Electrochromic indicator device assembled with an adhesion promoting layer
First Claim
1. Electrochromic indicating device comprising:
- first and second electrodes facing each other across a cavity filled with an electrolyte, said first electrode being composed of an oxide of a transition metal and supported by a surface of a transparent or translucent substrate wherein a conducting layer is interposed between said first electrode and said substrate for supply of current to said first electrode and a protection layer is provided on said conducting layer, surrounding said first electrode and on a region not covered by said first electrode, said second electrode being a counter electrode provided as a layer on a second substrate which is a metallic substrate, said substrates being joined together around said electrolyte-filled cavity by an adhesive bonding material applied in a region between said protection layer and said metallic substrate, said device further comprising;
an adhesion-promoting layer (14,
17) consisting essentially of at least one substance selected from a group which consists of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral and applied on at least a surface of the metallic substrate in the region where the substrates are to be bonded with each other, said adhesion promoting layer being interposed at least between the metallic substrate upon which it is applied and a film of the adhesive bonding material (18) applied between the substrates for bonding them together.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
To assure a durable bonded joint between the two substrates on which the respective electrodes of an electrochromic device are joined together by an adhesive to form a cavity between them for an electrolyte, a baked-on layer of polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl butyral is provided to promote adhesion, allowing a commercially available two-component adhesive to provide a firm joint even if the non-transparent substrate is of metal. The adhesion promoting coating is also used to line the cavity, except where the electrodes are, thus providing insulation and chemical isolation which is important, at least for the metal substrate. The electrolyte is filled through a hole in the metal substrate, which is thereafter plugged with a low-melting solder. The metal foil of a circuit board can be used to provide the rear portions of a number of electrochromic indicators fitting against a common glass plate if cut-outs are provided in the circuit board into which the metal can be deformed to provide the necessary electrolyte cavities.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Electrochromic indicating device comprising:
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first and second electrodes facing each other across a cavity filled with an electrolyte, said first electrode being composed of an oxide of a transition metal and supported by a surface of a transparent or translucent substrate wherein a conducting layer is interposed between said first electrode and said substrate for supply of current to said first electrode and a protection layer is provided on said conducting layer, surrounding said first electrode and on a region not covered by said first electrode, said second electrode being a counter electrode provided as a layer on a second substrate which is a metallic substrate, said substrates being joined together around said electrolyte-filled cavity by an adhesive bonding material applied in a region between said protection layer and said metallic substrate, said device further comprising; an adhesion-promoting layer (14,
17) consisting essentially of at least one substance selected from a group which consists of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral and applied on at least a surface of the metallic substrate in the region where the substrates are to be bonded with each other, said adhesion promoting layer being interposed at least between the metallic substrate upon which it is applied and a film of the adhesive bonding material (18) applied between the substrates for bonding them together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. An electrochromic indicating device comprising a first substrate which is transparent, to which a plurality of individual metallic substrates each shaped for providing a cavity between itself and said first substrate are bonded in a same plane of bonding by means of an organic adhesive material, a conducting layer on top of said fist substrate and an electrochromic electrode on top of said conducting layer, wherein said electrochromic electrode faces into the cavity provided by each of said metallic substrates, and a counter electrode being provided on each of said metallic substrates facing a corresponding electrochromic electrode, at least said metallic substrates, except where said counter electrode is located thereon, having on their surfaces facing said first substrate a coating of an adhesion promoting material consisting essentially of at least one substance, said one substance being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral.
Specification