US4844592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cathodic electrochromic material, method of making, and new electrochromic device
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1987-12-24
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Granted: 1989-07-04
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Expires: 2007-12-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention teaches electrochromic lead oxide as a new electrochromic material. An electrochromic device is constructed from this material by forming a cathodic electrochromic device. A fast ion conductor is also provided which is capable of generating ions when an electric field is applied thereto. The fast ion conductor also permits ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough. The fast ion conductor and the electrochromic lead oxide are arranged between an anode and a cathode to form an electrochromic device. Preferably, the lead oxide is in a layer next to the cathode. With the lead oxide layer next to the cathode, the device is a cathodic electrochromic device which can generate a dark grey color.
Inventors
- 👤 Hulya Demirvont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:14
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A new electrochromic material comprising electrochromic lead oxide, said electrochromic lead oxide being made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A new electrochromic material comprising electrochromic lead oxide, said electrochromic lead oxide being made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electrochromic device comprising: an anode, a cathode, a fast ion conductor capable of generating ions when an electrical field is applied thereto, said fast ion conductor permitting ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough, and electrochromic lead oxide made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide, said fast ion conductor and said electrochromic lead oxide being arranged between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electrochromic device comprising: an anode, a cathode, a fast ion conductor capable of generating ions when an electrical field is applied thereto, said fast ion conductor permitting ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough, and electrochromic lead oxide made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide, said fast ion conductor and said electrochromic lead oxide being arranged between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrochromic device of claim 2 wherein: said fast ion conductor and said electrochromic lead oxide form a single layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochromic device of claim 3 wherein: additional electrochromic materials are included between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electrochromic device comprising: an anode, a cathode, a fast ion conductor capable of generating ions when an electrical field is applied thereto, said fast ion conductor permitting ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough, and a layer of electrochromic lead oxide, said electrochromic lead oxide being made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide, said fast ion conductor and said electrochromic lead oxide layer being arranged between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electrochromic device comprising: an anode, a cathode, a fast ion conductor capable of generating ions when an electrical field is applied thereto, said fast ion conductor permitting ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough, and a layer of electrochromic lead oxide, said electrochromic lead oxide being made by a method which comprises heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide, said fast ion conductor and said electrochromic lead oxide layer being arranged between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochromic device of claim 5 wherein: additional electrochromic materials are included in said layer of electrochromic lead oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electrochromic device of claim 5 wherein: said electrochromic lead oxide layer is located adjacent said cathode whereby said electrochromic device is a cathodic device which operates by reduction of said lead oxide layer when an electrical field is applied thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of producing a dark grey color in an electrochromic device by applying a voltage of no greater than about -5 volts between said anode and said cathode of the electrochromic device defined in claim 7.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device which comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a time sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide; and applying said electrochromic lead oxide to a cathode of the electrochromic device by thermally evaporating said electrochromic lead oxide in a vacuum of about 10 -4 torr and with said Pb 3 O 4 and sad cathode being spaced from one another by a distance of about 10 cm whereby said electrochromic lead oxide is applied to said cathode at a rate of thickness build up of from 100 A° to 300 A° per minute.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device which comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a time sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide; and applying said electrochromic lead oxide to a cathode of the electrochromic device by thermally evaporating said electrochromic lead oxide in a vacuum of about 10 -4 torr and with said Pb 3 O 4 and sad cathode being spaced from one another by a distance of about 10 cm whereby said electrochromic lead oxide is applied to said cathode at a rate of thickness build up of from 100 A° to 300 A° per minute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device as defined in claim 9 wherein: said electrochromic lead oxide is applied at a rate of thickness build up of 200A° per minute.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device as defined in claim 9 wherein: said electrochromic lead oxide is applied to a thickness in a range from 3000 A° to 5000 A°.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device as defined in claim 9 wherein: said electrochromic lead oxide is applied to a thickness of about 4000 A°.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device which comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a time sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide; and applying said electrochromic lead oxide to a cathode of said electrochromic device by thermally evaporating said electrochromic lead oxide in a vacuum onto said cathode.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of making a lead oxide electrochromic device which comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a time sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide; and applying said electrochromic lead oxide to a cathode of said electrochromic device by thermally evaporating said electrochromic lead oxide in a vacuum onto said cathode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of making electrochromic lead oxide, which method comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of making electrochromic lead oxide, which method comprises: heating red lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4 ) in a vacuum at a temperature below the evaporation temperature of said red lead oxide for a period sufficient to convert said red lead oxide to electrochromic lead oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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