Reversible radiant energy filter and process of using same
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorEugene Findl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This application relates to an electrolytic process for regulating the transmission of radiant energy, and a radiant energy filter for use in said process. The filter comprises a first film having a dye and a first ionic species therein, an adjacent second film having a second ionic species therein, said first ionic species and said second ionic species being related by a reversible electrochemical reaction, and barrier means positioned between said first and second films for preventing the passage therethrough of said dye, said first ionic species, and said second ionic species but permitting the passage therethrough of current-carrying ions. By passing current through said filter, the color of said dye can be caused to change whereby the transmission of radiant energy can be regulated.
Claims9
A radiant energy filter adapted to reversibly regulate the transmission of radiant energy therethrough comprising:
- an electrolytically conductive layer comprising,
- I. a first film having dispersed therein (a) a dye whose color commences to change at a particular half-cell potential and (b) a first ionic species which can have its oxidation state changed by the passage of current through said first film, said oxidation change causing a half-cell potential change in said first film which overlaps at least a portion of the half-cell potential at which said dye changes color;
- Ii. an adjacent second film having a second ionic species therein which has its oxidation state changed by the passage of current through said second film, said first ionic species and said second ionic species being related by a reversible reduction oxidation electrochemical reaction;
- and
- Iii. barrier means positioned between said first film and said second film, said barrier means adapted to prevent the passage therethrough of said dye, said first ionic species and said second ionic species but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of current-carrying ions, said current-carrying ions comprising a third ionic species common to both said first and second film, and
- first and second electrodes in contact with opposite sides of said electrolytically conductive layer.
An electrolytic process for regulating the transmission of radiant energy comprising the steps of:
- a. passing the radiant energy to be regulated through a radiant energy filter, said filter comprising:
- I. a first film having dispersed therein (a) a dye whose color commences to change at a particular half-cell potential and (b) a first ionic species which can have its oxidation state changed by the passage of current through said first film, said oxidation change causing a half-cell potential change in said first film which overlaps at least a portion of the half-cell potential at which said dye changes color;
- Ii. an adjacent second film having a second ionic species therein which has its oxidation state changed by the passage of current through said second film, said first ionic species and said second ionic species being related by a reversible reduction-oxidation electrochemical reaction;
- and
- Iii. barrier means positioned between said first film and said second film, said barrier means adapted to prevent the passage therethrough of said dye, said first ionic species and said second ionic species but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of current-carrying ions, said current-carrying ions comprising a third ionic species common to both said first and second film;
- and
- Iv. a first electrode in contact with said first film on one side of said filter and a second electrode in contact with said second film on the opposite side of said filter;
- and
- b. passing current through said filter to cause the color of said dye to change, the transmission of said radiant energy through said filter being regulated by the color of said dye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.