US5500759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochromic materials and displays
Assignee: Monsanto Co
•
Filing: 1994-08-25
•
Granted: 1996-03-19
•
Expires: 2014-08-25
Abstract
Abstract Dispersions of electrically conductive particles useful for preparing electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative composite layers having electrically conductive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix. Composite layers can be used in laminates for electrochromic displays where an ionically conductive layer is in contact with electrochromic material. Such displays comprise means for applying an electrical potential across the interface of the ionically conductive layer and the electrochromic material to generate an electrochromic effect at the interface. Electrochromic materials can be provided in the laminates as layers between the ionically conductive layer and the composite layer of electrically conductive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix. Alternatively, the electrochromic material can be incorporated in the conductive particles in the polymer matrix, e.g. as titanium dioxide coated with antimony tin oxide coated with polyaniline dispersed in an light transmitting polymer matrix. The materials of this invention allow for the high speed fabrication of flexible displays, e.g. by printing methods.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Coleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/153; G02F1/155; C; C09; C09K; C09K9/00; C09K9/02; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1516; G02F1/15165; G02F1/1523; G02F1/1524; G02F1/1533; H; H01; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/06; H01B1/08; H01B1/20; H01B1/22; H01B1/24; G02F2001/1517; G02F2001/1557; G02F2202/00; G02F2202/02; G02F2202/022; G02F2202/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of fabricating flexible electrochromic displays comprising an ionically conductive layer on an electrochromic layer, said method comprising printing an electrode pattern in contact with an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative composite layer of electroconductive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of fabricating flexible electrochromic displays comprising an ionically conductive layer on an electrochromic layer, said method comprising printing an electrode pattern in contact with an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative composite layer of electroconductive particles dispersed in a polymer matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
An electrochromic display laminate comprising: (a) a substrate coated in one or more areas with a layer of an electrically conductive material forming electrode areas on said substrate; (b) an ionically isolative layer of an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative material on said electrode areas; (c) a layer of ionically conductive material on said ionically isolative layer; wherein electrochromic material is present at an interfacial zone between said ionically isolative layer and said ionically conductive layer, said electrochromic material being dispersed or dissolved in said ionically isolative material, in said ionically conductive material, in both of said ionically isolative and ionically conductive materials or is present in a separate layer in said interfacial zone; and wherein said laminate has electrode areas adapted to provide an electrical potential across said interfacial zone to generate an electrochromic effect at said interfacial zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
An electrochromic display laminate comprising: (a) a substrate coated in one or more areas with a layer of an electrically conductive material forming electrode areas on said substrate; (b) an ionically isolative layer of an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative material on said electrode areas; (c) a layer of ionically conductive material on said ionically isolative layer; wherein electrochromic material is present at an interfacial zone between said ionically isolative layer and said ionically conductive layer, said electrochromic material being dispersed or dissolved in said ionically isolative material, in said ionically conductive material, in both of said ionically isolative and ionically conductive materials or is present in a separate layer in said interfacial zone; and wherein said laminate has electrode areas adapted to provide an electrical potential across said interfacial zone to generate an electrochromic effect at said interfacial zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laminate according to claim 2 wherein said electrochromic material comprises particles selected from the group consisting of: (a) an electrically conductive core coated with electrochromic material, (b) an electrochromic material core and an electrically conductive coating, (c) electrically conductive electrochromic material, or (d) agglomerations of electrochromic material and electrically conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laminate according to claim 3 wherein said electrochromic material is selected from the group consisting of a polyaniline, a polypyrrole, a polythiophene, a polyvinylferrocene, a polyviologen, tungsten oxide, iridium oxide, molybdenum oxide, nickel oxide and Prussian blue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laminate according to claim 3 wherein said particles of electrochromic material are dispersed in the layer of one or more areas of an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laminate according to claim 5 wherein said layer of one or more areas of an electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative material comprises said particles of electrochromic material dispersed in a transparent or translucent polymer matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A laminate according to claim 6 wherein said polymer matrix is an optically transparent or translucent clear thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a polystyrene, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinyl halide, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl ester, polyvinyl alcohol, styreneacrylonitrile copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft copolymer or blends thereof or a elastomeric polymer selected from a group consisting of acrylate rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene diene monomer rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber and nitrile rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a blend of polypropylene and rubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laminate according to claim 3 wherein said layer of ionically conductive material comprises a polymeric gel containing a hygroscopic material or a humectant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laminate according to claim 8 wherein said hygroscopic material which is a deliquescent material is selected from the group consisting of lithium bromide, calcium chloride, glycerins, sodium dihydrogen phosphate and lithium trifluoromethylsulfonate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laminate according to claim 2 wherein said electrodes comprise metal, metal oxide, carbon, intrinsically conducting polymer or polymer filled with conductive particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A laminate according to claim 2 wherein said electrical potential is applied by means of two or more electrodes in contact with separate areas of the layer of electrically conductive, essentially ionically isolative material and electrically joined by said material; wherein the electrical resistance between said electrodes is lowest in a path running from said electrodes to said ionically isolative material connected through said layer of ionically conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A laminate according to claim 2 wherein the there is electrical conductivity between said areas of ionically isolative material such that the path of lowest electrical resistance between said areas is through said layer of ionically conductive material, whereby said electrochromic image is erasable by removal of the electrical potential that created said image and without external means of short circuiting the electrodes that created the image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laminate according to claim 2 further comprising an electrically-conductive, visible light-transmitting layer on said layer of ionically conductive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laminate according to claim 2 wherein said layers are disposed on at least one side of a flexible substrate, whereby said laminate is flexible.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA966923A
Cited
US4550982A
Cited
JPS59113422A
Cited
US4902110A
Cited
JPS61185730A
Cited
US4750817A
Cited
JPS63207856A
Cited
US5078480A
Cited
US4810067A
Cited
US5189549A
Cited
WO1992018896A1
Cited
WO1992019694A1
Cited
US5216536A
Cited
WO1993021558A1
Cited
WO1993021557A1
Cited
WO1993022707A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-19 | 1999-09-18 | 2000-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-19 | 2007-09-18 | 2008-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |