# US 10,871,695 B2 · Electrochromic multi-layer devices with composite electrically conductive layers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,695 B2 - Document ID: US10871695B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/011,412 - Filed: 2018-06-18 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-08 - Assignees: Kinestral Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Kinestral Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Howard S. Bergh; Jonathan Ziebarth; Nicolas Timmerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871695B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/1524: Transition metal compounds - G02F 1/1523: comprising inorganic material - G02F 1/153: Constructional details - G02F 1/1533: {structural features not otherwise provided for} - G02F 1/155: Electrodes - G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor - G02F 2001/1536: {additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell} - G02F 2001/164: {the electrolyte is made of polymers} - G02F 2201/122: having a particular pattern - G02F 2202/16: conductive - G02F 2203/48: Variable attenuator - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-layer device, comprising: a first substrate comprising a surface; and first composite electrically conductive layer on the surface of the first substrate, wherein the first composite electrically conductive layer comprises: a first conductive layer; a first transparent conductive material layer; and a resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-layer device of claim 1, wherein the first conductive layer comprises indium tin oxide and the first transparent conductive material layer comprises doped tin oxide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-layer device of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer in a first region circumscribed by a first convex polygon to the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to the major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer in a second region circumscribed by a second convex polygon is at least 2, the first and second regions circumscribed by the first and second convex polygons, respectively, each comprising at least 25% of the major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multi-layer device of claim 1, wherein the first conductive layer, the first transparent conductive material layer, or both the first conductive layer and the first transparent conductive material layer further comprise one or more of a composition that varies as a function of position, a thickness that varies as a function of position, and a defect density that varies as a function of position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-layer device of claim 1, further comprising a second substrate and a second composite electrically conductive layer on a surface of the second substrate, wherein the second composite electrically conductive layer comprises: a second conductive layer; a second transparent conductive material layer; and a resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the second electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The multi-layer stack of claim 5, wherein the second conductive layer comprises indium tin oxide and the second transparent conductive material comprises doped tin oxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The multi-layer device of claim 5, wherein a ratio of the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer in a first region circumscribed by a first convex polygon to the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer in a second region circumscribed by a second convex polygon is at least 2, the first and second regions circumscribed by the first and second convex polygons, respectively, each comprising at least 25% of the major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The multi-layer device of claim 5, wherein the second conductive layer, the second transparent conductive material layer, or both the second conductive layer and the second transparent conductive material layer further comprise one or more of a composition that varies as a function of position, a thickness that varies as a function of position, and a defect density that varies as a function of position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The multi-layer device of claim 5, wherein the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to the major surfaces of the first and second electrically conductive layers provide a uniform potential drop, or a desired non-uniform potential drop, across the area of the device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The multi-layer device of claim 5, further comprising: a first electrode layer in electrical contact with the first composite electrically conductive layer; a second electrode layer in electrical contact with the second composite electrically conductive layer; and an ion conductor layer; wherein the first electrode layer is on one side of and in contact with a first surface of the ion conductor layer, and the second electrode layer is on the other side of and in contact with a second surface of the ion conductor layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multi-layer device of claim 10, wherein the first electrode layer comprises an electrochromic material comprising cathodically coloring thin films comprising oxides based on tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, titanium, lead, bismuth, or combinations thereof, or anodically coloring thin films comprising oxides, hydroxides or oxy-hydrides based on nickel, iridium, iron, chromium, cobalt, rhodium, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The multi-layer device of claim 10, wherein the second electrode layer comprises an electrochromic material comprising tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, copper oxide, iridium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, vanadium oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The multi-layer device of claim 10, further comprising a first and a second optical state, wherein the first and second optical states comprise different transmissivities to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of infrared to ultraviolet radiation. ### Claim 14 A method for the preparation of a multi-layer device, comprising: forming a first composite electrically conductive layer arranged against a first substrate; forming a first electrode layer in electrical contact with the first composite electrically conductive layer; forming a second composite electrically conductive layer on a second substrate; forming a second electrode layer in electrical contact with the second composite electrically conductive layer; and forming a multi-layer device comprising the first composite electrically conductive layer, first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, and the second composite electrically conductive layer; wherein: the first composite electrically conductive layer comprises: a first conductive layer; a first transparent conductive material layer; and resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position; wherein the first conductive layer, the first transparent conductive material layer, or both the first conductive layer and the first transparent conductive material layer further comprises one or more of a composition that varies as a function of position, a thickness that varies as a function of position, or a defect density that varies as a function of position; and the second composite electrically conductive layer comprises: a second conductive layer; a second transparent conductive material layer; and a resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position; and and wherein the first and second electrode layers comprise electrochromic materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second composite electrically conductive layers comprise indium tin oxide and a transparent conductive material comprising doped tin oxide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a ratio of the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to the major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer in a first region of the first composite electrically conductive layer circumscribed by a first convex polygon to the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer in a second region of the first composite conductive layer circumscribed by a second convex polygon is at least 2, the first and second regions circumscribed by the first and second convex polygons, respectively, each comprising at least 25% of the major surface of the first composite electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a ratio of the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to the major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer in a first region of the second composite electrically conductive layer circumscribed by a first convex polygon to the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to the major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer in a second region of the second composite conductive layer circumscribed by a second convex polygon is at least 2, the first and second regions circumscribed by the first and second convex polygons, respectively, each comprising at least 25% of the major surface of the second composite electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the resistance to current flow substantially parallel to a major surface of the first and second electrically conductive layers provide a uniform potential drop, or a desired non-uniform potential drop, across the area of the device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the first and second electrode layers using sol-gel deposition processes, wherein the first and second electrode layers comprise an electrochromic material comprising an oxide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the forming a multi-layer device further comprises forming an organic ion conductor layer by processes employing liquid components, wherein the first electrode layer is on one side of and in contact with a first surface of the ion conductor layer, and the second electrode layer is on the other side of and in contact with a second surface of ion conductor layer.