Transparent electrochromic systems with a plurality of polarisation electrodes
First Claim
1. A transparent electrochromic system, allowing clear vision through said system, and comprising:
- first and second outer walls defining a closed volume, the system being transparent for a direction of gaze passing through the outer walls and said closed volume between two opposite sides;
a liquid or gel contained in the closed volume;
first and second electroactive substances distributed in the liquid or gel, with respective oxidation-reduction potential values that are different, at least some of the first and second electroactive substances having an optical effect that varies between an oxidised form and a reduced form of said substances;
a pair of transparent first and second supply electrodes, together supported by the first outer wall, and configured to be connected respectively to two output terminals of a first variable electrical source for supplying the system with electric current, so as to transfer electrons to or from at least some of the electroactive substances, in a reverse mode between said first and second electroactive substances at a same moment of operation of the system; and
a pair of transparent first and second polarisation electrodes together supported by the second outer wall and having no contact with said supply electrodes within the system, said first polarisation electrode being situated opposite the first supply electrode and on an opposite side of the closed volume with respect to the first supply electrode along a direction perpendicular to the outer walls, and said second polarisation electrode being situated opposite the second supply electrode and on an opposite side of the closed volume with respect to the second supply electrode along a direction perpendicular to the outer walls,the first polarisation electrode and the first supply electrode being configured to be further connected respectively to two output terminals of a second variable electrical source, the output terminals of said first and second variable electrical sources that are connected to the first supply electrode being configured to have respective polarities that are identical at least at some moments of operation of the system, said polarities being considered respectively with respect to the other output terminal of the corresponding electrical source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to transparent electrochromic systems which each include one pair of supply electrodes and at least one pair of polarization electrodes. The polarization electrodes prevent a reaction of mutual neutralization of the electroactive substances of the systems from causing unnecessary consumption of electric current. Said electrodes also prevent a neutralization reaction from limiting a lower value of light transmission of the systems. For this purpose, the polarization electrodes produce an electric field inside the systems, which attracts the electroactive substances that have already reacted with the supply electrodes to different areas.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A transparent electrochromic system, allowing clear vision through said system, and comprising:
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first and second outer walls defining a closed volume, the system being transparent for a direction of gaze passing through the outer walls and said closed volume between two opposite sides; a liquid or gel contained in the closed volume; first and second electroactive substances distributed in the liquid or gel, with respective oxidation-reduction potential values that are different, at least some of the first and second electroactive substances having an optical effect that varies between an oxidised form and a reduced form of said substances; a pair of transparent first and second supply electrodes, together supported by the first outer wall, and configured to be connected respectively to two output terminals of a first variable electrical source for supplying the system with electric current, so as to transfer electrons to or from at least some of the electroactive substances, in a reverse mode between said first and second electroactive substances at a same moment of operation of the system; and a pair of transparent first and second polarisation electrodes together supported by the second outer wall and having no contact with said supply electrodes within the system, said first polarisation electrode being situated opposite the first supply electrode and on an opposite side of the closed volume with respect to the first supply electrode along a direction perpendicular to the outer walls, and said second polarisation electrode being situated opposite the second supply electrode and on an opposite side of the closed volume with respect to the second supply electrode along a direction perpendicular to the outer walls, the first polarisation electrode and the first supply electrode being configured to be further connected respectively to two output terminals of a second variable electrical source, the output terminals of said first and second variable electrical sources that are connected to the first supply electrode being configured to have respective polarities that are identical at least at some moments of operation of the system, said polarities being considered respectively with respect to the other output terminal of the corresponding electrical source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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3. A transparent electrochromic system, allowing a clear vision through said system, and comprising:
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first and second outer walls defining a closed volume, the system being transparent for a direction of gaze passing through the outer walls and said closed volume between two opposite sides; a liquid or gel contained in the closed volume; first and second electroactive substances distributed in the liquid or gel, with respective oxidation-reduction potential values that are different, at least some of the first and second electroactive substances having an optical effect that varies between an oxidised form and a reduced form of said substances; a pair of transparent supply electrodes, together supported by a the first outer wall, and configured to be connected respectively to two output terminals of a first variable electrical source for supplying the system with electric current, so as to transfer electrons to or from at least some of the electroactive substances, in a reverse mode between said first and second electroactive substances at a same moment of operation of the system; a pair of transparent first and second polarisation electrodes together supported by the second outer wall and having no contact with said supply electrodes within the system, and said first and second polarisation electrodes being situated respectively opposite the first and second supply electrodes, and on and opposite side of the closed volume with respect to the supply electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the outer walls; and a pair of transparent third and fourth polarisation electrodes situated between the supply electrodes on one hand, and the first outer wall on the other hand, said third and fourth polarisation electrodes being situated respectively in line with the first and second supply electrodes along respective directions perpendicular to the outer walls with no contact with said supply electrodes within the system, said first and third polarisation electrodes being configured to be connected respectively to two output terminals of a second variable electrical source, the output terminals of said first and second variable electrical sources that are connected respectively to the first supply electrode and the third polarisation electrode being configured to have respectively polarities that are identical at least at some moments of operation of the system, said polarities being considered respectively with respect to the other output terminal of the corresponding electrical source. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification