Gentex Corporation

Sue F Franz

Leroy J Kloeppner

Kevin L Ash

David A Theiste

Kelvin L Baumann

William L Tonar

Punam Giri

Rongguang Lin

David J Cammenga

George A Neuman

Kurtis L Geerlings

Donald L Bareman

Adam R Heintzelman

Steven D Looman

Zachary B Erno

John S Anderson

Thomas F Guarr

Henry A Luten

Mario F Saenger Nayver

John A VanderPloeg

David A Blaker

Greg R Pattok

Joel C Nemes

Christopher Derek Stirling

Michael T Stephenson

Garret C Denolf

Scott R Edwards

Nathan P Boogaart

Michael B DeWarrd

Mark D Muyskens

Leroy C Kloeppner

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

A touch-sensitive assembly and method of making includes a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a first substrate and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on a second substrate. A piezoelectric film is disposed between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer. The piezoelectric film includes a plurality of aligned piezoelectric particles disposed in a polymeric matrix and is characterized by a haze value of about 5% or less.

Piezoelectric films with low haze and methods of making and using

The electrochromic device includes a first substantially transparent substrate coupled to a first transparent electrode, a second substrate coupled to a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The electrochromic medium includes at least one solvent and/or an electrolyte gel, at least one cathodic material, and at least one anodic material. The cathodic material can be a cathodic organic framework electroactive material and/or the anodic material can be an anodic organic framework electroactive material. At least one of the anodic and cathodic organic framework electroactive materials is electrochromic.

Electrochromic organic frameworks

An energy storage device includes a cathodic material in an activated state; and an anodic material in an activated state; wherein: the cathodic material is covalently attached to, or confined within, a first polymer matrix, the first polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the cathodic material in the activated state; and the anodic material is a phenazine, a phenothiazine, a triphenodithiazine, a carbazole, a indolocarbazole, a biscarbazole, or a ferrocene covalently attached to, or confined within, a second polymer matrix, the second polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the anodic material in the activated state.

Electrochemical energy storage devices

A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.

Transparent photovoltaic coating for an electro-chromic device

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 device includes a cathodic compartment including a cathodic material; an anodic compartment including an anodic material; and a transparent, ion-selective membrane displaced between the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment wherein the transparent, ion-selective membrane is a cationic polymer.

Electro-optical device having a transparent ion exchange membrane

An electro-optic device includes a front substrate defining a first surface and a second surface. A rear substrate defines a third surface and a fourth surface. A seal is disposed about a periphery of the second surface and the third surface. A space is defined between the front substrate, the rear substrate, and the seal. An electro-optic medium is disposed within the space. A first conductive material is disposed on the second surface of the front substrate. A second conductive material is disposed on the third surface of the rear substrate. At least one isolation line extends across at least one of the first conductive material and the second conductive material to define independently controlled dimming regions.

Addressable electro-optic device

An energy storage device includes a cathodic material in an activated state; and an anodic material in an activated state; wherein: the cathodic material is a viologen covalently attached to, or confined within, a first polymer matrix, the first polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the cathodic material in the activated state; and the anodic material is a phenazine, a phenothiazine, a triphenodithiazine, a carbazole, a indolocarbazole, a biscarbazole, or a ferrocene covalently attached to, or confined within, a second polymer matrix, the second polymer matrix is configured to prevent or minimize substantial diffusion of the anodic material in the activated state.

An electrode for an electrochromic device includes a resistive layer disposed over a conductive layer. The resistive layer is disposed between the conductive layer and an electrochromic material in the electrochromic device. The electrode reduces non-uniform response of the electrochromic material when the electrochromic device is in operation.

Resistive coating for voltage uniformity

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

An electro-optic (EO) display includes one or more adjustable-intensity color filters; a transparent backlight; and a transflective layer positioned between the adjustable-intensity color filter(s) and the transparent backlight, wherein the transflective layer reflects light off of one surface of the transflective layer and allows light through another surface of the transflective layer.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Sue F Franz