Electrochromic Partition Bus Bars for Gradual Transmittance Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochromic devices face challenges in adjusting partition color changes and achieving uniform, gradual transitions without excessive current loss and device damage, particularly due to fixed conductive layer separations and uneven voltage distribution.
Innovation Solution
A color-changing device with a partition structure comprising partition and boundary bus bars on conductive layers, allowing voltage control to adjust region color changes and achieve gradual transitions, reducing current loss and device damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If different voltages are directly applied on the same bus bar to achieve gradual color change, then the color transition effect is improved, but current loss increases and device damage accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar is segmented into multiple independent bus bars (first bus bar, second bus bar, third bus bar, fourth bus bar) positioned at different locations. Each bus bar can be controlled independently with different voltages to achieve gradual color change without excessive current loss through a single bus bar.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the electrochromic device are assigned different voltage levels through strategically positioned bus bars. The first and second bus bars are positioned at one end while the third and fourth bus bars are positioned at the other end, creating localized voltage gradients that produce gradual color transitions while minimizing overall current loss.
2Shape
If conductive layers are separated by laser-etched groove to achieve fixed partition color change regions, then partition color change is achieved, but the regions cannot be adjusted according to practical applications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixed laser-etched grooves, the patent uses dynamically controllable bus bars that can be independently voltage-controlled. The partition structures are formed by the spatial arrangement and voltage control of multiple bus bars, allowing flexible adjustment of partition regions without permanent physical separations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed physical structures (laser-etched grooves) to variable electrical parameters (voltages applied to different bus bars). By adjusting voltage levels and combinations on different bus bars, the partition regions can be dynamically reconfigured to meet different practical application needs.
3Ease of operation
If the whole electrochromic device is in one specific transmittance state to simplify control, then control is simplified, but gradual transmittance states cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple independently controllable regions through multiple bus bars. Each bus bar controls a specific region, allowing the device to display multiple transmittance states simultaneously (e.g., some regions transparent, others opaque, with gradual transitions), while maintaining relatively simple control through independent voltage application to each bus bar.
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
Enables rapid, uniform color changes with gradual transitions while minimizing current loss and device damage by controlling voltages on bus bars, without separating conductive layers.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromic products have an emphasis on how to control the partition color change (that is, the case where different regions have inconsistent transmittance) of the electrochromic device
Implementation Method 2
Generally, by applying different voltages at specific positions on the bus bar, the overall potential distribution of the electrochromic device is controlled
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A color changing device and a control method thereof. The color changing device comprises a first substrate layer, a first electrically conducting layer, a color changing layer, a second electrically conducting layer, and a second substrate layer that are stacked in sequence. Edges of two ends of the first electrically conductive layer are respectively provided with a first bus bar (1) and a second bus bar (2), and a third bus bar (3) and a fourth bus bar (4) are respectively provided at edges of two ends of the second electrically conductive layer. The color changing device also comprises at least one partition structure, comprising at least two boundary bus bars and at least one partition bus bar located between the two boundary bus bars, the partition bus bar and the boundary bus bars being respectively located on different electrically conductive layers. The control method is used for controlling the transmittance state of the color changing device; a color changing control signal is applied to the color changing device; a target voltage is determined according to a transmission rate state type carried by the color changing control signal received by the color changing device; the target voltage at least comprises voltage values corresponding to the first bus bar (1), the second bus bar (2), the third bus bar (3), the fourth bus bar (4), the boundary bus bars, and the partition bus bar, respectively; and the transmittance state of the color changing device is adjusted according to the target voltage. A sudden voltage change is realized at the partition structure composed of the boundary bus bars and partition bus bar, thereby achieving the color change of the color changing device.