Electrochromic element, optical filter, lens unit, image pickup apparatus, and window member

• US 9,766,527 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kubo, Wataru, Igawa, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/191,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 359245, 359265, 359270, 359272, 359273, 359275, 345105
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

Provided is an electrochromic element, including a first electrode, a second electrode, a carrier, and an electrolyte, and an anodic organic electrochromic compound and a cathodic redox substance that are arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being transparent, in which: the electrolyte, and the anodic organic electrochromic compound and the cathodic redox substance are mixed; the electrolyte is in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the carrier; the carrier has a redox substance; the reduced form of the redox substance of the carrier is more easily oxidized than the reduced form of the anodic organic electrochromic compound.

Claims

1. An electrochromic element, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a carrier; and

an electrolyte, an anodic organic electrochromic compound, and a cathodic redox substance that are arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode,

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being transparent, wherein;

the electrolyte, the anodic organic electrochromic compound, and the cathodic redox substance are mixed;

the electrolyte is in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the carrier;

the carrier further has a redox substance; and

a reduced form of the redox substance of the carrier is more easily oxidized than a reduced form of the anodic organic electrochromic compound.

2. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein a redox potential E_EC(A) of the anodic organic electrochromic compound and a redox potential E_RO of the redox substance of the carrier satisfy the following formula (I):

E_RO<

E_EC(A) 

 

(I).

3. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the reduced form of the redox substance of the carrier reduces an oxidized form of the anodic organic electrochromic compound.

4. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the mixing comprises dissolution.

5. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is arranged outside an optical path of light to be transmitted through at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

6. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the redox substance of the carrier comprises an electrochromic compound.

7. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is arranged in at least part of a periphery of one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

8. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the carrier has two or more kinds of redox substances.

9. The electrochromic element according to claim 1, wherein the redox substance of the carrier is in a state in which an oxidized form thereof and the reduced form thereof are mixed.

10. An optical filter, comprising:

the electrochromic element of claim 1; and

an active element connected to the electrochromic element.

11. A lens unit, comprising:

an image pickup optical system including a plurality of lenses; and

the optical filter of claim 10.

12. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

an image pickup optical system including a plurality of lenses;

the optical filter of claim 10; and

an image pickup element configured to receive light transmitted through the optical filter.

13. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image pickup optical system is removably mounted.

14. A window member, comprising:

a pair of transparent substrates;

the electrochromic element of claim 1 arranged between the pair of transparent substrates; and

an active element connected to the electrochromic element.

15. An electrochromic element, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a carrier; and

an electrolyte, a cathodic organic electrochromic compound, and an anodic redox substance that are arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode,

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being transparent, wherein;

the electrolyte, the cathodic organic electrochromic compound, and the anodic redox substance are mixed;

the electrolyte is in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the carrier;

the carrier further has a redox substance; and

an oxidized form of the redox substance of the carrier is more easily reduced than an oxidized form of the cathodic organic electrochromic compound.

16. The electrochromic element according to claim 15, wherein a redox potential E_EC(C) of the cathodic organic electrochromic compound and a redox potential E_RO of the redox substance of the carrier satisfy the following formula (II):

E_RO>

E_EC(C) 

 

(II).

17. The electrochromic element according to claim 15, wherein the oxidized form of the redox substance of the carrier oxidizes a reduced form of the cathodic organic electrochromic compound.

18. An electrochromic element, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a carrier; and

an electrolyte, an anodic organic electrochromic compound, and a cathodic organic electrochromic compound that are arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode,

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being transparent, wherein;

the electrolyte, the anodic organic electrochromic compound, and the cathodic organic electrochromic compound are mixed;

the electrolyte is in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the carrier;

the carrier contains a redox substance;

a reduced form of the redox substance of the carrier is more easily oxidized than a reduced form of the anodic organic electrochromic compound; and

an oxidized form of the redox substance of the carrier is more easily reduced than an oxidized form of the cathodic organic electrochromic compound.

19. The electrochromic element according to claim 18, wherein a redox potential E_EC(A) of the anodic organic electrochromic compound, a redox potential E_EC(C) of the cathodic organic electrochromic compound, and a redox potential E_RO of the redox substance of the carrier satisfy the following formula (III):

E_EC(C)<

E_RO<

E_EC(A) 

 

(III).