Variable reflectance mirror

• US 7,324,260 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakaho, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman; Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/110,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 359/237, 359/242, 359247-248, 359/265, 359290-291
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective

Abstract

The present invention provides a variable reflectance mirror, comprising a color layer that develops color by binding to hydrogen or lithium, a transparent substrate formed on or above one surface of the color layer, a light-reflecting layer which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium provided on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is formed, and a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer, wherein a transparent intermediate layer which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and having a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer is formed between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance mirror, comprising:

a color layer that can develop color by binding with hydrogen or lithium;

a transparent substrate having one surface formed directly in contact with one surface of the color layer, and an opposite surface that contacts ambient air;

a light-reflecting layer formed on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is in direct contact with, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium; and

a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer,

wherein a transparent intermediate layer, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and which has a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer, is formed between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer to increase the reflectivity of the resulting variable reflectance mirror, said layer having one surface in direct contact with the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is in direct contact with, and an opposite surface in direct contact with said light-reflecting layer.

2. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the intermediate layer is selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, magnesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, and calcium fluoride.

3. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is 100 nm or less.

4. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is 100 nm or less.

5. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the color layer develops color by binding with hydrogen;

the light-reflecting layer allows permeation of hydrogen; and

the supplying device supplies hydrogen to the color layer.

6. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

the color layer develops color by binding with lithium;

the light-reflecting layer allows permeation of lithium; and

the supplying device supplies lithium to the color layer.

7. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the supplying device includes an electrode layer, a cell structure containing an electrolytic fluid, and a power supply unit.

8. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 7, wherein the supplying device is connected to an apparatus for supplying a gas containing hydrogen to the cell structure.

9. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 8, wherein the cell structure contains a liquid electrolytic solution.

10. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is less than 15 nm.

11. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is about 10 nm.

12. The variable reflectance mirror according to claim 1, wherein both the color layer and the light-reflecting layer have surface irregularities, and wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is selected to be a distance between the highest and lowest edges of the irregularities.

13. A variable reflectance mirror, comprising:

a color layer that can develop color by binding with hydrogen or lithium;

a transparent substrate having one surface formed directly in contact with one surface of the color layer, and an opposite surface that contacts ambient air;

a light-reflecting layer formed on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is in direct contact with, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium; and

a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer including an electrode layer, a cell structure containing an electrolytic fluid, and a power supply unit,

wherein a transparent intermediate layer having a thickness of less than 15 nm,

which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and having a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer, is formed between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer to increase the reflectivity of the resulting variable reflectance mirror, and has one surface in direct contact with the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is in direct contact with, and an opposite surface in direct contact with said light-reflecting layer.

14. A method for making variable reflectance mirror that comprises the steps of:

providing a color layer that can develop color by binding with hydrogen or lithium;

forming one surface of a transparent substrate directly in contact with one surface of the color layer;

forming a light-reflecting layer which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium on the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is formed;

providing a supplying device for supplying hydrogen or lithium to the color layer that includes a cell structure containing an electrolytic fluid, and

forming a transparent intermediate layer, which allows transmission of hydrogen or lithium and having a refractive index smaller than that of the color layer, between the color layer and the light-reflecting layer one surface in direct contact with the side of the color layer opposite to the surface thereof on which the transparent substrate is in direct contact with, and an opposite surface in direct contact with said light-reflecting layer,

wherein both the color layer and the light-reflecting layer have microscopic undulating surface irregularities which are substantially uniform, and wherein a thickness of the intermediate layer is selected to be a distance between the highest and lowest edges of the irregularities.