Electrochromic device

• US 4,824,221 A
• Filed: 03/28/1988
• Issued: 04/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Endo, Tatuso, Niwa, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Laroche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCutcheon, Nathan W.
• Application Number:
  US07/174,472
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357, 350/355, 350/356, 350/353
• US Class Current: 359/274
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/00 Tenebrescent materials, i.e. materials for which the range of wavelengths for energy absorption is changed as a result of excitation by some form of energy
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An electrochromic device comprises a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, an electrochromic layer provided between the first and second electrode layers, an electroconductive resin layer provided on the side opposite to the electrochromic layer with respect to the second electrode layer so as to contact the second electrode layer and a third electrode layer with resistance value lower than that of the second electrode layer. The third electrode layer is provided on the side opposite to the second electrode layer with respect to the electroconductive resin layer so as to contact the electroconductive resin layer. The electrochromic device further comprises means for giving a potential difference between the first electrode layer and the third electrode layer.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

a first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer;

an electrochromic layer provided between said first and second electrode layers;

an electroconductive resin layer provided on the side opposite to the electrochromic layer with respect to said second electrode layer so as to contact said second electrode layer;

a third electrode layer with a resistance value lower than that of said second electrode layer, said third electrode layer being provided on the side opposite to said second electrode layer with respect to said electroconductive resin layer so as to contact said electroconductive resin layer; and

means for giving a potential difference between said first electrode layer and said third electrode layer.

2. An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein said electroconductive resins comprises a mixture of electroconductive powder and a resin.

3. An electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein said electroconductive powder is metal powder such as of Al, Ag, Ni, Pt, Au, Pd, Cr, Ta, Ir, Ru, or Rh, or electroconductive oxide powder such as ITO, SnO₂, or In₂ O₃, or carrier powder having these substances attached on the surface thereof.

4. An electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein said electroconductive powder has particle sizes of 1 to 300 μ

m.

5. An electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein said electroconductive powder is mixed in an amount of 0.1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin.

6. An electrochromic device according to claim 1, further having an insulating layer which prevents said electrochromic layer from being connected to said electroconductive resin layer.

7. An electrochromic device according to claim 6, further having an ion electroconductive layer formed between said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer.

8. An electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein said ion electroconductive layer is provided so as to contact said electrochromic layer.