US4775227A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochromic device
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-06-03
•
Granted: 1988-10-04
•
Expires: 2006-06-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrochromic device consists of the layers: tin-oxide-coated glass; rare earth diphthalocyanine (REDPC); membrane electrolyte; REDPC; tin-oxide-coated glass. The REDPC is the electrochromic layer and contains a mixture of rare earths as obtained from a natural deposit without being individually separated. The REDPC is preheated to purify it and then sublimed into position as the device is assembled. The device is driven by a controller which is limited to the voltage range +2V to -1V, whereby only the colors red, green and blue are obtainable, that is, although the REDPC at -1.5V would show purple, this is deliberately foregone to prolong its life. The REDPC may be further mixed with tin phthalocyanine chloride or ruthenium, iron, zinc or cobalt phthalocyanine.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Silver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/163; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An electrochromic device comprising a conductive layer, bearing an electrochromic layer comprising a metal phthalocyanine capable of the color changes red ←→green ←→blue←→purple, itself bearing an electrolytic medium contacting the electrochromic layer, and a conductive layer overlying the electrolytic medium, at least one of the conductive layers being translucent, and a controller which applies a potential between the two conductive layer sandwiching the other layers, characterized in that the controller limits the potential between the conductive layers to within the range red←→green ←→blue of from +2 V to -1.0 V, the device being characterized in that the electrochromic layer is a duplex or mixed layer of APc 2 with at least one of MPc, SnPcCl 2 and another APc 2 , where A=any rare earth (including Sc, La and Y) or mixtures thereof, M=Ru, Fe, Zn or Co or mixtures thereof, and Pc=phthalocyanine, at least three rare earth elements in said electrochromic layer accounting for at least 10 weight percent each of the total rare earths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electrochromic device comprising a conductive layer, bearing an electrochromic layer comprising a metal phthalocyanine capable of the color changes red ←→green ←→blue←→purple, itself bearing an electrolytic medium contacting the electrochromic layer, and a conductive layer overlying the electrolytic medium, at least one of the conductive layers being translucent, and a controller which applies a potential between the two conductive layer sandwiching the other layers, characterized in that the controller limits the potential between the conductive layers to within the range red←→green ←→blue of from +2 V to -1.0 V, the device being characterized in that the electrochromic layer is a duplex or mixed layer of APc 2 with at least one of MPc, SnPcCl 2 and another APc 2 , where A=any rare earth (including Sc, La and Y) or mixtures thereof, M=Ru, Fe, Zn or Co or mixtures thereof, and Pc=phthalocyanine, at least three rare earth elements in said electrochromic layer accounting for at least 10 weight percent each of the total rare earths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytic medium is liquid or solid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or both of the conductive layers are electronically conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the electronically conductive layer(s) is (are) hydrogen uranyl phosphate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller limits the potential to within the range +2 V to -0.8 V.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent electronically conductive layer is a doped tin-oxide-coated glass or a thin metal film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrochromic device according to claim 1, in which the electrochromic layer contains rare earth elements in substantially the proportions occurring in a natural depositor mixtures of natural deposits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4184751A
Cited
US4306774A
Cited
GB2087582A
Cited
US4432612A
Cited
US4474433A
Cited
US4571029A
Cited
JPH11326A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |