Variable reflectance mirror

• US 20050237591A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakaho, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/223.100
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective

Abstract

The present invention provides a variable reflectance mirror, comprising a color layer that develops color by binding to hydrogen or lithium, a transparent substrate formed on or above one surface of the color layer, a light-reflecting layer which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium provided on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is formed, and a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer, wherein a transparent intermediate layer which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and having a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer is formed between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance mirror, comprising:

a color layer that can develop color by binding with hydrogen or lithium;

a transparent substrate formed on or above one surface of the color layer;

a light-reflecting layer formed on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is formed, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium; and

a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer,

wherein a transparent intermediate layer, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and having a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer, is formed between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer.

2. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the intermediate layer is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, magnesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, and calcium fluoride.

3. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is 100 nm or less.

4. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is 100 nm or less.

5. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the color layer develops color by binding with hydrogen;

the light-reflecting layer allows permeation of hydrogen; and

the supplying device supplies hydrogen to the color layer.

6. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the color layer develops color by binding with lithium;

the light-reflecting layer allows permeation of lithium; and

the supplying device supplies lithium to the color layer.

7. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the supplying device includes an electrode layer, an electrolytic solution, and a power supply unit.

8. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 5, wherein the supplying device is connected to an apparatus for supplying a gas containing hydrogen.