Photochromic device

• US 7,365,896 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tetsuo Kuwabara
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation, Yamanashi Tlo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Mochizuka, Takuo, Kuwabara, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US11/155,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 359/238, 359/241, 359/242, 359/265, 359/266, 359/267, 252/583
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials

Abstract

A photochromic device having a photochromic layer including a photochromic material which exhibits absorbance in a visible region upon being sensitized by a light having a wavelength of not less than 700 nm, and an ultraviolet light blocking device for blocking an ultraviolet light from sensitizing the photochromic material in the photochromic layer. The ultraviolet light blocking device includes at least one of an ultraviolet shielding layer positioned to shield the photochromic layer from the ultraviolet light and an ultraviolet light absorber included in the photochromic layer.

Claims

1. A photochromic device comprising:

a photochromic layer comprising a photochromic material which exhibits absorbance in a visible region upon being sensitized by a light having a wavelength of not less than 700 nm; and

an ultraviolet light blocking device configured to block an ultraviolet light from sensitizing the photochromic material in the photochromic layer,

wherein the ultraviolet light blocking device comprises at least one of an ultraviolet shielding layer positioned to shield the photochromic layer from the ultraviolet light and an ultraviolet light absorber included in the photochromic layer, and the photochromic material comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a 4,4′

-bipyridine derivative represented by the formula (1), a 4,4′

-bipyridine derivative represented by the formula (2), and a 4,4′

-bipyridine derivative represented by the formula (3);

where R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ in the formula (2) are a condensed aromatic hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof and are the same or different from each other;

where R₁₁ and R₁₂ in the formula (3) are an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a derivative thereof, and are the same or different from each other, and X⁻

is selected from the group consisting of Cl⁻

, BF₄⁻

, PF₆⁻

, AsF₆⁻

, ClO₄⁻

, and NO₃⁻

.

2. The photochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the photochromic layer comprises a polymer matrix and the polymer matrix comprises one of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrolidone and polymethyl metacrylate and a polymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of epoxy monomer, acrylic monomer and urethane monomer.

3. The photochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the photochromic layer comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, propylene carbonate, acetonitrile, gamma-butyllactone, and butanol.

4. The photochromic device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength is in an infrared region and the absorbance has a peak at approximately 610 nm.

5. A photochromic device comprising:

a photochromic layer comprising a photochromic material which exhibits absorbance in a visible region upon being sensitized by a light having a wavelength of not less than 700 nm; and

an ultraviolet light blocking device configured to block an ultraviolet light from sensitizing the photochromic material in the photochromic layer,

wherein the ultraviolet light blocking device comprises at least one of an ultraviolet shielding layer positioned to shield the photochromic layer from the ultraviolet light and an ultraviolet light absorber included in the photochromic layer, and the photochromic layer comprises a polymer matrix and the polymer matrix comprises one of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrolidone and polymethyl metacrylate and a polymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of epoxy monomer, acrylic monomer and urethane monomer.

6. The photochromic device according to claim 5, wherein the photochromic layer comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, propylene carbonate, acetonitrile, gamma-butyllactone, and butanol.

7. The photochromic device according to claim 5, wherein the wavelength is in an infrared region and the absorbance has a peak at approximately 610 nm.

8. A photochromic device comprising:

a photochromic layer comprising a photochromic material which exhibits absorbance in a visible region upon being sensitized by a light having a wavelength of not less than 700 nm; and

an ultraviolet light blocking device configured to block an ultraviolet light from sensitizing the photochromic material in the photochromic layer,

wherein the ultraviolet light blocking device comprises at least one of an ultraviolet shielding layer positioned to shield the photochromic layer from the ultraviolet light and an ultraviolet light absorber included in the photochromic layer, and the wavelength is in an infrared region and the absorbance has a peak at approximately 610 nm.

9. The photochromic device according to claim 8, wherein the photochromic layer comprises a polymer matrix and the polymer matrix comprises one of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrolidone and polymethyl metacrylate and a polymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of epoxy monomer, acrylic monomer and urethane monomer.

10. The photochromic device according to claim 8, wherein the photochromic layer comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, propylene carbonate, acetonitrile, gamma-butyllactone, and butanol.