Electrochromic mirror

• US 20050237595A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• 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 7,327,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1552 Inner electrode, e.g. the electrochromic layer being sandwiched between the inner electrode and the support substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/50 Protective arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrochromic mirror, comprising a transparent substrate; an electrochromic film that develops color reductively having the transparent substrate on or above the surface thereof; a light-reflecting film allowing transmission of hydrogen or lithium atoms formed on the side of the electrochromic film opposite to the transparent substrate; a substrate having an electrically conductive area at least on one surface facing the light-reflecting film; and an electrolyte solution at least containing a hydrogen ion and an oxidizable material containing neutral molecules or negative ions and that is sealed between the light-reflecting film and the conductive area of the substrate; wherein (i) the light-reflecting film has electrical conductivity, or (ii) a transparent electrode film having electrical conductivity is formed between the transparent substrate and the electrochromic film, further comprising a dielectric film having a hydrogen or lithium ion conductivity formed between the light-reflecting film and the electrolyte solution.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror, comprising

a transparent substrate;

an electrochromic film, that reductively develops color, and has the transparent substrate on or above a surface thereof;

a light-reflecting film, that allows transmission of hydrogen atoms or lithium atoms, and is formed on a side of the electrochromic film that is opposite to a side provided with the transparent substrate;

a substrate having an electrically conductive area on at least one surface that faces the light-reflecting film; and

an electrolyte solution that comprises hydrogen ions and an oxidizable material containing neutral molecules or negative ions and that is sealed between the light-reflecting film and the conductive area of the substrate, wherein

(i) the light-reflecting film has electrical conductivity, or,

(ii) a transparent electrode film having electrical conductivity is formed between the transparent substrate and the electrochromic film,

further comprising a dielectric film that has hydrogen ion conductivity or lithium ion conductivity and is formed between the light-reflecting film and the electrolyte solution.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the light-reflecting film allows transmission of hydrogen atoms and has electrical conductivity; and

the dielectric film has hydrogen ion conductivity.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, wherein the dielectric film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, magnesium fluoride, and tantalum pentoxide.

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the transparent electrode film having electrical conductivity is formed between the transparent substrate and the electrochromic film; and

the dielectric film has hydrogen ion conductivity.

5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 4, wherein the dielectric film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, magnesium fluoride, and tantalum pentoxide.

6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the light-reflecting film allows transmission of lithium atoms and has electrical conductivity; and

the dielectric film has lithium ion conductivity.

7. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 6, wherein the dielectric film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and aluminum lithium fluoride.

8. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the transparent electrode film having electrical conductivity is formed between the transparent substrate and the electrochromic film; and

the dielectric film has lithium ion conductivity.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein the dielectric film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and aluminum lithium fluoride.

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the light-reflecting film allows transmission of hydrogen atoms and has electrical conductivity; and

the dielectric film has electrical conductivity and hydrogen ion conductivity.

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and titanium nitride.