SOLID STATE ELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR

• US 3,712,710 A
• Filed: 12/21/1970
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Paul Spitzer, George Augustus Castellion
• Original Assignee: Donald Paul Spitzer, George Augustus Castellion
• Inventors: Castellion, George Augustus, Spitzer, Donald Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Application Number:
  US05/099,909
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 350/160
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds

Abstract

Electro-optical device particularly useful in the modulation of reflected light typically comprising an electrochromic device containing a reflecting layer electrode in sandwiched arrangement, said electrochromic device being a sandwich arrangement of a transparent electrode, a reflecting layer electrode, a film of a transition metal compound and a solid insulating film disposed between the electrodes. The electrochromic device exhibits coloration and bleaching thereof at ambient temperature by control of the polarity of an applied electric field, whereby light reaching the reflecting solid layer electrode is modulated in intensity, thus modulating, in turn, the reflected light.

Claims

2. A radiation reflective device having an electric field responsive radiation transmitting characteristic comprising:

a. a pair of conductive electrodes between which an electric field is established;

b. a current carrier permeable insulator selected from the group consisting of inorganic compounds of Groups IA, IIA and IIIA and in contact with one of said electrodes, c. a persistent electrochromic material in contact with said insulating material and disposed between said electrodes, wherein said electrode in contact with the insulating layer is a light reflecting layer of evaporated sodium and the other of said electrodes is substantially transparent.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said persistent electrochromic material is tungsten oxide.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said persistent electrochromic material is molybdenum oxide.

5. A radiation reflective device having an electric field responsive radiation transmitting characteristic comprising, in sandwich arrangement layers in contiguous contact in the following order:

a. an electrode comprising as a reflective material, an alkali metal or doped conducting metal oxide, b. a current carrier permeable insulator selected from the group consisting of colorless solid ionic conductors having bulk ionic conductivities greater than 10 6/ohm/cm, said reflecting electrode and insulator having chemical and electrochemical compatibility, c. a persistent electrochromic material, d. a transparent electrode.

6. A variable light transmission device as defined in claim 5 comprising:

control means coupled to said device for selectively applying across said electrodes a potential of one polarity, a potential of opposite polarity and an effective short circuit.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein at least one of the selectively applied potentials is variable over a given range.

8. A radiation reflective device having an electric field responsive radiation transmitting characteristic comprising, layers in contiguous contact in the following sandwich arrangement:

a. an electrode comprising as a reflecting material, an alkali metal, b. a current carrier permeable insulator selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metal oxides, or mixtures thereof, in combination with aluminum oxide, said reflecting electrode and insulator having chemical and electrochromical compatibility, c. a persistent electrochromic material selected from the group consisting of metal stannates, oxides and sulfides of metals of Groups IV B, V B and VI B of the Periodic System, and Lanthanide series metal oxides and sulfides, and, d. a transparent electrode.