Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho

Takaaki Mori

Toshiyasu Ito

Mamoru Kato

Jun Minoura

Junichi Shimada

Shigeyuki Takahashi

Masanobu Senda

Fujio Hayakawa

Toshiya Uemura

Tetsuya Fujii

Hisaki Kato

Takahiko Asaoka

Toshikazu Funahashi

Katsuaki Okabayashi

Mikio Adachi

Shigeyuki Takahahi

Toshiyasu Itoh

An electrochromic element comprising a pair of electrode films, at least one of which is a transparent electrode film, a color forming film laminated between both the electrode films and an electrolyte. The color forming film is formed on the electrode film by depositing thereon a conductive metal oxide such as indium oxide and tungsten oxide. The depositing ratio of tungsten oxide and indium oxide preferably is within the range of 10:1 to 3:1 by weight ratio.

Electrochromic element

An electrochromic device is disclosed. The electrochromic device includes a pair of bases, and both a primary and a reference electrochromic element provided between the bases. The reference electrode is electrically connected to the primary electrochromic element so as to maintain the color-developing and fading potentials of the primary electrochromic element at predetermined voltages. A power regulator is also provided for driving the primary electrochromic element based in part on the output of the reference electrochromic element.

Electrochromic device with a reference electrochromic element

An electrochromic element including a color-forming film and an electrolyte sandwiched between a pair of substrates each having a electrode film. Each electrode film is divided into a plurality of electrode pieces with micro grooves. One of the electrode films has its electrode pieces intersected with the electrode pieces of the other film so as to define a plurality of pairs of facing surfaces at intersecting portions. Resistors are connected between each of the electrode pieces and a power source to equalize values of current flowing between each of the pairs of the facing surfaces. The resistor may be an ordinary one, or resistance film made of conductive material, or a projected portion projecting from a longitudinal end of the electrode piece. A predetermined shape of cut-out is formed on the projected portion.

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

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.

Process for manufacturing solid electrochromic element

The decorative part of this invention, which means a part having an aesthetically treated indication, comprises a first indicator which permits the transmission of light, a semitransparent part placed behind the first indicator which reflects the light coming from the front and passes the light coming from the rear, a second indicator which permits the partial transmission of light and is placed behind the semitransparent part, and an illuminant placed behind the second indicator. Thus, it is possible to switch the display of the decorative part as desired by turning on and off the illuminant at proper time.

Decorative part

A resin article having a ceramics coating layer comprises a resin substrate, an intermediate layer and a ceramics coating layer. The intermediate layer is made of a crosslinked resin having a higher hardness than that of the resin substrate. The intermediate layer acts to increase the bonding strength between the resin substrate and the coating layer so that the durability against the peeling of the coating layer can be improved.

Growing community of inventors

Inazawa, Japan

Takaaki Mori