EP0470867A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Electrochromic assembly
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
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Filing: 1991-08-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An electrochromic assembly (10,110,130,150) for rearview mirrors, windows, vehicle sunroofs, information displays, office partitions and other structures comprises a pair of optically aligned, electrochromic devices defined by at least one transparent sheet (12,14,16,112,114), first and second layers of electrochromic material (M1,M2) adjacent opposing surfaces of the sheets, the transmittance of the layers being variable when an electrical field is applied, and electrical conductors (18,20,22,24)) for applying such an electrical field. Electrical energy is switched alternately from one device to the other for short periods of time while the remaining device is alternately bleached. A reflective coating (42) may be included to allow operation as a dimming mirror. Anti-reflection (46) and index of refraction matching coatings may be included to enhance transmission. Electrical energy may also be applied to both devices simultaneously to provide a deeper level of coloration than is possible from either device alone.
Inventors
- 👤 Niall Richard Lynam
- 👤 Kenneth Lee Schierbeek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:23
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/163; G02F1/153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An electrochromic assembly (10,110,130,150) comprising, first and second optically aligned electrochromic devices which comprise first and second layers (M1,M2) of electrochromic material located adjacent opposing surfaces of transparent sheet material, each layer being adapted to vary in transmittance when an electrical field is applied thereacross, electrical means (18, 20, 22, 24, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) for applying an electrical field across each layer, and switch means (50,80,250,300) for selectively applying electricity to the first and second devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the switch means includes means (204,216,204′,216′) adapted to apply electricity cyclically and alternatingly to the first and second devices in order to cause coloration of one said device while bleaching the other said device and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which is adapted to apply a variable quantity of electricity to the first and second devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the variable quantity is voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the switch means includes means (238) for applying electricity concurrently to the first and second devices such that the depth of coloration of the assembly is greater than that provided by each device alone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the switch means includes means (214,302) for periodically reversing the polarity of the electricity applied to the devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a said device includes a first space defined by first and second spaced optically transparent elements (14,16) each having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces (14a,14b,16a,16b).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 7 which includes a second space defined by a third optically transparent element (12) being spaced from the first element (14), the third element having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces (12a,12b)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which the electrical means includes first and second power terminals (200,202) and means for connecting the first terminal to the first element (14), and the switch means are adapted to switch between first and second states, the first state having the first terminal connected to the second element (16) and the second terminal connected to the third element (12), the second state having the first terminal connected to the third element and the second terminal connected to the second element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 in which the electrochromic material in a said device includes at least one of a liquid, thickened liquid, gel and semi-solid electrochromic material confined in a said space, seal means (30,32) extends around the entire periphery of the assembly and between the first and another said element (12,14,16) adjacent their peripheral edges for spacing the elements apart and confining the electrochromic material in the said space, the electrical means includes an electrically conductive coating (18,20,22,24) on the facing surfaces (14b,16a,14a,12b,114b,112a) of the elements, the electrochromic material (M2) being in contact with the conductive coatings, and connector means (38,40,142,144) being adapted to connect an electrical lead (39,41) to each conductive coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 10 in which the first (14˝) and second (16) elements are offset from one another such that portions of the conductive coatings (18,20,22,24) are exposed adjacent the peripheral edges of the elements, the connector means including a clamp type metallic ribbon connector (142,144) secured to each offset element edge, each ribbon connector being adapted to contact at least one conductive coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 in which the electrically conductive coatings (18,20,22,24) of both devices include a plurality of areas (154,155,156,157,158,159,160,161,162) spaced from one another by uncoated deletion lines (152), the areas in the respective devices being optically aligned and in registry with one another, whereby the transmittance of at least one pair of areas may be varied separately from the remainder of the areas for prolonged periods of time with reduced color segregation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12 in which a said element (16) includes a surface (16b) having a reflective coating (42) adapted to reflect incident light through the assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 13 in which the reflective coating (42) reflects incident light through another said element (12,14) and the electrochromic material (M1,M2).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14 in which includes an anti-reflective coating (46) on the outermost surface (12a) of a said element (12) to provide lower total relfectivity and reduced double imaging.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 15 in which a surface of a said element which faces another said element includes a thin film, the film having an index of refraction below that of the said element to which it is applied, the combined indices of refraction of the said element and the thin film being generally matched to that of the electrochromic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16 in which the devices are secured by an optically transparent material (116).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as claimed in claimed 17 in which the transparent securing material is an adhesive having an index of refraction substantially matched to the index of refraction of the transparent elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 in which a said transparent element of the first device (114) is laminated to a said transparent element of the second device with a polymer layer (116).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes means (500) adapted to operate upon electrical power failure for shorting out the electrical field across each device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the electrical means are adapted to apply an electrical field to selected areas (154,155,156,157,158,159,160,161,162) of the assembly, the areas being optically aligned and in registry with one another, whereby the transmittance of at least one pair of areas may be varied separately from the remainder of the areas for prolonged periods of time with reduced color segregation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
98 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the switch means is adapted first to apply electricity for a first short period of time to cause coloration of the first device while bleaching the second device to a substantially colorless transparent state and second to apply electricity to the second device for a second short period of time to cause coloration of the other second device while bleaching the first device to a substantially colorless transparent state and thereafter to apply electricity and bleach the devices alternately and cyclically in the same manner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 22 in which the switch means includes means for causing one device to begin coloration during the time period in which the other device is at least partially colored during the alternating cyclical operation, whereby adjustment is made for matching bleaching rates as compared to coloration rates in the devices.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 22 in which the switch means includes means for causing one device to color simultaneously with the bleaching of the other device for the same period of time, and vice versa during continued cyclical operation of the assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 22 in which the second short period of time immediately follows the first short period of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 22 in which the switch means includes compensation means (208,220,320,322) adapted to adjust one of the bleaching and coloration rates to match the other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
71 words
An assembly as claimed in any one claims 1 to 21 in which the switch means is adapted to apply electricity across the electrochromic material in one device during the time period in which electricity is applied across the electrochromic material in the other device, and vice versa during continued alternating operation, whereby adjustment is made for bleaching rates as compared to coloration rates of the electrochromic materials in the spaces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 in which a pair of electrically conductive busses (34,36,38,40) are adapted to apply an electrical field across each device; the electrical means include a power source including first and second power terminals (200,202) and means for applying electricity thereacross; means (37,39)are adapted to connect a said power terminal to one said bus of each said device; the switch means comprising first switch means (204,204′,308) for alternatingly connecting the other said bus of one said device to the first and second power terminals and second switch means (216,216′,306) for alternatingly connecting the other said bus of the other said device to the first and second power terminals; and control means (214,304) are adapted to cause the first and second switch means to switch between the first and second terminals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 28 in which the control means is adapted to cause the first and second switch means to alternatingly switch repetitively between the first and second power terminals whereby the power source may be applied across one device while a short circuit is applied across the other device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 28 or claim 29 in which the first switch means is adapted to begin to apply a voltage across one device concurrently with the second switch means beginning to apply a short circuit across the other device, and vice versa.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as claimed in any one claim of claim 9 or claims 28 to 30 in which the electrical means includes an impedance device (208,220,320,322) in electrical series connection between a said switch means and a said power terminal (200).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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