Electrochromic devices having no positional offset between substrates

• US 7,349,143 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Busscher, Bradley L., Kar, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/850,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10321 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing liquid layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

To allow an electrochromic device to have little or no offset between its front and rear elements, an electrical conductor may be provided to electrically couple a portion of a first conductive layer provided on the rear surface of the front element with a portion of a second conductive layer provided on the front surface of the rear element. The electrical conductor may be in the form of a conductive portion of the seal. To prevent shorting across the electrochromic medium, at least one of the first and second conductive layers is separated into a first portion and a second portion that is electrically isolated from the first portion and is in electrical contact with the electrochromic material. An elastomeric bezel may be utilized. Also, an edge seal may optionally be employed so as to reduce the need or width of the bezel.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material; and

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed, said chamber having a thickness defined by a spacing between said first and second layers of electrically conductive material, wherein said seal has at least one electrically conductive region and at least one electrically nonconductive region,

wherein along a cross section of said seal, said electrically conductive region of said seal extends less than all of the thickness of said chamber and said nonconductive region extends a portion of the thickness of said chamber.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal has an electrically nonconductive inner portion disposed between said electrically conductive region and said electrochromic medium.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive region of said seal is made of electrically conductive epoxy.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said front and rear elements are substantially aligned with less than 0.5 mm offset in any lateral direction.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive region of said seal extends less than all of the length of said seal.

6. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive region of said seal extends less than all of the width of said seal.

7. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein one of said rear surface of said front element and said front surface of said rear element is tapered proximate its peripheral edge to provide a heavy seam, and wherein said seal is provided in said heavy seam.

8. The electrochromic device of claim 1 and further comprising an electrically conductive wire provided between said first and second conductive layers and in electrical contact with at least one of said conductive layers.

9. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein a peripheral area of said front surface of said front element is configured to obscure the view of said seal.

10. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal includes two electrically conductive regions separated by an electrically nonconductive region.

11. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein said electrically conductive regions are separated by fill ports.

12. The electrochromic device of claim 10, wherein said electrically nonconductive region comprises an insulating strip and said electrically conductive regions include a first conductive strip applied to one side of said insulating strip and a second conductive strip applied to an opposite side of said insulating strip.

13. The electrochromic device of claim 12, wherein said electrically conductive regions each further comprise a coating of electrically conductive epoxy.

14. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an electrically conductive epoxy.

15. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an electrically conductive material that makes electrical contact with at least one of said first and second layers.

16. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said nonconductive region of said seal comprises an electrically insulating component.

17. The electrochromic device of claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive region of said seal comprises an electrically conductive component.

18. The electrochromic device of claim 17, wherein said electrically conductive component comprises an electrically conductive epoxy.

19. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material;

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed;

a first region of electrically conductive epoxy disposed between a first peripheral portion of said elements;

a second region of electrically conductive epoxy disposed between a second peripheral portion of said elements; and

an electrically conductive clip electrically connected to one of said first and second regions of electrically conductive epoxy, said electrically conductive clip being attached to said rear surface of said rear element.

20. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said regions of electrically conductive epoxy are separated by said seal, which is electrically nonconductive.

21. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said electrically conductive regions are separated by fill ports.

22. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said seal is electrically nonconductive and is disposed between said electrically conductive regions and said electrochromic medium.

23. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said front and rear elements are substantially aligned with less than 0.5 mm offset in any lateral direction.

24. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said electrically conductive regions extend less than all of the length of said seal.

25. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein the electrochromic device is a mirror that further comprises a reflective coating applied to one of the surfaces of said rear element.

26. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said electrically conductive epoxy comprises an electrically non-conductive epoxy material filled with electrically conductive particles.

27. The electrochromic device of claim 19, wherein said electrically conductive clip is further attached to said second layer of electrically conductive material.

28. The electrochromic device of claim 27, wherein said second layer of electrically conductive region includes a first portion and a second portion that is electrically isolated from the first portion, and where said electrically conductive clip is attached to the second portion of said second layer of electrically conductive material.

29. The electrochromic device of claim 19 and further comprising a reflective ring carried on said rear surface of said front element about its periphery.

30. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material; and

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed, wherein said seal has at least one electrically conductive region wherein said electrically conductive region of said seal extends less than all of the height of said seal,

wherein an interface between said seal and said rear element provides an oxygen penetration path length through which oxygen would have to travel to enter said chamber, wherein the portion of the path length extending along the peripheral edge of said rear element is longer than the portion of the path length extending along the front surface of said rear element.

31. An electrochromic device comprising:

a front element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

an electrochromic material; and

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together to define a chamber in which said electrochromic material is disposed, said chamber having a thickness defined by a spacing between said first and second layers of electrically conductive material, wherein said seal has at least one electrically conductive component and another component comprising a different material than said electrically conductive component,

wherein along a cross section of said seal, said electrically conductive component extends less than all of the thickness of said chamber and said another component extends the remainder of the thickness of said chamber.

32. The electrochromic device of claim 31, wherein said another component is electrically nonconductive.

33. The electrochromic device of claim 31, wherein said another component is an electrically conductive clip electrically connected to one of said electrically conductive component.

34. The electrochromic device of claim 33, wherein said electrically conductive clip is attached to said rear surface of said rear element.