# US 2021/0240046 A1 · Buffer pre-activation for electrochromic device

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- Number: US 2021/0240046 A1
- Document ID: US20210240046A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/159,324
- Filed: 2021-01-27
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03
- Assignees: Gentex Corporation
- Applicants: Gentex Corporation
- Inventors: Mario F. Saenger Nayver; John S. Anderson; George A. Neuman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240046A1

## CPC

- G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
- E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00)
- G02F 1/1514: characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material
- E06B 2009/2464: {featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels}
- 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
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)

## Abstract

An electrochromic device, system using, and method for, which may pre-activate a buffer is disclosed. The electrochromic device may comprise a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrochromic medium. The second substate may be disposed in apart relationship with the first substrate. The first and second electrodes may be associated with the first and second substrates, respectively. The electrochromic medium may be disposed between the first and second electrodes. Further, the electrochromic medium may comprise electrochromic materials and a redox buffer. Each of the electrochromic materials and the buffer may be operable between activated and deactivated states. The electrochromic device may be configured to apply a voltage to substantially pre-activate the buffer and hold the buffer in this state prior to substantially activating the electrochromic materials, thereby decreasing the response time of the electrochromic device upon activation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, the second substrate disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with the first substrate;
a first electrode disposed on the second surface;
a second electrode disposed the third surface; and
an electrochromic medium disposed between the first and second electrodes, the electrochromic medium comprising electrochromic materials and a redox buffer, the electrochromic materials and buffer each operable between activated and deactivated states;
wherein the first and second electrodes are operable to:
initiate a first voltage, the first voltage operable to substantially activate the buffer;
hold the first voltage, holding the first voltage operable to maintain the substantial buffer activation;
initiate a second voltage greater than the first voltage, the second voltage having the same polarity as the first voltage, and the second voltage operable to substantially increase the degree of activation of the electrochromic materials; and
hold the second voltage, holding the second voltage operable to maintain the increased electrochromic material activation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are further operable to:
initiate a third voltage, wherein the third voltage is opposite in polarity relative the first and second voltages;
hold the third voltage, wherein holding the third voltage is operable to substantially de-activate the electrochromic materials;
initiate a fourth voltage, wherein the fourth voltage is of the same polarity as the first and second voltages, and the fourth voltage is operable to substantially activate the buffer; and
hold the fourth voltage, wherein holding the fourth voltage is operable to maintain the buffer in a substantially activated state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the first and third voltages are equal in absolute magnitude.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the fourth voltage is substantially equal to the first voltage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is not operable to substantially activate the electrochromic materials.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the fourth voltage is not operable to substantially activate the electrochromic materials.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are further operable to:
initiate a third voltage, the third voltage operable to substantially change the degree of activation of the electrochromic materials, the third voltage being different from the first voltage; and
hold the third voltage, holding the third voltage operable to maintain activation of the electrochromic materials.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second electrodes are further operable to:
initiate a fourth voltage, the fourth voltage opposite in polarity relative the first, second, and third voltages;
hold the fourth voltage, wherein holding the fourth voltage is operable to substantially de-activate the electrochromic materials;
initiate a fifth voltage, wherein the fifth voltage is of the same polarity as the first, second, and third voltages, and the fifth voltage is operable to substantially activate the buffer; and
hold the fifth voltage, wherein holding the fifth voltage is operable to maintain the buffer in an activated state.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the fifth voltage is not operable to substantially activate the electrochromic materials.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein:
the device is disposed in a vehicle and operable to receive a signal from an imager operable to detect an occupancy of the vehicle; and
the first and second electrodes are operable to initiate the first voltage based, at least in part, on detecting the occupancy of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the device is associated with a vehicle and operable to receive a signal from a sensor associated with the vehicle, the signal corresponding to the detection of a standby triggering condition by the sensor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second electrodes are operable to initiate the first voltage based, at least in part, on the detection of the standby triggering condition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the device is operable to substantially deactivate the buffer when the signal is no longer received.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein:
the device is associated with a vehicle and operable to receive a signal from a sensor associated with the vehicle, the signal corresponding to the detection of a hibernation triggering condition by the sensor; and
the first and second electrodes are further operable to substantially stop voltage application to the electrochromic medium based, at least in part, on the received signal.

### Claim 15

A method comprising:
initiating a first voltage applied to an electrochromic medium, the electrochromic medium comprising electrochromic materials and a redox buffer, the electrochromic materials and buffer each electroactive and operable between activated and deactivated states, the first voltage operable to substantially activate the buffer and not substantially activate the electrochromic materials;
holding the first voltage, wherein holding the first voltage is operable to maintain the buffer in a substantially activated state;
initiating a second voltage applied to the electrochromic medium, the second voltage operable to substantially increase the degree of the electrochromic materials' activation, and the second voltage greater than the first voltage; and
holding the second voltage, wherein holding the second voltage is operable to maintain the increased electrochromic materials' activation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
lowering the second voltage to a third voltage, wherein the third voltage is opposite in sign as the first and second voltages;
holding the third voltage, wherein holding the third voltage is operable to substantially de-activate the electrochromic materials;
increasing the third voltage to a fourth voltage, wherein the fourth voltage is of the same sign as the first and second voltages, and the fourth voltage is operable to substantially activate the buffer and not substantially activate the electrochromic materials; and
holding the fourth voltage, wherein holding the fourth voltage is operable to maintain the buffer in a substantially activated state.

### Claim 17

A system comprising:
an electrochromic device comprising an electrochromic medium, the electrochromic medium comprising electrochromic materials and a redox buffer; and
a controller operable to:
initiate a first voltage across the electrochromic medium, the first voltage operable to substantially activate the buffer;
hold the first voltage, wherein holding the first voltage is operable to substantially maintain the buffer activation;
initiate a second voltage across the electrochromic medium, the second voltage greater than the first voltage, and the second voltage operable to substantially increase an activation state of the electrochromic materials; and
hold the second voltage, holding the second voltage operable to maintain the increased activation of the electrochromic materials.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising:
a first sensor, operable to detect a standby triggering condition;
wherein the controller is further operable to:
receive a signal from the sensor, the signal corresponding to the detection of the standby triggering condition, and
based, at least in part, on the detection of the standby triggering condition, initiate the first voltage.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein:
at least one of the first sensor and a second sensor are operable to detect a hibernation triggering condition; and
the controller is further operable to:
receive a second signal from the at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, the second signal corresponding to the detection of the hibernation triggering condition; and
based, at least in part, on the receipt of the second signal, initiate a third voltage operable to substantially deactivate the buffer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, wherein the standby triggering condition is at least one of a vehicle starting and a vehicle occupancy.