# US 12,001,029 B2 · Electrochromic element, and lens unit and imaging apparatus including the same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,001,029 B2
- Document ID: US12001029B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/669,266
- Filed: 2022-02-10
- Published: 2022-08-18
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-16
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Kazuya Miyazaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001029B2

## CPC

- G02B 27/58: Optics for apodization or superresolution; Optical synthetic aperture systems
- G02F 1/155: Electrodes
- G03B 11/00: Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
- G02F 1/153: Constructional details
- G02F 1/291: {Two-dimensional analogue deflection}
- G02F 2001/15145: {the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds}
- G02F 2203/48: Variable attenuator
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- 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
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

In an electrochromic element including a pair of electrodes and an electrochromic layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, a shape of a light modulating region viewed from a normal direction of the electrode being circular, when a sheet resistance of the electrode is rs (Ω), a resistance of the electrode is r (Ω), a diameter of the light modulating region is L [m], a distance between the pair of electrodes is d (m), the resistivity of the electrochromic layer is ρ (Ω), and a resistance of the electrochromic layer is R (Ω), a resistance ratio (r/R) between the electrode and the electrochromic layer, as shown by r/R=(rsL2)/(ρd), is 2 or more and 20 or less.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assembling an electrochromic element comprising:
providing a pair of electrodes; and
providing an electrochromic layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, a shape of a light modulating region viewed from a normal direction of the electrode being circular,
wherein the pair of electrodes and the electronic layer are selected such that, when a sheet resistance of the electrode is rs (Ω), a resistance of the electrode is r (Ω), a diameter of the light modulating region is L (m), a distance between the pair of electrodes is d (m), the resistivity of the electrochromic layer is ρ (Ωm), and a resistance of the electrochromic layer is R (Ω), a resistance ratio (r/R) between the electrode and the electrochromic layer, as shown in equation (1), is 2 or more and 20 or less:
r
/
R
=
(
r
s
⁢
L
2
)
/
(
ρ
⁢
d
)
.
(
1
)

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of electrodes and the electronic layer are selected such that the resistance ratio (r/R) is 9 or more and 20 or less.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of electrodes and the electronic layer are selected such that a normalized transmittance at the position where an effective diameter ratio is 0.7 is within 0.3 or more and 0.75 or less.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of electrodes and the electronic layer are selected such that a normalized transmittance at the position where an effective diameter ratio is 0.7 is within 0.5 or more and 0.75 or less.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein a voltage is supplied to each of the pair of electrodes from an outer peripheral portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the electrochromic layer contains an anodic electrochromic compound and a cathodic electrochromic compound.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the electrochromic layer includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan-based polymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyamide, polyacrylamide, polyester and polymethylmethacrylate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method to claim 1,
wherein in a plan view, the electrochromic element includes the light modulating region,
wherein each of the pair of electrodes connects to a feeding position where voltage may be supplied to each of the pair of electrodes, and
wherein the feeding positions are disposed in a region other than the light modulating region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8,
wherein the feeding position at one of the pair of electrodes does not overlap the feeding position at the other of the pair of electrodes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of electrodes are parallel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An electrochromic element assembled according to the method of claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A lens unit comprising:
an imaging optical system including a plurality of lenses; and
a light modulating element that electrically controls apodization effect on the imaging optical system,
wherein the light modulating element is the electrochromic element according to claim 11.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

An imaging apparatus comprising:
an imaging optical system including a plurality of lenses;
a light modulating element that electrically controls apodization effect on the imaging optical system; and
an imaging device that receives light that has passed through the imaging optical system,
wherein the light modulating element is the electrochromic element according to claim 11.