Flexible and printable electrooptic devices

• US 20110096388A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chromera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Inventors: Adams, Lori L., Agrawal, Anoop, Tonazzi, Juan Carlos L., Cronin, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,030,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/268
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

This invention discloses how EC devices can be fabricated as tags or labels; and further the materials used, device structures and how these can be processed by printing technologies. In addition, systems using displays of such EC devices and their integration with other components are described for forming labels and tags, etc, that may be actuated wirelessly or powered with low voltage and low capacity batteries.

Claims

1. An electrochromic (EC) device comprises a pair of conducting electrodes and an electrolyte material disposed between the pair of conducting electrodes,

(a) one of the said electrodes is transparent;

(b) the said device comprises of redox material which is a colorless or a faintly colored monomer.

2. An electrochromic (EC) device as in claim 1 used for a display or an indicator.

3. An electrochromic (EC) device as in claim 2 where the device is formed by printing at least one of the electrodes or the electrolyte.

4. An electrochromic (EC) device as in claim 1, where the polymerized monomer is electronically conductive.

6. An electrochromic (EC) device as in claim 1 wherein the electrolyte in the device further comprises of a redox material that is complimentary to the said monomer that polymerizes.

5. (canceled)

7-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A printed electrochromic (EC) device comprising an electrolyte and a pair of conducting electrodes for use as a display or an indicator, wherein the electric potential applied to activate the device causes a color change by deposition of a metal layer at the cathode and the said color change is irreversible.

11-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A tag or a label formed using a substrate which is flexible and opaque with front and back surfaces, the said tag or label comprising a printed electrooptic display;

and electronics to power the said display the said electronics further comprising of a radiofrequency system and an associated antenna, wherein the display is located on the front side of the said substrate and the antenna is located on the back side of the said substrate.

21-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A process for producing a flexible electrooptic tag or label comprising a first flexible substrate accommodating an electrooptic display and a radiofrequency activation system, wherein the radiofrequency activation system comprises at least of electronics module and an antenna, and the process comprises of the following;

(a) printing or forming conductive lines on the said first substrate that connect the display and the radiofrequency components;

(b) forming the display on the first flexible substrate;

or pre-forming the display on a second flexible substrate, and assembling the said display on the first flexible substrate;

(c) forming an antenna onto the said first substrate, or forming an antenna onto a third flexible substrate, and assembling the said antenna on the said first substrate;

(d) pre-forming the electronic module on a fourth flexible substrate and assembling the said electronic module on the said first substrate.

28. A process for producing a flexible electrooptic tag or label as in claim 27, wherein the electrooptic display is an EC device or a field activated device.

29. A process for producing a flexible electrooptic tag or label as in claim 27 wherein the electronic module and the antenna are pre-formed on a substrate, wherein the third and fourth substrate are the same.

30. A process for producing a flexible electrooptic tag or label as in claim 27 where optional components including solar cell, battery, a powering capacitor or any other wireless energy harvester system are assembled on to the said first, second, third or the fourth substrate.

31-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A process for forming a solid electrolyte layer by printing of an electrolyte formulation, wherein the formulation in addition to the electrolytic components comprises a either first polymer and a first solvent, or a monomer and an optional second solvent and an optional second polymer;

wherein the solidification of the printed layer is caused by (a) removal of the first solvent or removal of the second solvent or the polymerization of the monomer;

(b) with simultaneous phase separation of at least one of the said first polymer, said second polymer and the polymer formed by the polymerization of the said monomer.

62. A process for forming a solid electrolyte layer as in claim 61, where, in the solid state, the polymer has more than one phase, one of which phase is predominantly free from other electrolytic components.

63. A process for forming a solid electrolyte layer as in claim 61, wherein the said electrolyte is for an electrochromic display, battery, sensor and a super capacitor.

64-66. -66. (canceled)

69. A manufacturing process for an EC device that comprises first and second electrodes layers, a substrate and an electrolyte layer, wherein (a) the said electrolyte layer is located between two said electrodes, (b) the first electrode is deposited on a substrate, and (c) the said manufacturing process comprises of a deposition of the electrolyte layer by a printing process touching the top surface of the first electrode, followed by sequential deposition by a printing process of the second electrode touching the top surface of the said electrolyte layer.

71. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69 where the device further comprises of optional insulation layers located between said electrolyte layers and one of the said electrodes, and the insulation layer is deposited by printing processes.

72. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69 where all layers of the said device are deposited by printing processes.

73. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69 where the device further comprises of optional encapsulation layer to protect the underlying layers of the EC device, wherein the encapsulation layer is deposited by printing processes.

74. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69 wherein the electrodes are electrically conductive and the electrolyte layer has electrochromic properties.

75. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69 wherein the electrochromic layer comprises of additional layers located above and below the respective first and the second electrode layers, wherein the additional layers have electronic conduction properties and the said first and second electrodes layers have redox properties.

76. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69, wherein the printing formulation for the electrolyte layer comprises a removable first solvent and the printing formulation for the said electrode layer comprises a second removable solvent, and wherein the first and the second solvent are different.

77. A manufacturing process for an EC device as in claim 69, wherein the printing formulation for the electrolyte layer comprises an inert first polymer and the printing formulation for the said electrode layer comprises a second inert polymer, and where the first and the second polymer have similar mechanical properties.

70. (canceled)

78. A flexible EC device that comprises of at least two electrodes, and at least one electrolyte layer, wherein at least the said electrolyte layer and at least one of the other electrode layers comprise of polymers that have similar mechanical properties.

79. A flexible EC device as in claim 78, wherein one of the electrodes has an electronic conduction properties.

80. A flexible EC device as in claim 78, wherein the electrolyte layer has electrochromic properties.

81. An electrooptic device used in a display application for a tag or a label, wherein the said device comprises of a plastic substrate, an electrochromic layer, an electrode layer and an optional encapsulation layer, wherein any of the said layers comprise of a biodegradeable material.

82. A flexible electronic tag or a label which comprise printed electronic components on a substrate, wherein the said substrate is biodegradable material.

83-88. -88. (canceled)