US6245262B1
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Electrochromic polymeric solid films, manufacturing electrochromic devices using such solid films, and processes for making such films and devices
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
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Filing: 1999-02-18
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Granted: 2001-06-12
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Expires: 2019-02-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to electrochromic polymeric solid films, manufacturing electrochromic devices using such solid films and processes for making such solid films and devices. The electrochromic polymeric solid films of the present invention exhibit beneficial properties and characteristics, especially when compared to known electrochromic media. The electrochromic polymeric solid films are transformed in situ from a low viscosity electrochromic monomer composition by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and in so doing minimum shrinkage occurs. The electrochromic polymeric solid films of the present invention also perform well under prolonged coloration, outdoor weathering and all-climate exposure, and provide an inherent safety aspect not known to electrochromic media heretofore.
Inventors
- 👤 Desaraju V. Varaprasad
- 👤 Mingtang Zhao
- 👤 Craig Allen Dornan
- 👤 Anoop Agrawal
- 👤 Pierre-Marc Allemand
- 👤 Niall R. Lynam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:35
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/10009; B32B17/10036; B32B17/1055; B32B17/10697; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/2661; B60Q1/2665; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R1/12; B60R1/1207; C; C09; C09K; C09K9/00; C09K9/02; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1514; G02F1/1516; B60Q2900/00; B60Q2900/40; C09K2211/00; C09K2211/10; C09K2211/1003; C09K2211/1007; C09K2211/1011; C09K2211/1014; C09K2211/1018; C09K2211/1025; C09K2211/1029; C09K2211/1033; C09K2211/1037; G02F1/1503; G02F1/15165; G02F1/153; G02F1/155; G02F2001/1502; G02F2001/15145; G02F2001/1518; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/58; G02F2202/00; G02F2202/02; G02F2202/022; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24777; Y10T428/24785; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31645; Y10T428/31649; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0405; Y10T83/0419
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of disposing a solid polymer film between two opposing, spaced substrates of an electrochromic device, said method including the steps of: providing a first substrate of the electrochromic device, said first substrate comprising a first substantially transparent element having a first transparent conductive surface; providing a second substrate of the electrochromic device, said second substrate comprising a second element having a second conductive surface; opposing the conductive surface of said first substrate with the conductive surface of said second substrate and spacing said substrates apart with a solid spacer, said spacer and said substrates forming an interpane cavity between said first and second substrates; providing a low viscosity monomer composition that includes at least one of (A) a monofunctional monomer and a cross-linking agent and (B) a polyfunctional component capable of cross-linking, said monomer composition further including a plasticizer; causing said low viscosity monomer composition to flow into said interpane cavity; and with the monomer composition disposed within said interpane cavity, in-situ curing said monomer composition to form a cross-linked solid polymer film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of disposing a solid polymer film between two opposing, spaced substrates of an electrochromic device, said method including the steps of: providing a first substrate of the electrochromic device, said first substrate comprising a first substantially transparent element having a first transparent conductive surface; providing a second substrate of the electrochromic device, said second substrate comprising a second element having a second conductive surface; opposing the conductive surface of said first substrate with the conductive surface of said second substrate and spacing said substrates apart with a solid spacer, said spacer and said substrates forming an interpane cavity between said first and second substrates; providing a low viscosity monomer composition that includes at least one of (A) a monofunctional monomer and a cross-linking agent and (B) a polyfunctional component capable of cross-linking, said monomer composition further including a plasticizer; causing said low viscosity monomer composition to flow into said interpane cavity; and with the monomer composition disposed within said interpane cavity, in-situ curing said monomer composition to form a cross-linked solid polymer film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said monomer composition includes a component selected from the group consisting of urethane forming material, acrylate forming material, derivatized urethane forming material, acrylate forming material, epoxy forming material, and vinyl forming material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said monomer composition includes a component selected from the group consisting of a monofunctional monomer, a difunctional monomer, a trifunctional monomer, a polyfunctional monomer or mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spacing of said substrates apart by said solid spacer is in the range from about 1000 microns to about 10 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spacing of said substrates apart by said solid spacer is in the range from about. 325 microns to about 20 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid spacer comprises a boundary seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said boundary seal is made from a polymeric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plasticizer comprises triglyme, tetraglyme, acetonitrile, benzylacletone, 3-hydroxypropionitrile, methoxypropionitrile, 3-ethoxypropionitrile, butylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, glycerine carbonate, 2-acetylbutyrolactone, cyanoethyl sucrose, γ-butyrolactone, 2-methylglutaronitrile, N,N′-dimethylformamide, 3-methylsulfolane, methylethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, acetophenone, glutaronitrile, 3,31-oxydipropionitrile, 2-methoxyethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, or combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first transparent conductive surface comprises a transparent conductor selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said second conductive surface comprises a transparent conductor selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, doped tin oxide and doped zinc oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said electrochromic device is an electrochromic glazing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochromic device comprises one of an electrochromic vehicular glazing and an electrochromic architectural glazing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polyfunctional component comprises a polyfunctional hydroxy compound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said polyfunctional hydroxy compound comprises a glycol or a glycerol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said polyfunctional hydroxy compound comprises a triol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polyfunctional component comprises a polyfunctional amino compound or a polyfunctional mercapto compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polyfunctional component has a functionality of 2 or greater.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said monomer composition comprises at least one of an ultraviolet stabilizer, a humectant, a coloring agent, an antioxidizing agent, an electrochromic compound, a lubricating agent, an electrolytic material, a spacer bead, a compatibilizing agent, a polymerization initiator, an adhesion promoting agent and a coupling agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said electrochromic glazing is a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a specialized glass with reduced ultraviolet radiation transmission.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a tinted glass.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said flow of said monomer composition into said interpane cavity is by vacuum backfilling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said flow of said monomer composition into said interpane cavity is by dispensing into said cavity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second substrates are curved glass substrates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of at least one of said first substrate, said second substrate and said monomer composition is elevated to decrease the viscosity of said monomer composition to enhance flow into said cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-11 | 2004-12-11 | 2005-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-11 | 2008-12-11 | 2009-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-11 | 2012-12-11 | 2013-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |