Electrochromic devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same

• US 20110051221A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Veerasamy, Vijayen S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10045 with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10981 Pre-treatment of the layers
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• 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: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to electrochromic (EC) devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to improved EC materials, EC device stacks, high-volume manufacturing (HVM) compatible process integration schemes, and/or high-throughput low cost deposition sources, equipment, and factories.

Claims

1. An electrochromic (EC) assembly, comprising:

first, second, and third glass substrates, the second and third substrates being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from one another;

a plurality of sputter deposited EC device layers supported by the first substrate, the plurality of EC device layers comprising a first transparent conductive coating (TCC), a counter electrode (CE) layer, ion conductor (IC) layer, an EC layer, and a second TCC;

wherein the first and second substrates are laminated or bonded to one another, and

wherein the second substrate is thermally tempered and the first substrate is not thermally tempered.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the EC device layers face the second substrate.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the EC device layers face the third substrate.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each said TCC includes a layer of silver sandwiched by layers of ITO, and further wherein NiCr inclusive or Cu layers are provided between the layer of silver and the layers of ITO.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheet resistance of each said TCC is less than 10 ohms/square.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the IC layer includes LiPON.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the EC layer comprises WOx.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the WOx is sub-stoichiometric.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein 2.6<

x<

3.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the CE layer, the IC layer, and/or the EC layer is/are doped with Mg.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more low-E coatings, the low-E coatings being supported by an inner surface of the second substrate, one or both surfaces of the first substrate, and/or an interior surface of the third glass substrate.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a UV blocking coating on the inner surface of the second substrate.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the EC device substrate is laminated or bonded to the second glass substrate via a polymer-based layer.

14. An electrochromic (EC) assembly, comprising:

at least first and second glass substrates, the first and second substrates being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from one another; and

a plurality of sputter deposited device layers supported by the first substrate, the plurality of EC device layers comprising a first transparent conductive coating (TCC), a doped and anodically coloring counter electrode (CE) layer, an ion conductor (IC) layer, a doped EC layer comprising WOx, and a second TCC.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the IC layer includes Li.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the IC layer includes LiPON.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the CE and EC layers are doped with Mg.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the WOx is substoichiometric.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the CE and EC layers are both color changeable when the EC assembly is in operation.

20. The assembly of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second substrates is a low-iron glass substrate.

21. An electrochromic device including a plurality of thin-film layers supported by a first substrate, the plurality of layers comprising:

a doped and anodically coloring anode layer;

an electrolyte layer comprising Li; and

a doped cathode layer comprising WOx.

22. The electrochromic device, wherein the anode and cathode layers are both electrochromic color changing layers in operation.