Saint-gobain Recherche

Saint-gobain Vitrage

Saint-gobain Vitrage International

Francis Defendini

Christian Padoy

Bernard Buffat

Francois Lerbet

Jean-Pierre Beaufays

Jean-Marie Labbe

Herve Arribart

Jean-Claude Lassegues

Alain Dugast

Michel Armond

Doris Schoolmann

Bernard Desbat

Jean-Claude Cornut

This invention relates to an electrically controllable solar building pane composed of two panels spaced apart by a layer of an intermediate gas, the panel facing towards the outside of the building being constituted of a variable transmission system of the electrochromic type comprising two transparent substrates composed, notably, of glass sheets, joined together by an ion-conducting organic polymer and coated on the jointing face with transparent electrically conducting films and films of anodic and cathodic electrochromic materials.

Architectural electrochromic pane

The present invention has as its subject an electrochromic pane including two glass sheets (1, 2), each coated with a transparent electrically conducting film (3, 4) and separated by an electrode of electrochromic material (5), an electrolyte (6) and a counter-electrode (7). The electrically conducting films (3, 4) are, on the one hand, connected by current supply leads (8, 9) to an electrical supply system generating a potential difference (U.sub.1) according to a desired modification to the coloration of the electrochromic material and, on the other hand, are connected to each other at least at a portion of their periphery by an electrically conducting material (11).

Electrochromic pane

A method for forming an electrochromic glazing system which comprises means to reduce and preferably eliminate all trapped air from the system so as to avoid the formation of undesirable air bubbles trapped therein. The method comprises coating at least a portion of an inner surface of a first glass support sheet with a transparent electroconductive layer, followed by a layer of an electrochromic material which serves as an electrode. A second glass support sheet is also coated upon its inner aspect with an electroconductive layer, upon which is coated a counterelectrode layer. Thereafter, an electrolyte layer is deposited upon either the electrochromic, i.e., electrode layer, or the counterelectrode layer. The two coated glass support plates thereafter are preassembled, that is, they are oriented one above the other with their uncoated surfaces facing outwardly such that their coated portions are adjacent, but not in contact, with each other. A spacer, which ultimately serves as a peripheral seal for the glazing, keeps the two coated stacks apart during the preassembly stage. The area between the two stacks is then subjected to a vacuum to remove substantially all of the air therefrom. The glazing is thereafter subjected to an assembly stage in which the coated support plates are heated and then pressed together to from the completed glazing. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus for forming the glazings of the invention and to the glazings formed thereby.

Method for forming electrochromic glazings

An electrochromatic glazing system is provided. The system comprises a first glass sheet covered with a first transparent electrically conductive film and a second glass sheet covered with a second transparent electrically conductive film. A film of electrochromatic material, an electrolyte, and a counterelectrode are interposed between the first and second transparent electrically conductive films. The first and second electrically conductive films are connected to a voltage generator by an electrical control circuit and the voltage generator receives a set-point value from a control unit equipped with a memory and generates a potential difference as a function of the temperature of the electrolyte.

Electrochromatic glazings

The invention pertains to an electrochromic system composed of a lithium ionic conductor electrolyte and a counter electrode symmetrical with the principal layer of electrochromic material and composed of a layer of nickel oxide, preferably deposited by reactive cathode sputtering in the presence of hydrogen-bearing plasma. The invention is used in particular for electrochromic windows, which can be used, for example, in automobile tops.

Counter electrode for electrochromic systems

The invention relates to coated glass substrates for obtaining a variable degree of light transmission therethrough. The coated substrate comprises successively, (1) a first transparent support plate, preferably formed of glass, (2) a transparent electroconductive layer, (3) a layer of an electrochromic material, (4) a proton conductive electrolytic layer having an organic polymer base, (4a) an optional counterelectrode layer, (5) a second electroconductive layer and (6) a second transparent support plate. A proton conductive polymer is selected for the electrolyte whose conductivity is greater than or equal to ##EQU1## wherein the layer has a thickness of less than 50 micrometers.

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Rueil Malmaison, France

Francis Defendini