JP2015094924A - Photochromic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photochromatic lens that enlarges a degree of lens shape freedom without preliminarily setting a connection position for a power supply to an EC element.SOLUTION: A photochromatic lens has an electrochromic element formed on a lens surface, and the photochromatic lens comprises: an electrochromic layer; a first electrode that has an insulated area inside; an electrolyte layer; and a second electrode that is formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer. Provided is the photochromatic lens that includes: an electrode pad that is formed in a cross sectional surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and is electrically connected to the second electrode; and connection means for the electrode pad and a light source.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control lens.

Sunglasses are spectacles equipped with a dimming lens that controls the transmittance of light, developed to protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays contained in sunlight and to improve visibility by suppressing glare. It is popular. In addition, dimming lenses that exhibit colors such as blue and pink have been developed by absorbing specific light from those that absorb a relatively wide visible light range such as brown and gray. Today, sports, medical, fashion, etc. , Its uses are widespread.
However, since the conventional light control lens has a low transmittance, there is a problem that visibility is lowered in a dark place.
In view of this, sunglasses with a dimming lens with variable transmittance, such as coloring in a bright place to reduce the transmittance and transparent in a dark place to increase the transmittance, have been developed. The most widespread is a light control lens that applies a photochromic phenomenon in which the color changes with light (see Patent Document 1).
However, the photochromic lens has a problem of slow response, and when moving from a dark place to a bright place, it is difficult to see glare for a while and it is difficult to see it, and when moving from a bright place to a dark place, it is dark and difficult to see for a while. There's a problem. In addition, there is a problem that it is inconvenient because it cannot be arbitrarily dimmed by human intention.

Thus, an electrochromic (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “EC”) photochromic lens in which electrochromism is applied to the photochromic lens has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
The electrochromism is a phenomenon in which the color changes reversibly with redox, and is an electrochemical phenomenon. By forming an EC element in the lens using an EC substance exhibiting such electrochromism, an EC light control lens can be obtained in which the transparent state and the colored state of the lens can be arbitrarily and reversibly controlled by an electrical signal. . Electrochromism has an advantage that the response is as fast as several seconds compared to a photochromic light control lens.

The development of EC technology is expected to be applied to light control windows, anti-glare mirrors, and display technology for electronic paper in addition to such light control lenses, and has been studied for more than 30 years.
The configuration of the EC element includes a base material, a first electrode, an EC material, an ion conductive electrolyte, a porous electrode, and the like. If a transparent electrode is used, it is a transmissive EC element, and if a white reflective layer is formed inside and outside the element, a reflective display element can be obtained (see Patent Document 3). Further, if one electrode is made of an electrode material having a metallic luster and the other electrode is made transparent, a mirror EC element can be obtained.

The EC element manufacturing process usually involves preparing two substrates, forming an electrode and EC material on one side, forming an electrode and counter electrode reaction material on the other side, and bonding them together using an electrolyte. An EC element is produced.
Moreover, it is also possible to produce without the bonding step by sequentially laminating each layer by using an inorganic solid electrolyte for the electrolyte. Alternatively, as another method, a first electrode, an EC material, a porous insulating layer, a porous electrode, and a porous counter electrode reaction material are sequentially laminated, and after the electrolyte is permeated, it is gelled or solidified by stimulation such as heat or UV. There is also a method of making it.

  As the EC material, there are an organic EC material made of a conductive polymer such as a viologen dye or polythiophene, and an inorganic EC material typified by tungsten oxide. The organic EC material is characterized in that color control by molecular design is possible. Although the inorganic EC material is achromatic, it is characterized by excellent weather resistance.

By applying the above EC technology to the light control lens, as described above, it is possible to obtain quick response and arbitrary controllability of transmittance, which are not possible with conventional photochromic light control lenses. Many studies have been made on lenses. Specifically, there is one in which an EC light control lens is manufactured by laminating an inorganic EC material or an electrolyte on a lens base material by vacuum deposition and bonding the lens base material with a sealing lens or the like.
However, the EC light control lens is not so popular as the EC light control lens compared to the photochromic light control lens. The following points can be considered as this factor.
In the case of an EC element, it is necessary to bond two lenses together, but in this case, the thickness increases and the appearance is impaired, and the weight increases and the comfort as glasses is impaired. There is.

  Also, a method of forming an EC element by coating on one lens has been proposed (see Patent Document 4), but there is a problem of productivity. Lenses for spectacles vary in power depending on the user, and there are variations in the refractive index of the lens material, so there are various types of lens shapes such as curvature. Therefore, it becomes necessary to produce EC lenses corresponding to each shape according to the required number, and mass production is difficult. In order to solve this problem, there is a technique in which the EC element formed on the lens is sealed using a transparent resin layer, and the degree of curvature is given by adjusting the curvature using the same transparent resin layer (Patent Document). 5). In this way, EC dimming lenses are mass-produced, and a transparent resin layer is additionally formed according to the order, so that productivity is improved and only one lens is required. Solvable.

  However, in this method, even if the frequency can be handled, it is necessary to set a connection position for supplying power to the EC element in advance, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom of the lens shape is limited. In other words, spectacle lenses need to be processed into a lens shape according to the design of the spectacle frame selected by the user, but the types of designs are very diverse, and it is practically impossible to prepare them in advance. Impossible. Therefore, as a process design commensurate with productivity, a large number of eye-shaped EC light control lenses are manufactured, and then, according to the customer's order, the same process as the normal spectacle lens, Although it is preferable to pass the design processing of the target lens shape, the conventional technology cannot cope with this.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and achieve the following objects. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light control lens that does not require the connection position for supplying power to the EC element to be set in advance and increases the degree of freedom of the lens shape.

The light control lens of the present invention as means for solving the above problems is a light control lens in which an electrochromic element is formed on the lens surface,
The electrochromic element comprises an electrochromic layer, a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
Connecting means for connecting the electrode pad and the power source.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to provide a light control lens that eliminates the need to set a connection position for supplying power to an EC element in advance and that increases the degree of freedom of lens shape. Can do.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of dimming glasses. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a layer configuration of the light control lens according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of cutting along the dimming lens cutting line. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a light control lens after being cut along a cutting line. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the light control lens at the cut gland. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the light control lens after being cut along the cutting line. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a layer configuration of the light control lens according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the light control lens in the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a layer configuration of a light control lens according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the light control lens in the fourth embodiment.

(Light control lens)
In the first embodiment, the light control lens of the present invention is a light control lens in which an electrochromic element is formed on the lens surface,
The electrochromic element comprises an electrochromic layer, a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
It comprises means for connecting the electrode pad and the power source, and further comprises other means as required.

In the second embodiment, the light control lens of the present invention is a light control lens in which an electrochromic element is formed on the lens surface,
The electrochromic element includes a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer, and any one of the first electrode and the second electrode An electrochromic layer in contact with one side and an electroactive layer in contact with the other electrode,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
It comprises means for connecting the electrode pad and the power source, and further comprises other means as required.

Here, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted.
FIG. 1 shows light control glasses using the light control lens of the present invention.
The light control glasses include a spectacle frame 1, a light control lens 2 having an EC element formed on a lens surface, a control unit (not shown) having a power source and a drive path for driving the EC element, and a control unit. The electric connection part 4 for transmitting electric power from, and the electrode pad 3 provided in the dimming lens for receiving electric power from the control part.
The electrical connection portion 4 can be formed so as to be sandwiched between the frame and the light control lens 2. At this time, by using conductive rubber or the like, it is possible to prevent disconnection or short-circuit due to loosening or displacement of the coupling portion. Moreover, the electrical connection portion 4 does not need to be provided in contact with the frame, and may be directly attached to the light control lens 2 with a conductive adhesive.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 2 illustrates details of the light control lens 2 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the constituent layers for explaining the configuration of the light control lens 2. The light control lens 2 includes a lens substrate 5, a first electrode 6, an electrochromic layer 7, an electrolyte layer 8, a second electrode 9, and a protective layer 10.

<< Electrode >>
The material of the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 is not particularly limited as long as it is a transparent and conductive material, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, indium oxide doped with tin ( Hereafter, ITO), tin oxide doped with fluorine (hereinafter referred to as FTO), tin oxide doped with antimony (hereinafter referred to as ATO) and the like can be mentioned. Among these, any of indium oxide (hereinafter referred to as In oxide), tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as Sn oxide), and zinc oxide (hereinafter referred to as Zn oxide) formed by vacuum film formation. An inorganic material including one is preferable.
Each of the In oxide, Sn oxide, and Zn oxide is a material that can be easily formed by a sputtering method, and that can provide good transparency and electrical conductivity.
Among these, InSnO, GaZnO, SnO, In ₂ O ₃ and ZnO are particularly preferable. Furthermore, transparent network electrodes such as silver, gold, carbon nanotube, and metal oxide, and composite layers thereof are also useful.

The layer thickness of the electrode is not particularly limited, and is adjusted so as to obtain an electric resistance value necessary for an electrochromic oxidation-reduction reaction. When ITO is used, the thickness is preferably 50 nm to 500 nm.
Examples of the method for producing the electrode include a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, an ion plating method, or a spin coating method, a casting method, a micro gravure coating method, and a gravure coating as long as the display electrode material can be formed by coating. Method, bar coating method, roll coating method, wire bar coating method, dip coating method, slit coating method, capillary coating method, spray coating method, nozzle coating method, gravure printing method, screen printing method, flexographic printing method, offset printing method Various printing methods such as reverse printing and ink jet printing can also be used.

The insulated region pattern inside the first electrode 6 is used when forming an electrode pad to be described later.
There is no particular limitation on the size and shape of the area pattern, and if it is too large, there is a possibility that it will enter the field of view and reduce the visibility.
Regarding the size of the region pattern, it is difficult to show an electrochromic reaction on the inner side of the pattern. Therefore, it is preferable that the size is 5 mm or less from the viewpoint of visibility.
Leaving a region electrically insulated from the outside inside the region pattern has an effect of promoting the electrochromic reaction inside the pattern.
In this case, it is preferable that an interval wider than at least the interval between the first electrode and the second electrode is placed between the inner side and the outer side of the region pattern.
This is because the EC element is filled with an electrolyte layer, which will be described later, and if the interval is narrow, the insulation resistance inside and outside the pattern is lowered, and when the electrode pad is formed, the electrical insulation between the first and second electrodes deteriorates. It is because it ends. Since the distance between the upper and lower electrodes of the EC element is several μm, an interval of several μm or more is sufficient.
Further, the position and number of the region pattern are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, when the number increases, the influence on the visibility described above increases.
On the other hand, when the number is small, the electrode pad is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the lens when the electrode pad described later is formed, which adversely affects the visibility.
In order to avoid this, by arranging several patterns in the radial direction, arranging several patterns in a staggered pattern, arranging several patterns in a spiral, etc., it supports secondary processing of all shapes while reducing the number of patterns. Can be made.
Patterning can be performed by using a shadow mask when forming the electrode, and by using an ink jet or a dispenser when coating can be formed.
Further, an etching method may be used after the electrodes are formed. In particular, laser etching using laser light is preferable because fine patterning can be easily performed.

<< Electrochromic layer >>
The electrochromic layer 7 includes an electrochromic material, and further includes other components as necessary.
As the electrochromic material, either an inorganic electrochromic compound or an organic electrochromic compound may be used.
In addition, a conductive polymer known to exhibit electrochromism can also be used.

Examples of the inorganic electrochromic compound include tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, iridium oxide, and titanium oxide.
Examples of the organic electrochromic compound include viologen, rare earth phthalocyanine, and styryl.
Examples of the conductive polymer include polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline, or derivatives thereof.

As the electrochromic layer 7, it is preferable to use a structure in which an organic electrochromic compound is supported on conductive or semiconductive fine particles.
Specifically, it is a structure in which fine particles having a particle size of about 5 nm to 50 nm are sintered on the electrode surface, and an organic electrochromic compound having a polar group such as phosphonic acid, carboxyl group, silanol group or the like is adsorbed on the surface of the fine particles. .
The structure utilizes a large surface effect of fine particles and efficiently injects electrons into the organic electrochromic compound. Therefore, the structure responds faster than a conventional electrochromic display element.
Furthermore, since a transparent film can be formed as a display layer by using fine particles, a high color density of the electrochromic dye can be obtained.
A plurality of types of organic electrochromic compounds can be supported on conductive or semiconductive fine particles.

Examples of the electrochromic material include polymer-based or dye-based electrochromic compounds such as azobenzene, anthraquinone, diarylethene, dihydroprene, dipyridine, styryl, styryl spiropyran, spirooxazine, spirothiopyran, Thioindigo, tetrathiafulvalene, terephthalic acid, triphenylmethane, triphenylamine, naphthopyran, viologen, pyrazoline, phenazine, phenylenediamine, phenoxazine, phenothiazine, phthalocyanine, fluorane And low molecular organic electrochromic compounds such as fulgide, benzopyran, and metallocene, and conductive polymer compounds such as polyaniline and polythiophene. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
Among these, a viologen compound or a dipyridine compound is preferable from the viewpoint of a low color developing / erasing potential and a good color value.

Examples of the viologen compound include compounds described in Japanese Patent No. 39555641 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-171781.
Examples of the dipyridine-based compound include compounds described in JP 2007-171781 A and JP 2008-116718 A.
Among these, a dipyridine compound represented by the following general formula 1 is preferable from the viewpoint of exhibiting a good color value.

[General Formula 1]

In the general formula 1, R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and at least one of R1 and R2 is COOH, PO ( OH) ₂ and Si (OC _k H _{2k + 1} ) ₃ (where k represents 1 to 20).
In the general formula 1, X represents a monovalent anion. The monovalent anion is not particularly limited as long as it forms a stable pair with the cation moiety, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, Br ion (Br ⁻ ), Cl ion (Cl ⁻ ), ClO ₄ ions (ClO ₄ ⁻ ), PF ₆ ions (PF ₆ ⁻ ), BF ₄ ions (BF ₄ ⁻ ), and the like.
In the general formula 1, n, m, and l represent 0, 1, or 2. A, B, and C each independently represent a C 1-20 alkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent.

Examples of the metal complex-based and metal oxide-based electrochromic compounds include inorganic electrochromic compounds such as titanium oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, indium oxide, iridium oxide, nickel oxide, and Prussian blue.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as electroconductive or semiconductive fine particle, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, A metal oxide is preferable.
Examples of the metal oxide material include titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, yttrium oxide, boron oxide, magnesium oxide, strontium titanate, potassium titanate, barium titanate, and calcium titanate. , Calcium oxide, ferrite, hafnium oxide, tungsten oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, vanadium oxide, aluminosilicate, calcium phosphate, aluminosilicate, etc. Is mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
In consideration of electrical properties such as electrical conductivity and physical properties such as optical properties, one type selected from titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide, magnesium oxide, indium oxide, tungsten oxide or When these mixtures are used, it is possible to display colors with excellent response speed of color development and decoloration.
Among these, titanium oxide is particularly preferable because color display with a more excellent response speed of color development and decoloration is possible.
In addition, the shape of the conductive or semiconductive fine particles is not particularly limited, but a shape having a large surface area per unit volume (hereinafter referred to as a specific surface area) is used in order to efficiently carry the electrochromic compound. .
For example, when the fine particle is an aggregate of nanoparticles, it has a large specific surface area, so that the electrochromic compound is more efficiently supported and the display contrast ratio of color development and decoloration is excellent.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the thickness of the said electrochromic layer, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0.2 micrometer-5.0 micrometers are preferable. When the thickness is less than 0.2 μm, it may be difficult to obtain a color density, and when it exceeds 5.0 μm, the manufacturing cost increases and the visibility may be easily lowered by coloring.
Although the electrochromic layer 7 and the conductive or semiconductive fine particle layer can be formed by vacuum film formation, it is preferably formed by coating as a particle dispersion paste from the viewpoint of productivity.

<< Electrolyte layer >>
The electrolyte layer 8 is formed as an electrolytic solution so as to be sandwiched between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9.
As the electrolytic solution, a liquid electrolyte such as an ionic liquid or a solution obtained by dissolving a solid electrolyte in a solvent is used.
As an electrolyte material, for example, inorganic ion salts such as alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts, quaternary ammonium salts, acids, and supporting salts of alkalis can be used. Specifically, LiClO ₄ , LiBF ₄ , LiAsF ₆ , LiPF ₆ , LiCF ₃ SO ₃ , LiCF ₃ COO, KCl, NaClO ₃ , NaCl, NaBF ₄ , NaSCN, KBF ₄ , Mg (ClO ₄ ) ₂ , Mg (BF ₄ ) _{2 and the} like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

The ionic liquid is not particularly limited and may be any substance that is generally studied and reported.
In particular, an organic ionic liquid has a molecular structure that exhibits a liquid in a wide temperature range including room temperature.
As the molecular structure, as a cation component, for example, imidazole derivatives such as N, N-dimethylimidazole salt, N, N-methylethylimidazole salt, N, N-methylpropylimidazole salt; N, N-dimethylpyridinium salt, Aromatic salts such as pyridinium derivatives such as N, N-methylpropylpyridinium salts; aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds such as tetraalkylammonium such as trimethylpropylammonium salt, trimethylhexylammonium salt and triethylhexylammonium salt Can be mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
As the anionic component, a compound containing fluorine is preferable in terms of stability in the atmosphere, and examples thereof include BF ₄ ⁻ , CF ₃ SO ₃ ⁻ , PF ₄ ⁻ , (CF ₃ SO ₂ ) ₂ N ^{− and the} like. . An ionic liquid formulated by a combination of these cationic components and anionic components can be used.

  Examples of the solvent include propylene carbonate, acetonitrile, γ-butyrolactone, ethylene carbonate, sulfolane, dioxolane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,2-ethoxymethoxyethane, and polyethylene glycol. , Alcohols, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

The electrolytic solution does not need to be a low-viscosity liquid, and can take various forms such as a gel, a polymer cross-linking type, and a liquid crystal dispersion type.
The electrolytic solution is preferably formed in a gel or solid form from the viewpoints of improving element strength, improving reliability, and preventing color diffusion.
As a solidification method, it is preferable to hold the electrolyte and the solvent in the polymer resin. This is because high ionic conductivity and solid strength can be obtained.
Further, the polymer resin is preferably a photocurable resin. This is because the device can be manufactured at a low temperature and in a short time as compared with the method of thinning by thermal polymerization or evaporation of the solvent.

The electrolyte layer 8 can be provided with a function of electrically insulating the first electrode and the second electrode by forming the electrolyte layer 8 in a form of being filled in a porous insulating film.
The material of the porous insulating film is not particularly limited as long as it is porous, but it is an organic material, an inorganic material, or those having high insulating properties, high durability, and excellent film forming properties. The complex of is preferable.
As a method for forming the porous film, a sintering method (using fine pores formed between particles by partially fusing polymer fine particles or inorganic particles by adding a binder or the like), an extraction method (in a solvent) After forming a constituent layer with a soluble organic or inorganic substance and a binder that does not dissolve in the solvent, the organic or inorganic substance is dissolved with a solvent to obtain pores), and the polymer is heated or degassed. A known forming method such as a foaming method for foaming, a phase change method for phase separation of a mixture of polymers by operating a good solvent and a poor solvent, and a radiation irradiation method for forming pores by radiating various types of radiation be able to.
Specific examples include polymer mixed particle films composed of metal oxide fine particles (for example, SiO ₂ particles, Al ₂ O ₃ particles, etc.) and a polymer binder, porous organic films (for example, polyurethane resin, polyethylene resin), porous Examples thereof include an inorganic insulating material film formed into a porous film.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the thickness of the said electrolyte layer 8, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 100 nm-10 micrometers are preferable.

<< Protective layer >>
It is preferable that a protective layer 10 for protecting the EC element is formed on the outermost layer of the light control lens.
By forming the protective layer, the EC element can be protected from gases such as oxygen and moisture. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a UV cut function, an antistatic function, a scratch preventing function, an antifouling function, and an antireflection function.
Examples of the material of the protective layer 10 include general UV curable resins and thermosetting resins.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the thickness of the said protective layer 10, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0.5 micrometer-10 micrometers are preferable.

<< Secondary processing >>
The light control lens 2 manufactured in this way is cut along the cutting line 11 in FIG. As a result, it is possible to perform secondary processing into a shape suitable for the shape of the frame for use as glasses, the position of the eyes of the user, etc., and to improve the comfort as glasses. Moreover, it is also possible to enter the frequency by shaving the back surface of the lens as necessary.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the light control lens 12 after being cut along the cutting line 11.
By cutting, the ends of the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 of the EC element are exposed at the end of the lens.
Here, both the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 are as thin as about 50 nm to 500 nm, and the distance between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 is very narrow as about 500 nm to several tens of μm.
As described above, since the thin electrodes overlap with each other at a narrow interval at the end portion of the EC element, the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 are electrically connected to the external power supply control circuit without electrical short-circuiting. It is very difficult.
Since the first electrode 6 of the first embodiment is formed directly on the lens substrate 5, the second electrode 9 is peeled off by peeling off the layer above the first electrode 6 or the like. Although it is possible to eliminate the overlap of the electrodes relatively easily, it is very difficult to remove only the first electrode 6, and it is difficult to externally connect the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 without electrically shorting them. It is very difficult to make a good electrical connection with the power supply control circuit.

  However, when the cut surface is applied to the pattern formed on the first electrode 6 as shown in FIG. 5, there is a region where the first electrode and the upper second electrode do not overlap in the thickness direction. By producing the electrode pad 13 with conductive ink or the like inside this region, the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 are electrically connected to the electrode pad having a large electrical contact area by fully utilizing the lens end portion or the width of the bevel. Therefore, it can be easily produced without causing a short circuit.

  Further, if the cut surface does not cover the pattern formed on the first electrode 6, a through hole 15 passing through the inside of the pattern 14 formed on the first electrode 6 is formed as shown in FIG. Thus, by filling the through hole 15, it is possible to easily produce the electrode pad 16 without causing the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 to be electrically short-circuited.

<< Production of Photochromic Lens in First Form >>
-Formation of the first electrode-
First, a lens substrate 5 having a diameter of 75 mm was prepared, and an ITO film was formed to a thickness of about 100 nm by sputtering to form a first electrode. Thereafter, laser etching was performed on the first electrode using a YAG laser quadruple wave (wavelength: 266 nm). As a result, the ITO film was etched into an island shape having a diameter of 1 mm, and the same pattern was arranged at intervals of 1.5 mm in the radial direction.

-Formation of electrochromic layer-
Next, a titanium oxide nanoparticle dispersion (trade name: SP210, manufactured by Showa Titanium Co., Ltd., average particle diameter: about 20 nm) is applied to the surface of the ITO film by a spin coating method and annealed at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes. Thus, a nanostructured semiconductor material composed of a titanium oxide particle film having a thickness of about 1.0 μm was formed.
Subsequently, as an electrochromic compound, a 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol solution containing 1.5% by mass of a compound represented by the following structural formula A was applied by spin coating, and then 120 ° C. × 10 minutes. An electrochromic layer was formed by carrying (annealing) the titanium oxide particle film by annealing.

<Structural formula A>

-Formation of electrolyte layer-
Subsequently, an SiO ₂ fine particle dispersion liquid (silica solid content concentration 24.8 mass%, polyvinyl alcohol 1.2 mass%, and water 74 mass%) having an average primary particle diameter of 20 nm is spin-coated on the electrochromic layer, and porous. A qualitative insulating film was formed. The film thickness of the formed porous insulating film was about 2 μm. Further, a solution obtained by mixing tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as an electrolyte and dimethyl sulfoxide and polyethylene glycol (molecular weight: 200) as a solvent in a ratio of 12:54:60 was used as an electrolytic solution, and a device having a porous insulating film was formed for 1 minute. It was immersed and then dried on a hot plate at 120 ° C. for 1 minute to fill the electrolyte and form an electrolyte layer.

-Formation of second electrode-
Subsequently, an inorganic insulating layer of SiO ₂ was formed to a thickness of 40 nm by sputtering on the element on which the electrolyte layer 8 was formed. Further, an ITO film having a thickness of about 100 nm was formed on the inorganic insulating layer by sputtering to produce the second electrode 9.

-Formation of protective layer-
Furthermore, an ultraviolet curable adhesive (trade name: SD-17, manufactured by DIC) was spin-coated, and cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light to form the protective layer 10 to a thickness of about 3 μm, thereby producing a light control lens.

-Secondary processing-
Next, the obtained light control lens was cut according to the frame shape (omitted here). Thereafter, a hole having a diameter of 0.5 mm was formed inside the pattern near the end of the lens formed on the first electrode by a hand drill so as to penetrate the second electrode. This hole was filled with carbon paste (trade name: Hitachi AB-1, manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.) and dried to form an electrode pad 13.
Further, the layer above the first electrode 6 at the end of the lens was peeled off, the second electrode 9 was peeled off, and the exposed portion was used as the lead-out portion of the first electrode 6. As described above, the light control lens 2 having the EC element formed on the lens surface was produced.

<< Driving evaluation of light control lens >>
The color generation / decoloration of the produced light control lens 2 was confirmed.
When a voltage of 3 V was applied to the electrode pad 13 for 3 seconds, magenta coloration derived from the electrochromic layer was confirmed in the overlapping portion of the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9.
After that, when the space between the lead portion of the first electrode 6 and the electrode pad 13 is opened and left, the electrochromic layer is derived from the pattern inner portion of the first electrode 6 where the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 do not overlap. The magenta color was confirmed. When left standing for about 10 seconds, the entire surface was in a uniform colored state.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 7 illustrates the light control lens 17 in the second embodiment.
The light control lens 17 in the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the electroactive layer 18 is included in the EC element portion.

<< Electroactive layer >>
The electroactive layer 18 has a function of promoting charge diffusion for promptly aligning the color developing / erasing state on the inside and outside of the electrode pattern during color development and color erasing.
The charge diffusion inside the EC element depends on the erasing / erasing potential of the electrochromic layer 7 of the EC element, the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte layer 8, the sheet resistance of the electrochromic layer 7 and the electroactive layer 18, and the like.
The material used for the electroactive layer 18 in the second embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is a material exhibiting a reversible redox reaction typified by the electrochromic material described above, but the redox of the electrochromic layer 7. It is preferable to combine the reaction and the reverse reaction. As a result, it is possible to keep the color emission / erasure voltage of the EC element low.
As the material of the electroactive layer 18, a conductive material such as the above-described conductive polymer or conductive or semiconductive fine particles can also be used.
When the electroactive layer 18 is used in contact with the first electrode 6, the electric resistance between the inner side and the outer side of the electrode pattern is lower than the electric resistance between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 of the EC element. Therefore, it is necessary to control the concentration and thickness of the conductive material.
This is because when the electrical resistance inside and outside the pattern is low, the electrical insulation between the upper and lower electrodes deteriorates when the electrode pad is formed.

<< Production of Photochromic Lens in Second Form >>
The manufacturing method of the photochromic lens in the second mode is the same as the manufacturing method of the photochromic lens in the first mode except that the electroactive layer 18 shown below is included.

-Formation of electroactive layer-
An ATO fine particle layer was formed on the element formed up to the second electrode 9 by a spin coating method to form an electroactive layer 18. The thickness was about 250 nm and the resistivity was about 55 Ωcm.
Further, the protective layer 10 was formed to a thickness of about 3 μm by spin-coating an ultraviolet curable adhesive (trade name: SD-17, manufactured by DIC) and curing it by irradiation with ultraviolet light.
Thereafter, a light control lens 17 in which an EC element was formed on the lens surface in the second form was produced by the same method as in the first form.

<< Driving evaluation of light control lens >>
The color generation / decoloration of the produced light control lens was confirmed. The specific operation method is the same as in the first embodiment.
When a voltage of 3 V is applied between the lead portion of the first electrode 6 of the EC element and the electrode pad 13 for 2 seconds, the portion where the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 overlap is derived from the electrochromic layer. The magenta color was confirmed to be comparable to that in the first embodiment.
After that, when the space between the lead portion of the first electrode 6 and the electrode pad 13 was opened and left, the entire surface immediately became uniform.

<Third embodiment>
FIG. 8 illustrates the light control lens 19 in the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the second electrode 9 has an insulated region, and the region is arranged so as not to overlap the insulated region inside the first electrode 6. It differs from other embodiment by the point provided with the electrode pad 20 formed in the cut surface inside arbitrary patterns, and being electrically connected with the 1st electrode 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cut surface of the light control lens 19. Since the patterns applied to the respective electrodes do not overlap (in the thickness direction), the electrode pads 13 and 20 can be formed on the two electrodes at positions sufficiently separated from each other.

<< Preparation of a photochromic lens in the third embodiment >>
The method of manufacturing the light control lens in the third mode is the first and second except that the second electrode shown below is patterned and the electrode pad 20 for connection to the first electrode is formed. This is the same as the manufacturing method of the photochromic lens.

-Patterning on the second electrode-
After the second electrode was formed by sputtering, laser etching was performed on the second electrode using a YAG laser quadruple wave (wavelength: 266 nm). As a result, the ITO film was etched into an island shape having a diameter of 1 mm, and the same pattern was arranged at intervals of 1.5 mm in the radial direction. However, the pattern was formed in a place where it did not overlap with the pattern formed on the first electrode.

-Formation of electrode pad 20-
As with the light control lenses in the first and second embodiments, after the electrode pad 13 is formed, a hole having a diameter of 0.5 mm is formed on the inner side of the pattern produced on the second electrode but near the end of the lens. It formed with the hand drill so that one electrode might be penetrated. This hole was filled with carbon paste (trade name: Hitachi AB-1, manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.) and dried to form an electrode pad 20.

<< Driving evaluation of light control lens >>
The color generation / decoloration of the produced light control lens was confirmed. The specific operation method differs from the other embodiments in that the electrode pad 20 is used for connection between the first electrode and the power source.
When a voltage of 3 V was applied between the lead portion of the first electrode 6 of the light control lens and the electrode pad 13 for 3.2 seconds, an electrochromic layer was formed on the overlapping portion of the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9. The magenta coloration derived from the above was confirmed to the same extent as in the first embodiment.
After that, when the space between the lead portion of the first electrode 6 and the electrode pad 13 was left open and left for about 3 seconds, the entire surface was uniformly colored as in the first embodiment.

<Fourth embodiment>
In FIG. 9, the light control lens 21 in the fourth embodiment will be described.
The light control lens 21 in the fourth embodiment is different from the other embodiments in that it has an island-like electrode 22 formed in an island shape in an insulated region of the electrode.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a cut surface when the electrode pad 13 is formed on the light control lens 21 in the fourth embodiment. The island-shaped electrode 22 is in contact with the first electrode 6 through the lens substrate 5 and the electrochromic layer 7. The electrical resistance between the island-shaped electrode 22 and the first electrode 6 depends on the electrical resistance of the lens substrate 5 and the electrochromic layer 7. Generally, a material having no electrical conductivity is used for the lens substrate 5.
When the electrical resistance value between the island electrode 22 and the first electrode 6 is lower than the resistance value between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9, the island electrode 22 and the first electrode 6 are electrically short-circuited. Thus, the voltage for driving the light control lens is not applied between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9, and the light control lens cannot be driven.

<< Fabrication of a photochromic lens in the fourth embodiment >>
In the fourth embodiment, the distance between the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 is about 3 μm, whereas the distance between the island-shaped electrode 22 and the first electrode 6 is 10 μm. The first electrode 6 was formed so as not to be electrically short-circuited. Other parts are the same as those of the first, second and third embodiments.
Patterning on the first electrode was performed using a laser etching method using a YAG laser quadruple wave (wavelength: 266 nm).
Although FIG. 10 shows a pattern in which only the first electrode is patterned, the same patterning may be performed on the second electrode in addition to the first electrode in the same manner as in the third embodiment. .

<< Driving evaluation of light control lens >>
The color generation / decoloration of the produced light control lens was confirmed. The specific operation method is the same as in the first embodiment.
When a voltage of 3 V was applied for 2 seconds between the lead-out portion of the first electrode 6 of the light control lens and the electrode pad 13, the overlapping portion of the first electrode 6 and the second electrode 9 and the first electrode 6 were applied. Inside the formed pattern, magenta coloration derived from the electrochromic layer was confirmed to the same extent as in the first embodiment.

  As mentioned above, although the light control lens of this invention was demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change may be made in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

As an aspect of this invention, it is as follows, for example.
<1> A dimming lens in which an electrochromic element is formed on a lens surface,
The electrochromic element comprises an electrochromic layer, a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
A light control lens comprising a connecting means for connecting the electrode pad and a power source.
<2> A dimming lens in which an electrochromic element is formed on a lens surface,
The electrochromic element includes a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer, and any one of the first electrode and the second electrode An electrochromic layer in contact with one side and an electroactive layer in contact with the other electrode,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
A light control lens comprising a connecting means for connecting the electrode pad and a power source.
<3> Having an insulated region inside the second electrode,
The insulated region is arranged so as not to overlap the insulated region inside the first electrode;
The light control lens according to any one of <1> to <2>, further comprising: an electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the second electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode. It is.
<4> The photochromic lens according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein an inside of the electrode formed in an island shape is provided in an insulated region of the electrode.
<5> The light control according to <4>, wherein an interval between the electrode and an electrode formed in an island shape in an insulated region of the electrode is wider than an interval between the first electrode and the second electrode. It is a lens.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glasses frame 2, 12, 17, 21 Light control lens 5 Lens base material 6 1st electrode 7 Electrochromic layer 8 Electrolyte layer 9 Second electrode 10 Protective layer 11 Cut gland 13, 20 Electrode pad 14 Pattern 15 Through-hole 16 Electrode Pad 18 Electroactive layer 22 Island electrode

Japanese Patent No. 3892210 JP-A-4-306614 JP 2012-137736 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 02-138720 JP-A-8-43862

Claims (5)

A dimming lens having an electrochromic element formed on the lens surface,
The electrochromic element comprises an electrochromic layer, a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
A light control lens comprising a connecting means for connecting the electrode pad and a power source. A dimming lens having an electrochromic element formed on the lens surface,
The electrochromic element includes a first electrode having a region insulated inside, an electrolyte layer, a second electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte layer, and any one of the first electrode and the second electrode An electrochromic layer in contact with one side and an electroactive layer in contact with the other electrode,
An electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode;
A light control lens comprising a connecting means for connecting the electrode pad and a power source. Having an insulated region inside the second electrode;
The insulated region is arranged so as not to overlap the insulated region inside the first electrode;
The light control lens according to claim 1, further comprising: an electrode pad formed on a cut surface inside an arbitrary pattern of the second electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode.   4. The light control lens according to claim 1, further comprising an inner side of an electrode formed in an island shape in an insulated region of the electrode. 5.   The light control lens according to claim 4, wherein a distance between the electrode and an electrode formed in an island shape in an insulated region of the electrode is wider than a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode.