US4889414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light modulating device
Assignee: EIC Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-25
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2005-09-25
Abstract
Abstract In a device for transmitting light, means for controlling the transmissivity of the device, including a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when the electrons and ions are removed, the crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in the reflective state and not greater than 10% in the transmissive state, and means for modulating the crystalline element between the reflective and transmissive states by injecting ions into the crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing the ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
Inventors
- 👤 R. David Rauh
- 👤 Ronald B. Goldner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1523; G02F1/1524; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/02; G02F2203/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for transmitting light comprising means for controlling the transmissivity of said device, said transmissivity controlling means comprising (a) a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, and (b) means for modulating said crystalline element between said reflective and said transmissive states by injecting ions into said crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing said ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for transmitting light comprising means for controlling the transmissivity of said device, said transmissivity controlling means comprising (a) a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, and (b) means for modulating said crystalline element between said reflective and said transmissive states by injecting ions into said crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing said ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said crystalline element is so characterized by exhibiting a degree of crystalline order, sufficient to ensure said reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with said electrons and said charge compensating ions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said crystalline element is so characterized by being sufficiently free of crystalline defects to ensure said reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with said electrons and said charge compensating ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the orientation of the highest mobility crystallite faces of said crystalline element is characterized as being sufficiently uniform and transverse to the incident light beam to ensure said reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with said electrons and said charge compensating ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the chemical composition of said crystalline element is so characterized by being sufficiently close to stoichiometric to ensure said reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with said electrons and said charge compensating ions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said chemical composition of said crystalline element is WO x .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 5 wherein X is between 2.8 and 3, inclusive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said modulating means is a ceramic element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said ceramic element is an amorphous, reversibly electrochromic compound capable of anodically injecting ions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said ceramic element is IrO 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said ceramic element is an amorphous, weakly electrochromic compound capable of cathodically injecting ions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said ceramic element is Nb 2 O 5 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said modulating means is chosen from the group consisting of SnO 2-x ; SnO 2-x doped with Sb, F, or In; In 2 O 3-x ; In 2 O 3-x doped with Sn, F, or Cd; In 2 O 3-x /SnO 2-x alloys doped with Sn, Sb, F, In, or Cd; and glass substrates coated with said SnO 2-x , said doped SnO 2-x , said In 2 O 3-x , said doped In 2 O 3-x , or said doped In 2 O 3-x /SnO 2-x alloys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising an electrically insulating element capable of conducting ions between said crystalline element and said modulating means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
18 words
The device of claims 1 or 13 wherein said modulating means forms an outermost portion of said device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said crystalline element forms an outermost portion of said device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
24 words
The device of claims 1 or 13 wherein said modulating means and said crystalline element each form a separate outermost portion of said device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 14 wherein said electrically insulating element is LiAlF 4 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means for applying said electrical currents of first and second polarities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a first transparent electrode in contact with said crystalline element and a second transparent electrode in contact with said modulating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said first transparent electrode and said second transparent electrode, independently, are chosen from the group consisting of SnO 2-x ; SnO 2-x doped with Sb, F, or In; In 2 O 3-x ; In 2 O 3-x doped with Sn, F, or Cd; In 2 O 3-x SnO 2-x alloys doped with Sn, Sb, F, In, or Cd; and glass substrates coated with said SnO 2-x , said doped SnO 2-x , said In 2 O 3-x , said doped In 2 O 3-x , or said doped In 2 O 3-x /SnO 2-x alloys.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said device is deposited on a transparent substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said device is sandwiched between two transparent substrates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said crystalline element and said modulating means are substantially continuous films.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for producing a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, said method comprising the steps of sputtering a compound onto a heated substrate, the temperature of said substrate being sufficient to cause crystallization of said compound as deposited in substantially oriented and ordered form, from a sputtering target comprising said compound to be deposited, said sputtering being conducted by means of a radio frequency plasma in an atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a reactive gas capable of being incorporated into said compound as deposited, said reactive gas being present in an amount sufficient to produce said crystalline element in substantially stoichiometric, oriented, and ordered form, wherein said stoichiometry, said order, and said orientation are so characterized by being sufficient to ensure a reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with electrons and charge compensating ions.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for producing a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, said method comprising the steps of sputtering a compound onto a heated substrate, the temperature of said substrate being sufficient to cause crystallization of said compound as deposited in substantially oriented and ordered form, from a sputtering target comprising said compound to be deposited, said sputtering being conducted by means of a radio frequency plasma in an atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a reactive gas capable of being incorporated into said compound as deposited, said reactive gas being present in an amount sufficient to produce said crystalline element in substantially stoichiometric, oriented, and ordered form, wherein said stoichiometry, said order, and said orientation are so characterized by being sufficient to ensure a reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with electrons and charge compensating ions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the chemical composition of said crystalline element is WO x where X is between 2.8 and 3, inclusive.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the power of said radio frequency plasma is between 1.7 and 2.2 watts/cm 2 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |