Combined thermochromic and electrochromic optical device

• US 8,355,194 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChromoGenics AB
• Original Assignee: ChromoGenics AB
• Inventors: Granqvist, Claes Gran
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US13/061,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/288
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133345 Insulating layers G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/16 series; tandem

Abstract

An optical device (1) includes a first transparent substrate (10), a thermochromic device (20) covering a surface (11) of the first transparent substrate (10), a second transparent substrate (50), an electrochromic device (40) covering a surface (51) of the second transparent substrate (50) and a thermally insulating volume (30) separating the first transparent substrate (10) and the second transparent substrate (50). The thermally insulating volume (30) is preferably a vacuum volume or a volume (31) filled with gas.

Claims

1. Optical device, comprising:

a thermochromic device;

an electrochromic device; and

a thermally insulating volume separating said thermochromic device and said electrochromic device;

whereby said thermally insulating volume constitutes at least a part of a light path between said thermochromic device and said electrochromic device.

2. Optical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first transparent substrate;

said thermochromic device covering a surface of said first transparent substrate; and

a second transparent substrate;

said electrochromic device covering a surface of said second transparent substrate;

said thermally insulating volume separating said first transparent substrate and said second transparent substrate.

3. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said thermally insulating volume is a gas volume.

4. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said thermally insulating volume is a volume of vacuum.

5. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said surface of said first transparent substrate covered by said thermochromic device faces said thermally insulating volume.

6. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said surface of said second transparent substrate covered by said electrochromic device faces said thermally insulating volume.

7. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said thermochromic device has a transparency in a visible wavelength region exceeding 0.7.

8. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said thermochromic device has a transition temperature lower than 35°

C.

9. Optical device according to claim 8, wherein said thermochromic device has a transition temperature lower than 25°

C.

10. Optical device according to claim 2, wherein said thermally insulating volume has a thermal conductivity less than 0.1 W/mK.

11. Optical device according to claim 10, wherein said thermally insulating volume has a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W/mK.

12. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally insulating volume is a gas volume.

13. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally insulating volume is a volume of vacuum.

14. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein said thermochromic device has a transparency in a visible wavelength region exceeding 0.7.

15. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein said thermochromic device has a transition temperature lower than 35°

C.

16. Optical device according to claim 15, wherein said thermochromic device has a transition temperature lower than 25°

C.

17. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein said thermally insulating volume has a thermal conductivity less than 0.1 W/mK.

18. Optical device according to claim 17, wherein said thermally insulating volume has a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W/mK.