Electrochromic panel and control device

• US 9,897,885 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Yao-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US13/893,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 359270-273, 359265-267, 359290-292, 359296, 359298
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

An electrochromic panel for a control device is disclosed. The electrochromic panel includes a first conduction layer for receiving a positive drive voltage, a second conduction layer for receiving a negative drive voltage, an electrolyte layer disposed on the second conduction layer, and a coloration layer having a pattern and disposed between the electrolyte layer and the first conduction layer, wherein an electron current generated by the negative drive voltage flows from the second conduction layer, the electrolyte layer, the coloration layer to the first conduction layer, such that the coloration layer performs a reduction-oxidation reaction and the pattern of the coloration layer changes from transparent to a non-transparent color.

Claims

1. An electrochromic panel for a control device, comprising:

a first conduction layer for receiving a positive drive voltage;

a second conduction layer for receiving a negative drive voltage;

an electrolyte layer disposed on the second conduction layer; and

a coloration layer having a pattern and disposed between the electrolyte layer and the first conduction layer, wherein an electron current generated by the negative drive voltage flows from the second conduction layer, the electrolyte layer, the coloration layer to the first conduction layer, such that the coloration layer performs a reduction-oxidation reaction and the pattern of the coloration layer changes from transparent to a non-transparent color;

wherein the electrochromic panel is a user interface of the control device;

wherein the control device comprises a capacitive sense element entirely covering on the electrochromic panel for sensing a position where a user touches the electrochromic panel, wherein an area of the electrochromic panel is equal to an area of the sense element, and a thickness of a protection layer of the electrochromic panel is associated with a thickness of the capacitive sense element to avoid an electromagnetic field generated by the positive and negative drive voltages from interfering with the capacitive sense element.

2. The electrochromic panel of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a control unit coupled to the electrochromic panel for inputting the positive drive voltage to the first conduction layer, and inputting the negative drive voltage to the second conduction layer according to an activate signal.

3. The electrochromic panel of claim 2, wherein the capacitive sense element is coupled to the control unit for generating a sense result to the control unit according to the position, and the control unit executes programs or control operations according to the sense result.

4. The electrochromic panel of claim 2, wherein the control device further comprises a sense element coupled to the control unit for generating the activate signal, and the sense element is a resistive, a light, or a sonic sense element.

5. The electrochromic panel of claim 1, wherein the control device is a control interface of a computer keyboard, a remote controller, a television control board, a light switch or a music player.

6. The electrochromic panel of claim 1, wherein a saturation of the color is associated with the positive drive voltage and the negative drive voltage.

7. The electrochromic panel of claim 1, comprising at least a protection layer disposed on an outside of the first conduction layer and an outside of the second conduction layer.

8. A control device comprising:

an electrochromic panel comprising;

a first conduction layer for receiving a positive drive voltage;

a second conduction layer for receiving a negative drive voltage;

an electrolyte layer disposed on the second conduction layer; and

a coloration layer having a pattern and disposed between the electrolyte layer and the first conduction layer, wherein an electron current generated by the negative drive voltage flows from the second conduction layer, the electrolyte layer, the coloration layer to the first conduction layer, such that the coloration layer performs a reduction-oxidation reaction and the pattern of the coloration layer changes from transparent to a non-transparent color;

a control unit coupled to the electrochromic panel for inputting the positive drive voltage to the first conduction layer, and inputting the negative drive voltage to the second conduction layer according to an activate signal; and

a capacitive sense element entirely covering on the electrochromic panel for sensing a position where a user touches the electrochromic panel, wherein an area of the electrochromic panel is equal to an area of the sense element, and a thickness of a protection layer of the electrochromic panel is associated with a thickness of the capacitive sense element to avoid an electromagnetic field generated by the positive and negative drive voltages from interfering with the capacitive sense element;

wherein the electrochromic panel is a user interface of the control device.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the capacitive sense element is coupled to the control unit for generating a sense result to the control unit according to the position, and the control unit executes programs or control operations according to the sense result.

10. The control device of claim 8, comprising a sense element coupled to the control unit for generating the activate signal, and the sense element is a resistive, a light, or a sonic sense element.

11. The control device of claim 8, wherein the control device is a control interface of a computer keyboard, a remote controller, a television control board, a light switch or a music player.

12. The control device of claim 8, wherein a saturation of the color is associated with the positive drive voltage and the negative drive voltage.

13. The control device of claim 8, comprising at least a protection layer disposed on an outside of the first conduction layer and an outside of the second conduction layer.