Electrochromic Device Patents (Class 348/817)
  • Patent number: 10737557
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dynamic shading system of a vehicle includes one or more occupant sensors, a window configured for dynamic shading, and a control unit communicatively coupled to the one or more occupant sensors and the window. The one or more occupant sensors are configured to output a signal indicative of a position of each of one or more occupants within the vehicle. The control unit executes logic to shade areas of the window based on the position of each of the one or more occupants in order to shade each of the one or more occupants in accordance with a shade preference of each of the one or more occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Justin Chow
  • Patent number: 8964277
    Abstract: A color-changeable protective device for a portable device equipped with a touch screen is provided. The color-changeable protective device comprises a power source and a electro-chromic element. The electro-chromic element is disposed to correspond to the touch screen so as to cover the entire touch screen. According to whether the operating status of the electro-chromic element is a power-on operating status, the electro-chromic element appears to be transparent or opaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yao-Han Huang, Hsih-Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 8824038
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic device including a first non-tempered glass substrate (S1), the linear thermal expansion coefficient of which is between 35 and 60·10?7/° C., said substrate (S1) being coated with a stack including at least one transparent electrically conductive layer (2, 4), an electrochromic material layer (EC2), an ion-conductive electrolyte layer (EL), and a counter electrode (EC1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Giron, René Gy, Thomas Bertin-Mourot
  • 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: 8643931
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror element including a front element having a first front surface and a second rear surface. A cross-section of the second rear surface defines a first line. A rear element includes a third front surface and a fourth rear surface. Electrochromic material is located between the front element and the rear element. A spotter optic is located in the second rear surface of the front element. A cross-section of the spotter optic defines a second line. A transition region is disposed between the spotter optic and the second rear surface of the front element. A distance from a surface of the transition region to an intersection of the first line and the second line is between about 0.001 mm and 0.034 mm. At least a portion of the spotter optic includes a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the first front surface includes a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being smaller than the second radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Cammenga, Brian J. Steenwyk, Michael L. McLarty, Randall S. Braun
  • Patent number: 8483797
    Abstract: To improve patient comfort and reduce claustrophobia experienced by patients in a medical diagnosis or therapy apparatus, in particular a CT apparatus or an MR apparatus, with an examination region demarcated by said inner wall, in which examination region a patient can be positioned, a display is arranged in a region forming at least a portion of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 8259380
    Abstract: An electrochemical/electrocontrollable device having variable optical and/or energetic properties, including at least one carrier substrate including an electroactive layer or an electroactive layer stack arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. At least one of the lower or upper electrodes includes at least four layers including at least one metal functional layer having intrinsic electrical conductivity properties, the functional layer being associated with an electrochemical barrier layer of an electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range, the electrochemical barrier layer being associated with a humidity protection layer of an electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range, and the functional layer being associated with a first sublayer of electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Emmanuel Valentin, Samuel Dubrenat, Xavier Fanton
  • Patent number: 8213074
    Abstract: Onboard EC window controllers are described. The controllers are configured in close proximity to the EC window, for example, within the IGU. The controller may be part of a window assembly, which includes an IGU having one or more EC panes, and thus does not have to be matched with the EC window, and installed, in the field. The window controllers described herein have a number of advantages because they are matched to the IGU containing one or more EC devices and their proximity to the EC panes of the window overcomes a number of problems associated with conventional controller configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Soladigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhairya Shrivastava, Anshu Pradhan, Stephen C. Brown, David Walter Groechel
  • Patent number: 8094360
    Abstract: A salt molten at room temperature that does not contain any organic solvent, excelling in stability; and a display device that is improved in the durability in high-temperature environment by virtue of the use thereof. There is provided a salt molten at room temperature characterized by being composed of a silver salt and any of compounds of the following general formula (I) or general formula (II).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kokeguchi
  • Patent number: 7990602
    Abstract: A display medium includes: a pair of substrates; an electrode arranged between the pair of substrates and on one substrate of the pair of substrates; a multilayered structure including plural color-forming layers arranged between one substrate of the pair of substrates and the electrode, each of the plural color-forming layers containing an electroconductive sheet-like porous body and an electrochromic dye which is retained by the porous body and is reversibly colored or decolored by at least one of an electrochemical oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction, and the colors when the electrochromic dyes in the respective plural color-forming layers are colored being different from one another; and an electrolytic material included in a region between the pair of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tatsuura, Ryojiro Akashi, Naoki Hiji
  • Patent number: 7907322
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first substrate spaced from a second substrate. A first conductive member is formed over at least a portion of the first substrate. A first electrochromic material is formed over at least a portion of the first conductive member. The first electrochromic material includes an organic material. A second conductive member is formed over at least a portion of the second substrate. A second electrochromic material is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive member. The second electrochromic material includes an inorganic material. An ionic liquid is positioned between the first electrochromic material and the second electrochromic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Irina G. Schwendeman, Adam D. Polcyn, James J. Finley, Cheri M. Boykin, Julianna M. Knowles
  • Patent number: 7869114
    Abstract: Electrochromic device having at least one carrier substrate (S1) provided with a functional multilayer defining a deposition zone and comprising, in succession: a first electroconductive layer (1), (the one closest to the substrate); a first electrochemically active layer (2); an electrolyte layer (3); a second electrochemically active layer (4); and a second electroconductive layer (5), characterized in that the functional multilayer is deactivated, with the exception of the first electrochemically active layer (2), in at least a first, partial margination zone (A) located along at least one edge of said deposition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Emmanuel Valentin, Samuel Dubrenat
  • Patent number: 7791785
    Abstract: A controllably displayable motor vehicle window is (20) disclosed provided with at least one optically transmittable glass or plastic panel (22) and an electrically actuated variable light transmission medium (24, 25) disposed in close proximity to the at least one glass or plastic panel. The image displayed on the vehicle window (20) is controllable in response to the electric field generated by a control device (95) in communication with the variable light transmission medium and with a user input device (101-105, 107) A method of advertising or messaging using the controllably displayable motor vehicle window is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Webnet Ltd.
    Inventors: Danny Knafou, Michael Herman
  • Patent number: 7777933
    Abstract: Electrochemical system comprising at least one substrate of organic nature, at least one electronically conductive layer and at least one active species, characterized in that it includes at least one organic layer lying between the electronically conductive layer and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Fabienne Piroux, Gregoire Mathey, Emmanuel Valentin, Samuel Dubrenat, Pierre Chaussade, Francoise Rigal
  • Patent number: 7586667
    Abstract: A solid-state electronic electrochromic device (ECD) operates electronically rather than relying on the ionic motion that is common in electrochromic devices. The electronic ECD has at least one active layer sandwiched between two electrodes. The active layer is made of mixed metal oxides and may be made of a mixture of tungsten and praseodymium oxides. The electronic ECD may have only a single active layer, or may have multiple layers that have the same composition and that are separated by thin transparent metal films. Some versions of the electronic ECD incorporate a distribution of small metal particles within the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eclipse Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hulya Demiryont
  • Patent number: 7535615
    Abstract: An electrochromic element includes a transparent carrier on which a multilayer system is disposed, the multilayer system including an ion storage layer, a transparent solid-state electrolyte layer), an electrochromic electrode layer, and a reflector layer. The reflector layer has a porosity which is sufficient for the penetration of water or water vapour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Flabeg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Appelfeller, Thomas Hoeing, Franz Jungbauer, Christian Zilker
  • Patent number: 7375871
    Abstract: A light control system having a full range of dimming for smart-glass by providing an interface between an off-the-shelf dimmer and a electrochromic glass device is disclosed herein. The light control system or electrochromic glass control device acts as an interface that converts an asymmetric alternating current (AC) power signal from the dimmer device into a symmetric, amplitude controlled AC output signal for controlling the tint of the smart-glass device. The electrochromic glass control device includes a powerline interface circuit that receives the asymmetric AC power signal from the dimmer. A controller connects to the powerline interface circuit to generate a control signal responsive to the asymmetric AC power signal. Connecting between the dimmer and the controller, an output stage generates the symmetrical AC output signal responsive to the control signal to control the electrochromic glass device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John Libretto, Michael Ostrovsky, Eugene Frid, Edward Uftring
  • Patent number: 7312914
    Abstract: Between each transparent pixel electrode driven by TFT as a drive device and a common electrode, a polymer layer located in contact with the transparent pixel electrode and electrically active to change in color by electrochemical oxidization or reduction and a polymeric solid electrolytic layer located in contact with the polymer layer and containing a coloring agent are interposed. Since electrochemical oxidization or reduction brings about a color change, the contrast and the black concentration can be enhanced, and bronzing after long-time use does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony International (Europe) GmbH
    Inventors: Kenji Shinozaki, Akio Yasuda, Kazuhiro Noda, Toru Udaka, Mieko Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 6144479
    Abstract: A low reflectivity, variable attenuation contrast enhancement filter having a total visible light reflectance of less than about 2.0% when measured with light incident to the first outer major surface. The contrast enhancement filter has a first layer(s) for providing antireflection, the first layer(s) defining the first outer major surface; a variable attenuation element interposed between the first major outer surface and the second major outer surface; element(s) for providing fixed attenuation interposed between the variable attenuation element and the first major outer surface; and at least one substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul S. Lugg, Kenton D. Budd, John E. Bailey, Matthew H. Frey, Scott G. Theirl