Electrochromic display laminates

• US 5,754,329 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Company (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Company (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Coleman, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/718,959
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 359/271, 359/269, 359/254, 349/139
• US Class Current: 359/254
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1555 Counter electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1557 Side by side arrangements of working and counter electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/20 Conductive material dispersed in non-conductive organic material organic macromolecular compounds or compositions C08
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/22 the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon

Abstract

A laminate electrochromic display is disclosed in which a layer containing electrode leads addresses a laminate layer of side-by-side working and counter electrodes. A laminate layer of an electrochromic material is disposed on the electrode layer and, optionally, an ionically conductive electrolyte material is included in the electrochromic layer or provided in a separate electrolyte layer disposed over the electrochromic layer. In addition, a sandwich-type electrochromic device is disclosed in which the electrodes serve as either working or counter electrodes and a transparent electrode, disposed over the electrochromic layer serves as the other electrode. The electrochromic layer can optionally contain an ionically conductive electrolyte or, alternatively, a separate layer containing the electrolyte can be disposed between the electrochromic layer and counter electrode layer.

Claims

1. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising side-by-side electrodes disposed on said electrical-lead layer including at least one counter electrode and a plurality of working electrodes wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead; and

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrode layer;

wherein a portion of said electrode layer is isolated by said insulative material from the electrical lead layer extending thereunder.

2. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

3. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed over said electrochromic layer.

4. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

5. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 4 wherein said plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a five by seven array.

6. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 4 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

7. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

8. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 7 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

9. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 wherein said counter electrode extends adjacent to at least one side of each working electrode.

10. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 9 wherein said counter electrode surrounds each working electrode.

11. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 1 wherein said electrochromic material is an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative dispersion of electrically conductive electrochromic particles in a transparent or translucent polymeric matrix.

12. A laminate structure for selectively addressing an array of electrodes, said laminate structure comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer comprising at least three electrical leads disposed over said substrate layer, each electrical lead having opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads; and

(c) a laminate layer of side-by-side electrodes, each electrode being disposed over and in electrical contact with one of the opposite ends of said electrical leads and a portion of said side-by-side electrodes being disposed over and separated from a portion of said layer of at least three electrical leads.

13. The laminate electrode structure of claim 12 wherein the laminate structure addresses an array of electrochromic display segments activated by the electrodes.

14. The laminate electrode structure of claim 13 wherein said electrochromic display segments are electrochromic pixels and said working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

15. The laminate electrode structure of claim 14 wherein said pixel electrodes are arranged in a five by seven array.

16. The laminate electrode structure of claim 12 wherein said working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

17. The laminate electrode structure of claim 16 wherein said electrode layer includes a counter electrode extending adjacent to at least one side of each working electrode.

18. The laminate electrode structure of claim 17 wherein said counter electrode surrounds each working electrode.

19. The laminate electrode structure of claim 12 wherein said substrate layer comprises a flexible polymeric material.

20. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of counter electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead and a portion of the laminate layer comprising a plurality of counter electrodes is disposed over the insulative material;

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrical lead layer; and

(e) a laminate layer comprising a transparent working electrode disposed on said electrochromic layer.

21. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 20 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

22. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 20 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed between the electrochromic layer and the transparent working electrode layer.

23. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of working electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead and a portion of the laminate layer comprising a plurality of working electrodes is disposed over the insulative material;

(d) a laminate layer comprising a transparent counter electrode disposed over said electrical lead layer; and

(e) a laminate layer comprising a transparent counter electrode disposed over said ionically conductive layer.

24. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 23 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

25. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 23 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed between the electrochromic layer and the working electrode layer.

26. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead a portion of the laminate layer comprising a plurality of electrodes is disposed over the insulative material;

(d) a laminate layer comprising a first electrochromic material disposed over said electrical lead layer;

(e) a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed over the layer containing said first electrochromic material;

(f) a laminate layer comprising a second electrochromic material disposed over said ionically conductive layer; and

(g) a laminate layer comprising a transparent counter electrode disposed over the layer containing said second electrochromic material.

27. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising side-by-side electrodes disposed on said electrical lead layer including at least one counter electrode and a plurality of working electrodes wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead and said counter electrode extends adjacent to at least one side of each working electrode and surrounds each working electrode; and

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrode layer.

28. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

29. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed over said electrochromic layer.

30. (New) The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 wherein said electrochromic material is an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative dispersion of electrically conductive particles in a transparent or translucent polymeric matrix.

31. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 wherein said substrate layer comprises a flexible material.

32. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

33. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 32 wherein said plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a five-by-seven array.

34. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 32 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

35. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 27 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

36. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 35 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

37. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a flexible, nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising side-by-side electrodes disposed on said electrical lead layer including at least one counter electrode and a plurality of working electrodes; and

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrode layer.

38. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 37 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

39. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 37 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed over said electrochromic layer.

40. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 37 wherein said electrochromic material is an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative dispersion of electrically conductive particles in a transparent or translucent polymeric matrix.

41. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 37 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

42. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 41 wherein said plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a five-by-seven array.

43. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 41 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

44. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 37 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

45. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 44 wherein said plurality of working electrodes are separately addressed by individual ones of said plurality of electrical leads.

46. A laminate structure for selectively addressing an array of electrodes, said laminate structure comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer comprising at least three electrical leads disposed over said substrate layer, each electrical lead having opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads; and

(c) a laminate layer of side-by-side electrodes, each electrode being disposed over and in electrical contact with one of the opposite ends of said electrical leads, said laminate layer of side-by-side electrodes including a counter electrode extending adjacent to at least one side of each working electrode, said counter electrode surrounding each working electrode.

47. The laminate electrode structure of claim 46 wherein the laminate structure addresses an array of electrochromic display segments activated by the electrodes.

48. The laminate electrode structure of claim 47 wherein said electrochromic display segments are electrochromic pixels and said working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

49. The laminate electrode structure of claim 48 wherein said electrodes are arranged in a five by seven array.

50. The laminate electrode structure of claim 46 wherein said working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

51. The laminate electrode structure of claim 46 wherein said substrate layer comprises a flexible polymeric material.

52. A laminate structure for selectively addressing an array of electrodes, said laminate structure comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a flexible, nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer comprising at least three electrical leads disposed over said substrate layer, each electrical lead having opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads; and

(c) a laminate layer of side-by-side electrodes, each electrode being disposed over and in electrical contact with one of the opposite ends of said electrical leads.

53. The laminate electrode structure of claim 52 wherein the laminate structure addresses an array of electrochromic display segments activated by the electrodes.

54. The laminate electrode structure of claim 53 wherein said electrochromic display segments are electrochromic pixels and said working electrodes are pixel electrodes arranged in a rectangular pattern.

55. The laminate electrode structure of claim 54 wherein said electrodes are arranged in a five by seven array.

56. The laminate electrode structure of claim 52 wherein said working electrodes are arranged in a radial pattern.

57. The laminate electrode structure of claim 52 wherein said electrode layer includes a counter electrode extending adjacent to at least one side of each working electrode.

58. The laminate electrode structure of claim 57 wherein said counter electrode surrounds each working electrode.

59. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a flexible, nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of counter electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead;

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrical lead layer; and

(e) a laminate layer comprising a transparent working electrode disposed on said electrochromic layer.

60. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 59 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

61. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 59 further comprising a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed between the electrochromic layer and the transparent working electrode layer.

62. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of flexible, nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of working electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead;

(d) a laminate layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on said electrical lead layer; and

(e) a laminate layer comprising a transparent counter electrode disposed over said ionically conductive layer.

63. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 62 wherein the electrochromic layer also contains an ionically conductive material.

64. The laminate electrochromic display of claim 62 further comprising an ionically conductive material disposed between the electrochromic layer and the working electrode layer.

65. A laminate electrochromic display comprising:

(a) a laminate layer of a flexible, nonconductive substrate material;

(b) a laminate layer containing a plurality of electrical leads disposed on said substrate layer wherein each electrical lead includes opposite ends and a central length extending therebetween and wherein an insulative material is disposed over the central lengths of said electrical leads;

(c) a laminate layer comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed on the electrical lead layer wherein each electrode contacts an end of an electrical lead;

(d) a laminate layer comprising a first electrochromic material disposed over said electrical lead layer;

(e) a laminate layer comprising an ionically conductive material disposed over the layer containing said first electrochromic material;

(f) a laminate layer comprising a second electrochromic material disposed over said ionically conductive layer; and

(g) a laminate layer comprising a transparent counter electrode disposed over the layer containing said second electrochromic material.