Multi-zone electrochromic devices with independent bus bar control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-sized electrochromic devices often exhibit non-uniform coloration due to leakage currents, leading to visible color differences across the device, especially when bus bars are far apart, resulting in slower color change and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple, independently controllable electrochromic zones sharing a common continuous bus bar, allowing for optimized control of coloration across the device, with each zone potentially having different surface areas or shapes, and the use of additional interior bus bars between opposing side bus bars to enhance control and uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single continuous bus bar configuration is used in large electrochromic devices, then the device structure is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but leakage currents cause non-uniform coloration and slower color change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrochromic device into multiple independently controllable zones by segmenting the bus bar connections. Each zone has its own electrode connections, allowing independent control of coloration in different regions. This segmentation eliminates the non-uniform coloration problem caused by leakage currents in large devices while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular design.
2Area of stationary object
If bus bars are placed far apart to cover large device areas, then the device size is increased, but color change speed decreases and coloration uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large electrochromic device into multiple zones with separate electrode connections. Each zone can be controlled independently, allowing faster color change in each segment while covering a large total area. The segmentation reduces the effective distance for ion transport in each zone, improving color change speed without sacrificing device area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of multiple zones through independent electrical connections. Each zone can be activated or deactivated independently, allowing the system to optimize color change speed by applying voltage to specific zones as needed. This dynamic control enables large devices to achieve uniform and fast coloration across the entire area.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple independently controllable zones are implemented, then coloration uniformity and control precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the device into segments with independent control, improving coloration uniformity. The segmentation is achieved through separate electrode connections for each zone, allowing precise control of coloration in each region while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not excessively increase device complexity.
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 solution enables uniform coloration and faster color change across large electrochromic devices, improving aesthetic appeal and functionality by allowing independent control of each zone, thereby reducing the impact of leakage currents and enhancing solar control and daylight harvesting.
Implementation Method 1
Electrochromic devices include electrochromic materials that are known to change their optical properties, such as coloration, in response to the application of an electrical potential, thereby making the device more or less transparent
Implementation Method 2
When an electric potential is applied across the layered structure of the electrochromic device, such as by connecting the respective conductive layers to a low voltage electrical source, ions, such as Li+ ions stored in the counter electrode layer, flow from the counter electrode layer, through the ion conductor layer and to the electrochromic layer
Implementation Method 3
In addition, electrons flow from the counter electrode layer, around an external circuit including a low voltage electrical source, to the electrochromic layer so as to maintain charge neutrality in the counter electrode layer and the electrochromic layer
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
In one aspect of the present invention is a substrate comprising multiple, independently controllable electrochromic zones (200A, 200B), wherein each of the electrochromic zones share a common, continuous bus bar (242). In one embodiment, of the electrochromic zones are not completely isolated from each other. In another embodiment, each of the electrochromic zones have the same surface area. In another embodiment, each of the electrochromic zones have a different surface area.