Abstract: A manufacturing method of electrochromic devices (10) includes the steps of providing a first and second sheet including a first (22) and second (24) plastic substrate, respectively, at least partially coated with a first (12) and second (14) electron conducting layer, respectively. The first sheet is at least partially coated with a first electrochromic layer (16). The second sheet is at least partially coated with a counter electrode layer (18). The first and second sheets are laminated with an electrolyte layer (20) interposed in-between into an electrochromic laminate sheet (30). The electrochromic device is at least partially defined by forming a seal (50) through the electrochromic laminate sheet (30) at a distance (D) from a peripheral edge (31). The distance (D) is preferably larger than the mean diffusion lengths of oxygen, water or an electrolyte component in the electrolyte during a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An electrochromic device (50) includes at least the typical five layer stack (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) between two substrates (22, 24) and connections elements (42, 44, 66) to the electron conducting layers (12, 14). At least one of the connections elements (42, 44, 66) are arranged through the substrate (22, 24). In preferred embodiments the points where the connection elements (42, 44, 66) penetrate the substrates are situated at different lateral positions. The substrates (22, 24) are typically plastic substrates. In another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing method providing an electrochromic device (50) according to the above described principles is provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing permanently curved electrochromic devices is presented. The method includes provision (210, 211) of two plane thermoplastic substrates at least partly coated by an electron conducting layer. The substrates are further at least partially coated (220, 221) with an electrochromic or a counter electrode layer. The coated substrates laminated (230) together with an adhesive electrolyte layer in the middle into an electrochromic laminate sheet. The electrochromic device is formed (240) by thermoforming the covered substrates into a permanent curvature, prior or after the further coating, prior to the laminating of the substrates or by thermoforming the electrochromic laminate sheet after the lamination. Once formed, the coated substrates or electrochromic device, respectively, permanently remains in its curved shape. Additional layer, such as bus bars and layers for chemically adaptation can be provided onto the substrates prior or after the thermoforming step.