EP1509811A1 - Laser structuring of electro-optical systems - Google Patents
Laser structuring of electro-optical systemsInfo
- Publication number
- EP1509811A1 EP1509811A1 EP03755137A EP03755137A EP1509811A1 EP 1509811 A1 EP1509811 A1 EP 1509811A1 EP 03755137 A EP03755137 A EP 03755137A EP 03755137 A EP03755137 A EP 03755137A EP 1509811 A1 EP1509811 A1 EP 1509811A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- electro
- layer
- optical
- segment
- metal oxide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/153—Constructional details
- G02F1/1533—Constructional details structural features not otherwise provided for
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/15—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect
- G02F1/1514—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material
- G02F1/1523—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on an electrochromic effect characterised by the electrochromic material, e.g. by the electrodeposited material comprising inorganic material
- G02F1/1524—Transition metal compounds
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for producing structured electro-optical components and electro-optical elements, in particular display or display elements, with these electro-optical components.
- Electro-optical displays or display elements are of great interest for many applications, in particular those with large buttons in the form of switchable mirrors, windows or other display elements.
- electro-optical systems are two electro-optical components arranged in parallel or capacitor plates provided with electro-optical functional layers, which delimit a flat chamber with a sealing frame.
- At least one of the capacitor plates is made of a translucent material, e.g. glass coated with a transparent semiconductor (ITO, FTO, ATO) (e.g. K glass).
- ITO, FTO, ATO e.g. K glass
- the chamber between the plates is filled with an ion-conducting medium (electrolyte).
- electro-optical systems are known and are e.g.
- Such systems can basically be divided into non-structured full-area systems and structured systems.
- a non-structured system is described in US-A-4902108 and a structured system is described in DE-A-19631728.
- both the electrochromic layer (W0 3 ) and the underlying transparent electrically conductive layer must be able to be divided into segments in such a way that when segmenting or removing the electrochromic layer, the underlying one transparent electrically conductive layer is not affected or damaged. It is also required that this segmentation be carried out quickly, precisely, with clean edges and, if possible, in one work step. This is not possible with the methods described above.
- the inventors surprisingly found that the above requirements can be met by structuring with laser light.
- the invention therefore relates to a method for producing structured electro-optical components, in which in one or more steps on at least one segment of an electro-optical component which comprises a substrate, an electrically conductive layer and at least one metal oxide layer by laser light Formation of a structure is removed.
- An electro-optical component here is a substrate provided with electro-optical functional layers, which is used in particular as a capacitor plate or electrode for the electro-optical system or element.
- the electro-optical components are, in particular, electro-optical multilayer systems.
- the layers are thin layers. Those in the electro-optical multilayer system on the substrate Layers generally have a thickness of not more than 1 ⁇ m, and different functional layers can also have different thicknesses.
- Electro-optical systems are described in large numbers for different areas of application and in different combinations of individual components.
- further layers may also be applied to the substrate, e.g. Diffusion barrier layers or ion insertion layers. Electrolytes are also used.
- all components or layers known from the prior art can be used. For this, reference is made to the literature cited above. Particularly preferred components or layers for electro-optical systems are described in WO 95/28663, to which reference is made in full.
- the order of the layers can vary and there can also be several layers of a functional layer. According to the method according to the invention, all of these layers can be selectively removed in layers by laser light, in order to achieve a structuring or segmentation of the electro-optical component.
- the layers are generally inorganic. They are usually metal oxide layers, and the electrically conductive layer can also be a metal layer. However, the electrically conductive layer is also preferably a metal oxide layer.
- the metal oxide can be the oxide of one or more metals.
- the metal oxide can be doped, optionally also with a non-metal.
- the additional at least one metal oxide layer is preferably at least one electrochromic layer. Additional metal oxide layers that can be used as functional layers are, for example, one or more ion insertion layers. Of course, both electrochromic layers and ion insertion layers can be present in the electro-optical component.
- the sol-gel method is used in a particularly advantageous manner, in which substrates are generally homogeneously coated over a large area with the functional layers, so that the multilayer system is on the substrate in the desired order.
- metal oxide precursors can easily be applied wet-chemically as a coating sol to the optionally precoated substrate and transferred to the metal oxide layer by heat treatment. Details can be found in WO 95/28663 cited above.
- These layers can be applied to the substrate by conventional wet coating methods, for example by dipping, brushing, spraying, by means of rollers or by spin coating. This is followed by heat treatment for compression.
- wet coating methods for example by dipping, brushing, spraying, by means of rollers or by spin coating. This is followed by heat treatment for compression.
- structured electro-optical components are particularly suitable for the structuring according to the invention, but it is also possible to structure further pre-structured components.
- any substrate to which an electrically conductive layer can be applied can be used as the substrate, and the substrate materials known from the prior art, in particular glass or plastic, can be used. Glass is most preferred.
- the substrate is preferably transparent. Suitable substrates (supports) are in particular all transparent substrates which can be provided with a transparent conductive layer and which can withstand the temperatures to be used in the thermal aftertreatment of the applied layer. These substrates are preferably made of glass or transparent plastic, e.g. corresponding plates with a thickness of generally 0.5 to 10.0 mm, preferably 0.9 to 4.0 mm. These plates are either completely flat or slightly curved.
- a glass substrate is used as the layer support, then it can be used between the glass substrate and the electrically conductive layer to avoid alkali diffusion the glass a diffusion barrier layer, for example made of Si0 2 , can be provided.
- the resistance of the electron-conducting layer should be as small as possible.
- the electrically conductive layer is usually initially located on the substrate.
- This layer is preferably transparent.
- thin metal layers e.g. made of silver with a thickness of ⁇ 20 nm
- the electrically conductive layer is preferably a metal oxide layer, in particular a transparent metal oxide layer.
- it is a doped metal oxide.
- suitable metal oxides are indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO), as well as doped zinc oxide and doped titanium oxide, with ITO, ATO and FTO being particularly preferred.
- the electrochromic layer is in particular electrochromic oxide layers.
- Preferred electrochromic metal oxides are tungsten and molybdenum oxides as well as nickel oxides, with tungsten oxides (WO 3 ) being particularly preferred.
- Electrochromic layers can be up to 500 nm thick. Several (eg up to 5) layers can also be present one above the other. A method for the production is described in WO 95/28663.
- a third layer which is often used in electro-optical components, is a non-coloring ion insertion layer.
- a large number of non-coloring oxidic ion insertion layers are also known, for example based on oxides of cerium, titanium, vanadium, iron, zirconium, chromium and mixtures of these oxides of different compositions.
- a known and preferred ion insertion layer is based on the oxides of cerium and titanium (CeTiO x ). Ion insertion layers are used, for example, in layer thicknesses of up to approximately 400 nm.
- the invention relates to electro-optical components in which inorganic thin-film systems are applied to electrically conductive coated substrates.
- structured electro-optical components can be produced in a simple and efficient manner.
- the segment of a layer is a part of the layer which, in particular, is completely removed as far as the layer below. Apart from the thickness dimension, the segment can be point, line or area-shaped. By removing or cutting off a segment, the remaining segments of this layer are formed, which form the desired structure. Two or more segments can also be removed from the at least one layer at different points in one step.
- Selective layer-by-layer removal means that, with a suitable setting of the laser, exactly one layer, more precisely one segment of the layer, can be removed without damaging or removing an underlying layer.
- the selective layer-by-layer removal can also be carried out in such a way that two or more layers are removed together without impairing the layers underneath. This enables precise structuring without damaging the remaining structure.
- the substrate can also be cut using the laser light.
- the layers can be cut in fine lines or removed over a large area. With a "stack" of different metal oxide layers, the layers can be removed individually.
- the structuring can take place in one or more steps.
- a segment of at least one layer is preferably removed in at least one step, at least one other layer, preferably a metal oxide layer, which is not removed in this step being located under the segment.
- at least one segment of a metal oxide layer is removed in one step, the electrically conductive layer, which is not removed in this step, for example, and at least one segment of the metal oxide layer being located under the segment and an underlying segment of the electrically conductive layer are removed together.
- the laser for generating the laser light can be any known from the prior art.
- commercially available systems eg laser engraving devices
- Laser light with radiation in the infrared or ultraviolet range IR or UV range
- examples are gas lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers or semiconductor lasers.
- lasers that can be used are excimer lasers, such as F 2 , ArF, KrF and XeCI lasers, I lasers, N 2 lasers, HF lasers, CO lasers, C0 2 lasers, neodymium / YAG - Lasers, neodymium glass lasers or ruby lasers, with CO 2 lasers and neodymium / YAG lasers being preferred and a CO 2 laser being used with particular preference.
- excimer lasers such as F 2 , ArF, KrF and XeCI lasers
- I lasers such as F 2 , ArF, KrF and XeCI lasers
- N 2 lasers such as ArF, KrF and XeCI lasers
- HF lasers such as HF lasers
- CO lasers such as neodymium / YAG - Lasers
- C0 2 lasers such as neodymium / YAG - Lasers
- Infrared laser light is particularly preferably used. This enables incredibly precise, selective layer-by-layer removal. This is all the more surprising since the wavelength range in the infrared is about an order of magnitude (the light generated by a CO 2 laser has a wavelength of about 10 ⁇ m) larger than the thickness of the layers to be removed, which is generally less than 1 ⁇ m , Nevertheless, the selective layer-by-layer removal of a thin layer with IR laser light is particularly successful.
- the laser can be set according to the desired depth of cut or the desired layers to be removed. For this purpose, laser power and writing speed are set in particular. Depending on the case, the person skilled in the art can easily determine the required setting or determine it by simple experiments.
- the ablation process can also be carried out as an ablation.
- Components are used to manufacture electro-optical systems.
- At least one and preferably at least two of the structured electro-optical components produced according to the invention are optionally combined with further components to form an electro-optical element.
- two electro-optical components are connected via an electrolyte and sealed with a sealing frame.
- One, two or more structured electro-optical components produced according to the invention can also be joined together, if appropriate with other customary electro-optical components (components), in order to form a complex electro-optical component which is then used to produce an electro-optical element.
- components customary electro-optical components
- the electro-optical elements produced according to the invention are in particular electro-optical displays or displays. They serve e.g. for ads and displays on light and dark backgrounds. Preferred embodiments are also segmented electro-optical displays and electro-optical matrix displays.
- the electro-optical components can be manufactured from homogeneously coated substrates in just one work step.
- the display of complex displays and fonts a very high resolution (up to 1,000 dpi) and a high contour definition of the display can be achieved.
- the method according to the invention is suitable for producing large-area display elements. Further advantages of the method are the very high process speed and the possibility of using commercially available lasers (eg laser engraving devices), which allows a further cost reduction.
- the present invention is therefore suitable for the production of electro-optical displays and displays and in particular for the production of electro-optical displays and displays with large buttons in the form of switchable mirrors, windows or other display elements.
- the invention is further illustrated by the following example.
- Electrically conductive coated glasses for example K-glass
- K-glass Electrically conductive coated glasses
- the coatings were compacted at 175 ° C or 450 ° C.
- the layers were then structured using a CO 2 laser engraving system (wavelength: 10.6 ⁇ m; focus 0.127 mm, operating mode: CW).
- CW CO 2 laser engraving system
- the tungsten oxide layer could be removed across the surface without damaging the electrically conductive substrate.
- the coating including the conductive coating could be removed from the glass.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10223512 | 2002-05-27 | ||
DE10223512A DE10223512A1 (en) | 2002-05-27 | 2002-05-27 | Laser structuring of electro-optical systems |
PCT/EP2003/005507 WO2003100513A1 (en) | 2002-05-27 | 2003-05-26 | Laser structuring of electro-optical systems |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1509811A1 true EP1509811A1 (en) | 2005-03-02 |
Family
ID=29432342
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03755137A Withdrawn EP1509811A1 (en) | 2002-05-27 | 2003-05-26 | Laser structuring of electro-optical systems |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1509811A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2005527858A (en) |
DE (1) | DE10223512A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003100513A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2621758T3 (en) * | 2010-03-05 | 2017-07-05 | Sage Electrochromics, Inc. | Laminated electrochromic device to glass substrates |
FR2962682B1 (en) | 2010-07-16 | 2015-02-27 | Saint Gobain | ELECTROCHEMICAL WINDOW WITH ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED OPTICAL AND / OR ENERGY PROPERTIES |
KR101999978B1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2019-07-15 | 주식회사 엘지화학 | Method for manufacturing Electrochromic device |
WO2019179677A1 (en) | 2018-03-20 | 2019-09-26 | Saint-Gobain Glass France | Laser treatment for a heatable glazing |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2190760B (en) * | 1986-05-21 | 1990-04-18 | Nippon Kogaku Kk | Electrochromic element |
JPS63294537A (en) * | 1987-05-27 | 1988-12-01 | Nikon Corp | Ec element which decrease leak current |
US5724175A (en) * | 1997-01-02 | 1998-03-03 | Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. | Electrochromic device manufacturing process |
US6094292A (en) * | 1997-10-15 | 2000-07-25 | Trustees Of Tufts College | Electrochromic window with high reflectivity modulation |
FR2781084B1 (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2007-08-31 | Saint Gobain Vitrage | PROCESS FOR PROCESSING AN ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE |
-
2002
- 2002-05-27 DE DE10223512A patent/DE10223512A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2003
- 2003-05-26 JP JP2004507909A patent/JP2005527858A/en active Pending
- 2003-05-26 EP EP03755137A patent/EP1509811A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-05-26 WO PCT/EP2003/005507 patent/WO2003100513A1/en active Application Filing
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO03100513A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE10223512A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
WO2003100513A1 (en) | 2003-12-04 |
JP2005527858A (en) | 2005-09-15 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20040825 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: SCHMIDT, HELMUT Inventor name: TRAULSEN, TIM Inventor name: RUEFF, ANDREAS Inventor name: MENNIG, MARTIN |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER NEUE MATERIALIEN GEMEINNUET |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20080602 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20081213 |