Variable transmittance optical devices

• US 9,176,357 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solutia Canada, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: Switch Materials, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Duhane, Branda, Neil Robin, Smit, Matthew Paul, Von Hahn, Peter Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US13/994,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/241, 359/244, 298/25, 298/46, 298/74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/23 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/102 Photochromic filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0102 Constructional details, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/086 UV absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/14 photochromic
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

A self-powered variable transmittance optical device, such as a smart window or other device, and associated method are provided. The device comprises one or more transparent substrates, with a switching material disposed thereon or therebetween. The switching material may be a hybrid photochromic/electrochromic material capable of transitioning from a first transmittance state to a second transmittance state with application of electricity, and from second state to first state due to another stimulus, such as UV radiation. Electrodes are coupled to the switching material for applying electricity. An electrical system provides for controllable application of the electricity, and may store energy. Energy is provided by an energy-harvesting power source such as a solar cell or other photovoltaic source, or array thereof, or another device for harvesting vibrational or thermal energy. Energy harvesting, energy storage capacity and/or switching material may be configured to provide at least a predetermined level of device operability.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a) a variable transmittance optical filter comprising;

i. a first substantially transparent substrate, comprising a first electrode;

ii. a second substantially transparent substrate comprising a second electrode;

iii. a switching material disposed between, and operatively coupled to, the first and second electrodes, the switching material transitionable from a first light transmittance state to a second light transmittance state with application of voltage to the switching material, and transitionable from the second light transmittance state to the first light transmittance state with application of a non-electrical stimulus;

b) an energy harvesting power source; and

c) an electrical system configured to receive power from the power source and to provide a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the variable transmittance optical filter is a film.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmittance state is a dark state and the second transmittance state is a faded state.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-electrical stimulus is exposure to light.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-electrical stimulus is UV light.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the switching material comprises a photochromic and electrochromic compound.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the photochromic and electrochromic compound of the switching material is a diarylethene.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the switching material is transitionable from a faded state to a dark state with light comprising wavelengths of about 350 to about 420 nm, or of about 365 to about 420 nm, or of about 375 to about 420 nm, or of about 375 to about 420 nm, or of about 380 to about 420 nm, or of about 385 nm to about 420 nm, or any amount or range therebetween.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical system comprises an energy storage component configured to receive and store power from the energy-harvesting power source, and to provide power for application of the voltage to the switching material.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy-harvesting power source is disposed on a surface of the first substrate, a surface of the second substrate, or a surface of the first substrate and a surface of the second substrate.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy-harvesting power source is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric power source, a photovoltaic power source, a vibrational energy-harvesting power source or a thermal energy-harvesting power source.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the photovoltaic power source has an area from about 1% to about 25%, or from about 1% to about 10%, or from about 1% to about 5% of the area of the variable transmittance optical filter, or any amount or range therebetween.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting power source provides from about 0.0001 W to about 25 W per meter square of optical filter area.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applied to the first and second electrodes is from about 0.1V to about 5V or from about 0.5V to about 3V or from about 1.2V to about 2.5 V, or from about 1.8V to about 2.1 V.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmittance state has visible light transmission of less than 50%, or less than 40% or less than 30% or less than 20% or less than 10%;

and/or wherein the second transmittance state has visible light transmission of at least 50%, or at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90%.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmittance state has visible light transmission from about 5% to about 50%, or from about 5% to about 40%, or from about 5% to about 30%, or from about 5% to about 20%, or from about 5% to about 10%, or any amount or range therebetween.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second transmittance state has visible light transmission from about 50% to about 99%, or from about 60% to about 95%, or from about 70% to about 95%, or from about 80% to about 95%, or any mount or range therebetween.

18. A window or opthalmic device comprising the device according to claim 1.

19. A window comprising:

a) a pane having a variable transmittance optical filter disposed on a first side, comprising;

i a first substantially transparent substrate, comprising a first electrode;

ii a second substantially transparent substrate comprising a second electrode; and

iii a switching material disposed between, and operatively coupled to, the first and second electrodes, the switching material transitionable from a first light transmittance state to a second light transmittance state with application of voltage to the switching material, and transitionable from the second light transmittance state to the first light transmittance state with application of a non-electrical stimulus;

b) an electrical system configured to receive power from an energy harvesting power source and provide a voltage to the first and second electrodes of the variable transmittance optical filter; and

c) a first frame surrounding the pane, the first frame configured for slidable mounting within a second frame, the second frame configured for mounting in an existing window opening of a building.

20. A method for preparing a self-powered variable transmittance optical device, the method comprising:

a) disposing a layer of switching material on a substantially transparent substrate, the switching material capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage, wherein a first and second electrode are disposed such that the switching material is proximate with the first and second electrodes;

b) providing an energy-harvesting power source; and

c) providing an electrical system configured to receive power from the energy harvesting power source and to provide power to the first electrode and the second electrode for application of the electric voltage through the first and second electrodes.