LIGHT-CONTROL DEVICE AND SPECTACLES USING REVERSIBLE OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS IN A MATERIAL CONTAINING LEAD FLUORIDE

• US 3,630,603 A
• Filed: 02/07/1966
• Issued: 12/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1966
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene C. Letter
• Original Assignee: Eugene C. Letter
• Inventors: Letter, Eugene C.
• Application Number:
  US04/525,620
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• US Class Current: 351/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1523 comprising inorganic material

Abstract

Disclosed is an optical device comprising a pair of electron conducting electrodes separated by a solid-state electrolytic layer containing ions available for reversible oxidation and reduction reactions in response to an electrical potential applied across the electrodes.

Claims

2. An optical device comprising a pair of electron conducting electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, separated by a solid-state electrolytic film including a thin film selected from the group consisting essentially of PbF2, Pb0 . 1/2 PbF2 . SiO2, Pb0 . 1/2 PbF2 . 1/2 B203 and Pb0 . 1/2 PbF2 . 1/2 Si02 . 1/4 B203 having ions available for reversible oxidization and reduction reactions in response to an electrical potential applied to the pair of electrodes for changing the optical properties of the device, the solid state electrolytic film further containing mobile conducting ions.

3. An optical device comprising a pair of electron conducting electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, separated by a solid-state electrolytic film including a thin film of glass having a composition of a Pb0 . b PbF2 . c Si02 . d B203 wherein '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'a'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is within the mole ratio in a range of one-half to 2, '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'c'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is within the mole ratio in the range of one-eighth to 1, '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is within the mole ratio in the range of 0 to 1 and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'d'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is within the mole ratio in the range of 0 to one-half, the solid-state electrolytic film having ions available for reversible oxidation and reduction reactions in response to an electrical potential applied to the pair of electrodes for changing the optical properties of the device, the solid-state electrolytic film further containing mobile conducting ions.

4. An optical apparatus comprising:

a transparent substratum for providing a support surface;

a first transparent electron-conductive coating disposed immediately adjacent to and coextensive with the support surface;

a solid-state ionic conductive layer including lead fluoride having ions available for reversible reducing and oxidizing reactions, the ionic conductive layer having one side disposed immediately adjacent to and coextensive with the first transparent electron conductive coating;

a second transparent electron-conductive coating disposed immediately adjacent to and coextensive with the remaining side of the solid state ionic conductive layer;

first means connected to the first and second electron conductive coatings for first means connected to the first and second electron conductive coatings for producing a potential gradient across the ionic conductive layer so that an ionic current flows through said ionic conductive layer causing oxidizing and reducing reactions thereby causing the optical properties of the ionic conductive layer to change and for removing the potential gradienT when the desired change in optical properties is achieved, and second means connected to the first and second electron conductive coatings for causing the optical properties of the ionic conductive layer to change back to approximately that of its original optical density.

5. The optical apparatus, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the second means includes a low impedance path adapted to be connected between the first and second electron conductive layers for causing a reversed ionic current flow through the ionic conductive layers.

6. The optical apparatus, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the second means includes means for applying a potential gradient across the ionic conductive layer having a polarity opposite that of the potential applied by the first means.

7. A pair of glasses comprising:

first and second lenses mounted in a frame, each comprising a pair of transparent electron conducting layers separated by a transparent electrical conducting film including lead fluoride capable of exhibiting a reversible chemical reaction due to electrical current flow therethrough in response to an electrical potential applied across the electron conducting layers, resulting in changeable optical properties;

first means at least partially disposed within the frames for applying an electrical potential across the pair of electron conducting electrodes of at least one of the first and second lenses for changing the optical properties thereof; and

second means at least partially disposed within the frame coupled to a pair of electron conducting electrodes for changing the optical properties of the lens back to approximately that of its original optical properties.