Sealed electrochromic device
First Claim
1. In an improved electrochromic device comprising a plurality of layers on one side of a backing, the layers generally comprising an electronically conducting layer, an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer and a counter electrode layer, wherein the improvement comprises:
- (a) a panel, the panel juxtaposed substantially biplanar and spaced away from the one side of the backing and the layers thereon leaving a space volume between the panel and the layers; and
(b) means for sealing the panel with the backing so that at least a portion of the space volume is sealed between the panel and the backing to form a sealed space volume;
(c) a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material positioned in the sealed space volume, the mixture having an oxygen content of less than 10 percent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved electrochromic device of the type employing: a working electrode, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of indium/tin oxide coated on glass; the working electrode being coated with an electrochromic layer, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of tungsten oxide; the electrochromic layer being coated with an ion conducting layer, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of a perfluorosulfonate polymer; the ion conducting layer being coated with a counter electrode, such as a thin essentially transparent layer of a layer of gold. The improvement is to operate such a device in an environment of a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material. This can be done in a sealed double pane window by forming such a device on one of the interior surfaces of the window panes and then filling the remaining space between the panes with a mixture of nitrogen and water vapor.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. In an improved electrochromic device comprising a plurality of layers on one side of a backing, the layers generally comprising an electronically conducting layer, an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer and a counter electrode layer, wherein the improvement comprises:
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(a) a panel, the panel juxtaposed substantially biplanar and spaced away from the one side of the backing and the layers thereon leaving a space volume between the panel and the layers; and (b) means for sealing the panel with the backing so that at least a portion of the space volume is sealed between the panel and the backing to form a sealed space volume; (c) a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material positioned in the sealed space volume, the mixture having an oxygen content of less than 10 percent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 23, 24, 25, 26, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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10. In an improved sealed double pane window generally comprising a first pane of glass peripherally sealed with a second juxtaposed spaced apart substantially biplanar pane of glass so that a space volume is sealed between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass, the first pane of glass having a first side and a second side, the second side being exposed to the sealed space volume, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a multi-layer electrochromic system coated on the second side of the first pane of glass, the electrochromic system comprising an electronically conducting layer, an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer and a counter electrode layer; and (b) a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material positioned in the sealed space volume, the mixture having an oxygen content of less than 10 percent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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17. In an improved sealed double pane window generally comprising a first pane of glass peripherally sealed with a juxtaposed spaced apart second substantially biplanar pane of glass so that a given space volume is sealed between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass, wherein the improvement comprises:
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(a) a multi-layer electrochromic system of a given solid volume, the electrochromic system positioned in the sealed space volume, the volume of the electrochromic system being less than the sealed space volume so that there is a remaining sealed space volume, the electrochromic system comprising an electronically conducting layer, an electrochromic layer, an ion conducting layer and a counter electrode layer; and (b) a mixture of an inert gas and the vapor of a high dielectric constant material positioned in the remaining sealed space volume, the mixture having an oxygen content of less than 10 percent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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22. In an improved electrochromic device comprising an electronic conductor, and electrochromic material, an ion conducting layer, and a counter electrode, the improvement comprising:
- positioning the electronic conductor, the ion conducting layer, the electrochromic material and the counter electrode in a space consisting essentially of a mixture of an inert gas and water vapor, the mixture having an oxygen content of less than 10 percent.
- View Dependent Claims (35)
Specification