Electrochromic device having an improved fill port plug

• US 8,345,345 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Veenman, Steven J., Tonar, William L., Stray, Joel A., Kloeppner, Leroy J., Poll, David L, Dozeman, Gary J., Menon, Nalini C., Ash, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US13/022,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/273
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/50 Protective arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/00 Materials and properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/02 organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/023 curable

Abstract

An electrochromic device including: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes: (1) a solvent; (2) an anodic material; and (3) a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (d) wherein a seal member, the first substrate, the second substrate, and/or the chamber includes a plug associated with a fill port; and (e) wherein the plug is at least partially cured with an antimonate photo initiator and/or is a one- or two-part plug which comprises a resin or mixture of resins that are substantially insoluble and/or substantially immiscible with an associated electrochromic medium while in the uncured state.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises;

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic material; and

at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;

wherein at least one of a seal member, the first substrate, the second substrate, and the chamber comprises a two-part plug associated with a fill port; and

wherein the two-part plug comprises a first sub-component comprising at least one of an epoxy resin, an acrylated butadiene, and mixtures thereof, and a second sub-component comprising an epoxy resin.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the two-part plug comprises a first sub-component comprising a resin or mixture of resins that are at least one of substantially insoluble and substantially immiscible with the electrochromic medium while in the uncured state, and a second-subcomponent comprising a resin or mixture of resins that exhibit at least one of desired permeability, adhesion, and stability characteristics.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the first sub-component of the two-part plug contacts the second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith.

4. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the first sub-component of the two-part plug contacts the first and second substrates having an electrically conductive material associated therewith.

5. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the second sub-component of the two-part plug further comprises carbon black.

6. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the second sub-component of the two-part plug comprises a thickness ranging from approximately 10 microns to approximately 50 microns relative an outer surface of the first substrate.

7. The electrochromic device according to claim 2, further comprising a slipcover.

8. The electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein the slipcover is spaced apart and substantially parallel to the first substrate.

9. The electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein the slipcover comprises a thickness ranging from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1 mm.

10. The electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein the slipcover comprises a substantially circular geometric cross-section having a diameter ranging from approximately 5 mm to approximately 7 mm.

11. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises at least one of a cross-linked polymer matrix, a free-standing gel, and a substantially non-weeping gel.

12. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic medium further comprises a redox buffer.

13. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the device is an electrochromic window.

14. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the device is an electrochromic aircraft transparency.

15. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate is coated with a reflective material.

16. The electrochromic device according to claim 15, wherein the reflective material is selected from the group comprising chromium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, alloys and/or combinations of the same, and stacked layers thereof.

17. The electrochromic device according to claim 16, wherein the device is an electrochromic mirror.

18. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, further comprising a cure indicator.

19. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a toughener, a flexibilizer, and a surface active agent.

20. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the first sub-component has been at least one of mechanically etched and chemically etched.

21. An electrochromic device, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith;

an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises;

at least one solvent;

at least one anodic material; and

at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic;

wherein the first substrate comprises a two-part plug associated with a fill port; and

a slipcover associated with the two-part plug.