Electrochromic device for remote optical equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrochromic device (1) for a remote optical device (9), comprising at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed of or comprising an electrochromic material, and comprising at least one substrate element (2) having a substrate element body (14), according to the invention, the substrate element body (14) has a disc-shaped or disc-shaped basic form, in which a contact layer (3) made of an electrically conductive material is applied to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body (14) by a chemical and / or physical application method, said contact layer extending around at least part of the edge of the substrate element body (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrochromic device for a remote optical apparatus, the electrochromic device comprising at least one electrochromic element formed of or comprising an electrochromic material arranged or formed between two conductive elements. Background Art

[0002] In long-range optical devices such as binoculars, the integration of corresponding electrochromic devices is known in principle from the prior art, which electrochromic devices comprise at least one electrochromic element which is formed by or comprises an electrochromic material which is arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements.

[0003] The corresponding electrochromic device is typically used as a module integrated into the optical channel of the corresponding remote optical device in order to specifically change the brightness and / or contrast of the field of view, so that the user can use the corresponding remote optical device largely without glare even under special or possibly changing lighting conditions, i.e. for example under very bright and / or high-contrast lighting conditions.

[0004] The integration of corresponding electrochromic devices into remote optical devices often presents challenges due to the limited free mounting space available. In particular, a feasible and reliable electrical contacting of the electrochromic device is a challenge, which in turn has an impact on the efficiency of the changes in brightness and / or contrast that the electrochromic element can induce.

[0005] Therefore, the technical methods used to date for integrating corresponding electrochromic devices into remote optical equipment need to be improved or further developed. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electrochromic device for use in remote optical equipment.

[0007] This object is achieved by an electrochromic device for a remote optical apparatus according to independent claim 1. The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments of the electrochromic device.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to an electrochromic device for a remote optical device, such as a binocular (monocular or binocular), a telescopic sight, a night vision device, etc. The electrochromic device thus represents a component that can be structurally integrated into the corresponding remote optical device. In particular, the electrochromic device is a component that can be structurally integrated into an optical channel of a long-range optical device, in particular an optical channel extending within an optical barrel of the corresponding remote optical device between an objective lens and an eyepiece.

[0009] An electrochromic device generally comprises at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements - which may form electrodes of the electrochromic device - which is formed from or includes at least one electrochromic material.

[0010] The respective conductive element can be formed by or comprise a conductive layer or coating, i.e. in particular a transparent conductive layer or coating. In particular, the respective conductive element can be formed as a transparent conductive layer or coating on a transparent substrate element, e.g. made of glass or (transparent) plastic, or comprise such a layer or coating. Thus, the respective conductive element can be applied at least partially or, if desired, completely as a conductive layer or coating to the substrate element.

[0011] The corresponding conductive layer or coating of the electrochromic device can be, for example, a coating formed of or containing at least one transparent conductive oxide. Specifically, the corresponding conductive layer or coating can be, for example, a coating formed of indium tin oxide (ITO), as an example of a transparent conductive oxide, or the corresponding conductive layer or coating can be a coating containing ITO, referred to as an ITO coating for short. Transparent conductive oxides, such as ITO, are generally characterized by a relatively high conductivity in the visible light wavelength range (typically 10 4 S / cm) and a high light transmittance (>90% at a layer thickness of 100 nm) and are therefore particularly suitable for forming corresponding conductive coatings for the electrochromic devices described herein.

[0012] The corresponding electrochromic element of the electrochromic device may be, for example, or include at least one layer or coating formed by or including at least one electrochromic material. The electrochromic material may, for example, undergo a change in its transmittance by an increase or decrease in its color or color intensity when a voltage or current is applied. Therefore, the corresponding electrochromic material may be considered to be, for example, an electrically switchable electrochromic material. Specifically, the electrochromic material may be, for example, a redox-active material, i.e., in particular a redox-active compound, or include at least one such material, which undergoes a change in its transmittance during a redox process, such as a transition from an oxidized state to a reduced state (or vice versa). The corresponding redox-active material may be or include a metal complex, such as a metal complex based on tungsten oxide (WO3), which undergoes a change in its transmittance during a redox process, such as a transition from an oxidized state to a reduced state (or vice versa). Alternatively or additionally, for example, a metal-supramolecular polyelectrolyte ((FE-)MEPE) may be considered to be an electrochromic material. In all cases, the corresponding electrochromic material may be embedded in the embedding material.

[0013] If the electrochromic device comprises several respective electrochromic elements, at least one layer or coating of an electrolyte material, in particular a liquid or gel-like electrolyte material, for example based on metal salts, may be arranged or formed between these electrochromic elements.

[0014] In order to make electrical contact with at least one electrochromic element, i.e., in particular, to apply a voltage or a current to at least one electrochromic element, the electrochromic device comprises at least one contact layer made of an electrically conductive material. A special feature of the electrochromic device described here is the configuration of the at least one contact layer, which is explained in more detail below:

[0015] As mentioned above, the electrochromic device comprises at least one substrate element, for example formed of glass or (transparent) plastic. Although the specific configuration of at least one contact layer of the electrochromic device for electrical contact is described below in particular in conjunction with the substrate element, the following explanations apply analogously to each substrate element and each contact layer of the electrochromic device. The electrochromic device typically comprises at least two substrate elements and two corresponding contact layers, which typically have at least similar, in particular identical, configurations.

[0016] At least one substrate element is composed of a substrate element body. The substrate element body has a basic shape that can be integrated into an optical barrel of a remote optical device. Therefore, the shape-determining geometrical construction parameters, such as dimensions, of the substrate element body are usually selected according to the available installation space in the remote optical device for appropriate integration.

[0017] Because electrochromic device can be arranged in the optical lens barrel of remote optical equipment usually, therefore usually select the geometrical construction parameter of the substrate element main body of at least one substrate element about the available installation space in the optical lens barrel.In this respect, substrate element main body with disc-like or circular basic shape is particularly suitable.Therefore, the substrate element main body made of transparent material such as glass or plastic is usually configured as the shape of disc.But, also can think of other constructions in principle, for example have the disc type or disc-shaped substrate element main body of polygonal, i.e. triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, enneagon, decagon, eleven-sided or dodecagon basic shape.

[0018] In all cases, the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element is configured in a disk-like or disk-shaped manner and therefore has an upper side and an underside, which individually or jointly define a main extension plane of the substrate element body. In addition to the above-mentioned conductive layer or coating, a contact layer made of an electrically conductive material, for example a metal, in particular a noble metal such as gold, or a semi-noble metal such as copper, is arranged or formed on the upper side or underside of the substrate element body, as also described above. The contact layer is usually applied to the upper side or underside of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element by means of a chemical and / or physical application method, in particular a chemical and / or physical deposition process, further in particular a chemical and / or physical vapor deposition process. The layer thickness of the contact layer can be in the range between 1 nm or 10 nm and 1000 nm, in particular in the range between 1 nm and 950 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 850 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 800 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 750 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 700 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 650 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 600 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 850 nm. In the range between 1 nm and 550 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 500 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 450 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 400 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 350 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 300 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 250 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 and 200 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 150 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 100 nm, further particularly in the range between 1 nm and 50 nm. For example, instead of 1 nm, 2 nm, 3 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm, 6 nm, 7 nm, 8 nm, 9 nm or 10 nm can also be used as the respective lower limit. In principle, all of the above values ​​can also be used alone or as upper or lower limits for the layer thickness interval.

[0019] The contact layer can be applied directly or indirectly to the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element. In a first alternative, a corresponding transparent conductive layer or coating is also arranged or formed on the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body; the transparent conductive layer or coating can be arranged or formed in particular in the region of the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body in which the contact layer does not extend. In a second alternative, a corresponding transparent conductive layer or coating is arranged or formed on the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body, in particular over the entire surface, and the contact layer is arranged or formed at least partially on the transparent conductive layer or coating.

[0020] The contact layer extends at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element or along its edge in an annular or ring-shaped manner, i.e. in particular in a ring segment or ring-shaped manner, which substrate element, as described above, has a basic shape of, for example, a disk or a circle. The contact layer is thus configured as an electrically conductive layer, which at least partially (if necessary completely) around the edge of the substrate element body or along the edge of the substrate element body. The contact layer can be a continuous, quasi-continuous or discontinuous electrically conductive layer; thus, the contact layer can be a continuous, quasi-continuous or discontinuous electrically conductive layer extending around the edge of the substrate element body or along the edge of the substrate element body.

[0021] Thus, the substrate element body is not provided with a contact layer on its entire upper side or lower side, but only in a portion of the upper side or lower side extending around the edge. This produces advantages not only in terms of reliable electrical contacting of the electrochromic device with a power supply, such as a battery integrated in the remote optical device, but also in terms of applying a voltage to the at least one electrochromic element, which application occurs at least temporarily during the operation of the electrochromic device when the element is contacted in a ring-shaped or annular manner. This leads to a particularly rapid and uniform change of the optical properties of the electrochromic device, namely in particular the transmittance, in a surprising manner, in particular in contrast to contact at only one point. The described arrangement or formation of the conductive layer also makes it possible to vary the brightness or contrast to a large extent along the circumference from "outside to inside" and excludes phenomena known in the prior art, such as coloring in the manner of a stage curtain. In addition, there are advantages, for example, in connection with production, that the at least one substrate element does not have to be provided with a contact layer over its entire surface in the region of the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body, but only in the edge region.

[0022] Overall, this provides an improved electrochromic arrangement for use in remote optical devices.

[0023] As described above, the contact layer at least partially extends around or along the edge of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element, which substrate element body, as described above, usually has a disc-shaped or circular basic shape, and the contact layer extends in an annular or ring-shaped manner, especially in an annular segment or ring-shaped manner, i.e. has an annular or ring-shaped or annular segment or ring-shaped basic shape. The contact layer can extend around or along at least 25%, especially around at least 30%, especially around at least 35%, especially around at least 40%, especially around at least 45%, especially around at least 50%, especially around at least 55%, especially around at least 60%, especially around at least 65%, especially around at least 70%, especially around at least 75%, especially around at least 80%, especially around at least 85%, especially around at least 90%, especially around at least 95%, possibly even around 100% of the edge of the substrate element body (the above values ​​can also be regarded as upper or lower limits of the interval). The more completely the contact layer extends around or along the edge of the substrate element body, the faster or more uniformly the optical properties of the electrochromic device, i.e., in particular the transmission, can change. In this respect, therefore, the contact layer typically extends at least 50% around or along the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.

[0024] Here, conceivable values ​​for the width of the contact layer formed in the form of a ring (segment) or segment are also given by way of example; therefore, the width of the contact layer can be, for example, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.1 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.3 mm, 2.4 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.6 mm, 2.7 mm, 2.8 mm, 2.9 mm, 3.0 mm (the above values ​​can also be regarded as the upper or lower limit of the interval).

[0025] Between the contact layer and the edge of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element, there may be an at least partially defined free space in which the contact layer does not extend. Thus, the contact layer does not have to extend completely to the edge of the substrate element body, at least in a portion about its radial extension (about the symmetry or center axis of the substrate element body), but there may be a defined distance between the periphery of the contact layer (which, as mentioned, is in particular configured in the form of a ring (segment) or a segment) and the actual edge of the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body. Thus, the contact layer may be at least partially arranged or formed at a defined distance from the edge of the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body, for example 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm (the above values ​​may also be considered as upper or lower limits of the interval). In this way, for example, the amount of material used to form the contact layer may be reduced, thereby reducing the time required for applying the contact layer to the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body.

[0026] As mentioned above, the contact layer is particularly used to contact the electrochromic device with the power supply, i.e., usually with the power supply. Thus, the contact layer may include a contact portion of the electrochromic device, which may be contacted by an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a strand, a cable, etc., which may be connected or connected to the power or power supply.

[0027] The respective contact portion, for example in order to ensure a reliable contact with the respective electrical contact element, can have different dimensions than other regions of the contact layer, in particular with regard to its radial extension in the direction of the edge of the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. Thus, the contact portion can be formed by or represent a radial extension of the contact layer (compared to other regions of the contact layer) which extends in the circumferential direction around a specific region of the edge of the substrate element body, i.e., for example, circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body by at least 5%, in particular at least 10%, further in particular at least 15%, further in particular at least 20%, further in particular at least 25%, further in particular at least 30%, further in particular at least 35%, further in particular at least 40%, further in particular at least 45%, further in particular at least 50%. In the region of the respective contact portion, there is usually no respective electrically conductive layer or coating; thus, the contact portion can be applied directly to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.

[0028] In order to structurally integrate the electrochromic device into the remote optical device in a simple and stable manner, i.e., in particular, into the corresponding optical lens barrel of the remote optical device, the edge of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element may have at least one flat portion. The corresponding flat portion may be defined in particular by a line or straight line extending through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the periphery of the substrate element body. Further in particular, the corresponding flat portion may be defined by a secant extending through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the periphery of the substrate element body. Therefore, the shape of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element does not have to be a complete disk, because the edge of the substrate element body may have at least one corresponding flat portion. The corresponding flat portion of the substrate element body may also simplify the structural integration of the electrochromic device into the remote optical device, for example, because the flat portion may be used to implement an anti-rotation locking of the electrochromic device in the optical lens barrel of the remote optical device.

[0029] Similarly, the corresponding flat portion can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic device, as will be shown below, special electrical contact options of the electrochromic device with the power supply can be realized in this way. This applies in particular to the case where the contact portion is arranged or formed opposite to the flat portion of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. The contact portion and the flat portion can therefore be (substantially) arranged or formed offset by 180° in the circumferential direction relative to the basic shape of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, in particular a disc-shaped or circular shape as described above. In a top view of the corresponding upper side or lower side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, the contact portion can therefore, for example, be arranged or formed at the top, and the flat portion can be arranged or formed relatively at the bottom.

[0030] In a particularly compact device, the device facilitates contact of an electrochromic device with a power supply, the electrochromic device comprising two substrate elements, each substrate element comprising a substrate element body having a corresponding flat portion and an electrical contact portion arranged or formed opposite to the flat portion. The substrate element body of the first substrate element and the substrate element body of the second substrate element are arranged one on top of the other in such a way that their contact layers face each other, but cannot be electrically contacted with each other to avoid short circuits. The respective contact layers can be located on top of each other in such a way that they can complement each other to form a closed loop; therefore, the contact layer arranged or formed on the substrate element body of the first substrate element can (also) extend in the circumferential direction in the area where no contact layer extends on the substrate element body of the second substrate element. Typically, the superimposed arrangement of the substrate elements is also selected so that their respective contact portions are at least partially exposed, so that the electrochromic device can contact the power supply via both the contact portion of the first substrate element and the contact portion of the second substrate element. The first electrical contact element can connect the contact portion of the contact layer of the first substrate element to the power supply, and the second electrical contact element can connect the contact portion of the contact layer of the second substrate element to the power supply.

[0031] In all embodiments, at least one electrochromic element, which may be an electrochromic material layer or an electrochromic material coating as described above, may also be arranged or formed on a substrate element body of at least one substrate element, wherein it covers a contact layer and a conductive material layer or a conductive material coating, which may also be at least partially, in particular completely, arranged or formed on a corresponding upper side or lower side of the substrate element body of at least one substrate element.

[0032] In all embodiments, the electrochromic device may also have at least one spacer element made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic, which is at least partially or, if necessary, completely arranged or formed on at least one electrochromic element. The spacer element may have a basic shape of an annular or ring-shaped. The outer dimensions of the spacer element having the corresponding annular or ring-shaped basic shape may correspond to the outer dimensions of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, so that the spacer element is placed flush on the substrate element body. Within the inner space defined by the annular or ring-shaped basic shape of the at least one spacer element, the aforementioned layer or coating of the electrolyte material may be arranged or formed. In particular, the spacer element is configured to separate or space the corresponding contact layers from each other so that they cannot make electrical contact.

[0033] The electrochromic device - this may in particular be independent of the aspect of the planar portion of the substrate element body - may in principle comprise several substrate elements or substrate element bodies which may be arranged one on top of another.

[0034] A second aspect of the invention relates to a remote optical device, in particular a binocular or a telescopic sight, comprising at least one electrochromic device according to the first aspect of the invention, such that all embodiments relating to the electrochromic device according to the first aspect of the invention are analogously applicable to the remote optical device according to the second aspect of the invention (and vice versa).

[0035] The electrochromic device can thus be structurally integrated into an optical channel or an optical barrel of the remote optical device, which typically extends between the eyepiece and the objective of the remote optical device; thereby being arranged or formed in the optical channel or the optical barrel. In particular, the electrochromic device can be arranged in a portion of the optical channel or the optical barrel extending between the objective and the eyepiece.

[0036] The remote optical device may comprise an optical output device, e.g. in the form of a display, for outputting optical information. The optical information, i.e. e.g. alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos etc., which may be output by the optical output device, may be coupled into the optical channel of the remote optical device by means of a coupling device, e.g. formed by a prismatic device comprising one or more prisms, or by means of foils (nanorods) or comprising such a device. The electrochromic device may be directly or indirectly associated with the optical output device, such that e.g. the brightness and / or contrast of the optical information which may be output via the optical output device may be specifically changed via the electrochromic device.

[0037] The third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrochromic device for a remote optical device, in particular an electrochromic device according to the first aspect of the present invention, so that all embodiments related to the electrochromic device according to the first aspect of the present invention are similarly applicable to the method according to the third aspect of the present invention (and vice versa).

[0038] The method comprises at least the following steps which may be performed more than once: a) providing at least one substrate element, for example a substrate element body having a disc-shaped or circular basic shape; b) applying a contact layer by a chemical and / or physical application method, the contact layer being made of a conductive material, for example copper, and extending at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body; c) arranging or forming at least one conductive element, for example a conductive element made of indium tin oxide (ITO), on the substrate element body to form a conductive layer or coating; d) arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element on the substrate element body, the at least one electrochromic element being formed by or including an electrochromic element. In particular, steps b) and c) may be interchanged, so that the conductive layer or coating (which may be, for example, an ITO layer as described above) may be arranged or formed first on the substrate element body, followed by the contact layer.

[0039] As part of the method, in particular, a substrate element constructed as described above can be arranged with a respective contact portion and a flat portion arranged opposite thereto, one above the other, in particular such that the respective contact portion is exposed and the respective contact layers are arranged relative to each other, in particular forming a closed loop, but not in electrical contact with each other. In order to ensure that the individual contact layers are not in electrical contact with each other, the above-mentioned spacing element can be provided between the individual contact layers.

[0040] The method may further comprise the step of contacting the corresponding exposed contact portion with a power supply. To this end, the corresponding contact portion may each contact the power supply via an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable, or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention is explained again below with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. It shows:

[0042] Figure 1 , Figure 2 Schematic diagrams each showing an electrochromic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0043] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a substrate element of an electrochromic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0044] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrochromic device according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a remote optical device including an electrochromic device according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figure 1 , Figure 2 A schematic representation of an electrochromic device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is respectively shown, based on which a possible basic structure of the electrochromic device 1 can be regarded as an example and is purely schematic.

[0047] according to Figure 1In the structure shown in the example of the exemplary embodiment in , the electrochromic device 1 initially includes, from top to bottom, a first substrate element 2 made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, on which a contact layer 3 made of a conductive metal such as copper is arranged or formed, which is used to make the subsequently mentioned electrochromic material contact with an external power source, and a transparent conductive layer 4 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO. This is followed by a first layer 5 made of an electrochromic material, which can be referred to as a working electrode, a layer 6 made of an ion-permeable electrolyte material, for example in the form of a gel, and a second layer 7 made of an electrochromic material, which serves as an ion storage layer, which can be referred to as a counter electrode. Then, when the second layer 7 made of an electrochromic material is followed by a contact layer 3 made of a conductive metal such as copper, which is used to make the above-mentioned electrochromic material contact with an external power source, and a transparent conductive layer 4 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO, and a second substrate element 2, the layer structure is repeated. A spacing element made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic is indicated by reference numeral 8.

[0048] According to According to Figure 2 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrochromic device 1 includes a pair of Figure 1 A modification of the structure shown in the embodiment of is, in particular, that a layer 4 of a transparent conductive material such as ITO is first arranged or formed on a corresponding substrate element 2, on which a corresponding contact layer 3 is arranged or formed in addition to the corresponding electrochromic material layer 5, 7.

[0049] In all embodiments, the electrochromic device 1 is intended for use in a remote optical device 9, such as a binocular (monocular or binocular), a telescopic sight, a night vision device, etc., and therefore represents a component that can be structurally integrated into a corresponding remote optical device 9 (see Figure 5 In particular, the electrochromic device 1 is a component that can be structurally integrated into an optical channel 13 that extends within the optical tube 10 of the corresponding remote optical device 9 between the objective lens 11nm and the eyepiece 12 (see Figure 5 ).

[0050] If combined with Figure 1 , Figure 2 As indicated in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrochromic device 1 comprises a corresponding contact layer 3 made of an electrically conductive material for making electrical contact with one or more electrochromic elements, which are usually present as a layer made of an electrochromic material or in the form of a coating 5, 7, i.e. in particular for applying a voltage or a current. A special feature of the electrochromic device 1 described here is the configuration of the contact layer 3, which will be referred to below. Figure 3 and Figure 4 To explain in more detail:

[0051] Figure 3 An exemplary top view of the upper or lower side of the substrate element 2 of the electrochromic device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, whereby, in combination with Figure 3 The following explanation of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be applied analogously to all substrate elements 2 of the electrochromic device 1 .

[0052] The substrate element 2 is composed of a substrate element body 14, which in the exemplary embodiment has an exemplary disk-shaped or circular basic shape. In principle, the substrate element body 14 has a basic shape that can be integrated into the optical tube 10 of the remote optical device 9; therefore, the shape of the substrate element body 14 determines the geometrical construction parameters, such as the dimensions, in order to be integrated as desired, depending on the installation space available in the remote optical device 9, i.e., in particular in the optical tube 10.

[0053] As described above, the contact layer 3 formed of an electrically conductive material, for example a metal, in particular a noble metal such as gold, or a semi-noble metal such as copper, is arranged or formed on the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body 14 forming the main extension plane of the substrate element 2. The contact layer 3 is usually applied to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body 14 by a chemical and / or physical application method, in particular a chemical and / or physical deposition process, further in particular a chemical and / or physical vapor deposition process. The layer thickness of the contact layer 3 can, for example, be in the range between 10 nm and 500 nm, in particular in the range between 10 nm and 450 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 400 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 350 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 300 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 250 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 200 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 150 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 100 nm, further particularly in the range between 10 nm and 50 nm.

[0054] Obviously, the contact layer 3 extends in an annular or ring-shaped manner, i.e. in particular in a ring segment or ring-shaped manner, around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14 having a disk-shaped or circular basic shape. The contact layer 3 is thus configured as a conductive layer which at least partially surrounds or extends along the edge of the substrate element body 14. Figure 3 In the exemplary embodiment, the contact layer 3 is shown as a continuous layer; in principle, a quasi-continuous or discontinuous contact layer 3 is also conceivable; therefore, the contact layer 3 can generally be a continuous, quasi-continuous or discontinuous conductive layer extending around the edge of the substrate element body 14 or along the edge.

[0055] The substrate element body 14 is therefore not provided with a contact layer 3 over the entire surface in the region of its upper or lower side, but only in a portion of the upper or lower side extending around the edge. This produces advantages not only in terms of reliable electrical contact of the electrochromic device 1 with a power supply, such as a battery integrated in a remote optical device, but also in terms of applying voltages to the electrochromic elements, which occurs at least temporarily during operation of the electrochromic device 1, since these elements are contacted in a ring-shaped or annular manner, which leads to surprisingly rapid and uniform changes in the optical properties of the electrochromic device 1, namely in particular the transmittance, in particular compared to contact at only one point. In addition, there are advantages in terms of production technology, for example, since the substrate element 2 does not have to be provided with a contact layer 3 over its entire surface in the region of the upper or lower side of the substrate element body, but only around the edge.

[0056] As described above, the contact layer 3 extends in an annular or ring-shaped manner, i.e., in particular in an annular or ring-shaped manner, i.e., has an annular or ring-shaped or ring-segment-shaped or ring-shaped basic shape, at least in a portion around the edge of the substrate element body 14 or along the edge. Figure 3 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the contact layer 3 extends at least 50% of the edge circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14. The more completely the contact layer 3 extends around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14, the faster or more uniformly the change in the optical properties of the electrochromic device 1, i.e., in particular the transmittance, can occur.

[0057] Figure 3 It is also shown that there may be a defined free space 15 between the contact layer 3 and the edge of the substrate element body 14, at least in the portion in which the contact layer 3 does not extend. Thus, the contact layer 3 does not have to extend completely to the edge of the substrate element body 14 in terms of its radial extension (relative to the axis of symmetry or center axis A1 of the substrate element body 14), at least in some portions, but there may be a defined distance between the periphery of the contact layer 3 and the actual edge of the upper or lower side of the substrate element body 14, for example 0.5 mm.

[0058] Figure 2 It is also shown that the contact layer 3 may comprise a contact portion 16 which may be contacted by an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a litz wire, a cable or the like, which may be connected to a voltage or power supply.

[0059] Figure 3A contact portion 16 is also shown, which, for example in order to ensure reliable contact with a corresponding electrical contact element, has different dimensions than other areas of the contact layer 3 with respect to its radial extension in the direction of the edge of the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body 14. The contact portion 16 can thus be formed by or represent a radial extension of the contact layer 3 (compared to other areas of the contact layer 3), which extends circumferentially around a certain area of ​​the edge of the substrate element body, i.e. for example around or along at least 10% of the edge of the substrate element body 14. The contact portion 16 can be applied directly to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body 14; therefore, in the area of ​​the contact portion 16, a corresponding transparent conductive layer or coating does not have to be present.

[0060] Figure 3 It is further shown that the edge of the substrate element body 14 may have a flat portion 17. In particular, the flat portion 17 may be defined by a straight line L or a corresponding secant S, which extends through two points P1, P2 on the edge of the substrate element body 14, which forms the periphery of the substrate element body. The shape of the substrate element body 14 does not therefore need to be a complete disk, because the edge of the substrate element body 14 may have a corresponding flat portion 17. The flat portion 17 may also simplify the structure of the electrochromic device integrated into the remote optical device 9, for example, the flat portion 17 may be used to fix the electrochromic device 1 to prevent it from rotating in the optical lens barrel 10 of the remote optical device 9.

[0061] Similarly, if combined with Figure 4 It can further be seen from the exemplary embodiment that the flat portion 17 can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic device 1 when a special electrical contact option of the electrochromic device 1 with the power supply can be realized in this way. Figure 3 This applies in particular if the contact portion 16 is arranged or formed opposite the flat portion 17, as shown. The contact portion 16 and the flat portion 17 can therefore be arranged or formed offset (substantially) by 180° in the circumferential direction relative to the disk-shaped or circular basic shape of the substrate element body 14. Figure 3 In the top view of the upper or lower side of the substrate element body 14 shown, the contact portion 16 is therefore arranged or formed at the top and the flat portion 17 is arranged or formed oppositely at the bottom.

[0062] Based on Figure 41 , it can be seen that the electrochromic device 1 has two correspondingly configured substrate elements 2, each substrate element having a substrate element body 14 with a corresponding flat portion 17 and a contact portion 16 arranged or formed opposite to the flat portion 17. The substrate element bodies 14 of both the first substrate element 2 and the second substrate element 2 are arranged one above the other, and their contact layers 3 face each other, but cannot electrically contact each other to avoid short circuits. The corresponding contact layers 3 can be located on top of each other in such a way that they can complement each other to form a closed loop; therefore, the substrate element bodies 14 arranged or formed on the first substrate element 2 (for example, Figure 4 The contact layer 3 on the substrate element body 14 of the upper substrate element in the embodiment of the present invention may (also) be formed on the second substrate element 2 (e.g., Figure 4 The first electrical contact element extends in the circumferential direction in the area where the contact layer 3 does not extend on the substrate element body 14 of the lower substrate element in the embodiment of the present invention. Obviously, the overlapping arrangement of the substrate elements 2 is also selected in such a way that their corresponding contact portions 16 are at least partially exposed, so that the electrochromic device 1 can be contacted with the power supply via the contact portion 16 of the first substrate element 2 and via the contact portion 16 of the second substrate element 2. The first electrical contact element can connect the first substrate element 2 (for example, Figure 4 The contact portion 16 of the contact layer 3 of the upper substrate element in the embodiment of the present invention is connected to the power supply, and the second electrical contact element can connect the second substrate element 2 (for example, Figure 4 The contact portion 16 of the contact layer 3 of the lower substrate element in the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a power supply.

[0063] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a remote optical device 9 according to one embodiment is shown in side view. An optical tube 10 is shown purely schematically and comprises an objective 11 nm with one or more objective lenses (not shown) and an eyepiece 12 with one or more eyepieces (not shown).

[0064] Obviously, the electrochromic device 1 is structurally integrated in the optical channel or optical lens barrel 10 of the remote optical device 9, which extends between the objective lens 11nm and the eyepiece 11; therefore, the electrochromic device 1 can be arranged or formed in the optical channel or optical lens barrel 10 of the remote optical device 9.

[0065] The remote optical device 9 may comprise an optical output device 18, for example in the form of a display, for outputting optical information. The optical information (i.e., for example, alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos, etc.) that can be output via the optical output device 18 can be coupled into the optical channel of the remote optical device via a coupling device, which is for example formed by a prismatic device comprising one or more prisms, or via a foil device (not shown in each case), or comprises such a device. The electrochromic device 1 can be directly or indirectly associated with the optical output device 18, so that, for example, the brightness and / or contrast of the optical information that can be output via the optical output device 18 can be selectively changed via the electrochromic device 1.

[0066] Figure 5 Reference numeral 19 in the figure also denotes a power supply, for example in the form of a battery, which is integrated into the remote optical device 9. Via the power supply 19, a voltage can be automatically applied to the electrochromic device 1 by means of an associated hardware and / or software control device (not shown) or by means of an associated actuation device (not shown) on the user side, which results in a corresponding transmittance change.

[0067] Finally, a method for manufacturing an electrochromic device 1 of a remote optical apparatus 9 as shown in the figures is described.

[0068] The method comprises at least the following steps, which may be performed more than once: a) providing at least one substrate element 2, for example a substrate element body 14 having a disc-like or disc-shaped basic shape; b) applying a contact layer 3 made of a conductive material and extending at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body 14 to the upper side or lower side of the substrate element body 14 by a chemical and / or physical application method; c) arranging or forming at least one conductive element on the substrate element body 14 to form a conductive layer or coating 4; d) arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element formed of or including an electrochromic material on the substrate element body 14. In particular, steps b) and c) may be interchanged, so that the conductive layer or coating (which may be, for example, an ITO layer as described above) may be arranged or formed first on the substrate element body, followed by the contact layer.

[0069] As part of this method, substrate elements 2 having a configuration with corresponding contact portions 16 and flat portions 17 arranged opposite thereto can be arranged one above the other, such as in combination with Figure 3 , Figure 4 In order to ensure that the respective contact layers 3, 4 are not in electrical contact with each other, the above-mentioned spacing element 8 may be provided.

[0070] The method may further comprise the step of contacting the respective exposed contact portions 16 with a power supply. To this end, the respective contact portions 16 may each be contacted with a power supply via an electrical contact element such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable or the like.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device (1) for a remote optical device (9), comprising at least one electrochromic element, the at least one electrochromic element being formed by or comprising an electrochromic material arranged or formed between two conductive elements, characterized in that: At least one substrate element (2) having a substrate element body (14) having a disk-like or disk-shaped basic shape, wherein a contact layer (3) made of an electrically conductive material extends at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body (14) and is applied to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body (14) by a chemical application method and / or a physical application method.

2. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, wherein: The substrate element body (14) has a disc-like or circular basic shape.

3. The electrochromic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The contact layer (3) has the shape of a ring or a ring segment.

4. An electrochromic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The contact layer (3) is at least partially arranged or formed at a distance from the edge of the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body (14).

5. An electrochromic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The contact layer (3) comprises a contact portion (16) which can be contacted by an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a stranded wire or a cable.

6. The electrochromic device according to claim 5, wherein: The contact portion (16) is arranged or formed to an edge of an upper side or a lower side of the substrate element body (14).

7. An electrochromic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The edge of the substrate element body (14) includes at least one defined flat portion (17).

8. The electrochromic device according to claim 7, wherein: The at least one flat portion (17) is defined by a line (L) extending through at least two points (P1, P2) on the edge of the substrate element body (14) forming the periphery of the substrate element body (14), and is further particularly defined by a secant line extending through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body (14) forming the periphery of the substrate element body.

9. The electrochromic device according to claims 6 to 8, wherein: The contact portion (16) is arranged or formed opposite to the flat portion (17).

10. The electrochromic device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising a first substrate element and a second substrate element (2), wherein an edge of a substrate element body (14) of the first substrate element (2) comprises at least one corresponding flat portion (17) and comprises a contact portion (16) arranged or formed opposite to the flat portion (17), and The edge of the substrate element body (14) of the second substrate element (2) includes at least one corresponding flat portion (17) and includes a contact portion (16) arranged or formed opposite to the corresponding flat portion (17), wherein The first substrate element substrate element body (14) and the substrate element body (14) of the second substrate element (2) are arranged one above the other, wherein their respective contact layers (3) are not in electrical contact with each other and wherein the respective electrical contact portions (16) are at least partially exposed.

11. The electrochromic device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a spacing element (8) which is arranged or formed on the electrochromic element and is made of an electrically insulating material, wherein the spacing element can have a ring-like basic shape.

12. A long-range optical device (9), in particular a binocular or a telescopic sight, comprising at least one electrochromic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. A method of manufacturing an electrochromic device (1) for use in a remote optical device (9), comprising at least the following steps: a) providing at least one substrate element (2) having a substrate element body (14) having a disk-like or disk-shaped basic shape; b) applying a contact layer (3) to the upper side or the lower side of the substrate element body (14) by a chemical application method and / or a physical application method, wherein the contact layer (3) is made of an electrically conductive material and extends at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body (14); c) arranging or forming at least one conductive element, in particular a transparent conductive element, on the substrate element body (14); d) Arranging or forming an electrochromic element on the conductive element, wherein the electrochromic element is formed of or includes an electrochromic material.

Images