Electrochromic glass for use in cars and buildings

• US 5,598,293 A
• Filed: 09/11/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societa Italiana Pentole SpA
• Original Assignee: Societa Italiana Pentole SpA
• Inventors: Green, Mino
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US08/526,322
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 359/269, 359/275, 359/265, 359/273
• US Class Current: 359/275
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte

Abstract

An electrochromic glass of a size suitable to be used with advantage in automobile or building applications, made from two sheets of glass and as external walls, two transparent conductor layers and two electrodes as the system'"'"'s active elements and an electrolyte polymer. The active electrode is made of tungsten oxide, whereas the active electrode is made of vanadium oxide or a suitable mixture of vanadium oxide and molybdenum oxide. The electrolyte polymer is obtained by dissolving lithium perchlorate in a suitable solution of propylene carbonate and polymethylmethacrylate. A suitable reference electrode keeps the system under control. The complex formed as above is capable of rapidly becoming dark or transparent under the action of an electric field.

Claims

1. A transparent electrochromic glazing capable of varying its light transmission values throughout its surface area in response to the application of an electric field, said glazing consisting essentially of a first substrate of transparent glass material, a conductor layer applied on one surface of said substrate, a first transparent electrode applied in contact with said conductor layer, a transparent electrolyte in contact with said electrode, a second transparent electrode in contact with said electrolyte, a second conductor layer in contact with said second electrode and a second substrate of transparent sheet material on which said second conductor layer is applied, wherein said transparent electrolyte a polymer spreadable in contact with said first electrode, formed of lithium perchlorate dissolved in a solution of a propylene carbonate and polymethylmethacrylate in which the ratio by weight of propylene carbonate to polymethylmethacrylate is 1.5 to 1.8, comprising a reference electrode positioned between said first transparent electrode and said electrolyte polymer, said reference electrode comprising an insulating strip of polyethylene terephthalate in contact with said first transparent electrode having a width of 0.5 to 2 mm, a thickness lower than 10% of the thickness of said polymer electrolyte and a length in contact with said polymer electrolyte lower than 20 mm, and a conductive layer of gold in contact with said polymer electrolyte, having a thickness of substantially 700 Angstroms coated on said strip.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which by said application of an electric field a current is produced, which is a constant electric current and which causes said glazing to exhibit a uniform coloring in less than one minute.

3. The glazing according to claim 1 in the form of an automotive sunroof.

4. The glazing according to claim 1 in the form of a window for a building.