Electrochemichromic sunroof

• US 5,472,643 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Varaprasad, Desaraju V., Lynam, Niall R., Habibi, Hamid R., Desaraju, Padma
• Primary Examiner(s): TUCKER, PHILIP C
• Application Number:
  US08/289,939
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 252/583, 296/211, 359/265, 359/272, 359/275
• US Class Current: 252/583
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds

Abstract

The specification discloses electrochemichromic solutions and devices based on the use of solvents comprising at least about 25% 3-hydroxypropionitrile, 3,3,'"'"'-oxydipropionitrile, 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-methylglutaronitrile, 3-methylsulfolane and mixtures thereof. The specification also discloses vacuum backfilling techniques for filling electrochemichromic cells and enhanced UV stability through solvent self-screening.

Claims

1. An electrochemichromic sunroof for a vehicle comprising:

spaced plates, each having an inwardly facing conductive surface;

an electrochemichromic solution in said cell, between said spaced plates, said solution comprising;

solvent;

a redox chemical pair in solution in said solvent which colors in the presence of an applied voltage and which bleaches to a colorless condition in the absence of an applied voltage;

said solvent including at least 25 % by volume of a solvent selected from the group consisting of;

3-hydroxypropionitrile (HPN), 3,3'"'"'-oxydipropionitrile (ODPN),

2-acetylbutyrolactone (ABL), 2-methylglutaronitrile (MGNT), and mixtures thereof.

2. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said electrochemichromic solution additionally includes an electrolyte in solution in said solvent.

3. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

3-hydroxypropionitrile and 2-methylglutaronitrile in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

4. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

3-hydroxypropionitrile and 3-methylsulfolane in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

5. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

3-hydroxypropionitrile and 3,3'"'"'-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

6. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

3-hydroxypropionitrile and 2-acetylbutyrolactone in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

7. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

2-acetylbutyrolactone and 3,3'"'"'-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

8. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

propylene carbonate and 3,3'"'"'-oxydipropionitrile in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.

9. The electrochemichromic sunroof of claim 1 in which said solvent comprises:

propylene carbonate and 2-acetylbutyrolactone in a ratio by volume of from about 75;

25 to about 25;

75.