Electrically-operated device with variable optical and/or energetic properties

• US 20050213184A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobin Glass France
• Inventors: Mathey, Gregoire, Beteille, Fabien
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10376 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing metal wires
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10495 optoelectronic, i.e. optical valve
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/164 the electrolyte is made of polymers

Abstract

Electrically controllable device having variable optical/energy properties in transmission or in reflection, comprising at least one carrier substrate provided with a stack of electrochromic functional layers, including at least two electrochromic active layers, separated by an electrolyte, said stack being placed between two current leads, namely the lower current lead and the upper current lead respectively (“lower” corresponding to the current lead closest to the carrier substrate, as opposed to the “upper” current lead which is furthest from said substrate), characterized in that the electrochromic material constituting the two active layers is identical, and this electrochromic material is chosen from those whose coloration is not a linear function of the charge insertion.

Claims

1. An electrically controllable device having variable optical/energy properties in transmission or in reflection, comprising at least one carrier substrate provided with a stack of electrochromic functional layers, including at least two electrochromic active layers, separated by an electrolyte, said stack being placed between two current leads, namely the lower current lead and the upper current lead respectively (“

lower”

corresponding to the current lead closest to the carrier substrate, as opposed to the “

upper”

current lead which is furthest from said substrate), wherein the electrochromic material constituting the two active layers is identical, and this electrochromic material is chosen from those whose coloration is not a linear function of the charge insertion.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material constituting the electrolyte contains a polyoxyalkylene.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrolyte contains polyoxyethylene.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electrolyte is a self-supporting film.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material constituting the electrochromic active layer contains a conducting polymer.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the material constituting the electrochromic active layer contains poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) or one of its derivatives.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material constituting the electrolyte and the material constituting the electrochromic active layer are polymerized within an interpenetrating network.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material constituting the electrolyte and the material constituting the electrochromic active layer are polymerized within a semi-interpenetrating network.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the interpenetrating or semi-interpenetrating network has a composition gradient.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is an electrochromic or viologen-based system.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a vehicle sunroof, that can be autonomously activated, or a vehicle side window or rear window.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a windshield or a portion of a windshield.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device is located in the upper part of the windshield, especially in the form of one or more bands going around the outline of the windshield.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device is located in the middle part of the windshield, especially in order to prevent the driver from being dazzled at night, by means of automated regulation of its power supply using at least one camera and/or at least one light sensor.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a graphical and/or alphanumeric information display panel, glazing for buildings, a rearview mirror, an aircraft windshield or cabin window, or a roof window.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is:

interior or exterior glazing for buildings;

a shop showcase or countertop display case, which may be curved;

glazing for protecting an object of the painting type;

an antiglare computer screen;

glass furniture.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device operates in transmission or in reflection.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device includes at least one clear or bulk-tinted, flat or curved, transparent substrate of polygonal shape or at least partly curved.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device includes an opaque or opacified substrate.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic conductivity of at least one of the active layers is sufficient to replace the conducting layers with a grid of wires.

21. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conducting wires enhance the conductivity of the active layers in order to guarantee color uniformity.

22. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device incorporates another functionality, it being possible for this functionality to be, for example, a solar-protection multilayer, an anti-fouling multilayer or other multilayer.