Ion-beam based deposition of coatings for electrochromic devices

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to seek by Letters Patent is: 1.
An electrochromic device comprising: a light transmissive substrate having a first layer of electrically-conductive material deposited thereon by thermal evaporation; a layer of tungsten oxide deposited on said first layer by thermal evaporation of tungsten oxide within a stream of oxygen or argon ions; a layer of ion conductive-electron resistive material deposited on said tungsten oxide by thermal evaporation; a counter-electrode layer deposited on said electron resistive-ion conductive layer by thermal evaporation; and a second layer of electrically-conductive material on said counter-electrode layer by thermal evaporation.
2.
The electrochromic device of claim 1 wherein said light-transmissive substrate comprises plastic or glass.
3.
The electrochromic device of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrically-conductive materials comprise indium and tin oxides.
4.
The electrochromic device of claim 1 wherein said ion conductive-electron resistive layer comprises a lithiated oxide.
5.
The electrochromic device of claim 1 wherein said counter-electrode layer comprises indium oxide.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION "Smart-Windows" such as described in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,832,463 entitled "Thin Film Ion-Conducting Coating", primarily consist of thin coatings on a transparent substrate whereby the reflective and transmissive properties of the electrochromic coatings can be electrically controlled.
This Patent is incorporated herein for reference purposes and should be reviewed for its description of durable, environmentally stable materials that meet many of the automotive, aircraft and military performance specifications.
A first use for such "smart-windows" is in existing buildings wherein the expense of replacing existing plate glass windows with "smart-windows" would be prohibitably expensive.
The aforementioned U.
S.
Patent suggests depositing the electrochromic device on a flexible plastic substrate, such as mylar, which is a trademark of DuPont Company for a flexible polyester film