Electrochromic dimming device and electrochromic driving device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349590-A1
Application number	US-201615155427-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrochromic dimming device is provided. The electrochromic dimming device includes an electrochromic element, a color development power source, a color discharge powder source, and a variable resistance. The color development power source supplies electric power to the electrochromic element when the electrochromic element develops color. The color discharge powder source supplies electric power to the electrochromic element when the electrochromic element discharges color. The variable resistance is disposed on a first current path without being disposed on a second current path. The first current path is formed from the color development power source through a ground via the electrochromic element, and the second current path is formed from the color discharge power source to the ground via the electrochromic element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrochromic dimming device, comprising:
an electrochromic element; a color development power source to supply electric power to the electrochromic element when the electrochromic element develops color; a color discharge powder source to supply electric power to the electrochromic element when the electrochromic element discharges color; and a variable resistance disposed on a first current path without being disposed on a second current path, the first current path formed from the color development power source through a ground via the electrochromic element, and the second current path formed from the color discharge power source to the ground via the electrochromic element.

2 . The electrochromic dimming device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a series circuit including a first switch and the variable resistance, the series circuit being connected to the color development power source and a first end of the electrochromic element, the first switch to be turned on or off when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a fourth switch connected to a second end of the electrochromic element and the ground, the fourth switch to be turned on or off when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a third switch connected to the color discharge power source and the second end of the electrochromic element, the third switch to be turned off or on when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; and a second switch connected to the first end of the electrochromic element and the ground, the second switch to be turned off or on when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively, wherein the first current path is formed when the first switch and the fourth switch are tuned on, and wherein the second current path is formed when the third switch and the second switch are tuned on.

3 . The electrochromic dimming device of claim 1 ,
wherein the electrochromic element includes a first electrochromic element and a second electrochromic element, wherein the variable resistance includes a first variable resistance and a second variable resistance, wherein the first variable resistance is disposed on a third current path without being disposed on a fourth current path, the third current path formed from the color development power source through the ground via the first electrochromic element, and the fourth current path formed from the color discharge power source through the ground via the first electrochromic element, and wherein the second variable resistance is disposed on a fifth current path without being disposed on a sixth current path, the fifth current path formed from the color development power source through the ground via the second electrochromic element, and the sixth current path formed from the color discharge power source through the ground via the second electrochromic element.

4 . The electrochromic dimming device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first series circuit including a first switch and the first variable resistance, the first series circuit being connected to the color development power source and a first end of the first electrochromic element, the first switch to be turned on or off when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a second series circuit including a sixth switch and the second variable resistance, the second series circuit being connected to between the first switch and the first variable resistance and further connected to a first end of the second electrochromic element, the sixth switch to be turned on or off when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a fourth switch connected to a second end of the first electrochromic element, a second end of the second electrochromic element, and the ground, the fourth switch to be turned on or off when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a third switch connected to the color discharge power source, the second end of the first electrochromic element, and the second end of the second electrochromic element, the third switch to be turned off and on when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; a fifth switch connected to the first end of the first electrochromic element and the first end of the second electrochromic element, the fifth switch to be turned off and on when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; and a second switch connected to the first end of the second electrochromic element and the ground, the second switch to be turned off and on when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color, respectively; wherein the third current path is formed when the first switch and the fourth switch are turned on, wherein the fifth current path is formed when the first switch, the sixth switch, and the fourth switch are turned on, wherein the fourth current path is formed when the third switch, the fifth switch, and the second switch are turned on, and wherein the sixth current path is formed when the third switch and the second switch are turned on.

5 . The electrochromic dimming device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic element includes an electrochromic compound and a conductive or semiconductive nanostructural body.

6 . An electrochromic driving device, comprising:
an electrochromic element having a first pole and a second pole; a variable power source to variably supply electric power to the electrochromic element; a driving switch to connect each of the first pole and the second pole of the electrochromic element to the variable power source or a circuit reference potential; a short-circuiting switch to short-circuit or open the first pole and the second pole; and a controller to control the driving switch, the short-circuiting switch, and the variable power source.

7 . The electrochromic driving device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first voltage detector to detect a first potential of the first pole and output the first potential to the controller; and a second voltage detector to detect a second potential of the second pole and output the second potential to the controller.

8 . The electrochromic driving device of claim 7 ,
wherein the controller:
turns on the shot-circuiting switch to short-circuit the first pole and the second pole;
controls the driving switch to connect one of the first pole and the second pole to the circuit reference potential and the other to the variable power source; and
forcibly equilibrates charges in the electrochromic element when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color,
wherein the first voltage detector and the second voltage detector detect the first potential and the second potential, respectively, in an open circuit state when the electrochromic element develops color or discharges color.

9 . The electrochromic driving device of claim 8 , wherein the controller performs at least one of a sequence control, a feedback control, and a state detection of the electrochromic element, based on the first potential and the second potential detected by the first voltage detector and the second voltage detector, respectively.

10 . The electrochromic driving device of claim 6 ,
wherein the variable power source includes:
a first variable power source to variably supply electric power to the first pole; and
a second variable power source to variably supply electric power to the second pole, and
wherein the controller causes the electrochromic element to develo

Assignees

• Ohshima Atsushi
• Hirano Shigenobu
• Yutani Keiichiroh
• Matsumoto Takahiko
• Yaginuma Hidekazu
• Tsuji Kazuaki
• Kim Sukchan
• Katano Yasuo
• Takeuchi Kohji
• Goto shun
• Hasegawa Tohru
• Kobayashi Hiroaki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohshima Atsushi
• Hirano Shigenobu
• Yutani Keiichiroh
• Matsumoto Takahiko
• Yaginuma Hidekazu
• Tsuji Kazuaki
• Kim Sukchan
• Katano Yasuo
• Takeuchi Kohji
• Goto shun
• Hasegawa Tohru
• Kobayashi Hiroaki

Classifications

• G09G2320/02

  Improving the quality of display appearance · CPC title

• G09G2310/066

  Waveforms comprising a gently increasing or decreasing portion, e.g. ramp · CPC title

• G09G3/38

  using electrochromic devices · CPC title

• G09G2330/025

  Reduction of instantaneous peaks of current · CPC title

• G02F1/163 Primary

  Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor · CPC title