Electrochromic device based on two color layers and methods of fabricating same
AssigneeAmbilight Inc.
InventorsKe Chen, Jianguo Mei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrochromic device with one pigmentary color layer and one structural color layer is disclosed. The pigmentary color layer comprises electrochromic materials, which allow reversible and gradient switches between a colored state and a bleached state by electric field. In a colored state, the electrochromic device presents saturated pigmentary-structural additive color. In a bleached state, the structural color gradually vanished and leads to the optical transmissive state. The color coupling between these two color layers provides the disclosed devices with broader color gamut and angle-dependent optical response. Multiplexed and patterned devices have been further fabricated to demonstrate bio-mimic camouflage potentials.
Claims15
An electrochromic device, comprising:
- a pigmentary color layer comprising a pigmentary color material;
- and
- a structural color layer comprising a structural color material
- wherein:
- the pigmentary color layer further comprises electrochromic materials which allow reversible switches between a colored state and a bleached state by an electric field;
- the electrochromic materials are presented in a closed electric circuit;
- both of the pigmentary color layer and the structural color layer are disposed on an optical path of the electrochromic device;
- and
- the pigmentary color layer and the structural color layer are disposed one on top of another along the optical path, wherein a top layer of the pigmentary color layer and the structural color layer has a transmittance and a thickness to allow the electrochromic device to produce angel-dependent light variation.
A method for making an electrochromic device, the method comprising:
- preparing a pigmentary color layer containing electrochromic materials,
- preparing a structural color layer,
- assembling the electrochromic device such that:
- the electrochromic materials are placed in a closed electric circuit,
- the pigmentary color layer and the structural color layer are placed either directly adjacent to each other or spaced by other compartments, wherein a top layer of the pigmentary color layer and the structural color layer has a transmittance and a thickness to allow the electrochromic device to produce angel-dependent light variation,
- the structural color layer is embedded into an electrolyte or placed as an independent layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.