VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WINDOW

• US 20130063802A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Varaprasad, Desaraju V., Zhao, Mingtang, Dornan, Craig A., Agrawal, Anoop, Allemand, Pierr-Marc, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/089 using a liquid filtering layer of variable thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• 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 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1518 Ferrocene compounds

Abstract

A variable transmission window includes a first substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface and a second substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface. The second substrate is positioned relative to the first substrate with the first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other. An electrochromic medium is disposed between the first and second substrates whereby the transmission of light through the electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto. The electrochromic medium includes a cross-linked film. The window may be one of (i) an aeronautical glazing and (ii) a vehicle glazing, and/or the window may be a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.

Claims

1. A variable transmission window comprising:

a first substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface;

a second substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface, said second substrate positioned relative to said first substrate with said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second substrates whereby the transmission of light through said electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked film;

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition, (xiv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvii) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xix) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xx) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film; and

wherein said window is a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein said window exhibits reduced hydrostatic pressure when vertically mounted.

3. The window of claim 2, wherein said window comprises a window for a home or an office.

4. The window of claim 1, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces comprises a thin metal layer.

5. The window of claim 4, wherein said thin metal layer is at least one of (i) overcoated with a metal oxide layer and (ii) undercoated with a metal oxide layer.

6. The window of claim 5, wherein said thin metal layer comprises silver.

7. The window of claim 1, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces comprises one of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide or doped zinc oxide.

8. The window of claim 1, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium tin oxide full wave, indium tin oxide half wave, indium tin oxide half wave green, tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide.

9. The window of claim 1, wherein a transparent conductor coated at said second transparent conductor coated surface of said first substrate comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium tin oxide full wave, indium tin oxide half wave, indium tin oxide half wave green, tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide.

10. The window of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of an ultraviolet stabilizer, a humectant, a coloring agent, a spacer, a flame retarding agent, a heat stabilizing agent, an antioxidizing agent, a lubricating agent, a compatibilizing agent, an adhesion promoting agent or a coupling agent.

11. The window of claim 10, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises an ultraviolet stabilizer in an amount, by weight, of about 0.1% to about 15%.

12. The window of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium is formed by curing an electrochromic monomer composition in an in-situ cure after said monomer composition has been disposed between said first and second substrates.

13. The window of claim 1, wherein said window has a transmission in an unpowered state of at least about 60% of light incident thereon.

14. The window of claim 1, wherein said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium.

15. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates comprises a specialized glass with reduced ultraviolet radiation transmission.

16. The window of claim 1, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.

17. The window of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness of less than about 1.8 mm.

18. The window of claim 1, wherein said first substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm and wherein said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

19. The window of claim 1, wherein said cross-linked film comprises a cross-linked polymer solid film that is formed by curing within a cavity between said first and second substrates a monomer composition comprising at least one polyol.

20. The window of claim 1, wherein said cross-linked film comprises a cross-linked polymer solid film comprising one of a urethane and an acrylate.

21. The window of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises propylene carbonate, a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

22. The window of claim 1, wherein said window comprises a vehicular glazing.

23. The window of claim 1, wherein said window comprises an aeronautical glazing.

24. The window of claim 1, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.075 inches.

25. The window of claim 1, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.063 inches.

26. The window of claim 1, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.043 inches.

27. The window of claim 1, wherein said first substrate is thinner than said second substrate.

28. A variable transmission window comprising:

a first glass substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface;

a second glass substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface, said second substrate positioned relative to said first substrate with said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other;

wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second glass substrates whereby the transmission of light through said electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked film;

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition, (xiv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvii) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xix) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xx) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film;

wherein at least one of (i) said window has a transmission in an unpowered state of at least about 60% of light incident thereon, (ii) said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium, and (iii) said window has a transmission in an unpowered state of at least about 60% of light incident thereon and said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium;

wherein said window comprises an aeronautical glazing; and

wherein said window is a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.

29. The window of claim 28, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces comprises a thin metal layer.

30. The window of claim 29, wherein said thin metal layer is at least one of (i) overcoated with a metal oxide layer and (ii) undercoated with a metal oxide layer.

31. The window of claim 28, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium tin oxide full wave, indium tin oxide half wave, indium tin oxide half wave green, tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide.

32. The window of claim 28, wherein at least one of said first glass substrate and said second glass substrate has a thickness of less than about 1.8 mm.

33. The window of claim 28, wherein said first glass substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.075 inches.

34. The window of claim 28, wherein said first glass substrate is thinner than said second glass substrate.

35. A variable transmission window comprising:

a first glass substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface;

a second glass substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface, said second substrate positioned relative to said first substrate with said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other;

wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns;

wherein said first glass substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.075 inches;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second glass substrates whereby the transmission of light through said electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked film;

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition, (xiv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvii) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xix) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xx) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film;

wherein at least one of (i) said window has a transmission in an unpowered state of at least about 60% of light incident thereon, (ii) said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium, and (iii) said window has a transmission in an unpowered state of at least about 60% of light incident thereon and said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium;

wherein said window comprises one of (i) an aeronautical glazing and (ii) a vehicle glazing; and

wherein said window is a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.

36. The window of claim 35, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.063 inches.

37. The window of claim 35, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.043 inches.

38. The window of claim 35, wherein said first substrate is thinner than said second substrate.

39. The window of claim 35, wherein a transparent conductor coated at at least one of said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces comprises a thin metal layer.

40. The window of claim 39, wherein said thin metal layer is at least one of (i) overcoated with a metal oxide layer and (ii) undercoated with a metal oxide layer.

41. A variable transmission window comprising:

a first substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface;

a second substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface, said second substrate positioned relative to said first substrate with said first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second substrates whereby the transmission of light through said electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer solid film;

wherein said electrochromic medium is formed by curing an electrochromic monomer composition is an in-situ cure after said electrochromic monomer composition has been disposed between said first and second substrates;

wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns;

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a film formed from curing said electrochromic monomer composition, (xiv) a film formed from curing said electrochromic monomer composition and wherein said electrochromic monomer composition comprises hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a film formed from curing said electrochromic monomer composition and wherein said electrochromic monomer composition comprises hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a film formed from curing said electrochromic monomer composition and wherein said electrochromic monomer composition comprises hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvii) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xix) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xx) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film;

wherein said window has a transmission less than about 10% of light incident thereon when an electrical potential of about 1.3 V is applied to said electrochromic medium; and

wherein said window is a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.

42. The window of claim 41, wherein said window comprises one of (i) an aeronautical glazing and (ii) a vehicle glazing.

43. The window of claim 41, wherein said window comprises an aeronautical glazing.

44. The window of claim 43, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.075 inches.

45. The window of claim 43, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.063 inches.

46. The window of claim 43, wherein said first substrate has a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.043 inches.