Resonant cavity electrochromic device

• US 7,773,284 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Soladigm, Inc. (View Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kurman, Eric W., Phillips, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tra; Tuyen Q
• Application Number:
  US12/241,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/260
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic device comprises a single cavity Fabry-Pérot filter in which the metal conductive layers forming the cavity are sandwiched by conductive dielectric layers. Another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic device comprises a dual-cavity Fabry-Pérot filter.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first electrically conductive dielectric layer;

a first metal conductive layer formed on the first electrically conductive dielectric layer;

a first electrochromic structure comprising a first side and a second side, the first side of the first electrochromic structure being formed on the first metal conductive layer;

a second metal conductive layer formed on the second side of the first electrochromic device;

a second electrochromic structure comprising a first side and a second side, the first side of the second electrochromic structure being formed on the second metal conductive layer;

a third metal conductor layer formed on the second side of the second electrochromic structure; and

a second electrically conductive dielectric layer formed on the third metal conductor layer.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the electrochromic device is greater than about 300 nm.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third metal conductor layers form a dual-cavity Fabry-Pé

rot filter.

4. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein at least one metal conductive layer comprises one of silver and a silver-based alloy.

5. The electrochromic device according to claim 4, wherein the silver-based alloy comprises at least one of copper, gold and palladium.

6. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the conductive dielectric layers comprises at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, and fluorine-doped zinc oxide.

7. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein a transmission dynamic range between a clear-state and a colored-state of the electrochromic device is at least about 12:

1.

8. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side.

9. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the second side.

10. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and a electrochromic (EC) on the second side.

11. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises counter electrode (CE) on the first side and a electrochromic electrode (EC) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic electrode (EC) on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side.

12. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third conductive dielectric layer formed between the first metal conductive layer and the first electrochromic structure, and

a fourth conductive dielectric layer formed between the third metal conductive layer and the second electrochromic structure.

13. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, wherein a transmission dynamic range between a clear-state and a colored-state of the electrochromic device is at least about 12:

1.

14. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side.

15. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the second side.

16. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic (EC) electrode on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises a counter electrode (CE) on the first side and a electrochromic (EC) on the second side.

17. The electrochromic device according to claim 13, wherein the first electrochromic structure comprises counter electrode (CE) on the first side and a electrochromic electrode (EC) on the second side, and

wherein the second electrochromic structure comprises an electrochromic electrode (EC) on the first side and a counter electrode (CE) on the second side.

18. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, further comprising a fifth conductive dielectric layer formed between the second metal conductive layer and the first electrochromic structure;

and

a sixth conductive dielectric layer formed between the second metal conductive layer and the second electrochromic structure.

19. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, further comprising a third conductive dielectric layer formed between the second metal conductive layer and the first electrochromic structure, and

a fourth conductive dielectric layer formed between the second metal conductive layer and the second electrochromic structure.

20. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first glass substrate comprising a low-e coating;

a second glass substrate; and

an air space formed between the low-e coating of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate,

the electrochromic device being formed on the low-e coating of the first glass substrate.

21. The electrochromic device according to claim 20, further comprising a substantially clear plastic film formed between the low-e coating and the electrochromic device.

22. The electrochromic device according to claim 20, further comprising a tinted plastic film formed between the low-e coating and the electrochromic device.

23. The electrochromic device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first glass substrate comprising a low-e coating, the low-e coating comprising at least one silver-based reflector layer;

a second glass substrate; and

an air space formed between the low-e coating of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate,

the electrochromic device being formed on the low-e coating of the first glass substrate so that one of the first and the second metal conductive layer comprise the at least one silver-based reflector layer of the low-e coating.