MULTI-COLOR ELECTROCHROMIC APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20080259433A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Weidner, Arthur P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for multi-color electrochromic devices. In one embodiment, pixels of a first color electrochromic material (i.e. pigment) are arranged in first areas on a substrate with pixels of a second color electrochromic material in second areas to define a two-dimensional pattern of the first and second color on the substrate. When the applied electric field or current supplied to each pixel is changed, the device may produce the respective colors of the electrochromic materials and may produce a blended color because of the arrangement of the pixels. In accordance with further aspects of the disclosure, the electrochromic materials may form a design, pattern, logo, or picture when the electrochromic materials are activated. In yet further aspects of the disclosure, a substrate is masked and unmasked as a plurality of colors are applied to the substrate to produce a multi-color electrochromic display.

Claims

1. An electrochromic layer for a multi-color electrochromic device, comprising:

a first area of a first electrochromic material arranged within a layer on a substrate; and

a second area of a second electrochromic material arranged within the layer and laterally positioned with respect to the first area on the substrate.

2. The electrochromic layer of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller arranged to electrically activate the first area and arranged to electrically activate the second area.

3. The electrochromic layer of claim 1, wherein the first area and the second area are approximately co-planar and are arranged on the substrate to form a two-dimensional pattern of a first color and a second color on the substrate.

4. The electrochromic layer of claim 1, further comprising:

a third area of a third color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate, the third area being approximately co-planar with the first area and the second area.

5. The electrochromic layer of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrolyte including gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).

6. An electrochromic layer for an electrochromic device, comprising:

a plurality of first pixels of a first color electrochromic material arranged on a substrate; and

a plurality of second pixels of a second color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate and laterally positioned with respect to the plurality of first pixels, the plurality of second pixels interspersed in a common layer with the plurality of first pixels to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material change between color states.

7. The electrochromic layer of claim 6, wherein the plurality of first pixels are approximately co-planar with the plurality of second pixels.

8. The electrochromic layer of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of third pixels of a third color electrochromic material arranged within the common layer and laterally positioned with respect to at least a portion of the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels on the substrate, the plurality of third pixels interspersed at least in part with the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material, the second color electrochromic material, and the third color electrochromic material change between color states.

9. A method of operating a multi-color electrochromic display, comprising:

providing at least one first area of first color electrochromic material within a layer on a substrate;

providing at least one second area of second color electrochromic material within the layer and laterally positioned with respect to the least one first area on the substrate; and

activating at least one of the first area and the second area to change color states.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the second area includes installing on the substrate a plurality of areal densities of the second color electrochromic material interspersed within the at least one first area to produce an appearance of a mixed color when the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material are activated.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the at least one second area of second color electrochromic material includes providing the at least one second area of second color electrochromic material approximately co-planar with the at least one first area of the first color electrochromic material.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing at least one third area of a third color electrochromic material within the layer on the substrate laterally proximate to at least one of the first area and the second area; and

activating the at least one third area of a third color electrochromic material to change color states.

13. A method for forming a multicolor electrochromic layer, comprising:

masking a first portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of first unmasked areas;

depositing a first electrochromic material having a first color within a layer on the substrate in the plurality of first unmasked areas;

unmasking the first portion of the substrate; and

depositing a second electrochromic material having a second color within the layer on the substrate on the first portion, the second electrochromic material being laterally proximate to the first electrochromic material.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein depositing a second electrochromic material within the layer includes depositing the second electrochromic material co-planar with the first color electrochromic material.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first portion includes a plurality of first pixels, and the first unmasked area includes a plurality of second pixels, the plurality of first pixels interspersed among the plurality of second pixels.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second electrochromic materials utilize a common transparent electrical conductor.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of depositing the first electrochromic material and depositing the second electrochromic material includes at least one of:

jet printing; and

sputter coating.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of depositing the first electrochromic material and depositing the second electrochromic material includes electro-polymerization.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

masking a second portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of second unmasked areas; and

depositing a third electrochromic material having a third color within the layer on the substrate on the second unmasked areas, the third electrochromic material being laterally proximate to at least one of the first and second electrochromic materials.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein masking a first portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of first unmasked areas includes at least one of forming a portion of a design, a pattern, a logo, and a picture.