Electrochromic devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same

• US 9,140,950 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Veerasamy, Vijayen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector, David N
• Application Number:
  US14/135,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10045 with at least one intermediate layer consisting of a glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10981 Pre-treatment of the layers
• 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 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to electrochromic (EC) devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to improved EC materials, EC device stacks, high-volume manufacturing (HVM) compatible process integration schemes, and/or high-throughput low cost deposition sources, equipment, and factories.

Claims

1. An electrochromic assembly comprising:

at least first and second substrates, the first and second substrates being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from one another; and

a plurality of device layers supported by the first substrate, the plurality of device layers comprising a transparent conductive coating, a counter electrode layer, an ion conductor layer, a doped electrochromic layer comprising WOx, and a second transparent conductive coating.

2. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein a device including the device layers is an electrochromic device.

3. The electrochromic assembly of claim 2, wherein the device layers are sputter-deposited.

4. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first transparent conductive coating comprises a layer comprising silver.

5. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first transparent conductive coating comprises a layer comprising silver sandwiched between at least layers comprising ITO.

6. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are laminated to each other via a polymer-based layer.

7. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the doped electrochromic layer comprising WOx is doped with Mo.

8. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the doped electrochromic layer comprising WOx is doped with V.

9. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the doped electrochromic layer comprising WOx is sub-stoichiometric.

10. The electrochromic assembly of claim 1, wherein the doped electrochromic layer comprising WOx is doped with Cl.