Electrochromic device with a yellow filter

• US 6,600,589 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer AG
• Original Assignee: Bayer AG
• Inventors: Womelsdorf, Hermann Jens, Michaelis, Stephan, Neigl, Ralf, Berneth, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US09/786,515
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/273, 359/275, 359/267, 514/332, 514/334, 514/336, 514/344, 544/347, 546/257, 252/583, 252/600, 428/583, 428/426
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 401/14 containing three or more hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12271 having discrete fastener, marginal fastening, taper, or end structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a light-protected electrochromic device containing a pair of glass or plastic sheets or plastic films. One side of at least one of said sheets or films, preferably both sheets or films, is provided with an electroconductive coating. At least one of said sheets or films and its electroconductive coating are transparent and the other can be metallized. The electroconductive coating of at least one of the two sheets or films can be divided up into separate, individually contacted surface segments. The sheets or films are joined by a sealing ring on the sides of their electroconductive coatings and the volume created by the sheets or films and the sealing ring is filled with an electrochromic medium. The invention is characterized in that the electrochromic device contains a yellow filter for which the wavelength at which absorbance in the long-wave flank reaches half of the very long-wave maximum absorbance value is between 370 and 500 nm, preferably between 380 and 470 nm. The invention is characterized by a considerably improved resistance to light in its activated state.

Claims

1. A light-stabilized electrochromic device comprising:

(a) a pair of glass or plastic plates or plastic films wherein at least one such plate or film is provided on one side each with an electrically conductive coating, wherein

(1) at least one such plate or film and its conductive coating is transparent,

(2) one such plate or film and its conductive coating is optionally mirrored, and

(3) the electrically conductive layer of one or both of the two plates or films is optionally divided into separate, individually contacted area segments;

(b) a sealing ring joining the plates or films via the sides of their conductive coating wherein the volume formed by the two plates or films and the sealing ring is filled with an electrochromic medium; and

(c) a yellow filter for which the wavelength at which the absorbance in the long-wavelength flank reaches half of the longest wavelength maximum absorbance is in the range of from 370 to 500 nm.

2. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the yellow filter is present in the electrochromic medium.

3. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the yellow filter is present in and/or on at least one of the two plates or films.

4. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1 wherein the yellow filter is at least one substance and/or at least one material that absorbs in the wavelength range from 355 to 450 nm.

5. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the yellow filter comprises organic compound having at least one absorption maximum in the wavelength range from 355 to 430 nm.

6. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 5 wherein the organic compound has a width at half height of the absorption band having the absorption maximum in the wavelength range from 355 to 430 nm of less than 100 nm.

7. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1 wherein the yellow filter comprises special glasses or oxidic or ceramic coatings.

8. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1 wherein the yellow filter comprises nanosize particles.

9. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a UV-absorbing material that protects the UV bands of the yellow filter.

10. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 9 wherein the UV-absorbing material comprises inorganic nanosize particles.

11. A light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1 wherein the electrochromic medium contains at least one compound OX₂ of the formulas

wherein

R², R³, R⁸ and R⁹ are, independently of one another, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, benzyl, phenethyl, phenylpropyl, phenyl, 2-methylphenyl, or 2,6-dimethylphenyl or

R⁸ and R⁹ together form a — (CH₂)₂—

or —

(CH₂)₃—

bridge,

R¹⁰ to R¹⁵ are hydrogen

R⁶⁹ to R⁷³, R⁸⁰ and R⁸¹ are, independently of one another, hydrogen or methyl or

R¹² and R⁶⁹ together, R¹³ and R⁷⁰ together, R⁷³ and R⁸⁰ together, and/or R⁷⁴ and R⁸¹ together form a —

CH═

CH—

CH═

CH—

bridge,

Z¹ is a direct bond or —

CH═

CH—

,

X⁻

is an anion that is redox-inert under the conditions, and at least one compound RED₁ of the formulas

where

R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁸, R³⁹, R⁸⁸ and R⁸⁹ are, independently of one another, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, benzyl, phenethyl, phenylpropyl, or phenyl,

R³⁶ and R³⁷ are hydrogen,

Z³ is a direct bond or a —

CH═

CH—

bridge,

X⁴ is a direct double bond,

R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical and are hydrogen or methyl,

E³ and E⁴ are identical and are S, N—

R⁵⁹, or C(CH₃)₂,

E⁶ to E⁹ are identical and are S,

R⁴⁹ to R⁵² are, independently of one another, hydrogen, methyl, cyano, or methoxycarbonyl or

R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰ together and/or R⁵¹ and R⁵² together form a —

CH═

CH—

CH═

CH—

bridge,

R⁹⁰ to R⁹³ are hydrogen or

R⁹⁰ and R⁹² together and/or R⁹¹ and R⁹³ together form a —

CH═

CH—

CH═

CH—

bridge, and

R⁵⁹ is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl,

where OX₂ and RED₁ are optionally linked via a bridge B according to the formula

12. A window, partition, visor, glazing, or skylight comprising a light-stabilized electrochromic device according to claim 1.

13. Electrochromic substances of the formula

where

R³ is —

(CH₂)₃—

C₆H₅ or —

(CH₂)₄—

C₆H₅,

Z¹ is a direct bond,

E⁵ is N—

C₆H₅, N—

(CH₂)₃—

C₆H₅ or N—

(CH₂)₄—

C₆H₅,

m is an integer from 3 to 5 and

X⁻

is an anion which is redox-inert under the conditions.

14. Electrochromic substance of the formula