Abstract:
One object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic device having improved insulating film structure to reduce electrical leakage. The improved structure includes a lower conductive layer, upper transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and at least one ion-conductor layer sandwiched between the electrochromic electrode layer and the counter electrode layer. The lower transport conductive layer is scribed and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layer(s) formed above the lower conductive layer, such as the electrode layer formed directly above the lower conductive layer. The effective linewidth of the scribe is greater than the migration length of the lithium ions intercalated into the electrode layer, such that the electrode materials occupying the gap do not convert the electrode layer into an electrically conductive region.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to a wiring system for controlling one or more smart windows located within a building, and methods for installing such systems and/or replacing higher wattage systems with such systems.
Abstract:
One object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic device having improved insulating film structure to reduce electrical leakage. The improved structure includes a lower conductive layer, upper conductive layer, an electrochromic electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and at least one ion-conductor layer sandwiched between the electrochromic electrode layer and the counter electrode layer. The lower conductive layer and the electrochromic electrode layer are scribed and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layers formed above the electrochromic electrode layer. In some aspects, the ion-conductor layer is also scribed with the lower conductor and electrochromic electrode layers and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layers formed above the ion-conductor layer. In further aspects, the insulating film may include one or more buffer layers formed above an ion-conductor layer, further separating the upper conductive layer from the lower conductive layer.
Abstract:
An apparatus for repair of a defect in an electronic energy control device may include a position indicating means for indicating a position at which to fixedly position a mounting unit relative to a portion of an electronic energy control device including a defect to be repaired, where the device is fixed in position. An imaging and repair assembly of the apparatus has an optical imaging range and a laser repair range. When the mounting unit is mounted to a support surface to fixedly position the mounting unit at the position indicated by the position indicating means and the imaging and repair assembly is attached to the mounting unit, the portion of the electronic energy control device is within the imaging range and the repair range.
Abstract:
An electrochemical device and method of forming said device is disclosed. The method can include providing a substrate and stack overlying the substrate. The stack can include a first transparent conductive layer over the substrate, a cathodic electrochemical layer over the first transparent conductive layer, an anodic electrochemical layer over the electrochromic layer, and a second transparent conductive layer overlying the anodic electrochemical layer. The method can include depositing an insulating layer over the stack and determining a first pattern for the second transparent conductive layer. The first pattern can include a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region can be the same material. The method can include patterning the first region of the second transparent conductive layer without removing the material from the first region. The first region can have a first resistivity and the second region can have a second resistivity.
Abstract:
An electrochromic device is structured to restrict moisture permeation between an electrochromic stack in the device and an external environment. The electrochromic device includes conductive layers and one or more encapsulation layers, where the encapsulation layers and conductive layers collectively isolate the electrochromic stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layers resist moisture permeation, and at least the outer portions of the conductive layers resist moisture permeation. The moisture-resistant electrochromic device can be fabricated based at least in part upon selective removal of one or more outer portions of at least the EC stack, so that at least the encapsulation layer extends over one or more edge portions of the EC stack to isolate the edge portions of the EC stack from the ambient environment. The encapsulation layer can include one or more of an anti-reflective layer, infrared cut-off filter, etc.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes various processes of forming an electrochromic stack using at most one metallic lithium deposition station. In some aspects, a process may include depositing metallic lithium only within an electrochromic counter-electrode of an electrochromic stack. In some aspects, a process may include using a lithium-containing ceramic counter-electrode target to form an electrochromic counter-electrode and depositing metallic lithium only within or above an electrochromic electrode of the electrochromic stack. In some embodiments, a process may include using a lithium-containing ceramic electrode target, and optionally additionally depositing metallic lithium to add mobile lithium to the electrochromic stack. In some embodiments, a process may include using a single metallic lithium deposition station to deposit metallic lithium between an ion-conducting layer and an electrochromic electrode of the electrochromic stack.
Abstract:
An electrochromic device and method of cloaking an electrochromic device is disclosed. The electrochromic device can include a first transparent conductive layer on a substrate, a second transparent conductive layer, a cathodic electrochromic layer between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and an anodic electrochromic layer between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer. The stack of layers can be patterned to be parallel to a voltage gradient of the electrochromic device and extend through all layers of the electrochromic device. The electrochromic device can also include a masking layer that covers the patterned inactive area. A method can include determining a pattern of inactive areas within a visible area, determining a cloaking pattern that corresponds to the pattern of inactive areas, and depositing a masking layer in the areas of the cloaking pattern.
Abstract:
An electrochromic device comprising a counter electrode layer comprised of lithium metal oxide which provides a high transmission in the fully intercalated state and which is capable of long-term stability, is disclosed. Methods of making an electrochromic device comprising such a counter electrode are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of systems and methods for remote monitoring and controlling of electrochromic glass are described. In some embodiments, a device monitoring and control system can receive messages via a communication hub from a plurality of remote installation sites for electrochromic glass units. The messages include telemetry data associated with the electrochromic glass units. The system can stream the telemetry data to a data analytics engine that can perform analytics functions on the telemetry data. The system provides results of the analytics functions to remote destinations via a data analytics interface. The system can also receive, via a control interface, control instructions from remote sources to control one or more of the electrochromic glass units. The system can transmit control messages to the installation sites to implement the control instructions. The system can also establish a connection for a requestor to an installation site using a site's specific connection protocol.