Loading patent…
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsFrederick T. Bauer, Harlan J. Byker, David J. Cammenga, Thomas F. Guarr, David L. Poll, William L. Tonar, Scott W. Vander Zwaag
Estimating the term…
Improved electro-optic devices are provided which may be in the configuration of variable transmittance windows, variable transmittance eyeglasses, variable transmittance light filters and displays and other devices wherein the transmittance of light therethrough automatically varies as a function of light impinging thereon. The electro-optic devices include a self-erasing electro-optic medium, and the transmittance of light through such medium varies as a function of electrical signals applied thereto through the agency of at least one photovoltaic cell, enclosed within the electro-optic device, and obviating the necessity of providing external drive voltage or external bleeder resistors or external wiring. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for making such electro-optic devices.
An electro-optic device comprising, in combination, a self-erasing electro-optic variable transmittance component including front and rear spaced transparent elements, each having front and rear faces, said rear face of said front element and said front face of said rear element sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween, a first layer of transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said rear face of said front element, and a second layer of a transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said front face of said rear element, and said chamber containing a self-erasing electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said first and second layers of transparent electrically conductive materials, where said variable transmittance component has enclosed therein one or more discrete photovoltaic cells for producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy and further having means for conveying said voltage from said one or more discrete photovoltaic cells to said variable transmittance component to cause variations in the transmittance of light through said device.
An electrochromic device comprising, in combination, a self-erasing variable transmittance component further comprising front and rear spaced transparent elements, each having front and rear faces, said rear face of said front element and said front face of said rear element sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween, a first layer of transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said rear face of said front element and a second layer of a transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said front face of said rear element, said chamber containing an electrochromic reversible variable transmittance medium in contact with said first and second layers of transparent electrically conductive materials, said variable transmittance component having enclosed therein one or more discrete photovoltaic cells for producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy, and means for conveying said voltage from said one or more discrete photovoltaic cells to said first and second layers of transparent electrically conductive materials to cause variations in light transmittance of said electrochromic medium.
An electrochromic device comprising, in combination, a self-erasing variable transmittance component further comprising front and rear spaced transparent elements, each having front and rear faces, said rear face of said front element and said front face of said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, a first layer of transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said rear face of said front element and a second layer of a transparent electrically conductive material disposed on said front face of said rear element, said chamber containing an aqueous-based electrochromic reversible variable transmittance medium in contact with said first and second layers of transparent electrically conductive materials, said variable transmittance component having enclosed therein one or more discrete photovoltaic cells for producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy, and means for conveying said voltage from said one or more discrete photovoltaic cells to said first and second layers of transparent electrically conductive materials to cause variations in light transmittance of said aqueous-based electrochromic medium.
An electro-optically dimming device in the configuration of a pair of eyeglasses and comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced lens elements, said front lens element and said rear lens element being transparent, one side of said front lens element confronting said rear lens element including transparent electrically conductive means, one side of said rear lens element confronting said front lens element including transparent electrically conductive means, said transparent electrically conductive means on said front and rear lens elements partially defining a single chamber, said chamber containing a self-erasing electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front and rear elements, a photovoltaic cell disposed in said chamber, said photovoltaic cell being electrically insulated from said electro-optic medium and being electrically connected to said transparent electrically conductive means on said front and rear lens elements whereby light impinging on said photovoltaic cell applies an electrical potential to said electro-optic medium throughout said chamber to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
An electro-optic device in the configuration of a pair of variable light transmittance eyeglasses and comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced lens elements, said front lens element and said rear lens element each including right hand and left hand lens sections integrally joined by a bridge section, said front lens element and said rear lens element each being transparent, one side of said front lens element confronting said rear lens element including transparent electrically conductive means, one side of said rear lens element confronting said front lens element including transparent electrically conductive means, said transparent electrically conductive means on said front and rear lens elements partially defining a single chamber, said chamber containing an aqueous-based electrochromic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front lens element and said rear lens element, a photovoltaic cell disposed in said chamber and visible through said bridge section of said front lens element, means electrically connecting said photovoltaic cell to said transparent electrically conductive means on said lens front element and said transparent electrically conductive means on said rear lens element, means electrically insulating said photovoltaic cell from said electrochromic medium except through said transparent electrically conductive means, said photovoltaic cell being effective to apply electrical potential to said electrochromic medium through said transparent electrically conductive means on said front and rear lens elements to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electrochromic medium, and frictionally inhibited shutter means for manually varying the amount of light impinging on said photovoltaic cell.
An apparatus for assembling an electro-optic device, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a first member having means for securing a first transparent element, a second member having means for securing a second transparent element, and means for holding said first and said second members in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship.
A method for making an electro-optic device comprising the steps of placing a first transparent element having a first transparent conductive layer on one face thereof onto a first means for securing said transparent element, where said first means secures a face of said first transparent element that is free of said first conductive layer, placing a second transparent element having a second transparent conductive layer on one face thereof, onto a second means for securing said transparent element, where said second means secures a face of said second transparent element that is free of said second conductive layer, disposing a sealing member along the periphery of the transparent conductive layer of one of said first or second elements, and holding said first transparent element and said second transparent element in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship where the sides of said first transparent element and said second transparent element having said transparent layers thereon confront one another until said sealing material cures.
A method for making an electro-optic device comprising the steps of placing a first transparent element onto a first means for securing said first transparent element, where said first means contacts only one face of said first transparent element, placing a second transparent element onto a second means for securing said second transparent element, where said second means contacts only one face of said second transparent element, disposing a sealing material along the periphery of one of said first and second transparent elements, and utilizing holding means to hold said first and second means for securing in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship and thereby hold said first and second transparent elements in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship until said sealing material has cured.
A method for manufacturing an electro-optic device comprising the steps of placing a first transparent element onto a first vacuum platen for securing said first transparent element, where said first vacuum platen contacts only one face of said first transparent element, placing a second transparent element onto a second vacuum platen for securing said second transparent element, where said second vacuum platen contacts only one face of said second transparent element, utilizing said first and second vacuum platens to hold said first and second transparent elements in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship during at least a portion of the manufacturing process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.