Added feature electrooptical devices and automotive components
First Claim
1. An electrochromic device wherein the device comprises a rear element coated with a first conductive layer and a transparent front element coated with a second conductive layer wherein the said elements are spaced apart by using at least one of spherical and near spherical spacer beads to define a cavity of a uniform gap such that the first and second conductive layers face the gap and the spacer beads contact the first and second conductive layers, wherein the said cavity is filled by introducing an electrolytic fluid, wherein the said spacer beads have a geometry of a core surrounded by a shell, where the material composition of the shell is different from that of the said core, and the said spacer beads have at least one of the following properties:
- (a) the shell has a lower mechanical modulus than the core;
(b) the shell is soluble in the electrolyte and the core is not soluble;
(c) the shell is compatible with the electrolyte and the core is not compatible with the electrolyte;
(d) the shell is soluble in the electrolyte.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention focuses on electrooptic devices and in particular on electrochromic (EC) devices with many aspects directed towards automotive EC mirrors. This invention improves the visual impact of such devices by employing modifications to the materials and layers so that their refractive index can be changed and/or matched to get this improvement. In addition this also discloses use of in-molded electronic components to reduce the assembly cost of these devices and improve their reliability. Displays can be incorporated in EC mirrors while having reflective coatings on the fourth surface.
68 Citations
4 Claims
-
1. An electrochromic device wherein the device comprises a rear element coated with a first conductive layer and a transparent front element coated with a second conductive layer wherein the said elements are spaced apart by using at least one of spherical and near spherical spacer beads to define a cavity of a uniform gap such that the first and second conductive layers face the gap and the spacer beads contact the first and second conductive layers, wherein the said cavity is filled by introducing an electrolytic fluid, wherein the said spacer beads have a geometry of a core surrounded by a shell, where the material composition of the shell is different from that of the said core, and the said spacer beads have at least one of the following properties:
-
(a) the shell has a lower mechanical modulus than the core; (b) the shell is soluble in the electrolyte and the core is not soluble; (c) the shell is compatible with the electrolyte and the core is not compatible with the electrolyte; (d) the shell is soluble in the electrolyte.
-
-
2. An electrochromic device wherein the device comprises a rear element and a transparent front element being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and wherein the chamber comprises an electrolyte and spacer beads to hold the spacing between the elements, wherein the said spacer beads are porous spacer beads composed of a first material composition and having pores containing a second material composition, wherein the first and the second material compositions are different, wherein the second material composition is soluble in the electrolyte and the first material composition is not soluble in the electrolyte.
- 3. An electrochromic device wherein the device comprises a rear element and a transparent front element being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and wherein the chamber comprises a liquid electrolyte composition and spherical spacer beads in a size greater than 80 microns to hold the elements at the spaced apart relationship at greater than 80 microns apart, wherein the said spherical spacer beads are porous spherical spacer beads and pores of the said spherical spacer beads are penetrated by the liquid electrolyte composition, and wherein said spherical spacer beads are not soluble in the liquid electrolyte composition.
Specification