An electrochromic device is structured to selectively switch separate regions to separate transmission levels, based at least in part upon different respective sheet resistances of separate conductive layer regions. Sheet resistance of a conductive layer region can be associated with a transmission level to which a corresponding EC stack region can be switched, and a conductive layer with separate regions having separate sheet resistances causes corresponding EC stack regions to switch to different transmission levels. Sheet resistance in a conductive layer region can be adjusted via various processes, including introducing various chemical species into the conductive layer region to adjust a chemical species distribution in the region, where the chemical species distribution is associated with the sheet resistance of the region, heating conductive layer regions to induce oxidation of the region, adjusting the thickness of a conductive layer region, etc.

The present invention relates to an electrochromic device, and according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochromic device comprising: a first electrode layer; a first electrochromic layer provided on the first electrode layer; an electrolyte layer provided on the first electrochromic layer; a second electrochromic layer provided on the electrolyte layer; and a second electrode layer provided on the second electrochromic layer, wherein it comprises a first auxiliary electrode layer and a second auxiliary electrode layer each provided on each opposite surface of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer opposed to each other with the electrolyte layer interposed therebetween.

An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic medium including a cathodic component, an anodic component, a hydroquinone, and a solvent.

Ion-storage layers for electrochromic devices (ECDs) that are tuned to be minimally color changing (MCC) during operation of the ECDs. In some embodiments, an ion-storage layer is composed of an n-type metal oxide that complements a p-type electrochromic (EC) layer, such as an EC layer made of a p-type EC polymer. In some embodiments, an ion-storage layer may be tuned to be MCC by configuring an ion-storage layer to have a total charge density that is higher than the total charge density of a corresponding EC layer or to have a coloration efficiency lower than the coloration efficiency of the corresponding EC layer, or both. Methods for preparing ion-storage layers are disclosed, including methods for creating highly structured metal oxide having reduced coloration efficiencies. ECD devices incorporating MCC ion-storage layers are also disclosed.

Various embodiments herein relate to electrochromic devices, methods of fabricating electrochromic devices, and apparatus for fabricating electrochromic devices. In a number of cases, the electrochromic device may be fabricated to include a particular counter electrode material. The counter electrode material may include a base anodically coloring material. The counter electrode material may further include one or more halogens. The counter electrode material may also include one or more additives.

Methods and materials to fabricate electrochromic including electrochemical devices are disclosed. In particular, emphasis is placed on the composition, fabrication and incorporation of electrolytic sheets in these devices. Composition, fabrication and incorporation of redox layers and sealants suitable for these devices are also disclosed. Incorporation of EC devices in insulated glass system (IGU) windows is also disclosed.

Electrochromic device including: first electrode; a first auxiliary electrode; a second electrode; a second auxiliary electrode having average distance of 100 mm or less with the first auxiliary electrode; an electrochromic layer; a solid electrolyte layer; and controlling unit configured to control to apply voltage according to a driving pattern that is at least one selected from the group consisting of a first driving pattern, a second driving pattern, and an initialization driving pattern, wherein the first driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to turn the electrochromic layer into first coloring state, the second driving pattern is a driving pattern configured to turn the first coloring state into a second coloring state that has coloring density lower than coloring density of the first coloring state, and the initialization driving pattern is driving pattern for forming an initial decolored state.

The embodiments herein relate to electrochromic stacks, electrochromic devices, and methods and apparatus for making such stacks and devices. In various embodiments, an anodically coloring layer in an electrochromic stack or device is fabricated to include nickel tungsten tantalum oxide (NiWTaO). This material is particularly beneficial in that it is very transparent in its clear state.

The present application relates to an electrochromic device. In one aspect, the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic element including a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrochromic layer, an ion storage layer and the second electrode. The electrochromic device also includes controller configured to change a state of the electrochromic element to change to at least one of a first state having a first transmittance, a second state having a second transmittance, a third state having a third transmittance, or a fourth state having a fourth transmittance by applying power to the electrochromic element. When a first voltage is applied to the electrochromic element in a first state, the electrochromic element becomes the second state, and when the first voltage is applied to the electrochromic element in a fourth state, the electrochromic element becomes the third state.

A overcharge-aware electrochromic device driver for preventing overcharge of an electrochromic device is described. One driver applies a constant supply current to an electrochromic device from a power supply. The driver determines an amount of charge as a function of time and current supplied to the electrochromic device. The driver determines whether the amount of charge reaches an overcharge limit before a sense voltage reaches a first sense voltage limit. Responsive to the amount of charge reaching the overcharge limit, the driver sets the sense voltage as a second sense voltage limit that is lower than the first sense voltage limit, ceases the constant supply current, and applies one of a variable voltage or a variable current to the electrochromic device from the power supply to maintain the sense voltage at the second sense voltage limit.