Electrochromic Glass Lamination with Sealed Tape Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrochromic variable-transmittance film devices integrated with glass and adhesive through lamination processes often experience malfunction within a few days or weeks after lamination is complete.
Innovation Solution
The use of conductive tape electrodes and a protective layer in the electrochromic variable-transmittance film device, where the conductive tape electrode is positioned on a conductive substrate and the protective layer covers and seals the conductive tape electrode, effectively preventing the infiltration of plasticizers, additives, and external water and oxygen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrochromic variable-transmittance film devices are integrated with glass and adhesive through lamination processes, then the glass gains variable light transmission capability, but the film device experiences malfunction within a few days or weeks after lamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective layer as an intermediary barrier between the electrochromic film device and the external environment (adhesive, glass, moisture, oxygen). This protective layer mediates the interaction by preventing harmful substances from reaching the conductive tape electrode, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining device functionality and ensuring long-term reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple, cost-effective protective layer (such as transparent adhesive or protective film) that provides sufficient protection against environmental factors. This approach uses a relatively simple protective structure to solve the reliability issue without requiring complex protection systems, achieving good results with a cost-effective solution.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional lamination processes are used without protective layers, then manufacturing is simpler and cost is lower, but the conductive tape electrode is exposed to plasticizers, additives, water and oxygen causing short-term failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the protective layer to the conductive tape electrode before the lamination process. This preliminary protection ensures that when the lamination occurs, the harmful plasticizers, additives, water, and oxygen cannot directly contact the conductive tape electrode, thus preventing short-term failure and extending device operational life while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If the conductive tape electrode is exposed to the environment during lamination, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but plasticizers, additives, water and oxygen infiltrate causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer serves as an intermediary barrier that prevents harmful environmental factors (plasticizers, additives, water, oxygen) from infiltrating the conductive tape electrode. This simple protective structure effectively blocks the harmful factors while adding minimal cost, resolving the contradiction between material cost and environmental protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly extends the operational life of electrochromic variable-transmittance film devices by preventing short-term failures, maintaining conductivity, and ensuring normal operation for an extended period while keeping costs low.
Implementation Method 1
The protective layer covers and seals the conductive tape electrode onto the conductive substrate
Implementation Method 2
electrochromic variable tint thin-film devices utilize the electrochromic effect. By applying a direct current voltage of around 1.5V at the electrodes, the device's light transmission can change by several times
Data Source
AI summary
This application describes an electrochromic variable-transmittance glass and its preparation method. An example electrochromic variable-transmittance glass includes an electrochromic variable-transmittance film device, glass, and laminating adhesive. Laminating adhesive is positioned on one side of each opposing surface of the two glass pieces. The electrochromic variable-transmittance film device is sandwiched between the two glass pieces and wrapped by the laminating adhesive. The electrochromic variable-transmittance film device comprises conductive tape electrodes, lead-out electrodes, and a protective layer. The conductive tape electrodes are situated on the conductive substrate of the electrochromic variable-transmittance film device. The lead-out electrodes are positioned on the conductive substrate or the conductive tape electrodes and are conductively connected with the conductive tape electrodes, extending to the outer side of the glass for connection to an external power source. The protective layer covers the conductive tape electrodes and seals them onto the conductive substrate.