electroluminescent material to form the pixels of the display. In the electrochromic embodiment of the invention, a layer of a solid polymer electrolyte is included. The air of electrodes may also be left clean of derivatizing material, but with an electroluminescent substance dissolved in the solid polymer electrolyte. An electrochemiluminescent embodiment is also provided where the electrochemiluminescent substance can be dissolved in the solid polymer electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1990Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: Molecular Displays, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Mark S. Wrighton
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Patent number: 5144473Abstract: An organic thin film display element comprises a pair of electrodes, an organic thin film interposed between the electrodes and including both donor molecules and acceptor molecules, and an insulating layer having a relative dielectric constant of 10 or more, and interposed between at least one of the electrodes and the organic thin film.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1990Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Nobuhiro Gemma, Toshio Nakayama, Syun Egusa, Akira Miura, Makoto Azuma, Shinya Aoki, Katsuyuki Naito
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Patent number: 5122896Abstract: An electrochromic display device uses a metal-phthalocyanine derivative as an electrochromic material at the display electrode side and a metal-phthalocyanine derivative being preliminarily held in a reduced state or a redox material being stable in an oxidized state at the counter electrode side.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1989Date of Patent: June 16, 1992Assignee: K.K. Sankyo Seiki SeisakushoInventors: Yasushi Mizusaki, Hiromasa Marumo, Tokuhisa Tsutsui
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Patent number: 5097358Abstract: An electrochromic element comprising a pair of electrode films, at least one of which is a transparent electrode film, a color forming film laminated between both the electrode films and an electrolyte. The color forming film is formed on the electrode film by depositing thereon a conductive metal oxide such as indium oxide and tungsten oxide. The depositing ratio of tungsten oxide and indium oxide preferably is within the range of 10:1 to 3:1 by weight ratio.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1990Date of Patent: March 17, 1992Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Toshiyasu Ito, Takaaki Mori, Mamoru Kato, Masanobu Senda, Takahiko Asaoka