Particular Electrochromic Layer Structure Patents (Class 359/273)
  • Patent number: 8908259
    Abstract: Window units, for example insulating glass units (IGU's), that have at least two panes, each pane having an electrochromic device thereon, are described. Two optical state devices on each pane of a dual-pane window unit provide window units having four optical states. Window units described allow the end user a greater choice of how much light is transmitted through the electrochromic window. Also, by using two or more window panes, each with its own electrochromic device, registered in a window unit, visual defects in any of the individual devices are negated by virtue of the extremely small likelihood that any of the visual defects will align perfectly and thus be observable to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Friedman, Sridhar Kailasam, Rao Mulpuri, Ron Powell, Dhairya Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 8891154
    Abstract: An electrochromic device including: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes: (1) a solvent; (2) an anodic material; and (3) 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; (d) wherein a seal member, the first substrate, the second substrate, and/or the chamber includes a plug associated with a fill port; and (e) wherein the plug is at least partially cured with an antimonate photo initiator and/or is a one- or two-part plug which comprises a resin or mixture of resins that are substantially insoluble and/or substantially immiscible with an associated electrochromic medium while in the uncured state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Veenman, William L. Tonar, Joel A. Stray, Leroy J. Kloeppner, David L. Poll, Gary J. Dozeman, Nalini C. Menon, Kevin L. Ash
  • Patent number: 8891153
    Abstract: This invention discloses a low cost method to manufacture electrooptic devices at low cost and discloses materials that may be used in fabrication of electrooptic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
    Inventors: Anoop Agrawal, Juan Carlos Lopez Tonazzi
  • Patent number: 8885242
    Abstract: A variable transmission electrochromic window including: first and second substantially transparent substrates having electrically conductive materials associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic electroactive material, at least one cathodic electroactive material, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and wherein the electrochromic window exhibits an Ev of less than approximately 20, and more preferably less than approximately 5, while in a low transmission state during normal daylight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Guarr, David A. Theiste, Kevin L. Ash, David I. Driscoll, Henry A. Luten
  • Patent number: 8885241
    Abstract: a display device includes a lower substrate with lower electrodes and an upper substrate with upper electrodes, a plurality of pixels between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, electrochromic particles that are implanted into the plurality of pixels, each electrochromic particle comprising a core and a shell layer surrounding the core, and reflective layers on the lower electrodes and corresponding to the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongyong Uhm, Jinwuk Kim, Hwayoul Lee, Junehwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8864322
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly is provided that includes a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the front substrate and the rear substrate define a cavity, a perimeter seal between the front substrate and the rear substrate, an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity between the front substrate and the second substrate and bounded by the perimeter seal, wherein the front substrate and the second substrate have a shaped edge having continuously arcuate shape, and wherein an interface the first substrate and the second substrate is approximately 1 mm or less from an outermost portion of the rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Cammenga, William L. Tonar, Adam R. Heintzelman, Autumn W. Trombka, Gary J. Dozeman
  • Patent number: 8810888
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to electrochemical devices including an electrochemically active layer having the ability of electrochemically altering its redox state. By providing a portion of an electrode of corrosion resistant material between an electrolyte and an electrochemically active layer, undesired discoloration due to the electrochemical reaction of an electrochemical device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Acreo Swedish ICT AB
    Inventors: Peter Andersson Ersman, David Nilsson, Magnus Berggren, Per-Olof Svensson, Nathaniel D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8773746
    Abstract: An all-solid-state reflective dimming electrochromic element having a multilayer film formed on a transparent substrate, which is characterized in that the multilayer film has a multilayer structure comprising at least a transparent conductive film layer, an ion storage layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a buffer layer, a catalyst layer, a reflective dimming layer, and a protective layer formed on the transparent substrate, and which is sealed with the protective layer, and a dimming member comprising the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kazuki Tajima, Yasusei Yamada, Kazuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8764950
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
  • Patent number: 8764951
    Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongchun Wang, Anshu Pradhan, Robert Rozbicki
  • Patent number: 8736941
    Abstract: An electrochromic display apparatus is disclosed that includes a stacked body which includes a display electrode and an electrochromic layer that are stacked on each other; a film which includes through holes, and is disposed on one of the display electrode and the electrochromic layer of the stacked body; and an opposed substrate on which an opposed electrode that faces toward the display electrode is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Naijo, Tohru Yashiro, Shigenobu Hirano, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Masahiro Masuzawa, Akishige Murakami, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Koh Fujimura, Yoshinori Okada
  • Patent number: 8736943
    Abstract: A variable transmission electrochromic window including: first and second substantially transparent substrates having electrically conductive materials associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic electroactive material, at least one cathodic electroactive material, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and wherein the electrochromic window exhibits an Ev of less than approximately 20, and more preferably less than approximately 5, while in a low transmission state during normal daylight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Guarr, David A. Theiste, Kevin L. Ash, David I. Driscoll, Henry A. Luten
  • Patent number: 8736940
    Abstract: A method of forming a mirror reflective element assembly includes providing front and rear substrates and establishing a curved recess at a second surface of the front substrate and establishing a mirror reflector coating at the curved recess. An uncured seal is dispensed on a dispensing surface and has a first gap between terminal ends of said seal. The uncured seal is dispensed substantially around a principal reflecting region and a spotter region and defines a second gap between spaced apart portions of the uncured seal at an outboard region of the spotter region. A portion of the uncured seal is dispensed across the spotter region. The first gap provides a fill port for said mirror reflective element assembly when the front and rear substrates are mated together, and the second gap provides a vent port for the spotter cavity when the front and rear substrates are mated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald S. Rawlings
  • Patent number: 8736942
    Abstract: An electrochromic device that is capable of changing the transmission of either visible or infrared radiations as a function of the polarity of a voltage applied to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Steven M. Risser, Vincent D. McGinniss, Amy M. Heintz, Kevin B. Spahr, James D. Browning
  • Patent number: 8730551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Neuman, William L. Tonar, John S. Anderson, Henry A. Luten, David J. Cammenga, Juan C. Lara, Jeffrey A. Forgette
  • Publication number: 20140118814
    Abstract: a display device includes a lower substrate with lower electrodes and an upper substrate with upper electrodes, a plurality of pixels between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, electrochromic particles that are implanted into the plurality of pixels, each electrochromic particle comprising a core and a shell layer surrounding the core, and reflective layers on the lower electrodes and corresponding to the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongyong Uhm, Jinwuk Kim, Hwayoul Lee, Junehwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8693078
    Abstract: This invention contemplates integrating laser scribing/patterning the component layers of electrochromic devices by directly removing (ablating) the material of the component layers. To minimize redeposition of laser ablated material and particulate formation on device surfaces a number of approaches may be used: (1) ablated material generated by the focused laser patterning may be removed by vacuum suction and/or application of an inert gas jet in the vicinity of the laser ablation of device material; (2) spatial separation of the edges of layers and patterning of lower layers prior to deposition of upper layers; and (3) the laser patterning step may be performed by a laser beam focused directly on the deposited layers from above, by a laser beam directed through the transparent substrate, or by a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Byung Sung Kwak, Nety Krishna
  • Patent number: 8687261
    Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising a counter electrode layer comprised of lithium metal oxide which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long-term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising such a counter electrode are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc., Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Dane T. Gillaspie, Douglas G. Weir
  • Patent number: 8665512
    Abstract: Window units, for example insulating glass units (IGU's), that have at least two panes, each pane having an electrochromic device thereon, are described. Two optical state devices on each pane of a dual-pane window unit provide window units having four optical states. Window units described allow the end user a greater choice of how much light is transmitted through the electrochromic window. Also, by using two or more window panes, each with its own electrochromic device, registered in a window unit, visual defects in any of the individual devices are negated by virtue of the extremely small likelihood that any of the visual defects will align perfectly and thus be observable to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Friedman, Sridhar Kailasam, Rao Mulpuri, Ron Powell, Dhairya Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 8643930
    Abstract: Thin-film lithium-based batteries and electrochromic devices (10) are fabricated with positive electrodes (12) comprising a nanocomposite material composed of lithiated metal oxide nanoparticles (40) dispersed in a matrix composed of lithium tungsten oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Dane T. Gillaspie, Se-Hee Lee, C. Edwin Tracy, John Roland Pitts
  • Publication number: 20140002883
    Abstract: Provided is an electrochromic device including: two substrates opposed to each other; an electrode and a conductive reflection layer interposed between the two substrates; a first electrochromic coating layer interposed between the electrode and the conductive reflection layer; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first electrochromic coating layer and the conductive reflection layer, whereby uniform discoloration and decolorization can be performed, the efficiency of power consumption can be enhanced, and a durability of the device and the speed of a decolorization reaction can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Sung Gon JUN, Hae Min CHOE, Yun Ho SHIN
  • Publication number: 20140002884
    Abstract: An all-solid electrochromic device with controlled infrared reflection or emission, in particular of electro-controllable type, comprising a stack successively comprising from a back face (3) as far as a front face (1) exposed to infrared radiation (2): a substrate (4) made of an electron-conducting material, or a substrate made of a non-electron-conducting material coated with a layer made of an electron-conducting material, forming a first electrode; a layer made of a first proton storage electrochromic material (5); a layer of a proton-conducting and electron-insulating electrolyte (6); a bilayer comprising a layer of a non-electrochromic, sub-stoichiometric tungsten oxide WO3-y forming a second electrode; said tungsten oxide WO3-y layer being arranged underneath a layer with variable infrared reflection of a second electrochromic material with variable proton intercalation rate, chosen from among crystallized tungsten oxide HxWO3-c and hydrated crystallized tungsten oxide HxWO3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Corinne Marcel, Frédéric Sabary, Daniel Marteau, Julien Demeaux
  • Patent number: 8610991
    Abstract: An electrochromic compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: Also disclosed is an electrochromic device including the electrochromic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rupasree Ragini Das, Chang-Ho Noh, Seog-Jin Jeon
  • Patent number: 8593715
    Abstract: Disclosed are electrochromic compounds represented by the formulas defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yashiro, Shigenobu Hirano, Yousuke Manabe, Satoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8593714
    Abstract: This invention discloses novel electrochromic devices and polymer actuator materials where nanoparticles are used to make composites. In particular, the said nanoparticles are wire shaped and disc shaped. These composites allow EC devices to be made with improved performance, particularly display devices could be made that consume low power and can be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AJJER, LLC
    Inventors: Anoop Agrawal, Juan Carlos L. Tonazzi
  • Patent number: 8564871
    Abstract: An electrochromic apparatus comprises a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer spaced from and disposed substantially parallel to the first electrode. An electrochromic layer is disposed between the first and second electrode layers. An electrolyte layer is disposed between the electrochromic layer and one of the electrode layers. The electrochromic layer comprises the dehydration reaction product of a hydrolyzed aromatic component. An electrochromic composition comprises an aromatic component having an aromatic core and at least two silicon-based groups pending from the aromatic core. The silicon-based groups have a silicon-bonded group selected from the group of hydrolyzable groups, hydrolyzates of hydrolyzable groups, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: David Witker, Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8559092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bugno, William L. Tonar, George A. Neuman, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., John S. Anderson, David L. Poll, Joel A. Stray, Bradley L. Busscher, Kenton J. Ypma
  • Publication number: 20130265629
    Abstract: A display device (100A) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (11), a second substrate (21) facing the first substrate (11), a first electrode (15) formed on the first substrate (11), a second electrode (25) formed on the second substrate (21), and an electrochromic layer (17) provided between the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (25) and containing an oxidation coloring-type dye and a reduction coloring-type dye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Deguchi, Eiji Satoh, Akio Miyata
  • Patent number: 8537451
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an electroactive substrate. The process includes providing a substrate having an oxidant layer on a surface thereof, exposing the surface containing the oxidant layer to a vapor containing an aryl or heteroaryl monomer that is polymerizable to form an electroactive polymer, and polymerizing the aryl or heteroaryl monomer in the presence of a volatile Lewis base to form a polyaryl or polyheteroaryl electroactive polymer film on the surface of the substrate. The invention also provides electroactive substrates formed by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Jakub Henryk Mazurkiewicz, Gordon George Wallace, Charles Peter Innis, Scott A. Edwards, Peter J. Murphy, Colin Hall, Rick Fabretto, Kamil Zuber
  • Patent number: 8526095
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochromic display device comprising: a first and a second substrates; a first and a second electrodes; and an electrochromic composition layer, wherein the device is of a passive matrix drive where the a display and an erasion are performed by an energization in reverse directions between the electrodes, the first and the second electrodes respectively comprise a plurality of electrodes, a pixel is formed where the electrodes are in a grade separated crossing, and the display is performed by voltage application processing where: (i) the first electrode is set as negative, and the second electrode is set as positive, to apply a voltage of a first potential difference, immediately followed by (ii) the first electrode being set as positive, and the second electrode being set as negative, to apply a voltage of a second potential difference equal to or more than the first potential difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Tokai University Educational System, Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Fukuoka, Wu Weng, Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Rikuo Takano, Makoto Omodani
  • Patent number: 8520287
    Abstract: A parallax barrier device includes: a first substrate; a first patterned transparent electrode layer disposed on the first substrate; a first patterned electrochromic material layer disposed on the first patterned transparent electrode layer and including a plurality of electrochromic structures, in which lengths, widths or diameters of the electrochromic structures are 50 nm to 500 nm, and included angles of the electrochromic structures and a surface of the first substrate to be deposited are 30° to 89°; a second substrate; a second patterned transparent electrode layer disposed on the second substrate; a second patterned electrochromic material layer disposed on the second patterned transparent electrode layer; and an electrolyte disposed between the first patterned electrochromic material layer and the second patterned electrochromic material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jian-Hong Lee, Jih-Fon Huang, Yi-Wen Chung
  • Patent number: 8508834
    Abstract: A printable photovoltaic electrochromic device is provided. The device includes a transparent substrate, at least one thin-film solar cell on the transparent substrate, at least one single polarity electrochromic (EC) thin film, wherein the single polarity electrochromic thin film includes a single polarity electrochromic material and a polyelectrolyte. The thin-film solar cell at least includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the anode layer and cathode layer, wherein a portion of the anode layer or a portion of the cathode layer is exposed from the thin-film solar cell. The single polarity electrochromic thin film covers and contacts with both the cathode layer and the anode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Lee-May Huang, Chi-Wei Hu
  • Patent number: 8508833
    Abstract: A pixel unit of an electrochromic display panel and a driving method thereof are described. The pixel unit includes a first substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode, on the first substrate; a first auxiliary counter electrode, on the first substrate and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first electrochromic material, on the first electrode; a second electrochromic material, on the second electrode; a second substrate, opposite to the first substrate; a third electrode, on the second substrate; a third electrochromic material, on the third electrode; and an electrolyte layer, between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ming-Huan Yang, Chao-Feng Sung
  • Patent number: 8498038
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, an electrochromic device includes pixel containing a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel includes a first electrolyte contacting a first electrochromic layer. The first electrochromic layer includes a first electrochromic material configured to display each one of transparency and at least two colors, based on a voltage applied to the first electrochromic material. The second sub-pixel includes a second electrolyte contacting a second electrochromic layer. The second electrochromic layer includes a second electrochromic material configured to display each one of transparency, black, and at least one color other than black, based on a voltage applied to the second electrochromic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Ho Noh, Rupasree Ragini Das, Jung Woo Kim, Seog Jin Jeon
  • Patent number: 8493646
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first electrochromic region interconnected with a second electrochromic region by a plurality of conductive links disposed between sides of a substrate on which the material layers of the electrochromic device are formed. The plurality of conductive links interconnects a first isolated conductive region of the first electrochromic region with a first isolated conductive region of the second electrochromic region. A sequence of a counter electrode layer, an ion conductor layer and an electrochromic layer is sandwiched between the first conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions and respective second isolated conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions. The second conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions are connected to respective first and second bus bars which are for connection to a low voltage electrical source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Samuel Burdis
  • Patent number: 8492297
    Abstract: A device including a glass substrate made of a soda lime silica glass composition of: SiO2 (50˜75 wt %); Na2O (1˜8 wt %); K2O (1˜12 wt %); CaO (1˜12 wt %); ZrO2 (0˜8 wt %); SrO (0˜15 wt %); BaO (0˜12 wt %); MgO (0˜10 wt %); Al2O3 (0˜12 wt %); B2O3 (0˜3 wt %), wherein the total amount of Na2O and K2O is in the range of 5˜15 wt %, the total amount of CaO, MgO, SrO and BaO is in the range of 10˜25 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Young Lee, Sei-Woong Yoo, Doo-Sang Ko, Marc Maurer
  • Patent number: 8482840
    Abstract: A display device of this embodiment includes a first insulating substrate having a display surface; a first resistive layer disposed on a surface of the first insulating substrate, the surface being opposite the display surface; a first electrochromic layer disposed on a surface of the first resistive layer; an electrolyte layer disposed on a surface of the first electrochromic layer; and a plurality of first electrodes connected to the first resistive layer. In the display device, a voltage is applied to the plurality of first electrodes so that a voltage gradient is generated in an in-plane direction of the first resistive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8482839
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic optical lens and a method for the preparation thereof. The lens includes an electrode and a counter-electrode bearing an electrochromic material separated by a solid polymer electrolyte. The method consists of preparing the electrode and the counter-electrode and the assembly thereof by the surfaces thereof bearing the electrochromic material by interleaving an electrolyte membrane between said surfaces. The electrolyte membrane is interleaved in the form of a composition free of volatile liquid solvent, including a precursor of the polymer and a salt, which is liquid or which has a dynamic viscosity [mu] between 100 and 106 Pa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Essilor International (Compagne General d'Optique)
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Mathieu Feuillade, Jean-Francois Labrecque, Abdelbast Guerfi
  • Patent number: 8467119
    Abstract: An electrochromic display device including: a first substrate; first electrodes parallely extending on the first substrate; a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; second electrodes parallely extending in a direction orthogonal to the first electrodes on the second substrate; and an electrochromic composition layer between the substrates, wherein the device is passive-matrix driven to perform a display by energization between the electrodes, and to perform erasing of the display by energization in a reverse direction, a pixel is formed in a portion where the first electrodes sterically intersect with the second electrodes, and metal electrical wires extending over the regions between the second electrodes and the second substrate along the second electrodes, each of metal electrical wires being conductively connected to each of the second electrodes corresponding to any one of the regions, and insulated from each of the second electrodes corresponding to the other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wu Weng, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8462419
    Abstract: There is provided a composition for electrochromic devices which clearly present only two states, a white-colored state and a decolored state. The composition for electrochromic devices contains (A) a specific quaternary ammonium salt, (B) a supporting electrolyte containing bromide ion, and (C) a solvent containing water as an essential component, and (A) is soluble in (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: National University Corporation Chiba University, JNC Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Hoshino, Yosuke Oikawa, Mai Ando, Ryota Nakajima, Katsuyuki Murashiro, Toshiki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20130128333
    Abstract: This invention focuses on electrooptic devices and in particular on electrochromic (EC) devices with many aspects directed towards automotive EC mirrors. This invention improves the visual impact of such devices by employing modifications to the materials and layers so that their refractive index can be changed and/or matched to get this improvement. In addition this also discloses use of in-molded electronic components to reduce the assembly cost of these devices and improve their reliability. Displays can be incorporated in EC mirrors while having reflective coatings on the fourth surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: AJJER LLC
    Inventors: Anoop Agrawal, Juan Carlos L. Tonazzi, John P. Cronin
  • Patent number: 8446660
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochromic display device, including, a first substrate, first electrodes provided on an upper surface of the first substrate, a second substrate provided to be opposed to the first substrate above the first substrate, the second substrate being formed of a transparent material, second electrodes provided on an undersurface of the second substrate, at least a part of the second electrodes being formed of a transparent electrode material, and an electrochromic composition layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrochromic composition layer contains an electrochromic composition including a supporting electrolyte, a polar solvent, a leuco dye, a hydroquinone derivative and/or a catechol derivative, a ferrocene derivative, and a compound having a carbonyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Suzuki, Tetsuya Higuchi, Wu Weng, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20130120822
    Abstract: An electrochromic device including: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes: (1) a solvent; (2) an anodic material; and (3) 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; (d) wherein a seal member, the first substrate, the second substrate, and/or the chamber includes a plug associated with a fill port; and (e) wherein the plug is at least partially cured with an antimonate photo initiator and/or is a one- or two-part plug which comprises a resin or mixture of resins that are substantially insoluble and/or substantially immiscible with an associated electrochromic medium while in the uncured state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Veenman, William L. Tonar, Joel A. Stray, Leroy J. Kloeppner, David L. Poll, Gary J. Dozeman, Nalini C. Menon, Kevin L. Ash
  • Patent number: 8441708
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, a porous electrochromic layer disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The porous electrochromic layer includes different sized nanoparticle clusters, and each nanoparticle cluster includes a plurality of nanoparticles and an electrochromic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Inha-Industry Partnership Institute
    Inventors: Seog-Jin Jeon, Chang-Ho Noh, Wan-In Lee
  • Patent number: 8416486
    Abstract: A light weight electrochromic dimmable mirror stack (300, 600) is presented that is composed only of solid-state layers (315, 615) with a total thickness of less than 50 micron and a reflector (310, 610). Normally such a kind of layered device suffers from iridescence due to interference of light waves reflecting at the interfaces between the layers of the electrochromic device. The solution provided by the invention is to pattern at least one of the layers (315, 615) in the device such that the interference effects are smeared out and a more neutral color is obtained. Various possible configurations are described and also the method to produce such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Chaineux
    Inventors: Edy Widjaja, Peter Persoone
  • Patent number: 8411348
    Abstract: An electroconductive layer (2) designed to be combined with a substrate having a glass function, said layer (2) being composed of a metal grid (9), characterized in that the metal grid (9) consists of a pure metal and in that it is coated with at least one electrochemical protection layer (10), especially a metal layer or a metal nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Emmanuel Valentin, Samuel Dubrenat, Didier Jousse, Jean-Christophe Giron, Philippe Letocart, Se-Jong Kim, Emilie Steers
  • Patent number: 8373919
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element with an electrochromic apodized aperture having variable light transmittance in response to the amplitude of an applied voltage. The apodized aperture includes (i) a first substrate having a planar inner surface and an outer surface, (ii) a second substrate having an outer surface and a non-planar inner surface opposing and spaced from the planar inner surface of the first substrate, wherein each of the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate has an at least partial layer of transparent conductive material thereover; and (iii) an electrochromic medium disposed between the planar inner surface of the first substrate and the non-planar inner surface of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Foller, Robert H. Tang, Forrest R. Blackburn, Robert W. Walters, Kevin W. Seybert
  • Patent number: 8373920
    Abstract: A display device includes a pair of insulating substrates facing each other, electrochromic elements, and an electrolyte layer. A plurality of electrodes constituting the electrochromic elements are disposed on an inner surface of one of the insulating substrates so as to be spaced from each other. One of the insulating substrates is formed of a flexible member whose outer surface is an input operation surface. A pair of counter electrodes of an input element are disposed between the pair of insulating substrates, the counter electrodes being spaced from the electrodes of the electrochromic elements when viewed in plan. An input operation is performed by bringing the counter electrodes close to each other or bringing the counter electrodes into contact with each other through pressing of the input operation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8368993
    Abstract: A 2D/3D image switching display device includes an image display unit and an image switching unit coupled to a surface of the image display unit, and the image switching unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate, first and second conducting elements corresponding to the first and second substrates respectively, and an electrochromic unit installed between the first and second substrates, and the electrochromic unit includes a first electrochromic layer and a second electrochromic layer combined with each other, such that when the image display unit switches its display from the display of planar images to stereo images, the electrochromic layers turn to a dark light-shading condition for a better light-shielding effect, and moire patterns will not be produced after naked eyes receive left and right eye images of a stereo image, and the display device can display stereo images directly without requiring an additional parallax barrier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: J Touch Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Chou Yeh, Chao-Yi Wang, Tsung-Her Yeh
  • Patent number: 8368992
    Abstract: An electrochromic element comprises a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship to the first substrate and having a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and an electrochromic medium located between the first and second substrates, wherein the electrochromic medium has a light transmittance that is variable upon application of an electric field thereto. The electrochromic element further comprises a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises an insulator/metal/insulator stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Neuman, Henry A. Luten, John S. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Forgette, Scott W. VanderZwaag