Multi-color electrochromic apparatus and methods

• US 20050200937A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Weidner, Arthur P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• 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: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for multi-color electrochromic devices. In one embodiment, pixels of a first color electrochromic material (i.e. pigment) are arranged in first areas on a substrate with pixels of a second color electrochromic material in second areas to define a two-dimensional pattern of the first and second color on the substrate. When the applied electric field or current supplied to each pixel is changed, the device may produce the respective colors of the electrochromic materials and may produce a blended color because of the arrangement of the pixels. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the electrochromic materials may form a design, pattern, logo, or picture when the electrochromic materials are activated. In yet further aspects of the invention, a substrate is masked and unmasked as a plurality of colors are applied to the substrate to produce a multi-color electrochromic display.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, comprising:

at least one first area of a first electrochromic material arranged on a substrate; and

at least one second area of a second electrochromic material arranged on the substrate.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller arranged to electrically activate the first area and arranged to electrically activate the second area.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein:

the first area and the second area are arranged on the substrate to form a two-dimensional pattern of a first color and a second color on the substrate.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one third area of a third color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrolyte including GBL.

6. An electrochromic layer for an electrochromic device, comprising:

a plurality of first pixels of a first color electrochromic material arranged on a substrate, and

a plurality of second pixels of a second color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate, the second pixels interspersed at least in part with the first pixels to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material change between color states.

7. The electrochromic layer of claim 6, wherein the first color electrochromic material includes one of a red electrochromic material and a blue electrochromic material.

8. The electrochromic layer of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of third pixels of a third color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate, the third pixels interspersed at least in part with the first pixels and the second pixels to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material, the second color electrochromic material, and the third color electrochromic material change between color states.

9. The electrochromic layer of claim 8, wherein the first color electrochromic material includes a red electrochromic material, the second electrochromic material includes a blue electrochromic material, and the third color electrochromic material includes a green electrochromic material.

10. The electrochromic layer of claim 8, wherein the first color electrochromic material includes a cyan electrochromic material, the second electrochromic material includes a magenta electrochromic material, and the third color electrochromic material includes a yellow electrochromic material.

11. A multi-color electrochromic device, the electrochromic device comprising:

a first color electrochromic material; and

a second color electrochromic material, the second color electrochromic material proximate to the first color electrochromic material to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material changes between states.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 11, further comprising:

a third color electrochromic material, the color electrochromic material proximate to the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material to produce an appearance of a plurality of colors when at least one of the first color electrochromic material, the second color electrochromic material, and the third color electrochromic material change states.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 11, wherein the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material are interspersed in a pattern to form a multi-color design.

14. A multi-color electrochromic panel, comprising:

an electrochromic layer bearing a plurality of colors of electrochromic material interspersed in a pattern to display an appearance of a plurality of visual colors upon the plurality of colors of electrochromic material changing color states; and

a frame adapted to hold the electrochromic layer in a location desired to be alternately at least in part substantially transparent and at least in part displaying the plurality of colors.

15. The electrochromic panel of claim 14, wherein the plurality of colors of electrochromic material include a red electrochromic material and a blue electrochromic material.

16. The electrochromic panel of claim 14, wherein the plurality of colors of electrochromic material include a red electrochromic material, a blue electrochromic material, and a green electrochromic material.

17. The electrochromic panel of claim 14, wherein the plurality of colors of electrochromic material include a cyan electrochromic material, a magenta electrochromic material, and a yellow electrochromic material.

18. The electrochromic panel of claim 14, wherein the frame is adapted to hold the electrochromic layer in a vehicle.

19. The electrochromic panel of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

20. The electrochromic panel of claim 18, wherein the frame is adapted to hold the electrochromic layer within a passenger compartment divider.

21. A method of operating a multi-color electrochromic display, comprising:

providing at least one first area of first color electrochromic material on a substrate;

providing at least one second area of second color electrochromic material on the substrate proximate to the second area; and

activating at least one of the first area and the second area to change color states.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the second area includes:

installing on the substrate a plurality of a real densities of the second color electrochromic material interspersed within the first area to produce an appearance of a mixed color when the first color electrochromic material and the second color electrochromic material are activated.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first color electrochromic material includes one of a red electrochromic material, a blue electrochromic material, a green electrochromic material, a yellow electrochromic material, a magenta electrochromic material, and a cyan electrochromic material.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing at least one third area of a third color electrochromic material on the substrate proximate to the first area and the second area; and

activating the third area of a third color electrochromic material to change color states.

25. A method for forming a multicolor electrochromic layer, comprising:

masking a first portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of first unmasked areas;

depositing a first color electrochromic material on the substrate in the plurality of first unmasked areas;

unmasking the first portion of the substrate; and

depositing a second color electrochromic material on the substrate on the first portion.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the masking a first portion includes applying an ablative mask.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the first portion includes a plurality of first pixels, and the first unmasked area includes a plurality of second pixels, the plurality of first pixels interspersed among the plurality of second pixels.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of depositing the first color electrochromic material and depositing the second color electrochromic material includes sputter coating.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of depositing the first color electrochromic material and depositing the second color electrochromic material includes jet printing.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of depositing the first color electrochromic material and depositing the second color electrochromic material includes electro-polymerization.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

masking a second portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of second unmasked areas; and

depositing a third color electrochromic material on the substrate on the second unmasked areas.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein masking a first portion of a substrate leaving unmasked a plurality of first unmasked areas includes at least one of forming a portion of a design, a pattern, a logo, and a picture.

33. An electrochromic layer for a multi-color electrochromic device, the electrochromic layer comprising:

a first plurality of pixels of a first color electrochromic material arranged on a substrate; and

a second plurality of pixels of a second color electrochromic material arranged on the substrate, the second plurality of pixels interspersed at least in part with the first plurality of pixels.

34. A multi-color electrochromic device, the electrochromic device comprising:

a first color electrochromic material; and

a second color electrochromic material, the second color electrochromic material arranged proximate to the first color electrochromic material to form a two dimensional pattern.

35. A method of adjusting the natural lighting in an environment, comprising:

providing a plurality of areas of first color electrochromic material on a substrate;

providing a plurality of areas of second color electrochromic material on the substrate at least proximate to the plurality of areas of first color electrochromic material;

positioning the substrate where the substrate may alter a natural light transmitted through the substrate; and

activating at least one of the plurality of areas of first color electrochromic material and the plurality of areas of second color electrochromic material to change color states thereby adjusting the natural lighting in the environment.