Chromogenics Sweden Ab

Chromogenics Ab

Greger Gustavsson

Richard Karmhag

Andris Azens

Peter Georen

Claes Goran Granqvist

A method of controlling transmittance of an electrochromic device is presented. The electrochromic device to be controlled has a first and a second electron conducting layer, a first electrochromic layer covering the first electron conducting layer, a counter electrode layer covering the second electron conducting layer and an electrolyte layer laminated between the first electrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer. The method comprises applying () of a sequence of voltage pulses between the first and second electron conducting layers and providing of an open circuit between the first and second electron conducting layers between the applied voltage pulses. The method is characterized by measuring () a voltage between the first and second electron conducting layers during a period of the open circuit and controlling () a pulse parameter of the voltage pulses dependent on the measured voltage, where the pulse parameter is one of pulse duration and pulse voltage.

Control of electrochromic device

A manufacturing method of electrochromic devices () includes the steps of providing a first and second sheet including a first () and second () plastic substrate, respectively, at least partially coated with a first () and second () electron conducting layer, respectively. The first sheet is at least partially coated with a first electrochromic layer (). The second sheet is at least partially coated with a counter electrode layer (). The first and second sheets are laminated with an electrolyte layer () interposed in-between into an electrochromic laminate sheet (). The electrochromic device is at least partially defined by forming a seal () through the electrochromic laminate sheet () at a distance (D) from a peripheral edge (). The distance (D) is preferably larger than the mean diffusion lengths of oxygen, water or an electrolyte component in the electrolyte during a predetermined time period.

Manufacturing of electrochromic devices

An electrochromic device () includes at least the typical five layer stack () between two substrates () and connections elements () to the electron conducting layers (). At least one of the connections elements () are arranged through the substrate (). In preferred embodiments the points where the connection elements () penetrate the substrates are situated at different lateral positions. The substrates () are typically plastic substrates. In another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing method providing an electrochromic device () according to the above described principles is provided.

Electrochromic device contacting

A method of manufacturing permanently curved electrochromic devices is presented. The method includes provision () of two plane thermoplastic substrates at least partly coated by an electron conducting layer. The substrates are further at least partially coated () with an electrochromic or a counter electrode layer. The coated substrates laminated () together with an adhesive electrolyte layer in the middle into an electrochromic laminate sheet. The electrochromic device is formed () by thermoforming the covered substrates into a permanent curvature, prior or after the further coating, prior to the laminating of the substrates or by thermoforming the electrochromic laminate sheet after the lamination. Once formed, the coated substrates or electrochromic device, respectively, permanently remains in its curved shape. Additional layer, such as bus bars and layers for chemically adaptation can be provided onto the substrates prior or after the thermoforming step.

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Uppsala, Sweden

Greger Gustavsson