Electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrochromic arrangement (1) for a long-range optical device (9), comprising at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by or comprising an electrochromic material, and comprising at least one substrate element (2) with a substrate element body (14) with a disc-type or -shaped basic form, wherein a contact layer (3), made of an electrically conductive material, is applied on the upper or underside of the substrate element body (14) via a chemical and / or physical application method, with said contact layer running around at least sections of the edge of the substrate element body (14).

Description

[0001] Electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device

[0002] The invention relates to an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, which electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by an electrochromic material or comprising such a material.

[0003] The integration of corresponding electrochromic arrangements, which comprise at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by an electrochromic material or comprising such a material, into long-range optical devices, such as binoculars, is basically known from the prior art.

[0004] Corresponding electrochromic arrangements are typically used as an assembly integrated into an optical channel of a respective long-range optical device to specifically change the brightness and / or contrast of a field of view, so that a user can use the respective long-range optical device largely glare-free even in special or possibly changing lighting conditions, e.g. in very bright and / or high-contrast lighting conditions.

[0005] The integration of corresponding electrochromic devices into a long-range optical device generally presents a challenge due to the limited available installation space. In particular, a practical and reliable electrical contacting of the electrochromic arrangement, which in turn influences the efficiency of the brightness and / or contrast changes induced by the electrochromic elements, represents a challenge.

[0006] The technical approaches available to date for integrating corresponding electrochromic devices into a long-range optical device therefore require improvement or further development.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device.

[0008] The object is achieved by an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device according to independent claim 1. The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments of the electrochromic arrangement.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, such as binoculars (mono- or binoculars), a riflescope, a night vision device, etc. The electrochromic arrangement thus represents an assembly that can be structurally integrated into a corresponding long-range optical device. In particular, the electrochromic arrangement represents an assembly that can be structurally integrated into an optical channel of a long-range optical device, in particular an optical channel extending within an optical tube of a corresponding long-range optical device between an objective lens and an eyepiece.

[0010] The electrochromic arrangement generally comprises at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements - this can form an electrode of the electrochromic arrangement - which is formed by an electrochromic material or at least comprises such a material.

[0011] Corresponding electrically conductive elements can be formed by or comprise electrically conductive layers or coatings, i.e., in particular, transparent, electrically conductive layers or coatings. In particular, corresponding electrically conductive elements can be formed as transparent, electrically conductive layers or coatings on transparent substrate elements, e.g., made of glass or (transparent) plastic, or can comprise such layers or coatings. Thus, corresponding electrically conductive elements can be applied to a substrate element as an at least partially, optionally completely, electrically conductive layer or coating.

[0012] A corresponding electrically conductive layer or coating of the electrochromic arrangement can, for example, be a coating formed from or comprising at least one transparent conductive oxide. Specifically, a corresponding electrically conductive layer or coating can, for example, be a coating formed from indium tin oxide (ITO)—as an example of a transparent conductive oxide—or comprising ITO, in short, an ITO coating. Transparent conductive oxides, such as ITO, are typically characterized by a comparatively high electrical conductivity (typically 10 4 S / cm) and a high optical transmission (> 90% at a layer thickness of 100 nm) in the visible wavelength range and are therefore particularly suitable for the formation of corresponding electrically conductive coatings of the electrochromic arrangement described herein.

[0013] A corresponding electrochromic element of the electrochromic arrangement can, for example, be or at least comprise a layer or coating which is formed from or comprises at least one electrochromic material. An electrochromic material can, for example, undergo a change in its transmission when an electrical voltage or an electrical current is applied, e.g. through an increase or decrease in its color or color intensity. A corresponding electrochromic material can therefore, for example, be regarded as an electrically switchable electrochromic material. Specifically, an electrochromic material can, for example, be a redox-active material, i.e. in particular a redox-active compound, or at least comprise one such material which undergoes a change in its transmission during a redox process, such as a transition from an oxidized to a reduced state (and vice versa).A corresponding redox-active material can be a metal complex compound, e.g., based on tungsten oxide (WO3), or comprise one that undergoes a change in its transmission during a redox process, such as a transition from the oxidized to the reduced state (and vice versa). Alternatively or additionally, metallo-supramolecular polyelectrolytes ((FE-)MEPE), for example, can be considered as electrochromic materials. In all cases, a respective electrochromic material can be embedded in an embedding material.

[0014] If the electrochromic arrangement comprises a plurality of corresponding electrochromic elements, at least one layer or coating made of an electrolyte material, in particular a liquid or gel-like electrolyte material, e.g. based on a metal salt, can be arranged or formed between these electrochromic elements.

[0015] For electrically contacting the at least one electrochromic element, i.e., in particular, for applying an electrical voltage or an electrical current to the at least one electrochromic element, the electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one contact layer made of an electrically conductive material. A special feature of the electrochromic arrangement described herein is the configuration of the at least one contact layer, which is explained in more detail below:

[0016] As mentioned, the electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one substrate element formed, for example, from glass or a (transparent) plastic. Although the particular configuration of the at least one contact layer of the electrochromic arrangement used for electrical contacting is described below in particular in connection with a substrate element, the following statements apply analogously to each substrate element and each contact layer of the electrochromic arrangement. The electrochromic arrangement generally comprises at least two substrate elements and two corresponding contact layers, which typically have at least a similar, in particular an identical, configuration.

[0017] The at least one substrate element consists of a substrate element body. The substrate element body has a basic shape that can be integrated into an optical tube of a long-range optical device. Thus, shape-determining geometric and structural parameters of the substrate element body, such as dimensions, are typically selected with regard to the installation space available in a long-range optical device for proper integration.

[0018] Since the electrochromic arrangement can typically be arranged or is to be arranged within an optical tube of a long-range optical device, the geometric-structural parameters of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element are typically selected with regard to the installation space available in an optical tube. In this respect, substrate element bodies with a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape are particularly suitable. The substrate element body, which is typically formed from a transparent material such as glass or plastic, is therefore typically configured in a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped manner. However, other configurations are also conceivable in principle, such as disk-like or circular disk-shaped substrate element bodies with a polygonal, i.e., a triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, nonagonal, decagonal, eleven-sided, or dodecagonal basic shape.

[0019] The substrate element body of the at least one substrate element is in all cases disk-like or disk-shaped and therefore has a top and a bottom side, which individually or jointly define a main extension plane of the substrate element body. In addition to the above-mentioned electrically conductive layer or coating, the contact layer made of an electrically conductive material, such as a metal, in particular a precious metal such as gold, or a semi-precious metal such as copper, is arranged or formed on the top or bottom side of the substrate element body. The contact layer is typically deposited by a chemical and / or physical application method, in particular a chemical and / or physical deposition method, further in particular a chemical and / or physical vapor deposition method.applied to the top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. The layer thickness of the contact layer can be in a range between 1 nm or 10 nm and 1000 nm, in particular in a range between 1 nm and 950 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 850 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 800 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 750 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 700 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 650 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 600 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 550 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 500 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 450 nm,further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 400 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 350 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 300 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 250 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 200 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 150 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 100 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 50 nm. Instead of 1 nm, 2 nm, 3 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm, 6 nm, 7 nm, 8 nm, 9 nm, or 10 nm could also be used as the respective lower limit. In principle, all of the aforementioned values ​​can also be used individually or as respective upper or lower limits of a layer thickness interval.

[0020] The contact layer can be applied directly or indirectly to the top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. In the first alternative, a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating is additionally arranged or formed on the top or bottom side of the substrate element body; the transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating can in particular be arranged or formed in regions on the top or bottom side of the substrate element body in which the contact layer does not extend. In the second alternative, a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating is arranged or formed on the top or bottom side of the substrate element body, in particular over the entire area, and the contact layer is arranged or formed at least in sections on the transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating.

[0021] The contact layer extends in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e. in particular in a ring-segment-like or ring-shaped manner, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, which, as mentioned, has, for example, a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape. The contact layer is thus designed as an electrically conductive layer that extends at least in sections, optionally completely, around the edge 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 an electrically conductive layer that extends continuously, quasi-continuously, or discontinuously around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body.

[0022] The substrate element body is therefore not provided with the contact layer over its entire surface in the region of its top or bottom side, but only in a partial section of the top or bottom side running around the edge. This not only results in advantages with regard to reliable electrical contacting of the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical voltage supply, such as a battery integrated into a long-range optical device, but also with regard to the at least temporary application of an electrical voltage to the at least one electrochromic element during operation of the electrochromic arrangement, as this can be contacted in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner all around. This surprisingly leads to a particularly rapid and uniform change in the optical properties, i.e. in particular the transmission, of the electrochromic arrangement, in particular in contrast to merely point-like contacting.The described arrangement or design of the electrically conductive layer also enables a change in brightness or contrast largely circumferentially from "outside to inside" and eliminates phenomena known from the prior art, such as coloration similar to a stage curtain. Furthermore, manufacturing advantages are provided, for example, in that at least one substrate element in the area of ​​the top or bottom of the substrate element body does not have to be provided with a contact layer over its entire surface, but only in the area of ​​the edge.

[0023] Overall, this provides an improved electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device. As mentioned, the contact layer extends in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, in particular in a ring-segment-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e., with a ring-like or ring-shaped basic shape, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, which, as mentioned, typically has a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape.

[0024] The contact layer can extend by at least 25%, in particular by at least 30%, further in particular by at least 35%, further in particular by at least 40%, further in particular by at least 45%, further in particular by at least 50%, further in particular by at least 55%, further in particular by at least 60%, further in particular by at least 65%, further in particular by at least 70%, further in particular by at least 75%, further in particular by at least 80%, further in particular by at least 85%, further in particular by at least 90%, further in particular by at least 95%, optionally even by 100% of the edge, circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body (the above-mentioned values ​​can also be regarded as upper or lower limits of intervals). The more completely the contact layer extends around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body, the faster orA more uniform change in the optical properties, ie, in particular the transmission, of the electrochromic arrangement can be achieved. 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.

[0025] At this point, conceivable values ​​for the width of a correspondingly ring-(segment)-like or -(segment)-shaped contact layer are also given as examples; the width of the contact layer can therefore, for example, B. 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 upper or lower limits of intervals).

[0026] Between the contact layer and the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, a defined free space can be present, at least in sections, 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 in terms of its radial extent (with respect to a symmetry or central axis of the substrate element body), at least in sections, but there can be a defined distance between the outer circumference of the contact layer, which, as mentioned, is particularly ring-(segment-)like or -(segment-)shaped, and the actual edge of the upper or lower side of the substrate element body. The contact layer can therefore be spaced at least in sections at a defined distance, e.g. of 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-mentioned values ​​can also be referred to as upper or lower values).The contact layer can be arranged or formed at a distance (which are considered lower limits of intervals) from the edge of the upper or lower side of the substrate element body. In this way, for example, the material used to form the contact layer and, associated with it, the time required to apply the contact layer to the upper or lower side of the substrate element body can be reduced.

[0027] As mentioned, the contact layer serves in particular to contact the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical voltage supply, i.e., generally with an electrical power supply. The contact layer can therefore comprise a contact section of the electrochromic arrangement that can be contacted by an electrical contact element that can be connected to or is connected to the electrical voltage or power supply, such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable, etc.

[0028] A corresponding contact section can, for example, in order to ensure reliable contact with a corresponding electrical contact element, have different dimensions than the remaining regions of the contact layer, particularly with regard to its radial extension in the direction of the edge of the top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. The contact section can thus be formed by a radial extension of the contact layer (compared to the remaining regions of the contact layer) or can represent one which extends in the circumferential direction around a specific region of the edge of the substrate element body, i.e., for example,by at least 5%, in particular by at least 10%, further in particular by at least 15%, further in particular by at least 20%, further in particular by at least 25%, further in particular by at least 30%, further in particular by at least 35%, further in particular by at least 40%, further in particular by at least 45%, further in particular by at least 50%, extending circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body. In the region of a corresponding contact section, there is typically no corresponding electrically conductive layer or coating; thus, the contact section can be applied directly to the top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.

[0029] With a view to a simple and stable structural integration of the electrochromic arrangement into a long-range optical device, i.e. in particular into a corresponding optical tube of a long-range optical device, the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element can have at least one flattened portion. A corresponding flattened portion can be defined in particular by a line or straight line running through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body. Further in particular, a corresponding flattened portion can be defined by a secant running through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body.The shape of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element therefore does not have to represent a completely circular disk, since the edge of the substrate element body can have at least one corresponding flattened portion. A corresponding flattening of the substrate element body can equally simplify the structural integration of the electrochromic arrangement into a long-range optical arrangement, for example, as the flattening can be used to secure the electrochromic arrangement against rotation in an optical tube of the long-range optical arrangement.

[0030] Likewise, a corresponding flattened portion can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic arrangement, as will become apparent below, in this way a special electrical contacting option of the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical voltage supply can be realized. This applies in particular when the contact section is arranged or formed opposite the flattened portion of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. The contact section and the flattened portion can thus be arranged or formed offset (essentially) by 180° in the circumferential direction with respect to the, as mentioned, in particular circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element. In a plan view of the corresponding top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, the contact section can thus, for example,above and the flattening opposite below is arranged or formed.

[0031] In a particularly compact arrangement, which is suitable for contacting the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical power supply, the electrochromic arrangement comprises two substrate elements, each having a substrate element body with a corresponding flattened portion and an electrical contact section arranged or formed opposite the flattened portion. The substrate element bodies of the first substrate element and the second substrate element are arranged one above the other, with their contact layers facing each other but unable to make electrical contact with each other to avoid short circuits.The respective contact layers can be arranged one above the other in such a way that they complement each other to form a closed ring; thus, the contact layer arranged or formed on the substrate element body of a first substrate element can extend in the circumferential direction (also) in a region in which no contact layer extends on the substrate element body of a second substrate element. Typically, the superimposed arrangement of the substrate elements is also selected such that their respective contact sections are exposed at least in sections, so that the electrochromic arrangement can be contacted with the electrical voltage supply via both the contact section of the first substrate element and the contact section of the second substrate element.In this case, a first electrical contact element can connect the contact section of the contact layer of a first substrate element to the electrical voltage supply and a second electrical contact element can connect the contact section of the contact layer of a second substrate element to the electrical voltage supply.

[0032] For all embodiments, the at least one electrochromic element, which, as mentioned above, can be a layer or coating made of an electrochromic material, can also be arranged or formed on the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, wherein it covers the contact layer and the layer or coating made of the electrically conductive material, which may also be arranged or formed on the respective top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, at least in sections, in particular completely.

[0033] Furthermore, for all embodiments, the electrochromic arrangement can also comprise at least one spacer element made of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic, which is arranged or formed at least partially, optionally completely, on the at least one electrochromic element. The spacer element can have a ring-like or ring-shaped basic shape. The external dimensions of a spacer element having a corresponding ring-like or ring-shaped basic shape can correspond to the external dimensions of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, such that the spacer element rests flush on the substrate element body. The likewise mentioned layer or coating made of an electrolyte material can be arranged or formed within the interior space defined by the ring-like or ring-shaped basic shape of the at least one spacer element.The spacer elements are particularly designed to space or separate the respective contact layers from one another so that they cannot make electrical contact with each other.

[0034] The electrochromic arrangement can - this can be particularly independent of the aspect of flattening the substrate element bodies - basically comprise a plurality of substrate elements or substrate element bodies, which can be arranged stacked one above the other.

[0035] A second aspect of the invention relates to a long-range optical device, in particular binoculars or a riflescope, which comprises at least one electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, so that all statements in connection with the electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention apply analogously to the long-range optical device according to the second aspect of the invention (and vice versa).

[0036] The electrochromic arrangement can thus be structurally integrated into the optical channel or tube of the long-range optical arrangement, which typically extends between an eyepiece and an objective of the long-range optical device; thus, it can be arranged or formed in the optical channel or tube. In particular, the electrochromic arrangement can be arranged in a section of the optical channel or tube extending between an objective and an eyepiece.

[0037] The long-range optical device can comprise an optical output device, e.g. designed as a display, for outputting optical information. The optical information that can be output via the optical output device, i.e. e.g. alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos, etc., can be coupled into the optical channel of the long-range optical device via a coupling device, e.g. formed by a prism arrangement comprising one or more prisms or by a film (arrangement) or comprising such a coupling device. The electrochromic arrangement can be assigned to the optical output device directly or indirectly, so that, e.g. the brightness and / or contrast of the optical information output via the optical output device can be specifically changed via the electrochromic arrangement.

[0038] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, in particular an electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, so that all statements in connection with the electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention apply analogously to the method according to the third aspect of the invention (and vice versa).

[0039] The method comprises at least the following steps, which can optionally be carried out several times: a) Providing at least one substrate element, e.g. with a substrate element body having a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape; b) Applying a contact layer made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper, at least partially surrounding the edge of the substrate element body to the top or bottom side of the substrate element body by a chemical and / or physical application process; c) Arranging or forming at least one electrically conductive element, e.g. made of indium tin oxide (ITO), on the substrate element body to form an electrically conductive layer or coating; d) Arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element formed by or comprising an electrochromic material on the substrate element body.In particular, steps b) and c) can be interchanged, so that it is possible for the electrically conductive layer or coating, which, as mentioned, may be an ITO layer, for example, to be arranged or formed on the substrate element body first, and only then for the contact layer to be arranged or formed.

[0040] Within the scope of the method, it is particularly possible to arrange substrate elements configured as described above, with a corresponding contact section and a flattened portion arranged opposite it, one above the other, in particular such that the respective contact sections are exposed and the respective contact layers are arranged relative to one another, in particular forming a closed ring, but do not electrically contact one another. To ensure that the respective contact layers do not electrically contact one another, the aforementioned spacer elements can be provided between the respective contact layers.

[0041] The method may further comprise a step of contacting respective exposed contact sections with an electrical power supply. For this purpose, the respective contact sections can each be contacted with the electrical power supply via an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable, etc. The invention is explained again below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. In the drawings:

[0042] Fig. 1 , 2 each show a schematic diagram of an electrochromic arrangement according to an embodiment;

[0043] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a substrate element of an electrochromic arrangement according to an embodiment;

[0044] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrochromic arrangement according to an embodiment; and

[0045] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a long-range optical device comprising an electrochromic arrangement according to an embodiment.

[0046] Fig. 1, 2 each show a schematic diagram of an electrochromic arrangement 1 according to an embodiment, on the basis of which possible basic structures of the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be seen by way of example and purely schematically.

[0047] According to the structure illustrated by way of example in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the electrochromic arrangement 1 comprises, 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 an electrically conductive metal, such as copper, is arranged or formed, serving to contact the electrochromic materials mentioned below with an external voltage supply, as well as a transparent, electrically conductive layer 4 made of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as ITO. This is followed by a first layer 5 made of an electrochromic material, which can be referred to as the working electrode, a layer e made of an ion-permeable electrolyte material, e.g. in gel form, and a second layer 7 made of an electrochromic material, which serves as an ion storage layer and can be referred to as the counter electrode.The layer structure is subsequently repeated, as the second layer 7 of an electrochromic material is followed by a contact layer 3 of an electrically conductive metal, such as copper, which serves to connect the aforementioned electrochromic materials to an external voltage supply, as well as a transparent, electrically conductive layer 4 of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as ITO, and a second substrate element 2. Reference numeral 8 represents spacer elements made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic.

[0048] According to the structure shown by way of example in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2, the electrochromic arrangement 1 comprises a change to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1, in particular in that on the respective substrate elements 2, a layer 4 made of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as ITO, is initially arranged or formed, on which layer 4, in addition to the respective layer 5, 7 made of electrochromic material, the respective contact layer 3 is also arranged or formed.

[0049] For all embodiments, the electrochromic arrangement 1 is intended for a long-range optical device 9, such as binoculars (mono- or binoculars), a riflescope, a night vision device, etc., and thus represents a module that can be structurally integrated into a corresponding long-range optical device 9 (see Fig. 5). In particular, the electrochromic arrangement 1 represents a module that can be structurally integrated into an optical channel 13 extending within an optical tube 10 of a corresponding long-range optical device 9 between an objective lens 11 nm and an eyepiece 12 (see Fig. 5).

[0050] As already indicated in connection with the embodiments according to Figs. 1, 2, the electrochromic arrangement 1 comprises corresponding contact layers 3 made of an electrically conductive material for electrically contacting the electrochromic element(s) typically present as a layer or coating 5, 7 made of an electrochromic material, i.e., in particular for applying an electrical voltage or an electrical current. A special feature of the electrochromic arrangement 1 described herein is the configuration of the contact layers 3, which is explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 3 and 4:

[0051] Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, a plan view of the top or bottom side of a substrate element 2 of the electrochromic arrangement 1 according to an embodiment, wherein the following explanations in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 can apply analogously to all substrate elements 2 of the electrochromic arrangement 1.

[0052] The substrate element 2 consists of a substrate element body 14, which in the exemplary embodiment has a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape. In principle, the substrate element body 14 has a basic shape that can be integrated into an optical tube 10 of a long-range optical device 9; thus, shape-determining geometric-constructive parameters, such as dimensions, of the substrate element body 14 are selected with regard to the installation space available in a long-range optical device 9, i.e., in particular, in the optical tube 10, for proper integration.

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

[0054] The contact layer 3 can be seen to extend in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e. in particular in a ring-segment-like or ring-segment-like manner, around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14, which has a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape. The contact layer 3 is thus designed as an electrically conductive layer that extends at least partially around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14. In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 3, the contact layer 3 is shown as a continuous layer; quasi-continuous or discontinuous contact layers 3 are also conceivable in principle; thus, the contact layer 3 can generally be an electrically conductive layer that extends continuously, quasi-continuously, or discontinuously around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14.

[0055] The substrate element body 14 is therefore not provided with the contact layer 3 over its entire surface in the region of its top or bottom side, but only in a partial section of the top or bottom side running around the edge. This not only results in advantages with regard to reliable electrical contacting of the electrochromic arrangement 1 with an electrical voltage supply, such as a battery integrated into a long-range optical device, but also with regard to the at least temporary application of an electrical voltage to the electrochromic elements during operation of the electrochromic arrangement 1, as these can be contacted in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, which - particularly in contrast to only point-like contact - surprisingly leads to a particularly rapid and uniform change in the optical properties, i.e. in particular the transmission, of the electrochromic arrangement 1. Furthermore, e.g.manufacturing advantages are given, as the substrate element 2 does not have to be provided with a contact layer 3 over its entire surface in the area of ​​the top or bottom of the substrate element body, but only in the area of ​​the edge.

[0056] As mentioned, the contact layer 3 extends in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e. in particular in a ring-segment-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e. with a ring-like or ring-shaped or a ring-segment-like or ring-shaped basic shape, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the contact layer 3 extends around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14 by at least 50% of the edge. The more completely the contact layer 3 extends around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14, the faster and more uniformly a change in the optical properties, i.e. in particular the transmission, of the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be brought about.

[0057] From Fig. 3, it is further apparent that, at least in sections, a defined free space 15 can be present between the contact layer 3 and the edge of the substrate element body 14, in which the contact layer 3 does not extend. Therefore, the contact layer 3, with respect to its radial extent (relative to a symmetry or central axis A1 of the substrate element body 14), does not have to extend completely to the edge of the substrate element body 14, at least in sections, but rather a defined distance, e.g., of 0.5 mm, can be present between the outer circumference of the contact layer 3 and the actual edge of the top or bottom side of the substrate element body 14.

[0058] From Fig. 2 it is further apparent that the contact layer 3 can comprise a contact section 16 which can be contacted by an electrical contact element which can be connected to or is connected to the electrical voltage or energy supply, such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable, etc.

[0059] Fig. 3 also shows that the contact section 16, for example in order to ensure reliable contact with a corresponding electrical contact element, has different dimensions than the other regions of the contact layer 3 with regard to its radial extension in the direction of the edge of the top or bottom side of the substrate element body 14. The contact section 16 can therefore be formed by a radial extension of the contact layer 3 (in comparison to the other regions of the contact layer 3) or can represent such an extension which extends in the circumferential direction around a certain region of the edge of the substrate element body, e.g. by at least 10%, circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14. The contact section 16 can be applied directly to the top or bottom side of the substrate element body 14; accordingly, there does not have to be a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer orcoating.

[0060] Fig. 3 further shows that the edge of the substrate element body 14 can have a flattened portion 17. The flattened portion 17 can be defined in particular by a straight line L running through two points P1, P2 on the edge of the substrate element body 14 forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body 14 or a corresponding secant S. The shape of the substrate element body 14 therefore does not have to represent a complete circular disk, since the edge of the substrate element body 14 can have a corresponding flattened portion 17. The flattened portion 17 can equally simplify the structural integration of the electrochromic arrangement into a long-range optical arrangement 9, for example as the flattened portion 17 can be used to secure the electrochromic arrangement 1 against rotation in an optical tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9.Likewise, the flattened portion 17 can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic arrangement 1, as will become apparent below in connection with the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 4, in this way a special electrical contacting option between the electrochromic arrangement 1 and an electrical voltage supply can be realized. This applies in particular if, as shown in Fig. 3, the contact section 16 is arranged or formed opposite the flattened portion 17. The contact section 16 and the flattened portion 17 can thus be arranged or formed offset (essentially) by 180° in the circumferential direction with respect to the circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape of the substrate element body 14. In the plan view of the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14 shown in Fig. 3, the contact section 16 is thus arranged or formed at the top and the flattened portion 17 is arranged or formed opposite it at the bottom.

[0061] Based on the embodiment according to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the electrochromic arrangement 1 has two correspondingly configured substrate elements 2, each having a substrate element body 14 with a corresponding flattened area 17 and a contact section 16 arranged or formed opposite the flattened area 17. The substrate element bodies 14 of the first substrate element 2 and the second substrate element 2 are arranged one above the other, with their contact layers 3 facing one another, but cannot make electrical contact with one another to avoid short circuits. The respective contact layers 3 can lie one above the other in such a way that they can complement one another to form a closed ring; thus, the contact layer 16 arranged on the substrate element body 14 of a first substrate element 2 (e.g., the contact layer 16 shown in Fig.4 upper substrate element) may (also) extend in the circumferential direction in an area in which no contact layer 3 extends on the substrate element body 14 of a second substrate element 2 (e.g. the lower substrate element in Fig. 4). It can be seen that the superimposed arrangement of the substrate elements 2 is also selected such that their respective contact sections 16 are exposed at least in sections, so that the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be contacted with the electrical voltage supply both via the contact section 16 of the first substrate element 2 and via the contact section 16 of the second substrate element 2. A first electrical contact element may contact the contact section 16 of the contact layer 3 of a first substrate element 2 (e.g. the lower substrate element in Fig.4 upper substrate element) to the electrical voltage supply and a second electrical contact element connects the contact section 16 of the contact layer 3 of a second substrate element 2 (e.g. the lower substrate element in Fig. 4) to the electrical voltage supply.

[0062] Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a long-range optical device 9 according to an exemplary embodiment in a side view. Shown purely schematically is an optical tube 10 comprising an objective lens 11 nm arranged between one or more objective lenses (not shown) and an eyepiece 12 comprising one or more eyepiece lenses (not shown). It can be seen that the electrochromic arrangement 1 is structurally integrated into the optical channel or tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9, which extends between the objective lens 11 nm and the eyepiece 11; thus, the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be arranged or formed in the optical channel or tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9.

[0063] The long-range optical device 9 can comprise an optical output device 18, e.g., designed as a display, for outputting optical information. The optical information that can be output via the optical output device 18, i.e., e.g., alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos, etc., can be coupled into the optical channel of the long-range optical device via a coupling device, e.g., formed by a prism arrangement comprising one or more prisms or via a film arrangement (neither shown) or comprising such a coupling device. The electrochromic arrangement 1 can be assigned directly or indirectly to the optical output device 18, so that, e.g., the brightness and / or contrast of the optical information that can be output via the optical output device 18 can be specifically changed via the electrochromic arrangement 1.

[0064] Reference numeral 19 in Fig. 5 also indicates an electrical power supply, e.g., in the form of a battery, integrated into the long-range optical device 9. Via the electrical power supply 19, voltages can be applied to the electrochromic arrangement 1 by the user in an automated manner by means of an associated hardware and / or software-implemented control device (not shown) or by means of an associated actuation device (not shown), which leads to a corresponding change in the transmission.

[0065] Finally, a method for producing an electrochromic arrangement 1 for a long-range optical device 9 as shown by way of example in the figures will be explained.

[0066] The method comprises at least the following steps, which may be performed multiple times if necessary: ​​a) Providing at least one substrate element 2, e.g., with a substrate element body 14 having a circular disk-like or circular disk-shaped basic shape; b) Applying a contact layer 3 made of an electrically conductive material, which extends at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body 14, to the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14 by a chemical and / or physical application process; c) Arranging or forming at least one electrically conductive element on the substrate element body 14 to form an electrically conductive layer or coating 4; d) Arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element formed by or comprising an electrochromic material on the substrate element body 14.In particular, steps b) and c) can be interchanged, so that it is possible for the electrically conductive layer or coating, which, as mentioned, can be an ITO layer, for example, to be arranged or formed on the substrate element body 14 first, and only then for the contact layer 3 to be arranged or formed. Within the scope of the method, it is possible to arrange substrate elements 2 configured as described in connection with Figs. 3, 4, with a corresponding contact section 16 and a flattened portion 17 arranged opposite it, one above the other, in particular such that respective contact sections 16 are exposed and the respective contact layers 3 are arranged relative to one another, in particular forming a closed ring, but do not electrically contact one another. To ensure that the respective contact layers 3, 4 do not electrically contact one another, the aforementioned spacer elements 8 can be provided.

[0067] The method may further comprise a step of contacting respective exposed contact sections 16 with an electrical power supply. For this purpose, the respective contact sections 16 may each be contacted with the electrical power supply via an electrical contact element, such as a wire, a stranded wire, a cable, etc.

Claims

PATE N TA NSP RÜ CHE 1. Electrochromic arrangement (1) for a long-range optical device (9), comprising at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by or comprising an electrochromic material, characterized by: at least one substrate element (2) with a substrate element body (14) having a disk-like or disk-shaped basic form, wherein a contact layer (3) made of an electrically conductive material, which extends at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body (14) and is applied by a chemical and / or physical application method, is applied to the upper or lower surface of the substrate element body (14).

2. Electrochromic arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the substrate element body (14) has a disk-like or -shaped basic form.

3. Electrochromic arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact layer (3) has the form of a ring or a ring segment.

4. Electrochromic arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact layer (3) is arranged or formed at least sectionally at a distance from the edge of the upper or lower surface of the substrate element body (14).

5. Electrochromic arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact layer (3) comprises a contact section (16) that can be contacted by an electrical contact element, such as a wire, strand or cable.

6. Electrochromic arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the contact section (16) is arranged or formed up to the edge of the top or bottom of the substrate element body (14).

7. Electrochromic arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge of the substrate element body (14) has at least one defined flattening (17).

8. Electrochromic arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the at least one flattening (17) is defined by a line (L) passing through at least two points (P1, P2) on the edge of the substrate element body (14) forming the outer circumference, and further, in particular, by a secant passing through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body (14) forming the outer circumference.

9. Electrochromic arrangement according to claims 6 to 8, wherein the contact section (16) is arranged or formed opposite the flattening (17).

10. Electrochromic arrangement according to any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising a first and a second substrate element (2), wherein the edge of the substrate element body (14) of the first substrate element (2) has at least one corresponding flattening (17) and has a contact section (16) arranged or formed opposite the flattening (17), and the edge of the substrate element body (14) of the second substrate element (2) has at least one corresponding flattening (17) and has a contact section (16) arranged or formed opposite the flattening (17), wherein the substrate element bodies (14) of the first and the second substrate element (2) are arranged one above the other, wherein their respective contact layers (3) do not electrically contact each other and, wherein respective electrical contact sections (16) are at least partially exposed.

11. Electrochromic arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a spacer element (8) arranged or formed on the electrochromic element made of an electrically insulating material. The spacer element can have a ring-like basic shape.

12. Tele-optical device (9), in particular binoculars or telescopic sight, comprising at least one electrochromic arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. Method for producing an electrochromic arrangement (1) for a long-range optical device (9), comprising at least the steps of: a) providing at least one substrate element (2) with a substrate element body (14) having a disk-like or disk-shaped basic form; b) applying a contact layer (3) made of an electrically conductive material, extending at least partially around the edge of the substrate element body (14), to the top or bottom surface of the substrate element body (14) by a chemical and / or physical application method; c) arranging or forming at least one electrically conductive element, in particular a transparent, electrically conductive element, on the substrate element body (14); d) arranging or forming an electrochromic element formed by or comprising an electrochromic material on the electrically conductive element.

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