Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2002-12-10
Lester, Evelyn A (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
C359S275000, C359S241000, C349S016000, C052S204500, C244S129300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06493128
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to chromogenic panels, such as glass windows, for vehicular and architectural use, and more particularly, to a chromogenic assembly for use in a vehicle's sunroof. In addition, the invention pertains to chromogenic skylights, architectural blocks and window assemblies. Further, the present invention pertains to chromogenic light pipes and chromogenic aircraft windows. The present invention also pertains to boat or other marine application windows.
2. Related Background Art
A variety of technologies exist for producing chromogenic members. “Chromogenic devices”, as used herein, is employed as commonly known in the art. Examples of these chromogenic devices include electrochromic devices, photochromic devices, liquid crystal devices, user-controllable-photochromic devices, polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal devices, and suspended particle devices.
The term “user-controllable” is used in the sense that the appearance of a chromogenic device can be regulated. Photochromic devices, because their coloration is a function of light intensity are not directly “user-controllable”. However, systems incorporating such photochromic devices can be designed in which users can regulate such devices. For the purposes of this application, those systems would also be considered “user-controllable”.
For example, electrochromic devices are discussed by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal in “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”,
Large Area Chromogenics: Materials
&
Devices for Transmittance Control
, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash.(1989), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, and by D. V. Varaprasad, H. R. Habibi, N. R. Lynam and P. Desaraju in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,407, entitled “Method of Reducing Leakage Current in Electrochemichromic Solutions Based Thereon”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, entitled “Rearview Mirror Control Circuit”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,768, entitled “Automatic Rearview Mirror With Filtered Light Sensors”. Other pertinent references include N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”,
SAE Technical Paper Series,
87036 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”,
SAE Technical Paper Series,
900419 (1990); C. M. Lampert, “Electrochromic Devices and Devices for Energy Efficient Windows”,
Solar Energy Materials,
11, 1-27 (1984); Japanese Patent Document No. JP 58-20729 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,941 (Deb); U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,832 (Castellion); U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,152 (Giglia); U.S. Pat. No. Re. 30,835 (Giglia); U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,000 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,090 (Uchikawa); U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,619 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,566 (Tukude); U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,879 (Lynam); U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,112 (Lynam) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,674 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,012 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,647 (Lynam) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,014 (Lynam, et al.), the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Electrochromic panels are also discussed by Sapers, S. P., et al. in “Monolithic Solid-State Electrochromic Coatings for Window Applications”, Proceedings of the Society of Vacuum Coaters Conference (1996), with regard to devices of the type shown in FIG.
1
E. Devices comparable to that shown in
FIG. 1E
, and having photovoltaic layers for self-biasing operation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,037, entitled “Electrochromic-Photovoltaic Film for Light-Sensitive Control of Optical Transmittance”.
Other references of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,411, entitled “Electrochromic Variable Transmission Glazing, U.K. Patent No. 2,268,595, entitled “Electrochromic Cell”, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 63-106731, entitled “Dimmer Body”, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 63-106730, entitled “Dimmer Body”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,643, entitled “Electrochemichromic Sunroof”. Also pertinent is PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US 97/05791, entitled “Electrochromic Devices”, which pertains to electrochromic devices that can vary the transmission or reflection of electromagnetic radiation by applying an electrical stimulus to an EC device. This is done using a selective ion transport layer in combination with an electrolyte having at least one redox active material to provide a high-performance device. Photochromic devices are discussed by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal in “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”,
Large Area Chromogenics: Materials
&
Devices for Transmittance Control
, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
Also suitable for use in this invention are liquid crystal devices such as those described by N. Basturk and J. Grupp in “Liquid Crystal Guest-Host Devices and Their Use as Light Shutters”,
Larqe Area Chromogenics: Materials
&
Devices for Transmittance Control
, C. M. Lampert and C. g. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
User-controllable-photochromic devices (UCPC) are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,626, entitled “Novel Photochromic Devices”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal (PDLC) devices are described by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”,
Large Area Chromogenics: Materials
&
Devices for Transmittance Control
, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
Suspended particle devices are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,365, entitled “Light Valve for Controlling the Transmission of Radiation Comprising a Cell and a Stabilized Liquid Suspension” (Saxe), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The general control of chromogenic devices is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, entitled “Rearview Mirror Control Circuit”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,768, entitled “Automatic Rearview Mirror With Filtered Light Sensors”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,718, entitled “Electrochromic Elements and Methods of Manufacturing and Driving the Same”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,898, entitled “Fault Tolerant Drive Circuit for Electrochromic Mirror System”, and the disclosure of those references is incorporated by reference herein.
The phenomenon of prolonged coloration of chromogenic devices is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,673, entitled “Prolonged Coloration Electrochromic Assembly”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,317, entitled “Electrochromic Device Capable of Prolonged Coloration”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,578, entitled “Electrochromic Device Capable of Prolonged Coloration”. The disclosure of those references is incorporated by reference herein.
FIGS. 1A through 1E
depict typical examples of electrochromic devices, while
FIGS. 1F through 1H
show other types of chromogenic devices.
For example,
FIG. 1A
depicts a layered EC device which includes a substrate
101
, transparent conductor
103
, electrochromic (redox) medium
105
, transparent conductor
103
′ and substrate
101
′.
FIG. 1B
illustrates a layered EC device which includes a substrate
101
, transparent conductor
103
, EC layer
107
, electrolyte (redox medium)
109
, transparent conductor
103
′ and substrate
101
′.
FIG. 1C
shows another layered EC device having a substrate
101
, transparent conductor
103
, EC layer
107
, ion-selective transport layer
111
, electrolyte (redox medium)
109
, transparent conductor
103
′ and substrate
101
′.
Still another such EC device is shown in FIG.
1
D. This device includes a substrate
101
, transparent conductor
103
, EC layer
107
, electrolyte
113
, counterelectrode
115
, transparent conductor
103
′ and substrate
101
′.
FIG. 1E
shows an EC device having a substrate
101
, transparent conductor
103
, EC layer
107
, electrolyte (ion-conductive layer)
117
, counterelectrode
115
and transparent conductor
103
′.
A typical liquid crystal or PDLC device is shown in
FIG. 1F
; this device includes a substrate
201
, t
Agrawal Anoop
Baertelin Carl
Fischer Douglas Alan
LeCompte Robert Steven
Tonazzi Juan Carlos Lopez
Donnelly Corporation
Lester Evelyn A
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