Electrochromic Mirrors and other Electrooptic Devices

• US 20160282695A1
• Filed: 11/02/2014
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anoop Agrawal, John P Cronin, Juan Carlos Lopez Tonazzi
• Original Assignee: Anoop Agrawal, John P Cronin, Juan Carlos Lopez Tonazzi
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Tonazzi, Juan Carlos Lopez, Cronin, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,740,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 163/00 Adhesives based on epoxy resins; Adhesives based on derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

This invention focuses on electrooptic devices and in particular on electrochromic (EC) devices with several aspects directed towards automotive EC mirrors and windows. Adhesive compositions are disclosed herein which improve device processing attributes and their performance and durability.

Claims

1. An electrochromic assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising an epoxy resin formulation having (a) latent curing property, (b) glass transition temperature in cured state in excess of 120°

C. and (c) an inorganic content of greater than 35%.

2. An electrochromic assembly as in claim 1, where the said sealant comprises crystalline nano-particles of inorganic materials.

3. An electrochromic assembly as in claim 1, where the said sealant comprises UV stabilizers.

4. An electrochromic assembly as in claim 1, where the sealant comprises spacer beads formed of crystalline materials.

5. An electrochromic assembly as in claim 1, where the epoxy formulation comprises filler taken from a group comprising carbon black, fumed silica, colorants, inorganic fillers and oxygen scavengers.

6. An electrochromic mirror assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising an anhydride curing agent and the Tg of the cured sealant being in excess of 120°

C.

7. An electrooptic assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a primerless sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrooptic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising a prehydrolyzed silane.

8. An electrooptic assembly as set forth in claim 7 where the said assembly is an electrochromic mirror.

9. An electrochromic assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising at least one of (a) crystalline nano-particles of inorganic materials and (b) silsesquioxanes.

10. An electrochromic assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising spacer beads formed of crystalline materials.

11. An electrochromic mirror assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element bonded together by a sealant in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, the said sealant comprising an anhydride curing agent and an epoxy resin with a functionality greater than 2.