CONTROL OF LIGHT REFLECTED FROM A MIRROR
First Claim
1. A radiation reflecting device having an electric field responsive radiation transmitting characteristic comprising in sandwich layer arrangement, a pair of electrodes, a layer of a persistent electrochromic material of about 0.01 to 100 microns thickness in contact with one of said electrodes, layer of an insulating material of about 0.001 to 1.0 microns thickness in contact with both said electrochromic material and the other of said electrodes, and a layer of reflecting material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electro-optical device useful in modulation of reflected light, and the like, typically comprising an electrochromic device and a reflecting layer in sandwiched arrangement, said electrochromic device itself being a sandwich arrangement of a pair of transparent electrodes, and a film of a transition metal compound and an insulating film disposed between the electrodes. The electrochromic device exhibits coloration and bleaching thereof at ambient temperature by control of the polarity of an applied electric field, whereby light reaching the reflecting layer is modulated in intensity, thus modulating, in turn, the reflected light.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A radiation reflecting device having an electric field responsive radiation transmitting characteristic comprising in sandwich layer arrangement, a pair of electrodes, a layer of a persistent electrochromic material of about 0.01 to 100 microns thickness in contact with one of said electrodes, layer of an insulating material of about 0.001 to 1.0 microns thickness in contact with both said electrochromic material and the other of said electrodes, and a layer of reflecting material.
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2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electrodes is substantially transparent.
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3. The device of claim 1 wherein said insulating material is silicon monoxide, calcium fluoride or magnesium fluoride and said persistent electrochromic material is a metal stannate, a Group IVB, VB or VIB metal oxide, or a Lanthanide series metal oxide.
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4. The device of claim 1 wherein said persistent electrochromic material is tungsten oxide.
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5. A variable light transmitting system as in claim 1 comprising a device having a pair of conductive electrodes;
- a persistent electrochromic material and an insulating material disposed between said electrodes, and a reflective layer on one of said electrodes, and a control means coupled to said electrodes for selectively applying across said electrodes a potential of one polarity;
a potential of the opposite polarity;
or an effective short circuit.
- a persistent electrochromic material and an insulating material disposed between said electrodes, and a reflective layer on one of said electrodes, and a control means coupled to said electrodes for selectively applying across said electrodes a potential of one polarity;
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6. The system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the selectively applied potentials is variable over a given range.
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7. The device of claim 1 wherein one of said electrodes is the reflective layer.
Specification