Abstract: A method of forming a metal oxide film on a substrate by a reactive DC sputtering device with introducing thereinto a reaction gas and an inert gas includes the steps of: (a) regulating a flow rate ratio or a pressure ratio of the reaction gas to the inert gas to not higher than 0.4; (b) increasing a power input to the sputtering device to a first predetermined value such that a discharge voltage increases to a maximum value and then decreases from the maximum value; and (c) decreasing the power input from the first predetermined value to a second predetermined value immediately after the discharge voltage starts to decrease from the maximum value so as to suppress a metal formation on the substrate, the steps (b) and (c) being alternately repeated for a certain period for completing the metal oxide formation on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic (EC) device having oppositely arranged two EC electrode layers. The first EC electrode layer uses Prussian blue, osmium purple or ruthenium purple and accordingly takes on a characteristic color by electrochemical oxidation, and the second EC electrode layer uses a transition metal oxide which takes on a characteristic color by electrochemical reduction, such as WO.sub.3. The space between the two EC electrode layers is filled with an electrolyte solution. When an EC device of this type is left in the bleached state for some period of time and then driven for coloration, the density of coloration is insufficient because of a decrease in the quantity of electricity in the oxidizing and coloring reaction of the first EC electrode layer. The invention solves this problem by using, as the electrolyte solution, a solution of a lithium salt and a sodium salt in an organic solvent prepared such that Na.sup.+ ion amounts to 3-30 mol % of the total of Li.sup.+ ion and Na.sup.

Abstract: In an electrochromic (EC) display device having oppositely arranged two EC electrode layers, two kinds of EC materials each of which takes on a characteristic color by electrochemical oxidation, or by electrochemical reduction, are used in the two EC electrode layers, respectively, on condition that the characteristic color of one EC material differs from the color of the other EC material. For example, Prussian blue which colors in blue by oxidation and polytriphenylamine which colors in bronze by oxidation are used in combination. An alternative example is using a combination of WO.sub.3 which colors in blue by reduction and V.sub.2 O.sub.5 which colors in green by reduction. Since electrochemical oxidation of one EC electrode layer is usually accompanied by reduction of the opposite EC electrode layer, this EC device can be operated so as to selectively and alternately exhibit at least two different colors aside from colorless transparency.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic (EC) device for controlling transmittance of light, such as a window pane or a filter for a display. The EC device has a double-decker structure produced by superposition of two identical EC cells each having two oppositely arranged EC electrodes one of which is formed of a first EC material that takes on color in oxidized state, such as Prussian blue, and the other of a second EC material that takes on color in reduced state such as WO.sub.3. The EC device has a transparent inner substrate with an EC electrode layer using one of the first and second EC materials on each side thereof and two transparent outer substrates each with an EC electrode layer using the other of the first and second EC materials. There is a peripheral seal between the inner substrate and each outer substrate, and the space defined between the inner substrate and each outer substrate is filled up with an electrolyte liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic (EC) display device which comprises a display electrode made up of a transparent conductive layer and a patterned EC layer, a counter electrode having an EC layer laid on a conductive layer and an electrolyte which occupies the space between the two electrodes, and in which the display electrode employs a first type EC material that takes on color in its electrochemically oxidized state, such as Prussian blue, and the counter electrode a second type EC material that takes on color in its reduced state, such as WO.sub.3, or vice versa. The EC layer of the counter electrode is not patterned, and the patterned EC layer of the display electrode is made smaller in surface area than the EC layer of the counter electrode and an upper limit of the surface area ratio of the former EC layer to the latter EC layer is specified.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrodeposition method for forming a film of an electrochemically synthesizable and functional substance, e.g. Prussian blue useful as an electrochromic material, on an electrode plate having a conductive coating film relatively high in surface resistivity such as a tin dioxide or indium trioxide film. A desired film of uniform thickness can be formed even when the electrode plate is as large as 40 cm square or is still larger by providing the electrode plate with an elongate auxiliary electrode element formed of, for example, a metal wire or foil, which is attached to the outer surface of the conductive coating film so as to extend at least along the whole periphery of the electrode plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic (EC) display device having a transparent electrode layer coated with a first EC material which takes on color in its electrochemically oxidized state, such as Prussian blue, and an opposite transparent electrode layer coated with a second EC material which takes on color in its reduced state, such as WO.sub.3. For use in initial bleaching or coloration of one of the two EC layers, an auxiliary electrode is disposed in a marginal region of the space between the two opposite electrodes, and an electrolyte occupies the remaining space. An insulating covering permeable to ions intervenes between the electrolyte and the body of the auxiliary electrode, and an insulating layer substantially impermeable to ions intervenes between the auxiliary electrode body and each transparent electrode layer or the overlying EC layer to prevent leakage current.

Abstract: Injection of a functional liquid into a display device cell having an inlet opening and a relatively narrow space between front and back substrates. The liquid is a liquid crystal for a liquid crystal display device or an electrolyte solution for an electrochromic device. The cell is placed in a chamber such that the inlet opening is in an uppermost section of the cell. Also a vessel containing the liquid is placed in the chamber, and vacuum is created in the chamber. In that state the inlet opening of the cell is connected to the liquid in the vessel by a pipe. After that the lever of the liquid surface in the vessel is suitably varied with respect to the level of the inlet opening of the cell by vertically moving the vessel containing the liquid and/or the cell, while an inactive gas is gradually introduced into the chamber to produce a controlled pressure difference between the interior of the cell and the inactive gas atmosphere in the chamber.