US 11,754,901 B2
Electrochromic device, wearable device, and method for driving electrochromic device
Tohru Yashiro, Kanagawa (JP); Keiichiroh Yutani, Kanagawa (JP); Fuminari Kaneko, Kanagawa (JP); Tohru Hasegawa, Kanagawa (JP); and Naoki Ura, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/820,271.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-053781 (JP), filed on Mar. 20, 2019; and application No. 2020-027317 (JP), filed on Feb. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2020/0301226 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. G02F 1/15 (2019.01); G02B 26/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/1503 (2019.01); G09G 3/19 (2006.01); F21V 14/00 (2018.01); G02F 1/155 (2006.01); G02C 7/10 (2006.01); G02F 1/1506 (2019.01); G02F 1/163 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/155 (2013.01) [G02C 7/101 (2013.01); G02F 1/1508 (2013.01); G02F 1/163 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrochromic device comprising:
a first electrode;
a first auxiliary electrode in direct contact with and on the first electrode;
a second electrode;
a second auxiliary electrode in contact with the second electrode and to have an average distance of 100 mm or less with the first auxiliary electrode, and the first auxiliary electrode and the second auxiliary electrode do not overlap with each other on a plan view;
an electrochromic layer in contact with the first electrode, or the second electrode, or both, but not to be in direct contact with the first auxiliary electrode and the second auxiliary electrode;
a solid electrolyte layer in contact with at least one selected from the group consisting of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electrochromic layer, but not to be in direct contact with the first auxiliary electrode and the second auxiliary electrode; and
a controller configured to control to apply voltage to the electrochromic layer with the first electrode and the second electrode according to a driving pattern that is at least one selected from the group consisting of a first driving pattern, a second driving pattern, and an initialization driving pattern,
wherein the first driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to turn the electrochromic layer into a first coloring state, and the first driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to apply a first voltage pulse A for increasing a response speed of the electrochromic layer, to apply a first voltage pulse B for forming the first coloring state where the first voltage pulse B is lower than the first voltage pulse A, and then to maintain a state where voltage is not applied,
wherein the second driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to turn the first coloring state into a second coloring state that has coloring density lower than coloring density of the first coloring state, and the second driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to apply a second voltage pulse A for increasing a response speed of the electrochromic layer, to apply a second voltage pulse B for forming the second coloring state where the second voltage pulse B is higher than the second voltage pulse A or has reverse polarity to the polarity of the second voltage pulse A, and then to maintain a state where voltage is not applied, and
wherein the initialization driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to form an initial decolored state, and the initialization driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to apply initialization voltage pulse A that has reverse polarity to the polarity of the first voltage pulse A and is for increasing a response speed of the electrochromic layer, and then to apply initialization voltage pulse B that is for forming an initial decolored state and makes potential of the electrochromic layer substantially 0 V, or to cause a short-circuit.