Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, and an electrochromic medium which comprises a solvent, a cathodic material, and an anodic electrochromic material represented by the formula: wherein R1-R10 are the same or different and at least three of R1-R10 are the same or different and comprise a straight or branched alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 carbon atom(s), and/or a silyl or siloxyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 silicon atom(s), wherein the carbon or silicon atom(s) may be a linking group to, or part of, one or more functional groups comprising nitrites; nitro constituents; sulfoxides; sulfonates; phosphonium constituents; phosphonates; phosphonites; ammonium constituents; viologens, including bipyridinyl constituents; carbonyls, including carbonates, carbamates; ketones; esters; and amides; ethers, inclu

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device of the type comprises an organic layer 5, 5a or 5b having a luminescent region and provided between an anode 2 and a cathode 3. The organic layer contains a distyryl compound represented by the following general formula (1). General Formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are, respectively, groups which may be the same or different and independently represent an aryl group of the following general formula (2). General Formula (2): in which R9, R10, R11, R12 and R13 may be the same or different and, respectively, represent a hydrogen atom provided that at least one of them is a saturated or unsaturated alkoxyl group or an alkyl group, and R5, R6, R7 and R8 may be the same or different and, respectively, represent a hydrogen atom provided that at least one of them represents a cyano group, a nitro group or a halogen atom.

Abstract: Electrochromic systems containing soluble electrochromic polymers which are accessible by polymerization, polycondensation or polyaddition from electrochromic monomers are used in devices for variable transparency to electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; a cathodic electroactive material; an anodic electroactive material; wherein at least one of the cathodic and anodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a self-healing cross-linked polymer gel.

Abstract: An electrochromic element comprises an ion conduction layer between two conducting substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The ion conduction layer contains an organic compound, which has both a structure exhibiting a cathodic electorchromic characteristic and a structure exhibiting an anodic electrochromic characteristic.

Abstract: A polyhalide light-polarizing material comprising a complex obtained by reacting: (a) elemental iodine; (b) a hydrohalide acid or an ammonium halide, alkali metal halide or alkaline earth metal halide; (c) a first compound capable of chelating hydrogen, ammonium or metal ions; and (d) a second compound comprising at least one chelating group present in the first compound and either (1) at least one group of the first compound is changed to a different group or (2) the second compound comprises at least one additional group.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved electrochromic layers, which comprise polymeric matrices with electrochromic solutions interspersed therein. Varying an electrical potential difference across a layer of the invention results in reversible variation in the transmittance of light across the layer because of electrochemical processes in the electrochromic solution of the layer. The invention further provides electrochromic devices, in which the electrochromic layers of the invention provide reversibly variable transmittance to light, and various apparatus in which the devices of the invention provide light-filtering or light-color modulation. Such apparatus include windows, including those for use inside and on the outside walls of buildings and in sunroofs for automobiles, and variable reflectance mirrors, especially rearview mirrors for automobiles.

Abstract: An optical film comprises a transparent support and a polarizing layer. The polarizing layer selectively transmits polarized light, and selectively reflects or scatters other polarized light. The polarizing layer contains a compound represented by the formula (I) of Ar1—C≡C—Ar3—C≡C—Ar2. In the formula (I), each of Ar1 and Ar2 independently is a monovalent aromatic group, and Ar3 is a divalent aromatic group.

Abstract: A reversibly thermochromic light-transmitting laminate member which has a satisfactory thermochromic function and undergoes alternate color changes between a colorless transparent state and a colored transparent state.

Abstract: A dispersion medium, for dispersing electrophoretic particles in an electrophoretic display device, contains an organic compound having two or more rings in its structural formula, where the organic compound comprises at least about 30% by weight of the dispersion medium. The thus constituted dispersion medium improves the reliability and response of the electrophoretic device. The organic compound comprises one or more of the materials defined by the structural formulae (1) to (4), wherein each of A1 to A6, C1, and C2 are ring compounds.

Abstract: A reversibly thermochromic light-shielding/light-transmitting laminate member. More particularly, the invention relates to a reversibly thermochromic light-shielding/light-transmitting laminate member which changes not only in color but in transmittance with temperature.

Abstract: The novel UV-protected electrochromic solution comprises at least one reducible and at least one oxidizable substance, OX2 and RED1 respectively, which are linked to one another by a bridge, and is outstandingly suitable for use in an electrochromic device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer film for smart window which can optionally modulate the intensity of light passing through a window on the part of users and more particularly, to the polymer film for smart window, prepared in a manner such that a polyalkylacrylate dispersion polymer containing dispersed dichroic particles, so synthesized via reaction between nickel picolinate and polyiodide, are dispersed in a polymethylphenyl-dimethylsiloxane copolymer as a film medium polymer, using dichlorodimethylsilane and dichloromethylphenylsilane as starting monomers where their molar ratios can be modulated.

Abstract: A flexible electrochromic device is disclosed, the device including a flexible substrate with at least one electrically conductive surface, and an electrochromic layer comprising a perfluorosulfonated anionic polyelectrolyte and a metal oxide, the electrochromic layer deposited on a conductive surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the device is capable of being deformed and returned to “flatness” in an undamaged state.

Abstract: A composition suitable for use in an ECL assay wherein electromagnetic radiation emitted by said composition is detected, which composition comprises (a) a metal-containing ECL moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, is capable of being converted to an excited state from which electromagnetic radiation is emitted upon exposure of the excited ECL moiety to conditions sufficient to induce said emission; (b) an amine or amine moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, forms a strong reducing agent in said composition; and (c) an electrolyte capable of functioning as a medium in which said ECL moiety and said amine or amine moiety can be oxidized by exposure to electrochemical energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrochromic system containing at least one oxidizable substance RED1 and at least one reducible substance OX2 linked covalently by a bridge that are suitable for use in electrochromic devices.

Abstract: A film suitable for use as the light-modulating unit of an SPD light valve, the film comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix and having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix, the liquid light valve suspension comprising particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, wherein the matrix and the droplets each have a refractive index within a range of from about 1.455 to 1.463 and wherein the refractive index of the droplet and the matrix components of the film are preferably matched as closely as possible within RI 0.005 of each other.

Abstract: Photochromic compounds belonging to the group of spiro-isoindolino-oxazines having general formula (I). The above photochromatic compounds having general formula (I) have excellent photochromic characteristics, excellent stress resistance and high dyability characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device. Also disclosed is the use of steel bus clips for the electrochromic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic device comprising a pair of transparently and conductively coated glass or plastic plates, one of which is optionally mirrored and the conductive layer of one or both of which is optionally subdivided into separate individually electrically contacted segments, wherein (1) the plates are joined together on the sides of their conductive coating by an adhesive bead into which spacers are optionally embedded, wherein the adhesive used for the adhesive bead is a thermally or photochemically curing epoxy adhesive or an epoxy adhesive that cures thermally after photochemical initiation, (2) the volume formed by the two plates and the adhesive bead is filled with an electrochromic fluid through one or more apertures, and (3) the filling aperture or apertures required for introduction of the electrochromic fluid are sealed with an adhesive after filling has taken place, wherein the adhesive used for sealing is a photochemically curing acrylate adhesive or an epoxy adhesive

Abstract: UV-stabilized electrochromic assemblies having a layer structure, characterized in that one layer contains an electrically conductive, electrochromic polydioxythiophene and a further layer contains an inorganic ion-storage compound based on metal oxides or a mixture of such ion-storage compounds, where the gel electrolyte contains a mixed-in UV absorber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nanoparticulate dispersion of a silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a nonionic oligomeric surfactant based on vinyl polymer with an amido function. In particular, the surface modifier is acrylamide, methacrylamide or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.

Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, and an electrochromic medium which comprises a solvent, a cathodic material, and an anodic electrochromic material represented by the formula: wherein R1-R10 are the same or different and at least three of R1-R10 are the same or different and comprise a straight or branched alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 carbon atom(s), and/or a silyl or siloxyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 silicon atom(s), wherein the carbon or silicon atom(s) may be a linking group to, or part of, one or more functional groups comprising nitrites; nitro constituents; sulfoxides; sulfonates; phosphonium constituents; phosphonates; phosphonites; ammonium constituents; viologens, including bipyridinyl constituents; carbonyls, including carbonates, carbamates; ketones; esters; and amides; ethers, inclu

Abstract: There is disclosed an oxidation-reduction imaging forming composition comprising an aqueous based dispersion of (i) nanoparticulate silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a phosphoric acid ester and (ii) an organic reducing agent. In particular, the surface modifiers can be mixtures of mono- and di-esters of orthophosphoric acid and hydroxyl-terminated, oxyethylated long-chain alcohols or oxyethylated alkyl phenols or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic device having (a) a pair of glass or plastic plates or plastic films wherein at least one such plate or film is provided on one side each with an electrically conductive coating, wherein (1) at least one such plate or film and its conductive coating is transparent, (2) the other such plate or film and its conductive coating is optionally mirrored, (3) the electrically conductive layer of one or both of the two plates or films is optionally divided into separate segments optionally provided with individual contacts, and (4) the plates or films are joined on the sides of their conductive coating by means of a sealing ring to form a volume; and (b) the volume formed by the two plates or films and the sealing ring is filled with an electrochromic medium containing certain dihydronaphthazines or dihydrophenazines.

Abstract: This invention relates to UV-protected electrochromic solutions suitable for use in electrochromic devices and containing at least one oxidizable substance RED1 and at least one reducible substance OX2 linked by a bridging group and a UV absorber component.

Abstract: Electrochromic devices and materials having enhanced daylight stability are described. The materials have a redox center linked to an energy receptor site that may serve to dissipate excited state energy from the redox center, alternatively the receptor site may absorb harmful radiation prior to the absorption by the redox center.

Abstract: Increased stability of electrochromic devices containing an electrochromic medium having two or more electroactive compounds is accomplished by establishing current limiting concentrations of electroactive compounds with the larger redox potential difference. A process for production of electrochromic devices uses targeted concentrations of electroactive materials during preparation of the electrochromic medium which results in substantially no devices being produced wherein the current is limited by an electroactive compound having a low redox potential difference.

Abstract: A semiconductor magneto-optical material includes a semiconductor dispersed with fine magnetic material particles and is characterized by exibiting magneto-optical optical effect at ordinary room temperature.

Abstract: Dichronic particles are developed for a window which varies the degree of light transmission at a user's desire, wherein the particles are obtained by reacting metal complexes of a transition metal (Co, Ni, Cu) and picolinic acid with polyiodine, dispersing into the particles an acrylate based polymer resin containing a plasticizer and injecting the particles between two conductive sheets of glass to be used for a window which varies the degree of light transmission in presence of electric field, to thereby improve stability to long exposure, color fastness, anti-clusteration, rapid changes in the degree of light transmission in the cases of absence and presence of electric field or power.

Abstract: Electrochromic assemblies having a layer structure, characterized in that one layer is an electrically conductive, electrochromic polydioxythiophene and a further layer is an ion-storage compound of the formula (I) LiMeO3  (I) where Me represents a metal of transition group V of the Mendeleev Periodic Table.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved electrochromic layers, which comprise polymeric matrices with electrochromic solutions interspersed therein. Varying an electrical potential difference across a layer of the invention results in reversible variation in the transmittance of light across the layer because of electrochemical processes in the electrochromic solution of the layer. The invention further provides electrochromic devices, in which the electrochromic layers of the invention provide reversibly variable transmittance to light, and various apparatus in which the devices of the invention provide light-filtering or light-color modulation. Such apparatus include windows, including those for use inside and on the outside walls of buildings and in sunroofs for automobiles, and variable reflectance mirrors, especially rearview mirrors for automobiles.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device of the type comprises an organic layer 5, 5a or 5b having a luminescent region and provided between an anode 2 and a cathode 3. The organic layer contains a distyryl compound represented by the following general formula (1). Chemical Formula 1 general formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are, respectively, groups which may be the same or different and independently represent an aryl group of the following general formula (2). general formula (2): in which R9, R10, R11, R12 and R13 may be the same or different and, respectively, represent a hydrogen atom provided that at least one of them is a saturated or unsaturated alkoxyl group or an alkyl group, and R5, R6, R7 and R8 may be the same or different and, respectively, represent a hydrogen atom provided that at least one of them represents a cyano group, a nitro group or a halogen atom.

Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a normally operating electrochromic device comprising an anodic material and a cathodic material wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, an additive, and means associated with the additive for maintaining a colorless or nearly colorless electrochromic medium while the electrochromic medium is in a high transmission state relative to an electrochromic medium without the additive.

Abstract: An electrochemichromic solution containing novel viologen salts as cathodic materials for the redox pair.

Abstract: A volume-modulation coloration producing material which is characterized by high contrast, high response and excellent durability; a composition including this material; an optical element and a method for optical modulation using the composition are disclosed. The volume-modulation coloration producing material includes a polymer gel capable of swelling-contracting by absorbing or desorbing a liquid when an external stimulus is given, and a pigment contained in the material at a concentration equal to or higher than a saturation absorption concentration. The volume-modulation coloration producing composition, which includes the volume-modulation coloration producing material and a liquid, exhibits a reversible volume change to swell or contract by the application of a stimulus such as, for example, heat, light, an electric current, an electric field, change in pH, change in ionic concentration, absorption or desorption of a substance and addition of a solvent.

Abstract: Electrochromic compositions suitable for use in electrochromic media in electrochromic devices contain minimally two electrochromic compounds of the same redox type, whose redox potentials are greater than 30 mV. The lower redox potential electrochromic compound makes a large contribution to the absorbancy of the electrochromic medium despite being present in only minor concentration.

Abstract: In the novel electrochromic system comprising at least one oxidizable substance RED1 and at least one reducible substance OX2, each of which, accompanied by an increase in the absorbance in the visible region of the spectrum, is converted from a weakly colored or colorless form into a colored form wherein the reciprocal conversion of oxidized and reducible form takes place by a &sgr; bond being broken or formed, respectively.

Abstract: Compositions capable of simultaneous two-photon absorption and higher order absorptivities are disclosed. Many of these compositions are compounds satisfying the formulae D-Π-D, A-Π-A, D-A-D and A-D-A, wherein D is an electron donor group, A is an electron acceptor group and Π comprises a bridge of &pgr;-conjugated bonds connecting the electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups. In A-D-A and D-A-D compounds, the &pgr; bridge is substituted with electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, respectively. Also disclosed are methods that generate an electronically excited state of a compound, including those satisfying one of these formulae. The electronically excited state is achieved in a method that includes irradiating the compound with light. Then, the compound is converted to a multi-photon electronically excited state upon simultaneous absorption of at least two photons of light.

Abstract: Electrochromic devices incorporate reversible oxidizers to improve device kinetics, incorporate counterelectrodes composed of an alkali metal oxide and vanadium oxide to improve stability, and doped tungsten or molybdenum oxide in the electrochromic layer to improve UV durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved electrochromic layers, which comprise polymeric matrices with electrochromic solutions interspersed therein. Varying an electrical potential difference across a layer of the invention results in reversible variation in the transmittance of light across the layer because of electrochemical processes in the electrochromic solution of the layer. The invention further provides electrochromic devices, in which the electrochromic layers of the invention provide reversibly variable transmittance to light, and various apparatus in which the devices of the invention provide light-filtering or light-color modulation. Such apparatus include windows, including those for use inside and on the outside walls of buildings and in sunroofs for automobiles, and variable reflectance mirrors, especially rearview mirrors for automobiles.

Abstract: The novel electrochromic system comprises at least one reducible and at least one oxidizable substance OX2 and RED1 respectively, which are linked with one another via a bridge member, and is outstandingly suitable for use in an electrochromic device.

Abstract: The specification discloses electrochemichromic solutions and devices based on the use of solvents comprising at least about 25% 3-hydroxypropionitrile, 3,3′-oxydipropionitrile, 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-methylglutaronitrile, 3-methylsulfolane and mixtures thereof. The specification also discloses vacuum backfilling techniques for filling electrochemichromic cells and enhanced UV stability through solvent self-screening.

Abstract: Electrochromic compounds capable of reversibly attenuating the transmittance of the near infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum are provided. These compounds exhibit an energy difference between the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) energy and the highest doubly occupied molecular orbital (HDOMO) energy (ESOMO−EHDOMO) of less than about 3.6 eV. In addition, these compounds have a transition moment of the configuration made up of the HDOMO and SOMO that is “long axis polarized”.

Abstract: An improved protective coating for thermochromic materials comprising a sheet of thermochromic material bonded to a substrate and coated with a layer of protective liquid which hardens to protect and bond with the thermochromic material and substrate against erosion by atmospheric conditions or abrasion, together with a method for forming such a coating.

Abstract: Devices that comprise novel, mesoscopically periodic materials that combine crystalline colloidal array (CCA) self-assembly with the temperature induced volume phase transitions of various materials, preferably poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a PNIPAM CCA is formed in an aqueous media and contained within cell means. In another embodiment, a CCA of charged particles is formed and polymerized in a PNIPAM hydrogel. Methods for making these devices are also disclosed. The devices of the present invention are useful in many applications including, for example, optical switches, optical limiters, optical filters, display devices and processing elements. The devices are further useful as membrane filters. All of these devices have the feature of being tunable in response to temperature. Devices that change diffracted wavelength in response to pressure are also disclosed.

Abstract: UV-stabilized electrochromic assemblies having a layer structure, characterized in that one layer contains an electrically conductive, electrochromic polydioxythiophene and a further layer contains an inorganic ion-storage compound based on metal oxides or a mixture of such ion-storage compounds, where the gel electrolyte is chemically crosslinked and contains chemically bound UV absorbers which cannot migrate as UV protection.

Abstract: Polyhalide light-polarizing particles prepared by the process comprising reacting in a suitable liquid (i) elemental molecular iodine, (ii) an inorganic halide, with (iii) a substantially rigid polycyclic precursor compound, wherein:a. the polycyclic precursor compound has two cyclic structures linked together via an aromatic or heteroaromatic group;b. the three-dimensional structure of the polycyclic precursor compound has a cavity defined by the two cyclic structures and only one opening into the cavity; andc. polar groups are provided in the outside of the polycyclic precursor compound; andd. one of more chelating group or groups are provided inside the cavity of the precursor group for chelating hydrogen or metal ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the invention relates to electrochemichromic solutions, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. That is, the responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art. Preparation of these solutions involve the novel process of pre-treating at least one of the electrochemichromic compounds with a redox agent prior to placing it in contact with the other electrochemichromic compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of preparing such novel solutions and processes for using these solutions to provide devices that exhibit and benefit from the aforementioned superior characteristics.

Abstract: A method of making a solvent based ink formulation which includes a thermochromic pigment, wherein the pigment being formed of microcapsules, includes drying a slurry that contains the pigment to a solids concentration between 70% and 99%, mixing the dried slurry in an appropriate mixing base, and adding any desired ink components to the base formulation. Each microcapsule contains a reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature. Acceptable ink components include a gel vehicle, a free flow vehicle, a drying agent, a lithographic varnish, an ink wax, a polyester vehicle, a polyglycol solvent, a colloidal dispersion resin water, and a defoamer.