3040results about "Tenebresent compositions" patented technology

Prior electrochromic devices frequently suffer from high levels of defectivity. The defects may be manifest as pin holes or spots where the electrochromic transition is impaired. This is unacceptable for many applications such as electrochromic architectural glass. Improved electrochromic devices with low defectivity can be fabricated by depositing certain layered components of the electrochromic device in a single integrated deposition system. While these layers are being deposited and / or treated on a substrate, for example a glass window, the substrate never leaves a controlled ambient environment, for example a low pressure controlled atmosphere having very low levels of particles. These layers may be deposited using physical vapor deposition.

An improved electrochromic device, the device incorporating an electrochromic medium that comprises at least three electroactive materials having absorption spectra that add together such that the color of the electrochromic medium can be pre-selected by individually choosing the concentrations of the at least three electroactive materials. The electrochromic medium generally maintains the pre-selected perceived color throughout its normal range of voltages when used in an electrochromic device. The at least three electroactive materials include at least one electrochemically reducible material (cathodic material), at least one electrochemically oxidizable material (anodic material) and at least one additional electroactive material which may be either an anodic or cathodic material. Thus, there are always three electroactive materials present in the medium, with at least two either being anodic or cathodic materials. The pre-selected color may be chosen from a wide variety of colors and may be, for example, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. For electrochromic mirrors for motor vehicles, a presently preferred color is gray.

Coupling of anodic electrochromic compounds by a covalent bond or a bridge link which provides for electronic communication between the coupled electrochromic compounds results in coupled electrochromic compounds which exhibit greater stability as well as electrochromic activity that differs from the monomeric electrochromic compounds. Extension of the absorption spectrum into the near-infrared region of the spectrum is frequently observed. The coupled electrochromic compounds are highly suitable for use in electrochromic media used to produce electrochromic devices.

Prior electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Some of the difficulties result from inappropriate design and construction of the devices. In order to improve device reliability two layers of an electrochromic device, the counter electrode layer and the electrochromic layer, can each be fabricated to include defined amounts of lithium. Further, the electrochromic device may be subjected to a multistep thermochemical conditioning operation to improve performance. Additionally, careful choice of the materials and morphology of some components of the electrochromic device provides improvements in performance and reliability. In some devices, all layers of the device are entirely solid and inorganic.

Electrochromic compounds capable of reversibly attenuating the transmittance of the near infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum are provided. These compounds exhibit an energy difference between the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) energy and the highest doubly occupied molecular orbital (HDOMO) energy (ESOMO-EHDOMO) of less than about 3.6 eV. In addition, these compounds have a transition moment of the configuration made up of the HDOMO and SOMO that is "long axis polarized".

A mirror includes an electro-optic mirror subassembly, and a thin-profiled bezel attached around a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a carrier by an adheringly bonded heater and foam tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel may be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and / or may be bonded and / or interlockingly mechanically attached to an edge of the carrier. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in place, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to permit assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin that prevents seeing past the bezel into the inside of a mirror housing. In at least one embodiment, the assembly has no bezel or only a bezel on one edge.

Electrochromic compositions suitable for use in electrochromic media in electrochromic devices contain minimally two electrochromic compounds of the same redox type, whose redox potentials are greater than 30 mV. The lower redox potential electrochromic compound makes a large contribution to the absorbancy of the electrochromic medium despite being present in only minor concentration.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic mirror having a variable reflectivity, a glare sensor for sensing levels of light directed towards the front element from the rear of the vehicle, an ambient sensor for sensing levels of ambient light, a display positioned behind the partially transmissive, partially reflective portion of the reflector for displaying information therethrough; and a control circuit coupled to the sensors and the display. The control circuit determines whether daytime or nighttime conditions are present as a function of the ambient light level sensed by the ambient sensor. During daytime conditions, the control circuit responds to light levels sensed by the glare sensor to control a contrast ratio of light originating from the display and light reflecting from the partially transmissive, partially reflective area of the reflector.

The invention is an energy efficient, thermochromic device for windows that allows sunlight or solar radiation into a building or structure when the ambient temperature is low and substantially blocks solar radiation when the ambient temperature is high, especially when sunlight is directly on the window. Additionally, the invention is a thermochromic device useful as variable transmission shutters for use in lenses or filters.

Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to photochromic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to photochromic-dichroic compounds, which may be thermally reversible or non-thermally reversible, and articles made therefrom. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a thermally reversible, photochromic compound adapted to have at least a first state and a second state, wherein the thermally reversible, photochromic compound has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in at least one state as determined according to CELL METHOD. Another non-limiting embodiment provides a photochromic compound comprising: (a) at least one photochromic group chosen from a pyran, an oxazine, and a fulgide; and (b) at least one lengthening agent L attached to the at least one photochromic group and represented by the formula —[S1]c-[Q1-[S2]d]d′-[Q2-[S3]e]e′-[Q3-[S4]f]f′—S5—P, which is described herein.

The present invention provides a solution for a highlight or multicolor display device, in which each display cell can display high quality color states. More specifically, an electrophoretic fluid is provided which comprises three types of pigment particles, having different levels of size, threshold voltage or charge intensity.

The present invention is directed to a reversible electrodeposition device comprising: a first substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a nucleation layer at least partially covering at least one of the electrically conductive materials of the first and second substrates; an electrochemical medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates.

An electroluminescent device comprises a light emitting layer including an anthracene material bearing at least one aryl ring in the 2-position and having a hydrogen or an alkyl group in the 6-position and having up to 12 aromatic carbocyclic rings including at least one naphthalene group in the 9-position of the anthracene group and an aryl group in the 10-position, the anthracene material including among the rings only carbocyclic rings.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic mirror having a variable reflectivity, a glare sensor for sensing levels of light directed towards the front element from the rear of the vehicle, an ambient sensor for sensing levels of ambient light, a display positioned behind the partially transmissive, partially reflective portion of the reflector for displaying information therethrough.

The present invention discloses an amorphous material comprising nickel oxide doped with tantalum that is an anodically coloring electrochromic material. The material of the present invention is prepared in the form of an electrode (200) having a thin film (202) of an electrochromic material of the present invention residing on a transparent conductive film (203). The material of the present invention is also incorporated into an electrochromic device (100) as a thin film (102) in conjunction with a cathodically coloring prior art electrochromic material layer (104) such that the devices contain both anodically coloring (102) and cathodically coloring (104) layers. The materials of the electrochromic layers in these devices exhibit broadband optical complimentary behavior, ionic species complimentary behavior, and coloration efficiency complimentary behavior in their operation.

The present invention concerns an improved optical method and optical sensing device for determining the levels of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules in vitro and / or in vivo in aqueous media. The range of detection is between about 400 and 800 nm. In particular, a sensory devise is implemented in a mammal to determine sugar levels. Specifically, a dye is combined with a conjugated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic boronic acid-substituted bis-onium compound in the presence of a sugar, such as fructose or glucose. The viologens are preferred as the aromatic conjugated nitrogen-containing boronic acid substituted compounds. The method is useful to determine sugar levels in a human being.

Prior electrochromic devices frequently suffer from high levels of defectivity. The defects may be manifest as pin holes or spots where the electrochromic transition is impaired. This is unacceptable for many applications such as electrochromic architectural glass. Improved electrochromic devices with low defectivity can be fabricated by depositing certain layered components of the electrochromic device in a single integrated deposition system. While these layers are being deposited and / or treated on a substrate, for example a glass window, the substrate never leaves a controlled ambient environment, for example a low pressure controlled atmosphere having very low levels of particles. These layers may be deposited using physical vapor deposition.

Syntheses of a new blue EC monomer (ProDOT-MePro), and a new red EC monomer (ProDOP-Et2) are described. Two additional new types of EC monomers based on 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene include fluorinated EC monomers and an EC monomer including silicon. EC polymer devices having more than one different color EC polymer to enable additional colors to be provided using subtractive color mixing are also described, as well as EC polymer devices incorporating a logo, image, or text, are generally obscured when the device is colored, but become visible when the device is not colored. Also described are EC polymer devices that include a cathodic EC polymer layer, a gel electrolyte, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. Working prototypes of such devices exhibit significant increases in the speed of transition of the EC device from a colored state to a transparent state.

Described are photochromic articles that include a substrate, a temperature dependent reducing amount of at least one organic photochromic material (b) that changes from more absorbing to less absorbing of radiation in its activating spectral absorbance as the temperature increases from 10° C. to 35° C. and at least one other photochromic material (c) that is different from photochromic material (b). In the article, photochromic material (b) is interposed between photochromic material (c) and a source of activating radiation. The photochromic article demonstrates a more consistent photochromic response, for example, an optical density response loss of 50 percent or less over a temperature range of from 10° C. to 35° C. as measured in the Photochromic Temperature Dependence Test. Methods for producing the aforedescribed articles are also disclosed.

The subject invention pertains to electrochromic polymers and polymer electrochromic devices. In a specific embodiment, two complementary polymers can be matched and incorporated into dual polymer electrochromic devices. The anodically coloring polymers in accordance with the subject invention can allow control over the color, brightness, and environmental stability of an electrochromic window. In addition, high device contrast ratios, high transmittance changes, and high luminance changes can be achieved, along with half-second switching times for full color change. Also provided are electrochromic devices such as advertising signage, video monitors, stadium scoreboards, computers, announcement boards, warning systems for cell phones, warning / information systems for automobiles, greeting cards, electrochromic windows, billboards, electronic books, and electrical wiring. The subject invention also provides for the use of complementary electrochromic polymers in the manufacture of electrochromic devices. In some embodiments, the devices of the invention can be prepared using metal vapor deposition or line patterning.

Describes an article, e.g., an optical article such as a lens, in which the article includes (a) a rigid substrate, e.g., a transparent ophthalmic substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, having at least one surface suitable for accommodating a photochromic coating, and (b) a transparent photochromic coating comprising dendritic polymeric acrylate, e.g., polyester acrylate, on at least a portion of said surface of the substrate, the coating comprising a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., an organic photochromic material.

An electrochromic mirror device suitable for use in a vehicle comprises a first transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer on a surface thereof and a second substrate having a conductive layer on a surface thereof. The conductive layer of the first substrate opposes the second conductive layer of the second substrate in a spaced-apart relationship thereby forming an interpane distance between the substrates. A boundary seal is interposed between the first and second substrates spacing apart the substrates and forming a cavity wherein the interpane distance is at least about 10 microns. An electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film is disposed within the cavity. The electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film is formed from an electrochromic monomer composition that includes at least one cathodic electrochromic compound. The second conductive layer comprises a metallic reflective layer.

PCT No. PCT / DE98 / 02820 Sec. 371 Date May 21, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date May 21, 1999 PCT Filed Sep. 22, 1998 PCT Pub. No. WO99 / 15518 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 1, 1999What is described here are photochromic naphthopyrane dyes with different substituents whose properties can be set by controlled selection of the substituents. In this manner it is possible to take an influence on the migration characteristics, the absorption characteristics and the brightening rate and kinetics. The inventive compounds display good darkening and brightening properties at a very good service life. The invention excels itself by the fact that a method is made available which is substantially improved over prior art, in addition to the surprising influence on specific properties of the inventive compounds. The described compounds are suitable for application in synthetic materials of any kind. A photochromic object is also the subject matter of the invention, which comprises one or several photochromic naphthopyrane dyes as well as at least one polymer material, with the photochromic object being producible by mass-dyeing or superficial dyeing.

The present invention relates to a photochromic film comprising a photochromic dye and a resin component. The photochromic film has a nanoindentation hardness of equal to or greater than 800 nm on at least one of surfaces, surface A, thereof. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a photochromic lens. The method of manufacturing a photochromic lens of the present invention comprises forming a photochromic film having a nanoindentation hardness ranging from 500 to 5000 nm on an outermost surface thereof as well as having a smaller nanoindentation hardness on a surface facing a first mold than that on the outermost surface by coating a photochromic liquid comprising a photochromic dye and a curable component on one surface of the first mold for formation of one of surfaces of a lens and subjecting the photochromic liquid to curing treatment, and a photochromic lens comprising a photochromic film on a lens substrate is obtained by means of the above first mold.

Electrochromic film with the general formula: ApBqOxXy wherein: —A is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Ni, Ir, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, W, Mo, Ti, Co, Ce, Pr and Hf; —B is one or more of the elements from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Nb, Al, Zr, Ta and Si; —O is oxygen; —X is an element from the group consisting of: H, F and N; and the ratio q / p is greater than 0.2 and less than 3.5, x is greater than 0.5 (p+q) and less than 5 (p+q), and y is equal to or greater than 0 and less than 2x. The film may further comprise an amount of Li, Na or K. The invention further relates to an electrochromic device comprising at least one layer of said electrochromic film.

An electrochromic element comprises an ion conduction layer between two conducting substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The ion conduction layer contains an organic compound, which has both a structure exhibiting a cathodic electorchromic characteristic and a structure exhibiting an anodic electrochromic characteristic.

An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating thin front and rear spaced glass elements having a thickness ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5. A layer of transparent conductive material is placed onto the mirror's second surface, and either another layer of transparent conductive material or a combined reflector / electrode is placed onto the mirror's third surface. A chamber, defined by the layers on the interior surfaces of the front and rear glass elements and a peripheral sealing member, contains a free-standing gel comprising a solvent and a crosslinked polymer matrix. The chamber further contains at least one electrochromic material in solution with the solvent and interspersed in the crosslinked polymer matrix. The gel cooperatively interacts with the thin glass elements to form a thick, strong unitary member which is resistant to flexing, warping, bowing and / or shattering and further allows the mirror to exhibit reduced vibrational distortion and double imaging.

Electrolyte solutions of soluble bifunctional redox dyes in molten salt solvent may be used to prepare electrooptic devices with enhanced stability toward ultraviolet radiation. The solvents include lithium or quaternary ammonium cations, and perfluorinated sulfonylimide anions selected from trifluoromethylsulfonate (CF3SO3−), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ((CF3SO2)2N−), bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide ((CF3CF2SO2)2N−) and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide ((CF3SO2)3C−).