Electrochromic device with specific resistances

• US 5,148,306 A
• Filed: 11/21/1991
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Masayuki, Ushio, Yoshijiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mintel, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): POTTER, ROY KARL
• Application Number:
  US07/798,368
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 350/357, 350/353, 359/267, 359/269, 359/271, 359/275, 359/270, 357/51
• US Class Current: 359/271
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electrochromic device comprises a first electrode layer, an intermediate layer including an electrochromic layer, a second electrode layer, the first electrode layer, intermediate layer and second electrode layer being laminated in succession, and an electrode member connected to one of the first and second electrode layers and extending in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the direction of lamination of the first electrode layer, intermediate layer and second electrode layer. The resistances R₁, R₂ respectively of the first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of the intermediate layer satisfy predetermined conditions to achieve uniform coloration.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

a first electrode layer;

an intermediate layer including an electrochromic layer;

a second electrode layer, said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer being laminated in succession; and

an electrode member connected to one of said first and second electrode layers and extending in a predetermined direction transverse to the direction of lamination of said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer;

wherein the resistance R₁, R₂ respectively of said first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of said intermediate layer satisfy the following condition;

##EQU8## and resistances R₁, R₂ and R₃ being defined as follows;

##EQU9## wherein ρ

.sub. ;

resistivity of said first electrode layer;

ρ

₂ ;

resistivity of said second electrode layer;

ρ

₃ ;

ion resistivity of said intermediate layer;

d₁ ;

thickness of said first electrode layer;

d₂ ;

thickness of said second electrode layer;

d₃ ;

thickness of said intermediate layer;

l;

shortest of respective lengths, in said predetermined direction, of the electrode layer other than said one electrode layer, said electrode member and said intermediate layer; and

S;

superposed area of said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer, as viewed along the direction of lamination thereof.

2. An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the resistances R₁ and R₂ respectively of said first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of said intermediate layer satisfy following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(R.sub.1 +R.sub.2)<

R.sub.3.

3. An electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein the resistances R₁ and R₂ respectively of said first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of said intermediate layer satisfy following conditions:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">4(R.sub.1 +R.sub.2)<

R.sub.3.

4. An electrochromic device according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined direction is perpendicular to said direction of lamination.

5. An electrochromic device according to claim 3, further comprising means including input and output electrical for applying a voltage between said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer.

6. An electrochromic device according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined direction is perpendicular to said direction of lamination.

7. An electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined direction is perpendicular to said direction of lamination.

8. An electrochromic device comprising:

a first electrode layer;

an intermediate layer including an electrochromic layer;

a second electrode layer, said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer being laminated in succession; and

an electrode member connected to one of said first and second electrode layers and extending in a predetermined direction transverse to the direction of lamination of said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer;

wherein the resistance R₁ and R₂ respectively of said first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of said intermediate layer satisfy the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R.sub.1 <

R.sub.3

and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R.sub.2 <

R.sub.3

said resistances R₁, R₂ and R₃ being defined as follows;

##EQU10## wherein ρ

.sub. ;

resistivity of said first electrode layer;

ρ

₂ ;

resistivity of said second electrode layer;

ρ

₃ ;

ion resistivity of said intermediate layer;

d₁ ;

thickness of said first electrode layer;

d₂ ;

thickness of said second electrode layer;

d₃ ;

thickness of said intermediate layer;

l;

shortest of respective lengths, in said predetermined direction, of the electrode layer other than said one electrode layer, said electrode member and said intermediate layer; and

S;

superposed area of the said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer, as viewed along the direction of lamination thereof.

9. An electrochromic device according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined direction is perpendicular to said direction of lamination.

10. An electrochromic device comprising:

a first electrode layer;

an intermediate layer including an electrochromic layer;

a second electrode layer, said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer being laminated in succession; and

a first electrode member and a second electrode member connected, respectively, to said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer, each electrode member extending in a predetermined direction transverse to the direction of lamination of said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer;

wherein the resistance R₁, R₂ respectively of said first and second electrode layers and the internal resistance R₃ of said intermediate layer satisfy the following condition;

##EQU11## said resistances R₁, R₂ and R₃ being defined as follows;

##EQU12## wherein ρ

.sub. ;

resistivity of said first electrode layer;

ρ

₂ ;

resistivity of said second electrode layer;

ρ

₃ ;

ion resistivity of said intermediate layer;

d₁ ;

thickness of said first electrode layer;

d₂ ;

thickness of said second electrode layer;

d₃ ;

thickness of said intermediate layer;

l;

shortest of respective lengths, in said predetermined direction, of said first and second electrode layers, said first and second electrode members and said intermediate layer; and

S;

superposed area of said first electrode layer, said intermediate layer and said second electrode layer, as viewed along the direction of lamination thereof.

11. An electrochromic device according to claim 10, wherein said first and second electrode layers are transparent, and said first and second electrode members are formed with low resistance materials superposed on portions of said first and second electrode layers.

12. An electrochromic device according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined direction is perpendicular to said direction of lamination.