Light modulating device
First Claim
1. A device for transmitting light comprising means for controlling the transmissivity of said device,said transmissivity controlling means comprising(a) a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed,said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, and(b) means for modulating said crystalline element between said reflective and said transmissive states by injecting ions into said crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing said ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a device for transmitting light, means for controlling the transmissivity of the device, including a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when the electrons and ions are removed, the crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in the reflective state and not greater than 10% in the transmissive state, and means for modulating the crystalline element between the reflective and transmissive states by injecting ions into the crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing the ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
62 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for transmitting light comprising means for controlling the transmissivity of said device,
said transmissivity controlling means comprising (a) a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state, and (b) means for modulating said crystalline element between said reflective and said transmissive states by injecting ions into said crystalline element in response to an applied electrical current of a first polarity and removing said ions in response to an applied electrical current of a second polarity.
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25. A method for producing a ceramic, reversibly electrochromic, crystalline element having a highly reflective state when injected with electrons and charge compensating ions and a highly transmissive state when said electrons and said ions are removed, said crystalline element being characterized as having a reflectivity of at least 50% in said reflective state and not greater than 10% in said transmissive state,
said method comprising the steps of sputtering a compound onto a heated substrate, the temperature of said substrate being sufficient to cause crystallization of said compound as deposited in substantially oriented and ordered form, from a sputtering target comprising said compound to be deposited, said sputtering being conducted by means of a radio frequency plasma in an atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a reactive gas capable of being incorporated into said compound as deposited, said reactive gas being present in an amount sufficient to produce said crystalline element in substantially stoichiometric, oriented, and ordered form, wherein said stoichiometry, said order, and said orientation are so characterized by being sufficient to ensure a reflectivity of at least 50% when said crystalline element is injected with electrons and charge compensating ions.
Specification