Planar electrochromic dimmer

• US 4,927,246 A
• Filed: 08/12/1988
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Takaaki, Minoura, Jun, Ito, Toshiyasu, Kato, Mamoru, Takahashi, Shigeyuki, Funahashi, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCutcheon, Nathan W.
• Application Number:
  US07/231,470
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357, 350/1.7, 340/785
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1523 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/055 wavelength filtering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a planar electrochromic dimmer used in dimming devices such as car sun roofs, and others having a structure comprising; a pair of bases, each comprising a transparent electrode film provided on each of a pair of bases, and arranged such that both transparent electrode films are facing each other, an electrolyte provided between the two electrode-equipped bases, a color-forming layer provided on at least one of the electrode-equipped bases, and a thin film with a visible ray transmittivity of 20-60% provided on at least one of the bases or the transaprent electrode films.

Claims

1. A planar electrochromic dimmer comprising:

first and second electrode-equipped bases, each including a transparent electrode film provided thereon, the bases being arranged such that the transparent electrode films face each other,

an electrolyte provided between the electrode-equipped bases,

a color-forming layer provided on at least one of said electrode-equipped bases, and

a thin metal film with a visible ray transmittivity of 20-60% provided between said at least one color forming layer and its respective transparent electrode film, the metal film and the transparent electrode set functioning together as electrodes.

2. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 1, in which said thin metal film is a nickel (Ni) - chromium (Cr) alloy.

3. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 2, in which said nickel (Ni) - chromium (Cr) alloy is Hastelloy X.

4. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 3, in which said Hastelloy X is a film having a thickness of 40-120 Å

.

5. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 1, in which said thin metal film is further an ultraviolet ray reflecting film.

6. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 1, in which said thin metal film is further an infrared ray reflecting film.

7. A planar electrochromic dimmer as set forth in claim 1, in which said thin metal film is a three-layer film of titanium oxide (TiO₂)/silver (Ag)/titanium oxide (TiO₂).