Gentex Corporation

Kelvin L Baumann

Thomas F Guarr

David A Theiste

Punam Giri

Rongguang Lin

Sue F Franz

George A Neuman

John A VanderPloeg

Henry A Luten

Harlan J Byker

Leroy J Kloeppner

John S Anderson

Kevin L Ash

Jeffrey R Lomprey

Kathy E Roberts

Ramanujan Srinivasa

William L Tonar

Gary Jay Dozeman

Mario F Saenger Nayver

Joel C Nemes

Zachary J Petroelje

Darla J French

Adam R Heintzelman

Derick D Winkle

Steven D Looman

Garret C Denolf

Kathy E Siegrist

Garret DeNolf

Mark D Muyskens

Elizabeth M Sanford

Henry W Luten

Dave Thieste

An electro-active device is disclosed that may comprise a buffer immobilized on one or more films. The electro-active device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship. Further, the first electrode may be associated with the first substrate and the second electrode may be associated with the second substrate. Additionally, a cathodic film may be associated with one electrode and an anodic film may be associated with the other electrode. The anodic film may comprise an anodic compound immobilized thereon and the cathodic film likewise may comprise a cathodic compound immobilized thereon. Further, a buffer component may be immobilized on the cathodic film and/or the anodic film.

Immobilized buffers in electroactive devices

An electrochromic device includes a chamber defined by a first conductive surface of a first substrate, a second conductive surface of a second substrate, and a sealing member joining the first substrate to the second substrate; an electrochromic medium containing a blue cathodic electroactive compound and up to three anodic electroactive compounds; wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed within the chamber; the anodic electroactive compounds include a green anodic electroactive compound and one or two gray anodic electroactive compounds; and the anodic electroactive compounds include from about 8 mol % to about 15 mol % gray anodic electroactive compounds.

Color excursion mitigation in electrochromic devices

An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic medium including a cathodic component, an anodic component, a hydroquinone, and a solvent.

Ultrathin, solution phase electrochromic devices

An electrochromic medium includes a solvent, a first pair of a first anodic material and a first cathodic material, and at least one of a second anodic material and a second cathodic material. At least one of the first anodic material and the first cathodic material is an electrochromic absorbing in the visible range, and at least one of the second anodic material and the second cathodic material is electrochromic absorbing in the visible range.

Electrochromic media and devices with multiple color states

An electrochromic thermoplastic composition includes about 10 wt % to about 60 wt % a poly(vinyl alcohol), a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylic acid) salt, a polyaniline salt, a poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), a poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), a co-polymer of any two or more thereof, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; about 40 wt % to about 90 wt % of a protic solvent; and at least one electroactive material; wherein the composition does not include lithium chloride, tetrabutylammonium bromide, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, lithium triflate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.

Electrochromic thermoplastics, devices, and composites

An electrochromic device includes a flexible plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface comprises a first conductive material; and a rigid plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a second conductive material, wherein the first substrate is joined to the second substrate by a sealing member, wherein the rear surface of the first substrate and the front surface of the second substrate with the sealing member define a chamber therebetween.

Electrochemical devices with plastic substrates

An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic compound with reduced intermolecular interactions resulting in uncontrolled color changes, the electrochromic represented by Formula (I): 

Electrochromic compounds with improved color stability in their radical states

Protic-soluble electrochromic materials, ion-paired electrochromic materials including protic-soluble electrochromic materials, as well as electrochromic media and electrochromic devices incorporating such materials, are provided. The use of protic solvent mixtures, especially mixtures incorporating water, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate materials. For example, plastics that may be soluble in organic aprotic solvent systems may be used in water-based devices.

Protic-soluble organic electrochromic compounds

The invention relates to an electrochromic device and uses thereof, wherein the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic compound with reduced intermolecular interactions resulting in uncontrolled color changes represented by Formula (I): 

An electrochromic device includes a first flexible or rigid plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface comprises a first conductive material; and the front surface, the rear surface, or both the front surface and the rear surface of the first substrate comprises a gas diffusion barrier; and a second flexible or rigid plastic substrate including a front surface, and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a second conductive material, wherein the first substrate is joined to the second substrate by a sealing member, where the rear surface of the first substrate and the front surface of the second substrate with the sealing member define a chamber therebetween.

An electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, a second substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, an electrochromic composition contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates that includes at least one anodic electroactive material, at least one cathodic electroactive material, and at least one solvent, wherein at least one of the anodic electroactive and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic, and wherein the electrochromic device exhibits a contrast ratio of at least 20,000:1, a darkening time less than about 30 seconds, and a clearing time of less than about 150 seconds.

Electrochromic devices

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element having first and second surfaces, a rear element including third and fourth surfaces, wherein the front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electro-optic medium contained in the chamber, and the electro-optic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state. The electro-optic system further includes a display device in optical communication with the electro-optic element, the display device including at least one light source and is configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, the first and second primaries each having a first hue (h) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the high transmittance state and a second hue (h') when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in the first and second hues (&#x394;h) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Kelvin L Baumann