US5278693A
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US
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Tinted solution-phase electrochromic devices
Assignee: Gentex Corp
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Filing: 1992-01-13
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Granted: 1994-01-11
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Expires: 2012-01-13
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides improved solution-phase electrochromic devices, wherein the solution of reversibly variable transmittance is tinted with a tint-providing compound, and solutions of reversibly variable transmittance for use in the improved devices of the invention. An electrochromic device of the invention can be used, for example, as the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable-reflectance motor vehicle mirror. Among such mirrors provided by the invention are blue-tinted mirrors.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Theiste
- 👤 Harlan J. Byker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1503; G02F2001/1502; G02F1/1514; G02F2001/15145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
In a solution-phase electrochromic device, wherein a solution, which is a medium of reversibly variable transmittance, comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, and a cathodic electrochromic compound, the improvement which comprises having in said solution a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a solution-phase electrochromic device, wherein a solution, which is a medium of reversibly variable transmittance, comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, and a cathodic electrochromic compound, the improvement which comprises having in said solution a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the electrochromic device is single-compartment and self-erasing and wherein, in the solution of reversibly variable transmittance in the device, dimethylphenazine is the anodic electrochromic compound, and a salt of a viologen is the cathodic electrochromic compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the solution comprises polymethylmethacrylate thickener and an UV-stabilizing agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The improvement according to claim 3 wherein, in the solution, the solvent is propylene carbonate, the polymethylmethacrylate thickener is present at between about 1% (w/v) and about 5% (w/v), the UV-stabilizing agent is ethyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate and is present at between about 0.1 molar and 1.0 molar, the dimethylphenazine is present at between about 0.01 molar and about 0.1 molar, and the cathodic compound is 4,4'-dibenzyl-2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbipyridinium difluoroborate and is present at between about 0.01 molar and 0.1 molar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the tint-providing compound is selected from the group consisting of azulene, guaiazulene, and quinoline yellow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement according to claim 3 wherein the tint-providing compound is selected from the group consisting of azulene, guaiazulene, and quinoline yellow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 3 wherein the tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 5 wherein the tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement according to claim 9 wherein the tint-providing compound is guaiazulene and is present at a concentration between about 0.01 molar and about 0.03 molar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 3 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 5 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 6 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 7 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 8 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 9 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 10 wherein the electrochromic device is the component of reversibly variable transmittance in a variable reflectance motor vehicle mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A solution, which is a medium of reversibly variable transmittance in a solution-phase electrochromic device and comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, a cathodic electrochromic compound, and a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A solution, which is a medium of reversibly variable transmittance in a solution-phase electrochromic device and comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, a cathodic electrochromic compound, and a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
A solution according to claim 21 which is the medium of reversibly variable transmittance in a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device, which comprises polymethylmethacrylate at between about 1% (w/v) and about 5% (w/v), which comprises ethyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate at between about 0.1 molar and 1.0 molar, and wherein the solvent is propylene carbonate, the anodic electrochromic compound is dimethylphenazine at between about 0.01 molar and about 0.1 molar, and the cathodic electrochromic compound is 4,4'-dibenzyl-2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbipyridinium difluoroborate at between about 0.01 molar and 0.1 molar.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A solution according to claim 21 wherein the tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A solution according to claim 22 wherein the tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solution according to claim 24 wherein the tint-providing compound is guaiazulene at between about 0.01 molar and about 0.03 molar.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tinted, variable reflectance rearview motor vehicle mirror wherein variable reflectance is provided by a reversibly variable transmittance, single-compartment, solution-phase, self-erasing electrochromic device, wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is a solution which comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, a cathodic electrochromic compound and a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tinted, variable reflectance rearview motor vehicle mirror wherein variable reflectance is provided by a reversibly variable transmittance, single-compartment, solution-phase, self-erasing electrochromic device, wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is a solution which comprises a solvent, an anodic electrochromic compound, a cathodic electrochromic compound and a tint-providing compound, which is selected from the group consisting of an azulene and quinoline yellow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mirror according to claim 26 which is blue-tinted and wherein, in the electrochromic device, the solution of reversibly variable transmittance has an azulene as the blue-tint-providing compound.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
A mirror according to claim 27 wherein, in the electrochromic device, the solution of reversibly variable transmittance has propylene carbonate as solvent, dimethylphenazine at between about 0.01 molar and about 0.1 molar as the anodic electrochromic compound, 4,4'-dibenzyl-2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbipyridinium difluoroborate at between about 0.01 molar and 0.1 molar as the cathodic electrochromic compound, polymethylmethacrylate at between about 1% (w/v) and about 5% (w/v), and ethyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate at between about 0.1 molar and 1.0 molar.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mirror according to claim 28 wherein, in the solution, the blue-tint-providing compound is azulene or guaiazulene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mirror according to claim 29 wherein, in the solution, the blue-tint-providing compound is guaiazulene at between about 0.01 molar and about 0.03 molar.
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