Patent Application
20120019890
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 099124255 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jul. 22, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 201010287041.5 filed in China on Sep. 17, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to an electrochromic unit and a display device using the electrochromic unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
The principle of present well-known stereo image display technologies adopts a binocular disparity for receiving different images from both left and right eyes of a user respectively, and finally the user's brain merges the images into a stereo image. In naked-eye stereo display technologies, there are two main types of structures, respectively: lenticular lens and barrier.
However, present existing stereo image display devices can display 3D images only, but they cannot be switched to display 2D images and 3D images primarily because images passed through the lenticular lens or barrier combined with a general display device will be divided into a left-eye image and a right-eye image, unless an external 3D image display module is used for attaching into the display device, and the external 3D image display module can be removed from the device when there is no need of displaying 3D images. The practical use of this method requires a precise alignment to avoid a decreased resolution and an oblique condition. Therefore, some manufacturers developed a stereo image display device capable of switching the display of 3D images or 2D images.
As to the present existing technologies, a specific light transmitting matter in a transparent form is used for displaying 2D images, and the specific light transmitting matter will produce a plurality of light-shading grids to form a barrier when a display device is switched to display 3D images, and the specific light transmitting matter is a material related to an electrochromism (EC) which refers to the phenomenon displayed by some electrochromic materials of reversibly changing color caused by a light absorption or desorption under the effect of a current or an electric field. The electrochromic materials can be divided into inorganic electrochromic materials and organic electrochromic material that must have the following properties in practical applications: (1) good electrochemical redox reversibility, (2) quick color change response time, (3) reversible color change, (4) high sensitivity of color change, (5) long cycle life, (6) certain memory storage function, and (7) good chemical stability.
At present, electrochromic patented technologies adopt oxides or hydroxides of transition elements or their derivatives to produce inorganic solid-state films or mix their organic compounds/electrolyte material to produce composite materials, and provide electrons or an ion source (an electrolyte or a second electrochromic material) to allow ions to enter into the crystal lattice to achieve an color change effect of the electrochromic materials such as WO3, Ni(OH)2, and Prussian blue. Besides the aforementioned electrochromic materials, inorganic electrochromic materials have a stable characteristic, and whose light absorption change is caused by dual addition and dual removal of ions and electrons. The organic electrochromic materials include polyaniline, vioiogen and rare-earth phthalocyanine and come with a variety of colors. In other words, the organic material is produce by oxidation and reduction. Although the organic material provides a faster reaction, it has issues of environment protection and toxicity.
Some patents related to a 3D image display device having a function of switching the display to 3D image or 2D image are listed below:
As disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. No. M368088 entitled “Integrated electrochromic 2D/3D display device, R.O.C. Pat. No. M371902 entitled “Display device for switching 2D image/3D image display screen”, R.O.C. Pat. No. I296723 entitled “Color filter used for 3D image LCD panel manufacturing method thereof”, and U.S. Pat. Publicarion No. 2006087499 entitled “Autostereoscopic 3D display device and fabrication method thereof”, electrochromic materials are used as a parallax barrier device for displaying 3D images, but both patents of M368088 and M371902 have a common drawback of lacking a necessary electrolyte layer required by electrochromic devices, since ions are not supplied to the electrolyte layer of the electrochromic layer, and the electrochromic device cannot produce the reversible oxidation or reduction to complete the change of coloration or decoloration, so that the aforementioned patents are not feasible in practical applications, or the coloration and decoloration rate will become extremely slow. In addition, the transparent electrode layer and electrochromic material layer of the parallax barrier device are grid patterned, and whose manufacturing process requires a precise alignment for coating, spluttering or etching each laminated layer, and thus the manufacturing process is very complicated, and all laminated layers are grid patterned, so that a hollow area is formed between one grid and the other, and the overall penetration, refraction and reflection of the light will be affected. Even for the general 2D display, the video display quality of the display device will be affected to cause problems related to color difference and uneven brightness. In addition, the structural strength of the display device is low, and the using life is short. The patent I296723 disclosed an embedded liquid display device (LCD) formed in a structure of a color filter plate. A greater driving voltage is required in conventional electrochromic materials and chromic mechanisms adopted in the electrochromic layer of the aforementioned patents, which causes a defect of the material easily, and results in a shorter using life.
In view of the aforementioned shortcomings, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed an electrochromic unit and a display device using the electrochromic unit in accordance with the present invention.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic unit with a reduced thickness and a simplified manufacturing process.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic unit without requiring additional electrolytes.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic unit with a quick coloration/decoloration, a long cycle life, and a small driving voltage.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic unit having the advantages but not the disadvantages of the organic/inorganic electrochromic materials.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides an electrochromic unit that using electrons of an electrochromic material to change the valence of ions of the electrochromic material for a change of color, and the electrochromic material is a transition element of a copper subgroup (IB), a zinc subgroup (IIB), a scandium subgroup (IIIB), a titanium subgroup (IVB), a vanadium subgroup (VB), a chromium subgroup (VIB), a manganese subgroup (VIIB), an iron series (VIIIB), a platinum series (VIIIB of the fifth or sixth period), an alkali metal group (IA), an alkali earth metal group (IIA), an oxygen group (VIA), a nitrogen group (VA), a carbon group (VIA) and a boron group (IIIA) or an organic/inorganic derivative of an oxide, a sulfide, a chloride or a hydroxide of the above transition element dissolved in a solvent, and a conductive element supplies electrons to change the valence of ions of the electrochromic material for a color change. Particularly, the concept of supplying electrons for a reduction and removing electrons for an oxidation provides a faster and more uniform color change than the conventional electrochromic material as well as the advantages of a small driving voltage and a long lifespan. In the meantime, ultraviolet light (UV) can produce the same effects of providing electrons to change color. Electrochromic materials of this sort can be applied to in the areas of display devices, e-books, 2D/3D conversion devices, rearview mirrors and intelligent glass, or even mixed with a conductive polymer to form an electrochromic ink used together with a screen printing method.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides an electrochromic unit comprising a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, an electrochromic layer formed between the transparent substrates, and a transparent conductive element installed on a surface of the first transparent substrate, a surface of the second transparent substrate, or corresponding surfaces of both first transparent and second substrates, and electrons are supplied to the electrochromic layer by the transparent conductive element, such that the valence of ions of the electrochromic layer is changed for a color change.
When the electrochromic unit is used for masking a 3D image display device to drive the electrochromic layer to produce a light shield area of grids, the following three methods can be adopted. In the first method, an isolating unit such as a photoresist is used for separating the electrochromic layers, such that when the electrochromic layers produce a color change, the structure of the electrochromic layers is arranged in a strip shape. In the second method, the electrochromic layers are arranged with an interval apart into a plurality of strips by a screen printing method. In the third method, a plurality of transparent conductive elements is used as isolating units for separating the electrochromic layers, and high and low voltages are applied alternately to two adjacent transparent conductive elements, such that after the transparent conductive elements are electrically conducted, the electrochromic layers will produce a color change. All of the foregoing methods use the electrochromic layers to produce a light shield area of grids to form the barrier.
Therefore, a 3D image is divided into a left-eye image and right-eye image when the image display unit is switched from displaying 2D images to 3D images. Now, the transparent conductive elements are electrically conducted, such that the color of the electrochromic layers is changed from a transparent area into a dark light shield area according to the arrangement of the electrochromic units with an interval apart from each other. The electrochromic unit produces a plurality of light shield areas arranged with an interval apart and divides the 3D image into a left-eye image and a right-eye image by eliminating the portion of an overlapped image area in the light shield area, such that after our naked eyes receive the images, overlapped patterns will not be produced. In general, a lenticular lens or a barrier is added onto a display device for displaying 3D images, but the electrochromic unit and the display device using the electrochromic unit in accordance with the present invention can divide the image into the 3D left-eye image and the 3D right-eye image directly by the display unit.
The technical characteristics and effects of the present invention will be apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiment together with the illustration of related drawings as follows.
With reference to
Beside the conventional structure of having the electrochromic layer 23 included between upper and lower transparent conductive elements, a plurality of transparent conductive elements is preferably arranged with an interval apart from each other for providing voltages of different potentials alternately, if a single substrate has the plurality of transparent conductive element, such that a voltage difference exists between electrodes, and electrons can be provided for the color change of the electrochromic layer 23.
The first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 22 are made of a plastic, polymer plastic or glass material, or a plastic polymer selected from the collection of resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene) (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA); and the first transparent conductive element 211 and the second transparent conductive element 221 are made of an impurity-doped oxide selected from the collection of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), Al-doped ZnO (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO) or carbon nanotubes.
The electrochromic layer 23 is disposed between the first transparent substrate 21 and the second transparent substrate 22 and covered onto a surface of the first transparent conductive element 221, and the electrochromic layer 23 is made of a material comprising a transition element selected from the collection of a copper subgroup (IB), a zinc subgroup (IIB), a scandium subgroup (IIIB), a titanium subgroup (IVB), a vanadium subgroup (VB), a chromium subgroup (VIB), a manganese subgroup (VIIB), an iron series (VIIIB), a platinum series (VIIIB of the fifth or sixth period), an alkali metal group (IA), an alkali earth metal group (IIA), an oxygen group (VIA), a nitrogen group (VA), a carbon group (VIA), and a boron group (IIIA) or an organic/inorganic derivative prepared by dissolving an oxide, sulfide, chloride or hydroxide into a solvent, wherein the solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide (CH3)2SO, propylene carbonate (C4H6O3) or water (H2O). The conductive element supplies electrons to change the valence of ions of the electrochromic material for a color change. In particular, electrons are supplied to the valance of ions to produce a reduction and electrons are removed to produce an oxidation, so that the coloration speed is faster and more uniform than that of the conventional electrochromic material, and the driving voltage is smaller and the life span is longer. In the meantime, ultraviolet lights are provided for generating electrons to give the same coloration effect. The electrochromic materials of this sort can be applied in the areas of display devices, e-books, 2D/3D conversion devices, rearview mirrors and smart glass. The electrochromic layer can be mixed with an electrically conductive polymer to produce an electrochromic ink to be used together with a screen printing method.
Examples of colors of various groups mentioned above are listed and described below:
Halogen Group (VIIA):
Solid: I2 purplish black; ICl dark red; IBr dark grey; IF3 yellow; ICl3 orange; I2O5 white; I2O4 yellow (ion crystals); I4O9 yellow (ion crystals).
Oxygen Group (VIA):
Solid: S light yellow; Se grey, brown; Te colorless metal luster; Na2S,(NH4)2S, K2S,BaS white, soluble; ZnS white↓; MnS red flesh↓; FeS black↓; PbS black↓; CdS yellow↓; Sb2S3 orange red↓; SnS brown↓; HgS black (precipitate), red (cinnabar red); Ag2S black↓; CuS black↓; Na2S2O3 white; Na2S2O4 white; SeO2 white, volatile; SeBr2 red; SeBr4 yellow; TeO2 white heated to become yellow; H2TeO3 white; TcBrz brown; TeBr4 orange; TeI4 grayish black; PoO2 low-temperature yellow (face-centered cube), high-temperature red (tetrahedron); SO3 colorless; SeO3 colorless easily soluble in water; TeO3 orange; H6TeO6 colorless.
Nitrogen Group (VA):
Solid: ammonium salt colorless crystal; nitrified metal white; N2O3 blue (low-temperature); N2O5 white; P white, red, black; P2O3 white; P2O5 white; PBr3 yellow; PI3 red; PCl5 colorless; P4Sx yellow; P2S3 grayish yellow; P2S5 light yellow; H4P2O7 colorless glass form; H3PO2 white; As grey; As2O3 white; As2O5 white; AsI3 red; As4S4 red (arsenic disulfide); As4S6 yellow (arsenic trisulphide); As2S5 light yellow; Sb silver white; Sb(OH)3 white↓; Sb2O3 white (antimony white pigment); Sb2O5 light yellow; SbX3(X< >0 white; SbI3 red; Sb2S3 orange red↓; Sb2S5 orange yellow; Bi silver white and slightly red; Bi2O3 light yellow; Bi2O5 reddish brown; BiF3 grayish white; BiCl3 white; BiBr3 yellow; BiI3 black↓; Bi2S3 brownish black.
Carbon Group (IVA):
Solid: C (corundum) colorless transparent; C (graphite) black color metal luster; Si grayish black color metal luster; Ge grayish white; Sn silver white; Pb dark grey; SiO2 colorless transparent; H2SiO3 colorless transparent gel↓; Na2SiF6 white crystal; GeO black; GeO2 white; SnO black; SnO2 white; Sn(OH)2 white↓; PbO yellow or yellowish red; Pb2O3 orange; Pb3O4 red; PbO2 brown; CBr4 light yellow; Cl4 light red; GeI2 orange; GeBr2 yellow; GeF4 white; GeBr4 grayish white; GeI4 yellow; SnF2 white; SnCl2 white; SnBr2 light yellow; SnI2 orange; SnF4 white; SnBr4 colorless; SnI4 red; PbF2 colorless ↓; PbCl2 white↓; PbBr2 white; PbI2 gold yellow; PbF4 colorless; GeS red; GeS2 white; SnS brown↓; SnS2 gold yellow (commonly called gold powder) ↓; PbS black↓; PbS2 reddish brown; Pb(NO3)2 colorless; Pb(Ac)2.3H2O colorless crystal; PbSO4 white↓; PbCO3 white↓; Pb(OH)2 white↓; Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 lead white↓; PbCrO4 white yellow↓.
Boron Group (IIIA):
Solid: B (with no fixed shape) brown powder; B (crystal) grayish black; Al silver white; Ga silver white (easily liquefied); In silver grey; Tl silver grey; B2O3 glass form; H3BO3 colorless sheet form; BN white; Na2B4O7.10H2O white crystal; Cu(BO2)2 blue↓; Ni(BO2)2 green 1; NaBO2.Co(BO2)2 blue 1; NaBO24H2O colorless crystal; non-aqueous NaBO2 yellow crystal; Al2O3 white crystal; AIF3 colorless; AlCl3 white; AlBr3 white; AlI3 brown; Al(OH)3 white↓; Ga2O3 white↓ Ga(OH)3 white↓; GaBr3 white; GaI3 yellow; In2O3 yellow; InBr3 white; InI3 yellow; TlOH yellow; Tl2O black; Tl2O3 brownish black; TlCl white↓; TlBr light yellow; TlI yellow↓ (similar to silver); TlBr3 yellow; TlI3 black.
Alkali Earth Metal (IIA):
Elementary substance: silver white
Flame color: Ca brick red; Sr magneta; Ba green.
Oxides: All oxides are white solids.
Hydroxides: White solids Be(OH)2↓, Mg(OH)2↓.
Salts: Most salts are colorless or white crystals; BeCl2 light yellow; BaCrO4 yellow↓; CaF2 white↓.
Alkali Metal (IA):
Elementary substance: silver white
Flame color: Li red; Na yellow; K purple; Rb purplish red; Cs purplish red.
Oxide, Peroxide, Super Oxide, Ozonide: Li2O white; Na2O white; K2O light yellow; Rb2O white yellow; Cs2O orange red; Na2O2 light yellow; KO2 orange yellow; RbO2 dark brown; CsO2 dark yellow; KO3 orange red; Hydroxide white; LiOH white
Hydroxide: white, LiOH white↓.
Salt: Most salts are colorless or white crystals and easily soluble in water.
Insoluble salt↓ (all are white crystals unless otherwise stated): LiFLi2CO3Li3PO4 LiKFeIO6Na[Sb(OH)6]NaZn(UO2)3(Ac9.6H2O yellow green; M=K,Rb,Cs M3[Co(NO2)6] white yellow; MBPh4MClO4M2PtCl6 light yellow; CsAuCl4.
Copper Subgroup (IB):
Elementary substance: Cu purplish red or dark red; Ag silver white; Au gold yellow.
Copper compound: Flame color green; CuF red; CuCl white↓; CuBr yellow↓; CuI brownish yellow↓; CuCN white↓; Cu2O dark red; Cu2S black; CuF2 white; CuCl2 brownish yellow (yellowish green solution); CuBr2 brown; Cu(CN)2 brownish yellow; CuO black↓; CuS black↓; CuSO4 colorless; CuSO4.5H2O blue; Cu(OH)2 light blue↓; Cu(OH)2.CuCO3 green black; [Cu(H2O)4]2+ blue; [Cu(OH)4]2− bluish purple; [Cu(NH3)4]2+ dark blue; [CuCl4]2− yellow; [Cu(en)2]2+ dark bluish purple; Cu2[Fe(CN)6] brown red; cuprous acetylide red↓.
Silver compound: AgOH white (decomposed at normal temperature); Ag2O black; freshly made AgOH brownish yellow (mixed with Ag2O); silver proteinate (AgNO3 dropped on hands) black↓; AgF white; AgCl white↓; Ag bright yellow↓; AgI yellow↓ (gel); Ag2S black↓; Ag4[Fe(CN)6] white↓; Ag3[Fe(CN)6] white↓; Ag+,[Ag(NH3)2]+,[Ag(S2O3)2]3−,[Ag(CN)2]− colorless.
Gold compound: HAuCl4.3H2O white yellow crystal; KAuCl4.1.5H2O colorless sheet crystal; Au2O3 black; H[Au(NO3)4].3H2O yellow crystal; AuBr grayish yellow↓; AuI lemon yellow↓.
Zinc Subgroup (IIB):
Elementary substance: All elementary substances are silver white, and the Hg precipitate in water solution is black.
Zinc compound: ZnO white (zinc white pigment) ↓; ZnI colorless: ZnS white↓; ZnCl2 white crystal (highly soluble, water-soluble, acidic); K3Zn3[Fe(CN)6] white; Zn3[Fe(CN)6] yellowish brown.
Cadmium compound: CdO brownish grey↓; CdI2 yellow; CdS yellow (cadmium yellow pigment) ↓; HgCl2 (mercury perchloride) white; HgNH2Cl white↓; Hg2Cl2(mercurous chloride) white↓.
Mercury compound: HgO red (large crystal grain) or yellow (small crystal grain) ↓; HgI2 red or yellow (slightly soluble); HgS black or red↓; Hg2NI.H2O red↓; Hg2(NO3)2 colorless crystal.
ZnS phosphor: Ag blue; Cu yellowish green; Mn orange.
Titanium Subgroup (IVB):
Titanium compound: Ti3+ purplish red; [TiO(H2O2)2]2+ orange yellow; H2TiO3 white ↓; TiO2 white (titanium white pigment) or Mona red (rutile) ↓; (NH4)TiCl6 yellow crystal; [Ti(H2O)6]Cl3 purple crystal; [Ti(H2O)5Cl]Cl2.H2O green crystal; TiCl4 colorless smoke-generating liquid.
Zirconium, hafnium: MO2, MCl4 white.
Vanadium Subgroup (VB):
Vanadium compound: V2+ purple; V3+ green; VO2+ blue; V(OH)4− yellow; VO43− yellow: VO black; V2O3 grayish black; V2S3 brownish black; VO2 blue solid; VF4 green solid; VCl4 dark brown liquid; VBr4 magneta liquid; V2O5 yellow or brick red; hydrate V2O5 brownish red; saturated V2O5 solution (slightly soluble) light yellow; [VO2(O2)2]3− yellow; [V(O2)3]3− reddish brown.
Vanadium acid radical polycondensation: As the atomic number of vanadium reduces, the color changes from a light yellow to dark red˜light yellow.
Columbium, tantalum: omitted.
Chromium Subgroup (VIB):
Chromium compound: Cr2+ blue: Cr3+ purple; Cr2O72− orange red; CrO42− yellow; Cr(OH)4− bright green; Cr(OH)3 grayish blue; Cr2O3 green; CrO3 dark red needle shape; [CrO(O2)2]OEt2 blue; CrO2Cl2 dark red liquid; Na2Cr2O7,K2CrO7 orange red; Ag2CrO4 brick red; BaCrO4 yellow↓; PbCrO4 yellow↓.
Purplish red Cr2(SO4)3.18H2O->Green Cr2(SO4)3.6H2O->Peach red Cr2(SO4)3
Dark green [Cr(H2O)4Cl2]Cl-cooling HCl->purple [Cr(H2O)6]Cl3-ethylether HCl->light green [Cr(H2O)5Cl]Cl2
[Cr(H2O)6]3+ purple; [Cr(H2O)4(NH3)2]3+ purplish red; [Cr(H2O)3(NH3)3]3+ light red; [Cr(H2O)2(NH3)4]3+ orange red; [Cr (NH3)5H2O]3+ orange yellow; [Cr(NH3)6]3+ yellow.
Molybdenum, tungsten: MoO3 white; brown MoCl3; green MoCl5; MoS3 brown↓; (NH4)3[P(Mo12O40)].6H2O yellow crystal form; WO3 dark yellow; H2WO4xH2O white gel.
Manganese Subgroup (VIIB):
Manganese compound: Mn2+ flesh red; Mn3+ purplish red; MnO42− green; MnO4− purple; MnO3+ bright green; Mn(OH)2 white.; MnO(OH)2 brown↓; MnO2 black↓; non-aqueous manganese salt (MnSO4) white crystal; hexahydrate manganese salt (MnX2.6H2O, X=halogen. NO3, ClO4) pink; MnS.nH2O flesh red↓; non-aqueous MnS dark green; MnCO3 white↓; Mn3(PO4)2 white↓; KMnO4 purplish red; K2MnO4 green; K2[MnF6] gold yellow crystal; Mn2O7 brown oily liquid.
Technetium, Rhenium: omitted.
Iron Series (Group VIII of Fourth Period):
Iron compound: Fe light green; [Fe(H2O)6]3+ light purple; [Fe(OH)(H2O)5]2+ yellow; FeO42− purplish red; FeO black; Fe2O3 dark red; Fe(OH)2 white↓; Fe(OH)3 brownish red↓; FeCl3 or FeCl2 crystal brown red blue; non-aqueous FeSO4 white; FeSO47H2O green; K4[Fe(CN)6] (yellow prussiate) yellow crystal; K3[Fe(CN)6] (red prussiate) red crystal; Fe2[Fe(CN)6] Prussian blue ↓; Fe[Fe(CN)6] black↓; Fe(C5H5)2 (ferrocene) orange yellow crystal; M2Fe6(SO4)4(OH)12 (yellow ferrous sulfate, M=NH4, Na, K) light yellow crystal; Fe(CO)5 yellow liquid.
Cobalt compound: Co2+ pink; CoO grayish green; CO3O4 black; Co(OH)3 brown↓; Co(OH)2 pink↓; Co(CN)2 red; K4[Co(CN)6] purple crystal; Co2(CO)8 yellow crystal; [Co(SCN)6]4− purple;
Cobalt chloride is dehydrated into pink CoCl2.6H2O-325K->purplish red CoCl. 2H2O-313K->bluish purple CoCl2.H2O-393K->blue CoCl2.
Nickel compound: Ni2+ bright green; [Ni(NH3)6]2+ purple; Ni(OH)2 green ↓; Ni(OH)3 black↓; non-aqueous Ni(II) salt yellow; Na2[Ni(CN)4] yellow; K2[Ni(CN)4] orange; Ni(CO)4 colorless liquid.
Platinum Series Element (Group VIII of Fifth and Sixth Periods):
Os bluish grey volatile solid; Pd↓(aq) black; OsO4 colorless special-odor gas; H2PtCl6 orange red crystal; Na2PtCl6 orange yellow crystal; M2PtCl6(M=K, Rb, Cs, NH4) yellow↓.
For example, in ferrous chloride of an iron series (VIIIB), the solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The ferrous chloride crystal particle has a blue color (Fe2+ is blue), and its surface is oxidized to produce a reddish brown color (Fe3+ is light yellow). If ferrous chloride is dissolved in a solvent, the oxidation changes Fe2+ into Fe3+, so that the solvent is changed to light yellow. With the electrons supplied by the first transparent conductive element 211, the light yellow Fe proximate to the electrochromic layer 3 of the first transparent conductive element 211 is reduced to the original blue Fe2+, and the whole electrochromic layer 23 is reduced to change the valence and its color from light yellow to blue, so to achieve a darker color effect. If the electrons in the first transparent conductive element 211 changes the electrochromic layer 23 from the blue Fe2+ to the light yellow Fe3+ by short circuit or a reverse voltage loading/unloading, the whole electrochromic layer 23 will change from blue to light yellow due to the oxidation and change of valence, so as to achieve the decoloration effect. The same applies to the electrochromic layer 23 and the first transparent conductive element 211, and the film thickness can be controlled to achieve the effect of changing the color from light yellow to transparent. Further, dimethyl sulfoxide or pH modifier in ferrous chloride can be adjusted to provide a blue, purple, pink or light yellow color display according to the difference of concentrations, potentials, solvent polarities, pH values, polar distance, and dielectric constants, wherein the pH modifier used in a flat display device can be methyl viologen, sodium diphenylamine sulfonate, N—N′-Diphenylbenzidine, N-phenyl-o-anthranilic acid, polyaniline, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, or sulfuric acid.
The difference of this concept from a general inorganic electrochromic layer resides on that the inorganic electrochromic layer requires loading both ions and electrons into the crystal grids, and a relatively larger driving voltage, and thus the material may, have defects easily, and the lifespan is just ten to twenty thousand times only. On the other hand, the present invention simply requires a changing the valence of ions of the electrochromic material, not only requiring a small driving voltage, but avoiding defects of the material, and the lifespan can reach over thirty thousand times.
With reference to
The image display unit 1 is provided for displaying a 2D image and a 3D image, and the displayed 3D image can be generated by a software, firmware or hardware technology. For example, software or firmware is used to convert a 2D image into an overlapped image including a left-eye image and aright-eye image, or a lenticular lens or barrier is used for dividing a 3D image into a left-eye image and aright-eye image, but the 3D image display technology is a prior art and not a technical characteristic of the present invention, and thus will not be described in details here. In addition, the display unit 1 can be one selected from the collection of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a surface conduction electron-emitter display (SED), a field emission display (FED), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and an E-paper.
The electrochromic unit 2 includes a first transparent substrate 21, a second transparent substrate 22 and a plurality of electrochromic layers 23, wherein at least one first transparent conductive element 211 is disposed on a surface of the first transparent substrate 21. To achieve better electrochromism and 3D shielding effect, the electrochromic layers 23 are arranged with an interval apart from each other and between the transparent substrates 21, 22.
The first and second transparent substrates 21, 22 and the first and second transparent conductive elements 211, 221 are made of the same material as described in the first preferred embodiment, and thus will not be described here again.
With the electrons supplied by the first transparent conductive element 211, the valence of ions of the electrochromic layers 23 is changed to produce a color change, and the electrochromic layers 23 are made of a material prepared by dissolving a transition element (of a copper subgroup (IB), a zinc subgroup (IIB), a scandium subgroup (IIIB), a titanium subgroup (IVB), a vanadium subgroup (VB), a chromium subgroup (VIB), a manganese subgroup (VIIB), an iron series (VIIIB) or an organic/inorganic derivative of an element or its oxide, sulfide, chloride, hydroxide of a platinum series (VIIIB of the fifth or sixth period), an alkali metal group (IA), an alkali earth metal group (IIA), an oxygen group (VIA), a nitrogen group (VA), a carbon group (VIA), a boron group (IIIA) into a solvent, and the elements or compounds of each group, subgroup or series are the same as those described in the first preferred embodiment, and thus will not be described here again.
The electrochromic unit 2 is installed on an image projecting surface of the image display unit 1 corresponding to the image display unit 1, and after a multiple of images (divided into a left-eye image L and aright-eye image R) is processed and displayed by the image display unit 1, the electrochromic layers 23 are reduced by the supply of electrons from the first transparent conductive element 211 to change its color from a transparent or light color to a dark color (as shown in
With reference to
With reference o
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In addition, a pH modifier is further added to all of the aforementioned electrochromic units 2 further and provided for controlling the color of the electrochromic layer 23, and the pH modifier can be sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), methyl viologen (Methyl Viologen, C12K4N2Cl2), sodium diphenylamine sulfonate (C12H10NNaO3S), N—N′-Diphenylbenzidine (C20H20N2), N-phenyl-o-anthranilic acid (C13H11NO2), and polyaniline.
In summation of the description above, the electrochromic unit and the display device using the electrochromic unit in accordance with the present invention complies with the patent application requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application.
While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those generally skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 099124255 | Jul 2010 | TW | national |
| 201010287041.5 | Sep 2010 | CN | national |
