Light-adjusting laminate and electronic light-adjusting glasses

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing method of an electronic dimmer with excellent production efficiency.SOLUTION: A manufacturing method of an electronic dimmer (10) capable of achieving a dimming effect by supplying electrical energy to an electronic element (19) overlapping an optical element (30) includes the steps: forming a laminate (20,120) by laminating a pair of electrode layers (22 and 24) and a photochromic layer (23) between the pair of electrode layers ; setting an overlapping area (V) that overlaps with the optical element within the area where the photochromic layer is formed in the laminate; setting two or more terminal areas (T1, T2) continuous outside the overlapping region, one and the other of the pair of electrode layers existing separately: and forming an electronic element by cutting out a part that includes the overlap area and terminal area from the laminate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is a dimming Laminate and electronic photochromic glasses. [Background technology]

[0002] There is an electronic dimming device in which an electronic element is placed on top of an optical element, and the dimming effect is obtained by supplying electrical energy to the electronic element. One example is electronic dimming glasses, which have electronic elements on the surface or inside of eyeglass lenses and change their optical properties (light transmittance, color, etc.) by changing the state of the electronic elements. Known electronic elements used in this type of electronic dimming glasses include electrochromic elements (EC elements) and liquid crystal elements.

[0003] Electrochromic elements utilize the phenomenon (electrochromism) in which reversible optical absorption occurs due to electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions when an electric charge is applied to a substance. Electrochromic elements used in electronic dimming devices generally have a laminated structure in which a pair of electrode layers, one for the positive electrode and one for the negative electrode, are arranged with a dimming layer made of a material that exhibits electrochromism sandwiched between them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5511997 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6624206 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventionally, when incorporating electronic elements such as electrochromic elements into eyeglass lenses, it was necessary to prepare a mask that matched the outer shape of the lens and use this mask to pattern the film formation areas for electrodes, etc. For example, in the case of electrochromic elements, it is common to set the mask pattern so that the dimming area (active area) that changes color when voltage is applied is formed in the center of the lens, and terminal electrodes divided into two, positive and negative electrodes, are formed on the outer edge of the lens.

[0006] The shapes of eyeglass lenses vary depending on user preferences and frame designs. To obtain electronic elements that correspond to these lenses, it is necessary to prepare separate masks for film deposition and change the deposition patterns for electrodes and other components for each lens shape. However, fabricating masks for film deposition requires significant costs and time. Furthermore, switching to a different mask for each lens shape reduces production efficiency. Conversely, if the deposition pattern for the electronic elements is set in advance, the freedom to select lens shapes is hindered.

[0007] Therefore, in the production of electronic photochromic eyeglasses, there is a need to improve productivity by using electronic elements that can easily accommodate a wide variety of lens shapes. This issue is particularly pronounced in electronic photochromic eyeglasses, which have a wide range of lens shape options, but similar issues exist in electronic photochromic devices other than electronic photochromic eyeglasses, as long as the electronic elements need to be customized to match the shape and size of the optical element. Similar issues also exist in electronic photochromic devices that use electronic elements other than electrochromic elements.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a light control device with excellent production efficiency. Laminate The present invention also aims to provide electronic photochromic glasses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a dimming electronic element that obtains a dimming effect by supplying electrical energy to an electronic element that overlaps an optical element. Light-control laminate for forming And, The light-modulating laminate A first electrode layer、 A second electrode layer , the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer Between Placed Photochromic layer And, Stacked hand Configured Re, before The dimming layer has a substantially circular shape in which the outer shape of the optical element can be inscribed at two points in the outer periphery when viewed from the front. ri, front The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each have a substantially circular portion that overlaps with the light control layer in a front view, and an outer diameter portion that is disposed radially outwardly of the circular portion, and the outer diameter portions of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are disposed so as not to overlap with each other in a front view. Right, right An overlapping region is a region having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the optical element, which is positioned so as to be inscribed at two points in the substantially circular outer periphery of the photochromic layer in plan view, and two terminal regions are set on the outer diameter portion of the first electrode layer and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer outside the two points where the outer shape of the optical element is inscribed at two points in the outer periphery of the photochromic layer in front view. can .

[0010] As one form, the outer diameter portion of the first electrode layer and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer For dimming Laminate are located at approximately the same position in the thickness direction.

[0011] For example, the circular portion and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer are Laminate The positions of the circular portion and the outer diameter portion are different in the thickness direction, and the circular portion and the outer diameter portion have connecting portions that connect the outer edge portion of the circular portion and the inner edge portion of the outer diameter portion.

[0013] For example, the dimming Laminate The light-controlling layer may be an electrochromic element in which a reversible change in optical properties occurs due to an oxidation-reduction reaction in the light-controlling layer when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

[0017] For dimming above Laminate is particularly useful in electronic photochromic glasses. For dimming Laminate from the overlapping region and the two terminal areas Cut out formedThe electronic photochromic eyeglasses are configured by comprising a photochromic electronic element, the optical element being a lens, and a frame, and the photochromic lens, on the surface or inside of which the photochromic electronic element is located after being cut out, is held by the frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The present invention Laminate According to this method, electronic elements with electrodes that are compatible with optical elements of a wide variety of shapes can be easily obtained from a single type of laminate, and the production efficiency of electronic dimming devices such as electronic dimming glasses and dimming electronic elements can be significantly improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing electronic light-adjusting glasses, which are one form of an electronic light-adjusting device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of an electrochromic laminate that is the basis of the electrochromic elements that make up the electronic dimming glasses. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the layers of the electrochromic stack separately. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the layers of the electrochromic stack separately. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electrochromic laminate in a laminated state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an electrochromic laminate according to a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view showing an electrode layer of a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] 1 shows electronic photochromic glasses 10, which are one form of an electronic photochromic device to which the present invention is applied. The electronic photochromic glasses 10 have left and right photochromic lenses 11, 12 and a frame 13. The frame 13 has left and right annular rims 14, 15 that hold the photochromic lenses 11, 12, temples 16, 17 extending from the rims 14, 15, and a bridge 18 connecting the rims 14, 15. The left-right direction of the electronic photochromic glasses 10 is defined as the X-axis direction, and the up-down direction is defined as the Y-axis direction.

[0021] As shown in the cross-section of Figure 1, photochromic lenses 11 and 12 are electronic photochromic lenses in which an electrochromic element (EC element) 19, an electronic element for photochromic use, is superimposed on the surface of a lens 30, which is an optical element. The lens 30 has a convex surface on the front side and a concave surface on the back side, and the sheet-like electrochromic element 19 has a curved shape that fits along the convex surface of the lens 30. The power and other properties can be adjusted by shaping the concave surface of the lens 30. Although not shown in Figure 1, a coating layer with a predetermined function (such as ultraviolet and infrared transmission control and lens protection) may be formed on the front side of the electrochromic element 19.

[0022] As a manufacturing method for the photochromic lenses 11, 12, for example, it is possible to manufacture the lens 30 and the electrochromic element 19 separately, pre-form the electrochromic element 19 into a curved shape corresponding to the surface of the lens 30, and then bond the electrochromic element 19 to the lens 30. Alternatively, it is also possible to obtain the photochromic lenses 11, 12 by molding the lens 30 integrally with the electrochromic element 19 during the molding process.

[0023] The electrochromic element 19 contains an electrochromic material that reversibly changes its optical properties through an oxidation-reduction reaction caused by the application of a voltage, and is normally transparent (having the highest transmittance for visible light) when no voltage is applied, but is colored a predetermined color corresponding to the electrochromic material when a voltage is applied, thereby reducing the light transmittance. The configuration of the electrochromic element 19 will be described later.

[0024] The frame 13 is provided with a power supply, a control unit, and an operation unit, all of which are not shown. Furthermore, a conductive unit for supplying power to the electrochromic element 19 of the photochromic lenses 11, 12 is provided inside the frame 13, and the conductive unit is connected to the terminal areas T1, T2 of the electrochromic element 19. When the user operates the operation unit, the control unit controls the flow of electricity to the electrochromic element 19, and the photochromic effect is obtained in the photochromic lenses 11, 12. The control unit may change the photochromic effect (light transmittance) of the photochromic lenses 11, 12 in multiple stages in response to the operation of the operation unit.

[0025] Incidentally, with the electronic photochromic glasses 10, various shapes of photochromic lenses 11, 12 can be selected based on the user's preference and the design of the frame 13. A manufacturing method for efficiently producing electrochromic elements 19 corresponding to photochromic lenses 11, 12 of different shapes will be described below.

[0026] In producing the electrochromic element 19, an electrochromic laminate 20, which is the base of the electrochromic element 19, is formed. Then, a part of the electrochromic laminate 20 is cut out into an arbitrary shape corresponding to the lens 30 of each photochromic lens 11, 12 to obtain the electrochromic element 19 for the photochromic lenses 11, 12. Figures 2, 3, and 6 show the state in which the layers constituting the electrochromic laminate 20 are laminated, and Figures 4 and 5 show each layer of the electrochromic laminate 20 separately.

[0027] The electrochromic laminate 20 is constructed by laminating a first electrode layer 22, an electrochromic layer (light control layer) 23, and a second electrode layer 24 on a substrate 21 made of synthetic resin. The materials and roles of each layer constituting the electrochromic laminate 20 are in accordance with existing electrochromic elements, and will be explained briefly below.

[0028] The first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 are each a transparent conductive film made of a transparent and conductive material. For example, indium tin oxide (ITO), which is indium oxide (In2O3) doped with tin oxide (Sn2O2), is suitable as the material for the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24, but other materials may also be used. The thicknesses of the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 are set to a predetermined value that provides the electrical resistance required for the oxidation-reduction reaction in the electrochromic layer 23.

[0029] The electrochromic layer 23 is a three-layer film consisting of an electrochromic electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a counter electrode layer. For example, a tungsten oxide (WO3) film is suitable for the electrochromic electrode layer, a tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) film is suitable for the solid electrolyte layer, and an iridium oxide (Ir2O2) film or an indium oxide (In2O3) film is suitable for the counter electrode layer, but other materials may also be used.

[0030] The method for forming each of the first electrode layer 22, the second electrode layer 24, and the electrochromic layer 23 can be arbitrarily selected from well-known film-forming methods (such as various coating film-forming methods and vacuum film-forming methods) depending on the material and purpose.

[0031] The substrate 21 in the electrochromic laminate 20 is substantially circular and centered on the deposition center C shown in FIG. 2. The electrochromic layer 23 is substantially circular and centered on the deposition center C, and has an outer shape with an annular outer peripheral portion 23a that surrounds the deposition center C when viewed from the front as in FIGS. 2 and 4. The diameter D2 (FIG. 4) of the electrochromic layer 23 is smaller (is a smaller diameter) than the diameter D1 (FIG. 4) of the substrate 21. A portion of the electrochromic layer 23 near its outer edge forms an extension portion 23b that extends in the thickness direction of the electrochromic laminate 20 and contacts the substrate 21.

[0032] The first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 have shapes symmetrical to each other with respect to a center line that passes through the film-forming center C and extends in the Y-axis direction when viewed from the front of the electrochromic laminate 20 (FIGS. 2 and 4). In other words, the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 have shapes symmetrical to each other with respect to the film-forming center C when viewed from the front. Specifically, the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 each have the shapes described below.

[0033] 4, the first electrode layer 22 has a central circular portion 22a and an outer diameter portion 22b that is disposed radially outward of the central circular portion 22a. The central circular portion 22a is a substantially circular portion centered on the film formation center C, and the diameter D3 (FIG. 4) of the central circular portion 22a is set slightly smaller than the diameter D2 (FIG. 4) of the electrochromic layer 23.

[0034] The outer diameter portion 22b is a part of a circle having a larger diameter than the central circular portion 22a, and more specifically, a part of a circle having the same outer peripheral shape (radius) as the substrate 21. The outer diameter portion 22b is formed in a portion biased toward the left side of the film formation center C in the X-axis direction when viewed from the front of the electrochromic laminate 20.

[0035] The outer shape of the first electrode layer 22 is composed of a semicircular outer peripheral portion 22c in the central circular portion 22a, an arc portion 22d in the outer diameter portion 22b, a pair of linear portions 22e extending in the Y-axis direction from both ends of the arc portion 22d, and a pair of linear portions 22f extending in the X-axis direction from the pair of linear portions 22e and connecting to the semicircular outer peripheral portion 22c. The arc portion 22d has a shape that substantially matches a part of the outer peripheral shape of the substrate 21.

[0036] 4, the second electrode layer 24 has a central circular portion 24a and an outer diameter portion 24b disposed radially outside the central circular portion 24a. The central circular portion 24a is a substantially circular portion centered at the deposition center C, and the diameter D4 (FIG. 4) of the central circular portion 24a is set slightly smaller than the diameter D2 (FIG. 4) of the electrochromic layer 23. The diameter D3 of the central circular portion 22a of the first electrode layer 22 and the diameter D4 of the central circular portion 24a of the second electrode layer 24 are equal in size.

[0037] The outer diameter portion 24b is a part of a circle having a larger diameter than the central circular portion 24a, and more specifically, a part of a circle having the same outer peripheral shape (radius) as the substrate 21. The outer diameter portion 24b is formed in a portion biased toward the right side of the film formation center C in the X-axis direction when viewed from the front of the electrochromic laminate 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the central circular portion 24a and the outer diameter portion 24b are positioned at different positions in the thickness direction of the electrochromic laminate 20, and a connecting portion 24g connects the outer edge of the central circular portion 24a and the inner edge of the outer diameter portion 24b.

[0038] The outer shape of the second electrode layer 24 in a front view is composed of a semicircular outer peripheral portion 24c at a central circular portion 24a, an arc portion 24d at an outer diameter portion 24b, a pair of straight line portions 24e extending in the Y-axis direction from both ends of the arc portion 24d, and a pair of straight line portions 24f extending in the X-axis direction from the pair of straight line portions 24e and connecting to the semicircular outer peripheral portion 24c. The arc portion 24d has a shape that substantially matches a part of the outer peripheral shape of the substrate 21. Note that, because there is a step due to the connecting portion 24g between the central circular portion 24a and the outer diameter portion 24b, the pair of straight line portions 24e and the pair of straight line portions 24f are not directly connected (see FIG. 5).

[0039] The first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 are formed and arranged such that the centers of their respective central circular portions 22a, 24a are positioned at the film formation center C, and the outer diameter portions 22b, 24b are bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the film formation center C in a front view. As shown in Fig. 3, for the first electrode layer 22, both the central circular portion 22a and the outer diameter portion 22b are in contact with the substrate 21, and for the second electrode layer 24, the outer diameter portion 24b is in contact with the substrate 21.

[0040] The region where the first electrode layer 22 (central circular portion 22a), the electrochromic layer 23, and the second electrode layer 24 (central circular portion 24a) all overlap in the thickness direction of the electrochromic laminate 20 is the dimming region E (FIGS. 2 and 3) where a color change (change in transmittance) occurs when a voltage is applied. In a front view of the electrochromic laminate 20, the circular region surrounded by the semicircular outer periphery 22c of the central circular portion 22a and the semicircular outer periphery 24c of the central circular portion 24a is the dimming region E (see FIG. 2).

[0041] Outside the dimming region E, the outer diameter portion 22b of the first electrode layer 22 and the outer diameter portion 24b of the second electrode layer 24 are spaced apart in the X-axis direction without overlapping each other. When viewed from the front of the electrochromic laminate 20, a gap exists in the X-axis direction between the pair of straight line portions 22e of the outer diameter portion 22b and the pair of straight line portions 24e of the outer diameter portion 24b. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer diameter portions 22b and 24b are also positioned differently from each other in the thickness direction of the electrochromic laminate 20.

[0042] The dimensions of each part of the electrochromic laminate 20 (particularly the diameters D1 to D4) are set so that the outer shapes of the lenses 30 of the multiple types (different shapes and sizes) of photochromic lenses 11 and 12 expected to be used in the electronic photochromic eyeglasses 10 will fit inside the outer peripheral part 23a of the electrochromic layer 23. As an example, the diameter D1 of the substrate 21 is 40 mm, the diameter D2 of the electrochromic layer 23 is 30 mm, and the diameters D3 and D4 of the central circular part 22a and 24a are each 28 mm. In this case, a circular region with a diameter of 28 mm centered on the film formation center C becomes the photochromic region E.

[0043] The diameter D2 of the electrochromic layer 23 is larger than the diameters D3 and D4 of the central circular portion 22a and the central circular portion 24a, respectively, leaving a margin of approximately 1 mm in the radial direction centered on the film formation center C. In addition, the outer diameter portions 22b and 24b are spaced apart in the X-axis direction. This prevents the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 from directly opposing each other in the thickness direction of the electrochromic laminate 20, preventing a short circuit between the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24.

[0044] The electrochromic laminate 20 configured as described above is cut into a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the photochromic lenses 11, 12, which becomes the electrochromic element 19 customized for that lens. To set the conditions for obtaining the electrochromic element 19 from the electrochromic laminate 20, first, an overlapping region V (FIG. 2) having a shape that overlaps with the outer shape of the lens 30 is set within the formation region of the electrochromic layer 23 (inside the outer peripheral portion 23a) in a front view. In addition, two or more terminal regions T1, T2 (FIG. 2) are set contiguous to the outside of the overlapping region V, where the first electrode layer 22 (outer diameter portion 22b) and the second electrode layer 24 (outer diameter portion 24b) exist independently without overlapping. Then, the combined portion of the overlapping region V and the terminal regions T1, T2 is cut out from the electrochromic laminate 20 to obtain the electrochromic element 19.

[0045] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the overlapping region V is arranged so that the outer shape of the lens 30 in the photochromic lenses 11, 12 is inscribed in the substantially circular outer periphery 23a of the electrochromic layer 23 at two points (inner contact points P1, P2).

[0046] Furthermore, one inner contact point P1 is located in the formation range of the outer diameter portion 22b of the first electrode layer 22 (inner diameter side of the arc portion 22d) in the circumferential direction centered on the film formation center C, and the other inner contact point P2 is located in the formation range of the outer diameter portion 24b of the second electrode layer 24 (inner diameter side of the arc portion 24d) in the circumferential direction centered on the film formation center C.

[0047] The formation ranges of the outer diameter portions 22b and 24b are allocated to one side and the other in the X-axis direction with respect to the film formation center C, and therefore the positions of the inner contact points P1 and P2 differ from each other at least in the X-axis direction. Note that in the setting shown in Fig. 2, the inner contact points P1 and P2 are at approximately the same position in the Y-axis direction, but depending on the outer shape of the lens 30 and the arrangement of the overlap region V, the positions of the inner contact points P1 and P2 in the Y-axis direction may differ from each other.

[0048] A portion of the outer diameter portion 22b outside the inner contact point P1 is set as a terminal region T1 that is continuous with the overlapping region V, and a portion of the outer diameter portion 24b outside the inner contact point P2 is set as a terminal region T2 that is continuous with the overlapping region V. In the second electrode layer 24, a connection portion 24g is present at the boundary between the central circular portion 24a and the outer diameter portion 24b. Therefore, a condition may be imposed on the terminal region T2 that it extends from the inner contact point P2 toward the outer diameter side to a position that exceeds at least the thickness of the connection portion 24g in a front view. By setting it in this manner, the terminal region T2 can be reliably positioned on the outer diameter portion 24b.

[0049] By setting the overlapping region V and the terminal regions T1, T2 in this manner and cutting them out from the electrochromic laminate 20, it is possible to easily produce an electrochromic element 19 that has a dimming effect over almost the entire area of ​​the lens 30 and is equipped with multiple terminal portions (terminal regions T1, T2) for power supply.

[0050] An advantage of the above manufacturing method is that, as long as the above-mentioned set conditions regarding the arrangement of the overlap region V and the terminal regions T1, T2 are met, an electrochromic element 19 that can be used with lenses 30 of any shape can be obtained from a single type of electrochromic laminate 20. Therefore, it is possible to produce electrochromic elements 19 with electrode arrangements customized for each lens with little effort and at low cost, without performing film formation processing using individual mask patterns corresponding to a plurality of types of lens shapes.

[0051] The electrochromic layer 23 in the electrochromic stack 20 has an extremely simple circular shape when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 each have a relatively simple shape that is obtained by removing a portion of the circular shape of the substrate 21 when viewed from the front. Therefore, each layer of the electrochromic stack 20 can be easily formed without using a complex mask pattern, and the electrochromic stack 20 can be produced inexpensively and efficiently compared to film formation processes that use complex mask patterns tailored to individual lens shapes.

[0052] When the photochromic lenses 11, 12 are incorporated into the frame 13, the terminal areas T1, T2 of the electrochromic element 19 come into conductive contact with a conductive portion arranged in the frame 13. The contact points between the terminal areas T1, T2 and the conductive portion are covered by the rims 14, 15 of the frame 13 and are not exposed to the outside of the electronic photochromic eyeglasses 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0053] 2, parts of the overlapping area V near the terminal areas T1, T2 (internal contacts P1, P2) are not included in the photochromic area E. However, these parts are covered by the rims 14, 15 when the photochromic lenses 11, 12 are incorporated into the frame 13, and therefore, in the completed state of the electronic photochromic glasses 10, the photochromic effect of the photochromic lenses 11, 12 can be obtained over the entire area inside the rims 14, 15.

[0054] After being cut out from the electrochromic laminate 20, the electrochromic element 19 may be subjected to a process of sealing the outer periphery with a sealant or the like. This can improve the durability of the electrochromic element 19.

[0055] 2, in the electrochromic laminate 20 of this embodiment, the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 cover most of the substrate 21, except for the space between the straight line portions 22e and 24e. In this way, by forming the first electrode layer 22 (particularly the outer diameter portion 22b) and the second electrode layer 24 (particularly the outer diameter portion 24b) in a shape that covers as much of the outer edge shape of the substrate 21 as possible, the range of options for the overlap region V and the terminal regions T1 and T2 is widened, and the variety of available lens shapes is widened.

[0056] Furthermore, forming the first electrode layer 22 (particularly the outer diameter portion 22b) and the second electrode layer 24 (particularly the outer diameter portion 24b) so as to cover as much of the outer edge shape of the substrate 21 as possible increases the degree of freedom in selecting the arrangement of the overlapping region V and the terminal regions T1, T2 for the same lens shape. For example, in the electrochromic stack 20 of this embodiment, even if the overlapping region V is tilted to some extent from the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the setting conditions that the outer shape of the lens 30 is inscribed in two places on the outer periphery 23a of the electrochromic layer 23 and the terminal regions T1, T2 are located on the outer diameter portions 22b, 24b can be satisfied. Therefore, even if a film formation defect occurs in a part of the electrochromic stack 20, there is more room to set the overlapping region V and the terminal regions T1, T2 while avoiding the defective part, and the production yield of the electrochromic element 19 can be improved.

[0057] However, if the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 are formed over too wide an area on the substrate 21, there is an increased risk of contact or short-circuiting between the electrode layers 22, 24. Therefore, the outer diameter portions 22b, 24b of the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24, which are located outside the central circular portions 22a, 24a, are arranged so that they do not overlap each other in a front view. In the electrochromic laminate 20 of this embodiment, the linear portion 22e, which is an edge portion of the outer diameter portion 22b, and the linear portion 24e, which is an edge portion of the outer diameter portion 24b, are configured to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance or more in the X-axis direction.

[0058] In the frame 13 of the electronic photochromic glasses 10 shown in FIG. 1, the temples 16, 17 and the bridge 18 are connected to the upper edges of the left and right rims 14, 15. This structure makes it easy to arrange the conductive parts that supply power to the electrochromic elements 19 of the left and right photochromic lenses 11, 12 along the upper edge of the frame 13. That is, it is expected that conductive parts extending roughly in the X-axis direction along the upper edge of the frame 13 will be used. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a suitable arrangement for the terminals on the electrochromic element 19 that can be easily connected to the conductive parts is to provide terminal regions T1, T2 distributed to both sides in the X-axis direction near the upper edges of the photochromic lenses 11, 12 (overlapping region V). For these reasons, in the electrochromic laminate 20, the outer diameter portions 22b, 24b that form the bases of the terminal regions T1, T2 are distributed to both sides in the X-axis direction.

[0059] However, the arrangement of the outer diameter portions of the two electrode layers may be different from that of the above embodiment. For example, the electrochromic stack 20 shown in FIG. 2 may be rotated 90 degrees to create a structure in which the outer diameter portions 22b and 24b are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the angle and position of the overlapping region are changed so that the two internal contact points inscribed in the outer periphery 23a of the electrochromic layer 23 by the outer shape of the lens 30 are separated into the upper and lower sides of the film formation center C in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, the two terminal regions provided outside the two internal contact points are also separated into the upper and lower sides in the Y-axis direction.

[0060] Although the above describes one type of electrochromic laminate 20, multiple types of electrochromic laminates with different diameters of the photochromic region E may be prepared. This makes it possible to create electrochromic elements compatible with lenses of an even greater variety of shapes and sizes. The diameter of the photochromic region E can be set appropriately by adjusting the diameters D2 to D4 of the electrochromic layer 23, the central circular portion 22a of the first electrode layer 22, and the central circular portion 24a of the second electrode layer 24, which is a minor change in the diameter of the circular portions. Therefore, even if multiple types of electrochromic laminates are prepared, the effort and cost can be reduced compared to changing a different film formation pattern for each lens shape.

[0061] When the manufacturing method of this embodiment is applied, there is a possibility that the center of the lens may become decentered from the deposition center C of the electrochromic laminate 20, but this can be addressed by optically designing the lens in consideration of the decentering. Such a measure can also be realized, for example, by processing the rear surface (concave surface) of the lens 30 shown in FIG. 1 when finishing it into its final shape.

[0062] Fig. 7 shows a modified electrochromic laminate 120. The electrochromic laminate 20 described above is formed by laminating a first electrode layer 22, an electrochromic layer 23, and a second electrode layer 24 on a single substrate 21 (see Fig. 3). In contrast, the electrochromic laminate 120 of Fig. 7 has, in addition to the substrate 21, another substrate 25 made of synthetic resin, with the first electrode layer 22, the electrochromic layer 23, and the second electrode layer 24 sandwiched between the substrates 21 and 25.

[0063] 2, and has approximately the same diameter as the substrate 21. A first electrode layer 22 is formed on the substrate 21, a second electrode layer 24 is formed on the substrate 25, and an electrochromic layer 23 is disposed between the opposing first electrode layer 22 and second electrode layer 24, thereby forming an electrochromic laminate 120.

[0064] The substrates 21 and 25 are positioned so that their centers (film formation center C) coincide with each other. The shape and arrangement of the first electrode layer 22 on the substrate 21 are set similarly to those of the electrochromic stack 20. With regard to the second electrode layer 24, an outer diameter portion 24h outside the central circular portion 24a is located at the same position as the central circular portion 24a in the thickness direction of the electrochromic stack 120, and both the central circular portion 24a and the outer diameter portion 24h are in contact with the substrate 25. In other words, unlike the electrochromic stack 20 of the previous embodiment, the second electrode layer 24 of the electrochromic stack 120 has a flat configuration in which the central circular portion 24a and the outer diameter portion 24h are continuous without a connecting portion. The arc portion 24i, which is the outer edge of the outer diameter portion 24h, has a shape that substantially matches a part of the outer peripheral shape of the substrate 25. The shapes and positional relationships of the first electrode layer 22, the electrochromic layer 23, and the second electrode layer 24 in the front view of the electrochromic stack 120 are the same as those of the above-described electrochromic stack 20. Therefore, the manufacturing method using the electrochromic stack 120 can achieve the same effects as the manufacturing method using the electrochromic stack 20.

[0065] The outer diameter portion 22b of the first electrode layer 22 and the outer diameter portion 24b of the second electrode layer 24 shown in Figures 2 and 4 have shapes optimized to largely cover the outer edge shape of the substrate 21, but the shapes of the outer diameter portions of each electrode layer 22, 24 may be changed.

[0066] In addition, the first electrode layer 22 and the second electrode layer 24 shown in Figures 2 and 4 have outer diameter portions 22b and 24b that are symmetrical with respect to the film formation center C when viewed from the front, but it is also possible to make the shape of the outer diameter portion of each electrode layer 22, 24 asymmetrical when viewed from the front.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a modified first electrode layer 22 having an outer diameter portion 22g with a modified shape. The outer diameter portion 22g of this modified example has an edge portion that is a straight line portion 22h extending in the radial direction centered on the deposition center C, instead of the previously described straight line portion 22e (see FIG. 4). That is, the outer diameter portion 22g has a sector shape with the deposition center C as its pivot point. The outer diameter portion 24b of the second electrode layer 24 in FIG. 8 has the same shape as that shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the outer diameter portion 22g of the first electrode layer 22 and the outer diameter portion 24b of the second electrode layer 24 have asymmetric shapes with respect to the deposition center C in a front view. Even if the outer diameter portions 22g and 24b have such asymmetric shapes, they may be used as long as they do not overlap with each other and the terminal regions T1 and T2 (FIG. 2) can be set.

[0068] As a further modification of Figure 8, the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer 24 may be formed in a fan shape similar to the outer diameter portion 22g of the first electrode layer 22, and the outer diameter portions of each electrode layer 22, 24 may be configured to be symmetrical about the film formation center C when viewed from the front.

[0069] Furthermore, the outer diameter portion of the first electrode layer 22 and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer 24 may be changed to a shape other than the sector shape shown in FIG.

[0070] Although the above description has been given based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0071] The above-described dimensions of the substrate 21, the first electrode layer 22, the electrochromic layer 23, the second electrode layer 24, and the substrate 25 are merely examples, and may be changed to different sizes.

[0072] In the electrochromic laminates 20 and 120 of the above embodiments, the dimming region E and the electrochromic layer 23 are circular. This shape is excellent in that it is highly versatile and can easily accommodate a variety of lens shapes without being biased in a specific direction. However, if there are shape characteristics that are somewhat common to the expected lens shapes, it is also possible to set the dimming region and the electrochromic layer in a non-circular shape (for example, an ellipse) that reflects the shape characteristics.

[0073] The photochromic lenses 11 and 12 of the above embodiments have a structure in which the electrochromic element 19 is layered on the surface (convex surface) of the lens 30. Alternatively, the photochromic lens may have a structure in which the electrochromic element is disposed (sandwiched) inside the lens in the thickness direction.

[0074] Each component of the electrochromic element 19 (electrochromic laminate 20, 120) may be made of a material other than those mentioned above. For example, the substrate may be made of glass instead of synthetic resin. Furthermore, the electrochromic material may be an organic material instead of the inorganic material mentioned above.

[0075] In the above embodiment, electrochromic elements 19 are used as the electronic elements constituting the photochromic lenses 11 and 12, but application to electronic elements other than electrochromic elements is also possible. For example, liquid crystal elements and electrophoretic elements are similar to electrochromic elements in that they change optical properties when supplied with electrical energy. Therefore, even in electronic photochromic devices that use liquid crystal elements or electrophoretic elements as electronic elements, similar effects can be obtained by applying the above-mentioned techniques to the manufacture of electronic elements including electrodes. Note that, in this invention, "photochromic" refers to the general optical effect that such various electronic elements have on optical elements, and is not limited to changes in light transmittance (light transmittance) or color in the narrow sense. For example, information display (superimposition) using liquid crystal elements in optical equipment is also a form of photochromic control.

[0076] The electronic photochromic glasses 10 of the above embodiment are particularly useful for the present invention due to the degree of freedom in selecting the shape of the photochromic lenses 11, 12. However, the present invention can also be applied to electronic photochromic devices other than electronic photochromic glasses. For example, the present invention can also be applied to electronic photochromic glass for windows (electronic blinds) and privacy filters for displays of portable electronic devices. In this case, the window glass, the cover glass of the display, etc., serve as the optical element of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0077] By applying the present invention, it is possible to efficiently manufacture electronic elements for light control in a wide variety of shapes, thereby improving the productivity of electronic light control devices such as electronic light control glasses and reducing manufacturing costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10 Electronic dimming glasses (electronic dimming device) 11, 12 Photochromic lenses 13 frames 19 Electrochromic elements (electronic elements) 20 Electrochromic laminate (laminate) 21 PCB 22 1st electrode layer 22a Central circular section (circular section) 22b Outer diameter part 23 Electrochromic layer (light-adjusting layer) 23a Outer periphery 24 Second electrode layer 24a Central circular section (circular section) 24b Outer diameter part 30 Lens (optical element) C Film formation center E dimming area P1, P2 Inner contact point (inscribed point) T1, T2 terminal area V superimposition region

Claims

1. A light-controlling laminate for forming a light-controlling electronic element that is arranged on an optical element and obtains a light-controlling effect by supplying electrical energy, the light-controlling laminate is configured by laminating a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light-controlling layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; the light-controlling layer has a substantially circular shape in a front view that can be inscribed in the outer periphery of the optical element at two points; Each of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer has, in a front view, a substantially circular portion that overlaps with the light control layer, and an outer diameter portion that is disposed radially outward of the circular portion. and the outer diameter portions of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are arranged so as not to overlap each other in a front view, an overlapping region that is a region having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the optical element and positioned so as to be inscribed at two points in the substantially circular outer periphery of the photochromic layer in a front view; a light-controlling laminate, characterized in that, when viewed from the front, two terminal regions are set on the outer diameter portion of the first electrode layer and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer outside the two locations where the outer shape of the optical element is inscribed in the outer periphery of the light-controlling layer.

2. A dimming laminate as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the outer diameter portion of the first electrode layer and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer are located at approximately the same position in the thickness direction of the dimming laminate.

3. The dimming laminate according to claim 2, characterized in that the circular portion and the outer diameter portion of the second electrode layer are positioned at different positions in the thickness direction of the dimming laminate, and have a connecting portion that connects the outer edge portion of the circular portion and the inner edge portion of the outer diameter portion.

4. 2. The light-control laminate according to claim 1, which is an electrochromic element that generates a reversible change in optical properties in the light-control layer due to an oxidation-reduction reaction when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

5. a light-control electronic element formed by cutting out the overlapping region and the two terminal regions from the light-control laminate according to claim 1; The optical element is a lens; The frame and Equipped with The electronic photochromic eyeglasses are configured by holding, in the frame, a photochromic lens on the surface or inside of which the cut-out photochromic electronic element is located.

Images