Electrochromic device having an improved fill port plug

• US 9,128,345 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US14/464,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 two-part plug associated with a fill port of the electrochromic device, the two-part plug comprising;

a first part comprising a first resin that, in an uncured state, is substantially insoluble or substantially immiscible with an electrochromic medium;

a second part comprising a second resin; and

a slipcover in contact with the two-part plug, the slipcover comprising a metal, a colored glass, an etched glass, an abraded glass, an etched plastic, or an abraded plastic;

wherein the slipcover is less than 0.85 mm thick.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover controls a transmissivity of the electrochromic device in a region proximal to the fill port.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover is less than 1 mm thick.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover is less than 0.7 mm thick.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover is a generally circular disc.

6. The electrochromic device of claim 5, wherein the generally circular disc has a diameter of from about 5 mm to about 7 mm.

7. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover comprises a colored glass.

8. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover comprises an etched glass.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the slipcover comprises an abraded glass.

10. The electrochromic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a first electrically conductive coating on the second surface, the slipcover being proximal to the first surface;

a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a second electrically conductive coating on a second surface;

a sealing member joining the first substrate and the second substrate;

the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating being in contact with the sealing member;

the first substrate, second substrate, and sealing member defining a chamber; and

the fill port comprising an aperture in the first substrate;

wherein the second part of the two-part plug further comprises spacer beads and the spacer beads have an average particle size of from about 1 μ

m to about 50 μ

m.

11. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein a portion of the two-part plug disposed between the slipcover and the first surface of the first substrate comprises the spacer beads.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein the spacer beads have an average particle size of from about 5 μ

m to about 30 μ

m.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein the spacer beads have an average particle size of about 20 μ

m.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein the spacer beads are comprises of polymethylmethacrylate, hollow glass, spherical glass, or metal.

15. The electrochromic device of claim 10 further comprising an electrochromic medium disposed within the chamber.

16. The electrochromic device of claim 15, wherein the electrochromic medium comprises a solvent, an anodic material, and at least one cathodic material, wherein the anodic material and the cathodic material are electroactive, and at least one of the anodic material and the cathodic material is electrochromic.

17. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the two-part plug further comprises carbon black.

18. The electrochromic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a first electrically conductive coating on the second surface;

a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a second electrically conductive coating on a second surface;

a sealing member joining the first substrate and the second substrate;

the first electrically conductive coating and the second electrically conductive coating being in contact with the sealing member;

the first substrate, second substrate, and sealing member defining a chamber; and

the fill port comprising an aperture in the sealing member;

wherein the second part of the two-part plug further comprises spacer beads and the spacer beads have an average particle size of from about 1 μ

m to about 50 μ

m.