Manufacturing of curved electrochromic devices

• US 7,808,692 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChromoGenics Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: ChromoGenics Sweden AB
• Inventors: Karmhag, Richard, Gustavsson, Greger
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/375,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/226 with sunscreens, e.g. tinted or dual visor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/023 with variable transmission, e.g. photochromic for welding A61F9/067
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/0073 Optical laminates
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A method of manufacturing permanently curved electrochromic devices is presented. The method includes provision (210, 211) of two plane thermoplastic substrates at least partly coated by an electron conducting layer. The substrates are further at least partially coated (220, 221) with an electrochromic or a counter electrode layer. The coated substrates laminated (230) together with an adhesive electrolyte layer in the middle into an electrochromic laminate sheet. The electrochromic device is formed (240) by thermoforming the covered substrates into a permanent curvature, prior or after the further coating, prior to the laminating of the substrates or by thermoforming the electrochromic laminate sheet after the lamination. Once formed, the coated substrates or electrochromic device, respectively, permanently remains in its curved shape. Additional layer, such as bus bars and layers for chemically adaptation can be provided onto the substrates prior or after the thermoforming step.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing of curved electrochromic devices, comprising the steps of:

providing a first sheet comprising a first thermoplastic substrate at least partially coated with a first electron conducting layer in a flat form;

providing a second sheet comprising a second thermoplastic substrate at least partially coated with a second electron conducting layer in a flat form;

coating said first sheet at least partially by a first electrochromic layer;

coating said second sheet at least partially by a counter electrode layer;

laminating an electrolyte layer interposed between said first sheet and said second sheet into an electrochromic laminate sheet;

thermoforming said first sheet and said second sheet into a permanent final curved shape after at least said step of providing a first sheet and said step of providing a second sheet; and

sealing said electrochromic laminate sheet;

wherein said step of thermoforming is performed jointly on said first sheet and said second sheet before said step of sealing.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of:

providing said first electrochromic layer at least partially with an additional layer, providing said counter electrode layer with an additional layer, providing said first electron conducting layer at least partially with an additional layer and/or providing said second electron conducting layer at least partially with an additional layer.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said additional layer is selected from the list of:

bus bar; and

chemical compatibility layer.

4. Method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of providing an outer surface of said electrochromic device with at least one outer layer.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said outer layer is selected from the list of:

anti-scratch layer;

anti-fog layer;

anti-reflection layer;

diffusion barrier;

photocatalytic layer; and

specularly or diffusively reflecting layer.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of thermoforming is performed jointly on said first sheet and said second sheet after said step of laminating.

7. Method according to claim 4, wherein said step of thermoforming is performed jointly on said first sheet and said second sheet after said step of providing an outer surface of said electrochromic device with at least one outer layer.

8. Method according to claim 6, comprising the further step of providing spacer particles onto said first electrochromic layer and/or said counter electrode layer before said step of laminating.

9. Method according to claim 6, wherein said step of laminating is performed in the absence of spacer particles between said first electrochromic layer and said counter electrode layer.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein said curved electrochromic devices are doubly curved electrochromic devices.

11. Electrochromic device, manufactured by a method according to the steps:

providing a first sheet comprising a first thermoplastic substrate at least partially coated with a first electron conducting layer in a flat form;

providing a second sheet comprising a second thermoplastic substrate at least partially coated with a second electron conducting layer in a flat form;

coating said first sheet at least partially by a first electrochromic layer;

coating said second sheet at least partially by a counter electrode layer;

laminating an electrolyte layer interposed between said first sheet and said second sheet into an electrochromic laminate sheet;

thermoforming said first sheet and said second sheet into a permanent final curved shape after at least said step of providing a first sheet and said step of providing a second sheet; and

sealing said electrochromic laminate sheet;

wherein said step of thermoforming is performed jointly on said first sheet and said second sheet before said step of sealing.