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US3957352A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrochromic display having improved electrolyte

Assignee: Timex Group USA Inc
•
Filing: 1975-09-02
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Granted: 1976-05-18
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Expires: 1995-09-02
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Abstract

Abstract An electrochromic display device having transparent front electrodes on a substrate, said front electrodes being coated with electrochromic material having different oxidation states for displaying optical patterns, a back electrode on a parallel substrate also coated with electrochromic material, a thin porous separator between the substrates, a liquid electrolyte contacting the electrochromic layers, said electrolyte being saturated with electrochromic materials in each of the oxidation states to reduce the degradation of the electrochromic layers as they pass through each of the oxidation states. The saturating materials are tungsten trioxide, hydrogen tungsten oxide, and tungsten dioxide in the electrochromic display described.

Inventors

  • 👤 Marshall Leibowitz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 12:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1523; G02F1/1525; G02F1/1524

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
In an electrochromic display of the type having first and second parallel spaced substrates with selectively actuable spaced electrodes thereon, at least some of said electrodes having electrochromic layers thereon which may exist in different oxidation states, said states having different optical, electrical, and solubility properties, and porous separator means between the first and second substrates, the improvement comprising: an electrolyte saturated at expected operating temperature with at least two of the more soluble states of said electrochromic material, so as to reduce the degradation of the electrochromic layers of the display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
In an electrochromic display of the type having first and second parallel spaced substrates with selectively actuable spaced electrodes thereon, at least some of said electrodes having electrochromic layers thereon which may exist in different oxidation states, said states having different optical, electrical, and solubility properties, and porous separator means between the first and second substrates, the improvement comprising: an electrolyte saturated at expected operating temperature with at least two of the more soluble states of said electrochromic material, so as to reduce the degradation of the electrochromic layers of the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The display according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic layers are selected to undergo transition into states of at least tungsten trioxide and hydrogen tungsten oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The combination according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyte is saturated with tungsten dioxide, and hydrogen tungsten oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The combination according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyte is saturated with tungsten dioxide, hydrogen tungsten oxide, and tungsten trioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyte is a mixture of dilute sulphuric acid and titanium dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The combination according to claim 5, wherein the electrolyte is saturated with tungsten dioxide, hydrogen tungsten oxide, and tungsten trioxide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 124 words
The method of making an electrochromic display of the type having first and second spaced substrates with spaced electrodes having electrochromic layers thereon which may exist in different oxide states and an electrolyte in which at least one of said states is soluble, comprising: adding an excess of at least two soluble states of the same electrochromic material to the electrolyte, heating said electrolyte above the expected operating range of said display to dissolve an excess of said material therein, permitting said electrolyte to cool down to an ambient temperature to produce a saturated electrolyte, and, filling the space between said substrates with said saturated electrolyte during assembly of the display, in order to reduce degradation of the electrochromic layers with time and temperature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 124 words
The method of making an electrochromic display of the type having first and second spaced substrates with spaced electrodes having electrochromic layers thereon which may exist in different oxide states and an electrolyte in which at least one of said states is soluble, comprising: adding an excess of at least two soluble states of the same electrochromic material to the electrolyte, heating said electrolyte above the expected operating range of said display to dissolve an excess of said material therein, permitting said electrolyte to cool down to an ambient temperature to produce a saturated electrolyte, and, filling the space between said substrates with said saturated electrolyte during assembly of the display, in order to reduce degradation of the electrochromic layers with time and temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein: one added state of electrochromic material comprises tungsten dioxide and wherein the electrolyte is heated to a temperature on the order of 70° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein: an excess of tungsten trioxide, hydrogen tungsten oxide, and tungsten dioxide are added to an electrolyte of dilute sulphuric acid and are heated to a temperature on the order of 70° C.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3451741A Cited
US3708220A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-05-18 1979-11-17 1980-05-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-05-18 1983-11-17 1984-05-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-05-18 1987-11-17 1988-05-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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