Gasochromic dimming mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10108067-B2
Application number	US-201515538268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 26, 2014
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

In an aspect of the present invention, a gasochromic dimming mechanism is provided which includes a gasochromic dimming component provided with a pair of transparent substrates, the transparent substrates being arranged to face each other, and a dimming part formed on one or both facing surfaces of the pair of the transparent substrates, wherein an optical property of the dimming part is reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; and a hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit that supplies a hydrogen-air mixture gas between the pair of the transparent substrates. The hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit includes an electrolysis cell including a mixer for mixing hydrogen and air, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a porous electrode formed in the polymer electrolyte membrane as an anode, and an air supply unit that supplies the air to the mixer, the porous electrode being arranged on a flow channel of the air.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gasochromic dimming mechanism comprising:
a gasochromic dimming component provided with a pair of transparent substrates, the transparent substrates being arranged to face each other, and a dimming part that is formed on one or both facing surfaces of the pair of the transparent substrates, wherein an optical property of the dimming part is reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; and
a hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit that supplies a hydrogen-air mixture gas between the pair of the transparent substrates,
wherein the hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit includes a mixer for mixing hydrogen and air; an electrolysis cell including a polymer electrolyte membrane, a porous electrode as an anode, and a cathode; and an air supply unit including a flow channel for supplying the air to the mixer,
wherein the porous electrode is attached to the polymer electrolyte membrane, and
wherein the porous electrode is disposed on the flow channel for supplying the air so that the porous electrode absorbs water vapor in the air as water.

2. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-air mixture gas supply unit further includes a hydrogen collection and supply unit that collects hydrogen generated at the cathode of the polymer electrolyte membrane and that supplies hydrogen to the mixer.

3. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a water collection unit that collects water generated at the cathode of the polymer electrolyte membrane.

4. The gasochromic dimming mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat collection and heating unit that collects heat generated at the electrolysis cell and that heats the dimming part.

Assignees

• Yoshimura Kazuki
• Aist

Inventors

• Yoshimura Kazuki

Classifications

• G02F1/19

  based on variable-reflection or variable-refraction elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169 · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• E06B3/677

  Evacuating or filling the gap between the panes {; Equilibration of inside and outside pressure}; Preventing condensation in the gap between the panes (by means of spacing elements E06B3/663); Cleaning the gap between the panes · CPC title

• E06B3/6722

  with adjustable passage of light · CPC title

• C25B11/03

  perforated or foraminous · CPC title