Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho

Jun Minoura

Toshiyasu Ito

Takaaki Mori

Mamoru Kato

Shigeyuki Takahashi

Junichi Shimada

Katsuaki Okabayashi

Fujio Hayakawa

Toshiya Uemura

Hisaki Kato

Toshikazu Funahashi

Mikio Adachi

Shigeyuki Takahahi

Taskaaki Mori

The present invention relates to an electrochromic element for use in various types of displays and dimming devices, and having a structure comprising bases, a pair of electrodes provided on the bases, at least one of the electrodes being a transparent electrode, color-forming layers provided between the pair of electrodes, and electrolyte superposed with the color-forming layers, and also provided between the pair of electrodes, and a light stabilizer made to be contained in the color-forming layers by being contained in the electrolyte.

Electrochromic element

An electrochromic element including a pair of electrochromic bases is provided. Each electrochromic base is defined by a substrate, an electrode layer disposed on the substrate, and a color-forming layer disposed on the electrode layer. The electrochromic bases are superposed such that their respective color-forming layers face each other. A solid electrolyte of ultraviolet-setting type is disposed between the color-forming layers of the electrochromic bases. The method of manufacturing the electrochromic element and the method of driving the same are also disclosed.

Electrochromic elements and methods of manufacturing and driving the same

A process for producing planar dimmer comprising a transparent base, a dimming part, capable of dimming, disposed on the base, the dimming part comprising a first electrode layer formed on the base, a second electrode layer set facing the first electrode layer, a coloring part, disposed between the two electrode layers, and colors or discolors in response to the stimulus from the two electrode layers, and a conducting part disposed between the base and the first electrode layer in such a way as to be in contact with the first electrode layer in order to apply a uniform voltage throughout the first electrode layer. The process includes forming paint stripes, electrolessly plating a metal film over each of the stripes, forming an electrode layer over the metallized stripes, and forming a color-forming layer over the electrode layer.

Process for producing a planar dimmer

The present invention relates to a planar electrochromic dimmer used in dimming devices such as car sun roofs, and others having a structure comprising; a pair of bases, each comprising a transparent electrode film provided on each of a pair of bases, and arranged such that both transparent electrode films are facing each other, an electrolyte provided between the two electrode-equipped bases, a color-forming layer provided on at least one of the electrode-equipped bases, and a thin film with a visible ray transmittivity of 20-60% provided on at least one of the bases or the transaprent electrode films.

Planar electrochromic dimmer

A planar dimmer comprising a transparent base, a dimming part, capable of dimming, disposed on the base, the dimming part comprising a first electrode layer formed on the base, a second electrode layer set facing the first electrode layer, a coloring part disposed between the two electrode layers, and colors or discolors in response to the stimulus from the two electrode layers, and a conducting part disposed between the base and the first electrode layer in such a way as to be in contact with the first electrode layer in order to apply a uniform voltage throughout the first electrode layer.

Planar dimmer

Herein disclosed is a window having a dimming function. This dimming window comprises: a transparent plate having a generally rectangular shape; a plurality of solid electrochromic elements extending in the longitudinal direction of a pair of opposed sides of the transparent plate; and a controller for controlling the electrochromic elements independently of one another.

Dimming window

There is disclosed an electrochromic element in which an oxidative color-forming layer is composed of an organic material and a reductive color-forming layer is composed of an inorganic material. The electrochromic element comprises a pair of electrodes, at least one of which is transparent, the oxidative color-forming layer composed of organic materials such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, etc. and the reductive color-forming layer composed of inorganic materials such as WO.sub.3, MoO.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, etc. formed between the pair of electrodes to face to each other, and an electrolytic solution or a solid or semi-solid electrolyte layer sealed between the both color-forming layers.

Electrochromic element comprising an organic, oxidative color-forming

The solid electrochromic element of this invention is to be used for various types of dimmers and displays, and comprises a pair of electrode layers, an oxidation color-developing layer, an ion-donating layer and a reduction color-developing layer laminated one upon another on a substrate. In the manufacture of this type of electrochromic element, the pair of electrode layers and the ion-donating layer are formed by the ion plating technique. The dimmers of this invention for automotive sun roof, side-watching window and glare-free mirror each contains an electrochromic element manufactured by the process mentioned above. The light transmittance of the sun roof and side-watching window, as well as the intensity of reflecting light at the glare-free mirror, are appropriately controlled according to the conditions of their use by application of a variable voltage across the two electrode layers of the electrochromic element.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi, Japan

Jun Minoura