Electrochromic device and electronic apparatus

Abstract

An electrochromic device (10) and an electronic apparatus. The electrochromic device (10) comprises: a substrate (11); a first transparent conductive layer (12) provided on one side of the substrate (11); a color-changing functional layer (13) provided on the side of the first transparent conductive layer (12) distant from the substrate (11); a second transparent conductive layer (14) provided on the side of the color-changing functional layer (13) distant from the substrate (11); a first trench (181) running through the second transparent conductive layer (14) and the color-changing functional layer (13) in the thickness direction of the substrate (11); a conductive carrier (15) provided in the first trench (181) and connected to the first transparent conductive layer (12); a first planarization conductive layer (161) provided on the side of the conductive carrier (15) distant from the substrate (11); and a first electrode (171) connected to the side of the first planarization conductive layer (161) distant from the substrate (11). The electrical connection performance of the first electrode (171) and the first transparent conductive layer (12) can be improved, and the reliability of the electrochromic device (10) and the electronic apparatus can be improved.

Description

Electrochromic device and electronic device

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202420921493.1, filed on April 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of electrochromic technology, and in particular, to an electrochromic device and an electronic device. BACKGROUND

[0004] AR glasses, as a kind of portable smart devices, are often used indoors and outdoors. AR glasses generally use electrochromic lenses to shield the influence of external light on the imaging quality of AR glasses.

[0005] An electrochromic lens is a lens that can change color by applying a voltage to the electrochromic element. The electrochromic lens includes a substrate, a first transparent conductive layer, a color-changing layer, and a second transparent conductive layer stacked on the substrate in sequence, and the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer are respectively connected with a conductive welding strip. However, the current curved electrochromic lens has a poor connection between the conductive welding strip, which leads to poor reliability of the electrochromic lens. SUMMARY

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure provides an electrochromic device and an electronic device to solve the problem of poor reliability of the electrochromic lens.

[0007] In a first aspect, an electrochromic device is provided, comprising:

[0008] a substrate;

[0009] a first transparent conductive layer disposed on one side of the substrate;

[0010] a color-changing functional layer disposed on a side of the first transparent conductive layer away from the substrate;

[0011] a second transparent conductive layer disposed on a side of the color-changing functional layer away from the substrate;

[0012] a first groove penetrating the second transparent conductive layer and the color-changing functional layer along a thickness direction of the substrate;

[0013] a conductive carrier disposed in the first groove and connected with the first transparent conductive layer;

[0014] a first planarized conductive layer disposed on a side of the conductive carrier distal to the substrate;

[0015] a first electrode connected to a side of the first planarized conductive layer distal to the substrate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the electrochromic device further comprises:

[0017] a second planarized conductive layer disposed on a side surface of the second transparent conductive layer distal to the substrate;

[0018] a second electrode connected to a side of the second planarized conductive layer distal to the substrate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first planarized conductive layer and the second planarized conductive layer are made of the same material.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first planarized conductive layer is made of conductive glue.

[0021] In one embodiment, the second planarized conductive layer is made of conductive glue.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first transparent conductive layer is provided with a second groove, the second groove divides the first transparent conductive layer into a first conductive region and a second conductive region, and the first conductive region is electrically connected to the conductive carrier.

[0023] The second transparent conductive layer is provided with a third groove, the third groove divides the second transparent conductive layer into a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, the third conductive region is electrically connected to the conductive carrier, and the second planarized conductive layer is disposed on the fourth conductive region.

[0024] In one embodiment, the maximum dimension of the conductive carrier along the thickness direction of the substrate is greater than the dimension of the first groove along the thickness direction of the substrate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the maximum dimension of the conductive carrier along the thickness direction of the substrate is equal to the dimension of the first groove along the thickness direction of the substrate.

[0026] In one embodiment, the conductive carrier is made of one or more of indium, silver, copper, aluminum, and tin.

[0027] In one embodiment, the color-changing functional layer comprises a color-changing layer, an ion-conducting layer, and an ion-storing layer stacked in a direction distal to the substrate.

[0028] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device comprising the electrochromic device of any one of the first aspect.

[0029] The electrochromic device and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure have the advantages that: by arranging the conductive carrier in the first groove, a uniform and continuous conductive film layer is formed in the first groove, the poor interface formed when the laser etches the first groove is improved, and the electrical connection performance of the first electrode and the first transparent conductive layer is improved; by arranging the first planarization conductive layer on the conductive carrier, a relatively flat and uniform intermediate carrier film layer is formed on the conductive carrier, so that the connecting surface of the first electrode and the first planarization conductive layer is relatively flat, uniform and continuous, the connection stability of the first electrode and the first planarization conductive layer is improved, the warping of the connecting part of the first electrode under high temperature is reduced, the electrical connection performance of the first electrode and the first transparent conductive layer is further improved, and the reliability of the electrochromic device and the electronic device is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort on the basis of these drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of an electrochromic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of a part of the electrochromic device shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of another electrochromic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Legend of reference signs: 10, electrochromic device; 11, substrate; 12, first transparent conductive layer; 121, first conductive region; 122, second conductive region; 13, color-changing functional layer; 131, color-changing layer; 132, ion-conducting layer; 133, ion-storing layer; 14, second transparent conductive layer; 141, third conductive region; 142, fourth conductive region; 15, conductive carrier; 161, first planarization conductive layer; 162, second planarization conductive layer; 171, first electrode; 172, second electrode; 181, first groove; 182, second groove; 183, third groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to make the above objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure more clear and easier to understand, the specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be practiced in many different ways from those described herein, and skilled artisans will recognize that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Therefore, the specific embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative only and not restrictive of the present disclosure.

[0036] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and therefore cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present disclosure.

[0037] In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", etc. can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present disclosure, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited.

[0038] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connecting", "connecting", "fixing" and the like should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise explicitly limited. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature can be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature "above", "above" and "above" the second feature can be that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or it can only mean that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature "below", "below" and "below" the second feature can be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or it can only mean that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0040] It is to be noted that when an element is referred to as being "on" or "connected to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements can also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements can also be present. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", and similar terms as used herein are for the purpose of description only and do not indicate the only orientation of the embodiments.

[0041] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "comprising" or "including" or "having" or the like, as used herein, is intended to mean the presence of stated feature, integer, step, operation, component, element, or combinations thereof, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, elements, or combinations thereof. Also, in the description herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the associated listed items.

[0042] In the electrochromic lens technology, the conductive silver paste is usually filled in the groove of the electrochromic lens, and then the electrode is made by silk printing. However, due to the curved shape of the electrochromic lens, the silk printing is difficult and the material waste is serious. In order to solve the above problems, the related technology fills metal in the groove, and uses conductive non-woven tape to bond the conductive welding strip and the filled metal to form an electrode. However, the conductive welding strip connection of such electrochromic lens has poor contact, resulting in poor reliability of the electrochromic lens.

[0043] The inventors have found that, due to the uneven surface of the filled metal, after the conductive non-woven tape is bonded with the filled metal, the surface of the conductive non-woven tape is also uneven, and the conductive welding strip is bonded with the uneven surface, which is easy to warp under high temperature, resulting in poor conductivity of the conductive welding strip and the filled metal, affecting the normal use of the electrochromic device, and reducing the reliability of the electrochromic device.

[0044] In view of at least one of the above problems, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrochromic device capable of improving reliability and an electronic device.

[0045] In a first aspect, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrochromic device 10, which includes a substrate 11, a first transparent conductive layer 12, a color-changing functional layer 13, a second transparent conductive layer 14, a conductive carrier 15, a first planarization conductive layer 161, a first electrode 171, and a first groove 181. It should be noted that the surface of the substrate 11 is curved, i.e., the substrate 11 is a curved substrate.

[0046] The first transparent conductive layer 12 is arranged on one side of the substrate 11, the color-changing functional layer 13 is arranged on the side of the first transparent conductive layer 12 away from the substrate 11, and the second transparent conductive layer 14 is arranged on the side of the color-changing functional layer 13 away from the substrate 11. The first groove 181 penetrates the second transparent conductive layer 14 and the color-changing functional layer 13 in the thickness direction of the substrate 11. Here, the thickness direction of the substrate 11 is the Z direction in FIG. 1. The conductive carrier 15 is arranged in the first groove 181 and connected with the first transparent conductive layer 12. The first planarization conductive layer 161 is arranged on the side of the conductive carrier 15 away from the substrate 11. The first electrode 171 is connected with the side of the first planarization conductive layer 161 away from the substrate 11.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first planarization conductive layer 161 is a film layer that has both planarization function and conductive function.

[0048] It should be noted that the laser is prone to form a poor interface when etching the first groove 181, for example, the laser does not etch through the color-changing functional layer 13, or the laser etches through some areas of the substrate 11. By arranging the conductive carrier 15 in the first groove 181, it is beneficial to form a uniform and continuous conductive film layer in the first groove 181, which improves the poor interface formed by laser etching, thereby improving the electrical connection performance of the first electrode 171 and the first transparent conductive layer 12.

[0049] Further, by arranging the first planarization conductive layer 161 on the conductive carrier 15, it is beneficial to form a relatively flat and uniform intermediate carrier film layer on the conductive carrier 15, so that the connection surface of the first electrode 171 and the intermediate carrier film layer (the first planarization conductive layer 161) is relatively flat, uniform and continuous, which improves the connection stability of the first electrode 171 and the first planarization conductive layer 161, reduces the warping of the connection of the first electrode 171 under high temperature, further improves the electrical connection performance of the first electrode 171 and the first transparent conductive layer 12, and improves the reliability of the electrochromic device 10.

[0050] In one of the embodiments, the electrochromic device 10 further comprises a second planarization conductive layer 162 and a second electrode 172. The second planarization conductive layer 162 is arranged on the surface of the second transparent conductive layer 14 away from the substrate 11. The second electrode 172 is connected with the side of the second planarization conductive layer 162 away from the substrate 11. By arranging the second planarization conductive layer 162, it is helpful to form a flat and uniform intermediate carrier film layer on the surface of the second transparent conductive layer 14, so that the connection surface of the second electrode 172 and the intermediate carrier film layer (the second planarization conductive layer 162) is relatively flat, uniform and continuous, which improves the connection stability of the second electrode 172 and the second transparent conductive layer 14.

[0051] In one of the embodiments, the first planarized conductive layer 161 and the second planarized conductive layer 162 are made of the same material. In this way, the number of materials used in the electrochromic device 10 during the manufacturing process is reduced, and the manufacturing difficulty is reduced.

[0052] In one of the embodiments, the first planarized conductive layer 161 is made of conductive glue. For example, the conductive glue can be carbon nanotube conductive glue, silver paste conductive glue, conductive epoxy glue, nickel coating conductive glue, high-viscosity conductive glue, etc.

[0053] In this way, the first planarized conductive layer 161 also has a connecting function, which can bond the first electrode 171 to the conductive carrier 15.

[0054] In one of the embodiments, the second planarized conductive layer 162 is made of conductive glue. For example, the conductive glue can be carbon nanotube conductive glue, silver paste conductive glue, conductive epoxy glue, nickel coating conductive glue, high-viscosity conductive glue, etc.

[0055] In this way, the second planarized conductive layer 162 also has a connecting function, which can bond the second electrode 172 to the second transparent conductive layer 14.

[0056] In one of the embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the first transparent conductive layer 12 is provided with a second groove 182, which divides the first transparent conductive layer 12 into a first conductive area 121 and a second conductive area 122, and the first conductive area 121 is electrically connected to the conductive carrier 15. The second transparent conductive layer 14 is provided with a third groove 183, which divides the second transparent conductive layer 14 into a third conductive area 141 and a fourth conductive area 142, the first groove 181 is arranged on the third conductive area 141, and the third conductive area 141 is electrically connected to the conductive carrier 15, and the second planarized conductive layer 162 is arranged on the fourth conductive area 142.

[0057] The second groove 182 and the third groove 183 can insulate the first electrode 171 and the second electrode 172.

[0058] In one of the embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the maximum dimension of the conductive carrier 15 along the thickness direction of the substrate 11 is equal to the dimension of the first groove 181 along the thickness direction of the substrate 11. In this way, when filling the conductive carrier 15, the overflow of the fluid of the conductive carrier 15 can be avoided, and material waste is avoided.

[0059] It should be noted that the top surface of the conductive carrier 15 is uneven, and the maximum size of the conductive carrier 15 in the thickness direction of the substrate 11 can be understood as the maximum height of the conductive carrier 15. The size of the first groove 181 in the thickness direction of the substrate 11 can be understood as the depth of the first groove 181.

[0060] In one of the embodiments, referring to FIG. 3, the maximum size of the conductive carrier 15 in the thickness direction of the substrate 11 is greater than the size of the first groove 181 in the thickness direction of the substrate 11. In this way, the volume of the conductive carrier 15 can be larger, which is conducive to reducing the resistance of the conductive carrier 15, thereby improving the electrical connection performance of the first electrode 171 and the first transparent conductive layer 12.

[0061] In one of the embodiments, the material of the conductive carrier 15 includes one or more of indium, silver, copper, aluminum, and tin. The above-mentioned materials have a relatively low melting point, and in the process of manufacturing the conductive carrier 15, the above-mentioned materials can be melted in a high-temperature environment and then filled into the first groove 181. By using the above-mentioned materials, the manufacturing difficulty of the conductive carrier 15 can be reduced.

[0062] In one of the embodiments, the color-changing functional layer 13 includes a color-changing layer 131, an ion-conducting layer 132, and an ion-storing layer 133 which are stacked in a direction away from the substrate 11. In this way, the ion migration speed can be improved, thereby improving the color-changing speed.

[0063] In one of the embodiments, the material of the first transparent conductive layer 12 and the second transparent conductive layer 14 is metal oxide.

[0064] In one of the embodiments, the first electrode 171 and the second electrode 172 are metal solder strips, and further, the first electrode 171 and the second electrode 172 can be copper-tin solder strips.

[0065] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device, which includes the electrochromic device 10 in any of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0066] Specifically, the electronic device can be an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, a wearable device, or the like.

[0067] The electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageous to form a uniform and continuous conductive film layer in the first groove 181 by arranging the conductive carrier 15 in the first groove 181, and improves the poor interface formed when the laser etches the first groove 181, thereby improving the electrical connection performance of the first electrode 171 and the first transparent conductive layer 12; by arranging the first planarization conductive layer 161 on the conductive carrier 15, it is advantageous to form a relatively flat and uniform intermediate carrier film layer on the conductive carrier 15, so that the connection surface of the first electrode 171 and the first planarization conductive layer 161 is relatively flat, uniform and continuous, thereby improving the connection stability of the first electrode 171 and the first planarization conductive layer 161, reducing the warping of the connection of the first electrode 171 under high temperature conditions, further improving the electrical connection performance of the first electrode 171 and the first transparent conductive layer 12, and improving the reliability of the electronic device.

[0068] In the description of the present specification, the description of the terms "some embodiments", "other embodiments", "ideal embodiments", and the like means that the specific features, mechanisms, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments or examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In the present specification, the illustrative description of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0069] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, and in order to make the description concise, all possible combinations of the technical features of the above-described embodiments are not described, however, as long as the combination of the technical features does not exist contradictory, it should be considered as the scope of the present disclosure.

[0070] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present disclosure, and the description is more specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for ordinary skilled persons in the art, without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, which are within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present disclosure should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrochromic device, wherein, The electrochromic device comprises: a substrate; a first transparent conductive layer disposed on one side of the substrate; a color-changing functional layer disposed on a side of the first transparent conductive layer away from the substrate; a second transparent conductive layer disposed on a side of the color-changing functional layer away from the substrate; a first groove penetrating the second transparent conductive layer and the color-changing functional layer along a thickness direction of the substrate; a conductive carrier disposed in the first groove and connected to the first transparent conductive layer; a first planarized conductive layer disposed on a side of the conductive carrier away from the substrate; a first electrode connected to a side of the first planarized conductive layer away from the substrate.

2. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a second planarized conductive layer disposed on a side surface of the second transparent conductive layer away from the substrate; a second electrode connected to a side of the second planarized conductive layer away from the substrate.

3. The electrochromic device of claim 2, wherein, The first planarized conductive layer and the second planarized conductive layer are made of the same material.

4. The electrochromic device of claim 2, wherein, The material of the first planarized conductive layer comprises conductive adhesive. And / or, the material of the second planarized conductive layer comprises conductive adhesive.

5. The electrochromic device of claim 2, wherein, A second groove is disposed on the first transparent conductive layer, the second groove divides the first transparent conductive layer into a first conductive area and a second conductive area, and the first conductive area is electrically connected to the conductive carrier. A third groove is disposed on the second transparent conductive layer, the third groove divides the second transparent conductive layer into a third conductive area and a fourth conductive area, the third conductive area is electrically connected to the conductive carrier, and the second planarized conductive layer is disposed on the fourth conductive area.

6. The electrochromic device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The maximum dimension of the conductive carrier along the thickness direction of the substrate is greater than the dimension of the first groove along the thickness direction of the substrate.

7. The electrochromic device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The maximum dimension of the conductive carrier along the thickness direction of the substrate is equal to the dimension of the first groove along the thickness direction of the substrate.

8. The electrochromic device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The material of the conductive carrier comprises one or more of indium, silver, copper, aluminum, and tin.

9. The electrochromic device of any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The color-changing functional layer comprises a color-changing layer, an ion-conducting layer, and an ion-storing layer stacked in a direction away from the substrate.

10. An electronic device, comprising: The electrochromic device comprises any one of claims 1-9.

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