# US 11,442,326 B1 · Electrochromic devices having reduced switching times and their methods of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,326 B1 - Document ID: US11442326B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/827,984 - Filed: 2020-03-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-29 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Que Anh S. Nguyen - Inventors: Que Anh S. Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442326B1 ## CPC - G02F 1/155: Electrodes - B05D 3/06: by exposure to radiation (B05D3/02 takes precedence {; plasma treatment B05D3/141}) - G02F 1/134309: {characterised by their geometrical arrangement} - G02F 1/153: Constructional details - G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor - G02F 2001/1555: {Counter electrode} - 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 - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) ## Abstract An electrochromic device includes an optically active layer having an optical property that can be altered by application of electrical power to the optically active layer and a conductive structure that is configured to supply the electrical power to the optically active layer. The conductive structure includes patterned conductive elements that cooperate with the optically active layer to define electrochromic cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrochromic device, comprising: an optically active layer; and a conductive structure that is configured to supply the electrical power to the optically active layer, the conductive structure having a first patterned conductive layer disposed on a first transparent conductive layer, and a second patterned conductive layer disposed on a second transparent conductive layer, wherein the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer have a greater conductivity than the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and wherein the optically active layer defines an array of electrochromic cells that are spaced by removed portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the optically active layer has an optical property that can be altered by application of electrical power to the optically active layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive structure is patterned according to the removed portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the removed portions are removed from the optically active layer by selective ablation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the removed portions are removed from the optically active layer by a lithography process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein the removed portions of the optically active layer correspond to a pattern defined by the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrochromic device of claim 1, further comprising: a power distribution circuit that is electrically coupled to the conductive structure, wherein the power distribution circuit is configured to allow electrical power to selectively flow to individual cells from the array of electrochromic cells. ### Claim 8 An electrochromic device, comprising: a transparent substrate; a first transparent conductive layer that is disposed on the transparent substrate; an optically active layer that is disposed on the first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer that is disposed on the optically active layer; a first patterned conductive layer; and a second patterned conductive layer, wherein the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer have a greater conductivity than the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and wherein the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer define an array of electrochromic cells that are spaced by removed portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer cooperate to supply electrical power to the optically active layer through the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the first patterned conductive layer is disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the optically active layer, and the second patterned conductive layer is disposed on the second transparent conductive layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the removed portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer correspond to a pattern defined by the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the optically active layer is configured to alter optical properties in response to supply of electrical power by the conductive structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, wherein the removed portions are removed by a lithography process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrochromic device of claim 13, wherein the removed portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer correspond to a pattern defined by the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The electrochromic device of claim 8, further comprising: a power distribution circuit that is electrically coupled to the conductive structure, wherein the power distribution circuit is configured to allow electrical power to selectively flow to individual cells from the array of electrochromic cells. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: depositing a first transparent conductive layer on a transparent substrate; forming a first patterned conductive layer on the transparent substrate, the first patterned conductive layer having a greater conductivity than the first transparent conductive layer; forming an optically active layer on the first transparent conductive layer; depositing a second transparent conductive layer onto the optically active layer; forming a second patterned conductive layer on the optically active layer, the second patterned conductive layer having a greater conductivity than the second transparent conductive layer; and removing portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer to define electrochromic cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein removing portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer is performed by selective ablation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein removing portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer is performed by a lithography process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein removing portions of the optically active layer and the second transparent conductive layer to define electrochromic cells is performed according to a pattern defined by the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer cooperate to supply electrical power to the optically active layer through the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer.