Electrochromic device

• US 7,511,872 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Kar, Kevin B., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Busscher, Bradley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/014,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20080151350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10321 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing liquid layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electrochromic device that may have an elastomeric seal is disclosed as is an electrochromic device having a seal provided on the peripheral edges of both the front and rear elements and wherein the seal may comprises a first material having an oxygen permeability of less than about 2.0 cm³·mm/m²·day·atm. In addition, an electrochromic device may include a seal comprising a thin member bonded to the peripheral edge of at least one of the front and rear elements, wherein the thin member comprises one of a film, thin glass, and a strip of foil.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material; and

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed, wherein said seal is provided on the peripheral edges of both said front and rear elements and wherein said seal comprises a first material having an oxygen permeability of less than about 2.0 cm³·

mm/m²·

day·

atm.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said front and rear elements are substantially aligned with less than 0.5 mm offset in any lateral direction.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 1 and further comprising an electrically conductive wire provided between said first and second conductive layers and in electrical contact with at least one of said conductive layers.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein a peripheral area of said front surface of said front element is configured to obscure the view of said seal.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a thin member made of said first material and bonded to the peripheral edge of at least one of said front and rear elements.

6. The electrochromic device of claim 5, wherein said thin member comprises one of a film, thin glass, and a strip of foil.

7. The electrochromic device of claim 5, wherein said thin member is electrically conductive and functions as an electrical buss to pass electrical current through said first and second layers of electrically conductive material.

8. The electrochromic device of claim 5, wherein said thin member is bonded to the peripheral edge by an electrically conductive adhesive.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 5, wherein said thin member is bonded to the peripheral edge of both of said front and rear elements.

10. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal is adhered to the peripheral edges of said front and rear elements with a second material.

11. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein said second material has a higher oxygen permeability than said first material.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein said first material of said seal is selected from the group of:

metal, metal alloy, plastic, glass, and combinations thereof.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises metal, metal alloy, plastic, glass, and combinations thereof.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an electrically conductive adhesive.

15. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an electrically conductive epoxy.

16. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an electrically conductive material that makes electrical contact with at least one of said first and second layers.

17. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal contacts said front element both on the peripheral edge and the rear surface of said front element, wherein a first contact area in which said seal contacts the peripheral edge of said front element is larger than a second contact area in which said seal contacts the rear surface of said front element.

18. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal contacts said rear element both on the peripheral edge and the front surface of said rear element, wherein a first contact area in which said seal contacts the peripheral edge of said rear element is larger than a second contact area in which said seal contacts the front surface of said rear element.

19. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein an interface between said seal and said front element provides an oxygen penetration path length through which oxygen would have to travel to enter said chamber, wherein the portion of the path length extending along the peripheral edge of said front element is longer than the portion of the path length extending along the rear surface of said front element.

20. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein an interface between said seal and said rear element provides an oxygen penetration path length through which oxygen would have to travel to enter said chamber, wherein the portion of the path length extending along the peripheral edge of said rear element is longer than the portion of the path length extending along the front surface of said rear element.

21. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said first material is selected from the group of:

metal, metal alloy, plastic, glass, and combinations thereof.

22. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material; and

a seal provided on both said front and rear elements to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed, wherein said seal comprises a thin member bonded to the peripheral edge of at least one of said front and rear elements, wherein said thin member comprises one of a film, thin glass, and a strip of foil.

23. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said front and rear elements are substantially aligned with less than 0.5 mm offset in any lateral direction.

24. The electrochromic device of claim 22 and further comprising an electrically conductive wire provided between said first and second conductive layers and in electrical contact with at least one of said conductive layers.

25. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein a peripheral area of said front surface of said front element is configured to obscure the view of said seal.

26. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said thin member is electrically conductive and functions as an electrical buss to pass electrical current through said first and second layers of electrically conductive material.

27. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said thin member is bonded to the peripheral edge by an electrically conductive adhesive.

28. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said thin member is bonded to the peripheral edge of both of said front and rear elements.

29. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said thin member is made of a first material and is adhered to the peripheral edges of said front and rear elements with a second material.

30. The electrochromic device of claim 29, wherein said second material has a higher oxygen permeability than said first material.

31. The electrochromic device of claim 29, wherein said first material of said seal is selected from the group of:

metal, metal alloy, glass, and combinations thereof.

32. The electrochromic device of claim 29, wherein said second material is an electrically conductive adhesive.

33. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein said seal further comprises an electrically conductive epoxy.

34. The electrochromic device of claim 33, wherein said electrically conductive epoxy contacts said front element both on the peripheral edge and the rear surface of said front element, wherein a first contact area in which said electrically conductive epoxy contacts the peripheral edge of said front element is larger than a second contact area in which said electrically conductive epoxy contacts the rear surface of said front element.

35. The electrochromic device of claim 33, wherein said electrically conductive epoxy contacts said rear element both on the peripheral edge and the front surface of said rear element, wherein a first contact area in which said electrically conductive epoxy contacts the peripheral edge of said rear element is larger than a second contact area in which said electrically conductive epoxy contacts the front surface of said rear element.

36. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein an interface between said electrically conductive epoxy and said front element provides an oxygen penetration path length through which oxygen would have to travel to enter said chamber, wherein the portion of the path length extending along the peripheral edge of said front element is longer than the portion of the path length extending along the rear surface of said front element.

37. The electrochromic device of claim 22, wherein an interface between said seal and said rear element provides an oxygen penetration path length through which oxygen would have to travel to enter said chamber, wherein the portion of the path length extending along the peripheral edge of said rear element is longer than the portion of the path length extending along the front surface of said rear element.