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
• • 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
  • G02F1/155—Electrodes
• • 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
  • G02F1/161—Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• • 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
  • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
  • G02F2201/56—Substrates having a particular shape, e.g. non-rectangular

Definitions

• the invention relates to an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, which electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by an electrochromic material or comprising such an electrochromic element.
• electrochromic arrangements which comprise at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements, formed by an electrochromic material or comprising such an electrochromic element, in long-range optical devices, such as. B. binoculars, is basically known from the prior art.
• Corresponding electrochromic arrangements typically serve as an assembly integrated into an optical channel of a respective long-range optical device to specifically change the brightness and/or contrast of a field of view, so that a user can also use special or possibly changing lighting conditions, i.e. H. e.g. B. in very bright and / or high-contrast lighting conditions, a largely glare-free use of the respective long-range optical device is possible.
• special or possibly changing lighting conditions i.e. H. e.g. B. in very bright and / or high-contrast lighting conditions
• the invention is based on the object of specifying an improved electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device.
• a first aspect of the invention relates to an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, such as. B. for binoculars (monocular or binocular), a rifle scope, a night vision device, etc.
• the electrochromic arrangement therefore represents an assembly which can be structurally integrated into a corresponding long-range optical device.
• the Electrochromic arrangement represents an assembly which can be structurally integrated into an optical channel of a long-range optical device, in particular an optical channel extending within an optical tube of a corresponding long-range optical device between a lens and an eyepiece.
• the electrochromic arrangement generally comprises at least one electrochromic element arranged or formed between two electrically conductive elements - this can form an electrode of the electrochromic arrangement - which is formed by or at least comprises an electrochromic material.
• Corresponding electrically conductive elements can be provided by electrically conductive layers or coatings, i.e. H. in particular transparent, electrically conductive layers or coatings, may be formed or include such.
• corresponding electrically conductive elements can be used as transparent, electrically conductive layers or coatings on transparent substrate elements, e.g. B. made of glass or (transparent) plastic, or include such.
• Corresponding electrically conductive elements can therefore be applied to a substrate element as an at least partially, optionally complete, electrically conductive layer or coating.
• a corresponding electrically conductive layer or coating of the electrochromic arrangement can, for. B. be a coating which is formed from at least one transparent conductive oxide or at least includes one. Specifically, a corresponding electrically conductive layer or coating can be used, for example. B. a coating formed from indium tin oxide (ITO) - as an example of a transparent conductive oxide - or comprising ITO, or an ITO coating for short.
• ITO indium tin oxide
• Transparent conductive oxides such as ITO are typically characterized by a comparatively high electrical conductivity (typically 10 4 S/cm) and a high optical transmission (> 90% with a layer thickness of 100 nm) in the visible wavelength range and are therefore particularly suitable Dimensions for forming corresponding electrically conductive coatings of the electrochromic arrangement described herein.
• a corresponding electrochromic element of the electrochromic arrangement can, for. B. be or at least include a layer or coating which is formed from at least one electrochromic material or comprises at least one such.
• An electrochromic material can e.g. B. when installing an electrical voltage or an electrical current, a change in its transmission, e.g. B. by increasing or decreasing its color or color intensity.
• a corresponding electrochromic material can therefore e.g. B. be considered an electrically switchable electrochromic material.
• an electrochromic material can e.g. B. be a redox-active material, ie in particular a redox-active compound, or at least include one (s) which occurs in a redox process, such as. B.
• a corresponding redox-active Material can be a metal complex compound, e.g. B. based on tungsten oxide (WO3), or include one which occurs in a redox process, such as. B. a transition from the oxidized to the reduced state (and vice versa), a change in its transmission takes place.
• WO3 tungsten oxide
• there are e.g. B. Metallo-supramolecular polyelectrolytes ((FE-)MEPE) can be considered as electrochromic materials. In all cases, a respective electrochromic material can be embedded in an embedding material.
• the electrochromic arrangement comprises several corresponding electrochromic elements, at least one layer or coating made of an electrolyte material, in particular a liquid or gel-shaped electrolyte material, e.g. B. based on a metal salt, arranged or formed.
• an electrolyte material in particular a liquid or gel-shaped electrolyte material, e.g. B. based on a metal salt, arranged or formed.
• the electrochromic arrangement For electrical contacting of the at least one electrochromic element, i.e. H.
• the electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one contact layer made of an electrically conductive material.
• a special feature of the electrochromic arrangement described here is the configuration of the at least one contact layer, which is explained in more detail below:
• the electrochromic arrangement comprises at least one z. B. substrate element formed from glass or a (transparent) plastic.
• the special configuration of the at least one contact layer of the electrochromic arrangement used for electrical contacting is described below in particular in connection with a substrate element, the following statements apply analogously to each substrate element and each contact layer of the electrochromic arrangement.
• the electrochromic arrangement generally comprises at least two substrate elements and two corresponding contact layers, which typically have at least a similar, in particular an identical, configuration.
• the at least one substrate element consists of a substrate element body.
• the substrate element body has a basic shape which can be integrated into an optical tube of a long-range optical device. Therefore, shape-determining geometric-constructive parameters, such as: B. Dimensions of the substrate element body are typically selected with regard to the installation space available in a long-range optical device for intended integration.
• the geometric-constructive parameters of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element are typically selected with regard to the installation space available in an optical tube.
• substrate element bodies with a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape come into consideration.
• substrate element body is therefore typically configured in the form of a circular disk.
• other configurations are also fundamentally possible, such as: B. disc-like or -shaped substrate element body with a polygonal, ie B. a triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, nineagonal, decagonal, eleven-sided, dodecagonal basic shape, conceivable.
• the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element is configured in a disk-like or disk-shaped manner in all cases and therefore has a top and a bottom side, which individually or together define a main extension plane of the substrate element body.
• the contact layer also mentioned above is made of an electrically conductive material, such as. B. a metal, in particular a precious metal, such as. B. gold, or a semi-precious metal such as. B. copper, arranged or formed.
• the contact layer is typically applied to the top or bottom of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element by a chemical and/or physical application process, in particular a chemical and/or physical deposition process, more particularly a chemical and/or physical vapor deposition process.
• the layer thickness of the contact layer can be in a range between 1 nm or 10 nm and 1000 nm, in particular in a range between 1 nm and 950 nm, more particularly in a range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 900 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 850 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 800 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 750 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 700 nm , further in particular in a range between 1 nm and 650 nm, further in particular in a range between 1 nm
• nm e.g. B. 2 nm, 3 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm, 6 nm, 7 nm, 8 nm, 9 nm or 10 nm can also be used. In principle, all of the aforementioned values can also be used individually or as respective upper or lower limits of a layer thickness interval.
• the contact layer can be applied directly or indirectly to the top or bottom of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.
• a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating is also arranged on the top or bottom of the substrate element body or educated;
• the transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating can be arranged or formed in particular in areas on the top or bottom of the substrate element body in which the contact layer does not extend.
• a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating is arranged or formed on the top or bottom of the substrate element body, in particular over the entire surface, and the contact layer is arranged or formed at least in sections on the transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating.
• the contact layer extends in a ring-like manner, i.e. H. in particular ring segment-like or -shaped, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, which, as mentioned, has, for example, a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape.
• the contact layer is therefore designed as an electrically conductive layer which extends at least in sections, possibly completely, around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body.
• the contact layer can be a continuous, quasi-continuous or discontinuous electrically conductive layer;
• the contact layer can therefore be an electrically conductive layer that runs continuously, quasi-continuously or discontinuously around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body.
• the substrate element body is therefore not provided with the contact layer over its entire surface in the area of its top or bottom, but only in a partial section of the top or bottom that runs around the edge.
• an electrical power supply such as. B. a battery integrated into a long-range optical device
• an electrical voltage to the at least one electrochromic element, which occurs at least temporarily during operation of the electrochromic arrangement, as this can be contacted in a ring-like or circumferential manner, which - in particular in contrast to only point-shaped contacting - in a surprising way to a particularly rapid and uniform change in the optical properties, i.e. H.
• the electrochromic arrangement leads.
• the described arrangement or design of the electrically conductive layer also enables the brightness or contrast to be changed largely all the way from “outside to inside” and excludes phenomena known from the prior art, such as. B. coloring in the style of a stage curtain. Furthermore, e.g. B.
• the at least one substrate element in the area of the top or bottom of the substrate element body does not have to be provided with a contact layer over the entire surface, but only in the area of the edge.
• the contact layer extends in a ring-like or -shaped manner, in particular in a ring-segment-like or -shaped manner, that is, with a ring-like or -shaped or a ring-segment-like or -shaped basic shape, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the,
• the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element typically has a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape.
• Contact layer can increase by at least 25%, in particular by at least 30%, more in particular by at least 35%, more in particular by at least 40%, more in particular by at least 45%, more in particular by at least 50%, more in particular by at least 55%, further in particular by at least 60%, further in particular by at least 65%, further in particular by at least 70%, further in particular by at least 75%, further in particular by at least 80%, further in particular by at least 85%, further in particular by at least 90%, further in particular by at least 95%, possibly even 100%, of the edge extend circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body (the above-mentioned values can also be considered as upper and lower limits of intervals).
• the contact layer therefore typically extends by at least 50% around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.
• the width of a corresponding ring (segment)-like or (segment)-shaped contact layer should also be given as examples; the width of the contact layer can therefore z.
• the contact layer does not have to extend completely, at least in sections, to the edge of the substrate element body, but rather there can be a defined distance between the outer circumference of the, as mentioned, in particular ring (segment) like or (segment) shaped, contact layer and the actual edge of the top or bottom of the substrate element body.
• the contact layer can therefore be at least partially at a defined distance, e.g. B.
• the contact layer serves in particular to contact the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical power supply, i.e. H. generally with an electrical power supply.
• the contact layer can therefore have one of an electrical contact element that can be connected to the electrical voltage or energy supply, such as. B. a wire, a strand, a cable, etc. include contactable contact section of the electrochromic arrangement.
• a corresponding contact section can, for example to ensure reliable contact with a corresponding electrical contact element, have different dimensions than the remaining areas of the contact layer, in particular with regard to its radial extent in the direction of the edge of the top or bottom of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element .
• the contact section can therefore be formed by or represent a radial extension of the contact layer (compared to the remaining areas of the contact layer), which extends in the circumferential direction around a specific area of the edge of the substrate element body, i.e. H. e.g. B.
• the edge of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element can have at least one flattening.
• a corresponding flattening can in particular be defined by a line or straight line running through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body.
• a corresponding flattening can be defined by a secant extending through at least two points on the edge of the substrate element body forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body.
• the shape of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element does not therefore have to represent a complete circular disk, since the edge of the substrate element body can have at least one corresponding flattening.
• a corresponding flattening of the substrate element body can also facilitate the structural integration of the electrochromic Simplify the arrangement into a long-range optical arrangement, for example as the flattening can be used to prevent the electrochromic arrangement from rotating in an optical tube of the long-range optical arrangement.
• a corresponding flattening can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic arrangement, as, as follows, a special electrical contacting option for the electrochromic arrangement with an electrical power supply can be realized.
• the contact section is arranged or designed to lie opposite the flattening of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.
• the contact section and the flat can therefore be arranged or designed (essentially) offset by 180° in the circumferential direction with respect to the, as mentioned, in particular circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element.
• the contact section can therefore z. B. be arranged or designed at the top and the flattening opposite at the bottom.
• the electrochromic arrangement comprises two substrate elements, each of which has a substrate element body with a corresponding flattening and an electrical contact section arranged or formed opposite the flattening.
• the substrate element bodies of the first substrate element and the second substrate element are arranged one above the other, with their contact layers facing each other, but cannot electrically contact each other to avoid short circuits.
• the respective contact layers can lie one above the other in such a way that they can complement each other to form a closed ring; therefore, the contact layer arranged or formed on the substrate element body of a first substrate element can (also) extend in the circumferential direction in a region in which no contact layer extends on the substrate element body of a second substrate element.
• the arrangement of the substrate elements lying one above the other is also selected such that their respective contact sections are at least partially exposed, so that the electrochromic arrangement can be contacted with the electrical power supply both via the contact section of the first substrate element and via the contact section of the second substrate element.
• a first electrical contact element can connect the contact section of the contact layer of a first substrate element to the electrical power supply and a second electrical contact element can connect the contact section of the contact layer of a second substrate element to the electrical power supply.
• the at least one electrochromic element which, as mentioned above, is a layer or coating made of an electrochromic element, applies to all embodiments Material can act, and can also be arranged or formed on the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, wherein it is the contact layer and the layer or coating, which is optionally also arranged or formed on the respective top or bottom side of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, from the electrical conductive material at least partially, in particular completely, covered.
• the electrochromic arrangement also has at least one spacer element arranged or formed at least in sections, possibly completely, on the at least one electrochromic element and made of an electrically insulating material, such as. B. a plastic.
• the spacer element can have a ring-like or ring-shaped basic shape.
• the external dimensions of a spacer element having a corresponding ring-like or -shaped basic shape can correspond to the external dimensions of the substrate element body of the at least one substrate element, so that the spacer element rests flush on the substrate element body.
• the layer or coating also mentioned can be arranged or formed from an electrolyte material.
• the spacer elements are in particular designed to space or separate the respective contact layers from one another so that they cannot electrically contact each other.
• the electrochromic arrangement can - this can in particular be independent of the aspect of a flattening of the substrate element bodies - basically have a plurality of substrate elements or substrate element bodies, which can be arranged stacked one above the other.
• a second aspect of the invention relates to a long-range optical device, in particular a binocular or a rifle scope, which comprises at least one electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, so that all statements in connection with the electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention are analogous for the long-range optical device apply according to the second aspect of the invention (and vice versa).
• the electrochromic arrangement can therefore be structurally integrated into the optical channel or tube of the long-range optical arrangement, which typically extends between an eyepiece and an objective of the long-range optical device; can therefore be arranged or formed in the optical channel or tube; in particular, the electrochromic arrangement can be arranged in a section of the optical channel or tube extending between an objective and an eyepiece.
• the long-range optical device can be one, e.g. B. include an optical output device designed as a display for outputting optical information.
• the optical information that can be output via the optical output device ie, for example, alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos, etc., can be transmitted via a, e.g. B. by one or more prisms Comprehensive prism arrangement or formed via a film (nanarray) or such a comprehensive coupling device can be coupled into the optical channel of the long-range optical device.
• the electrochromic arrangement can be assigned to the optical output device directly or indirectly, so that z. B. the brightness and / or the contrast of the optical information that can be output via the optical output device can be specifically changed via the electrochromic arrangement.
• a third aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing an electrochromic arrangement for a long-range optical device, in particular an electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, so that all statements in connection with the electrochromic arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention are analogous to the method according to third aspect of the invention apply (and vice versa).
• the method includes at least the steps, which can optionally be carried out several times: a) providing at least one substrate element, e.g. B. with a substrate element body having a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape; b) applying a contact layer made of an electrically conductive material, such as e.g. B. copper, on the top or bottom of the substrate element body by a chemical and / or physical application process; c) arranging or forming at least one electrically conductive element, e.g. B. from indium tin oxide (ITO), on the substrate element body to form an electrically conductive layer or coating; d) arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element formed by or comprising an electrochromic material on the substrate element body.
• a substrate element e.g. B. with a substrate element body having a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape
• a contact layer made of an electrically conductive material, such as e.g. B. copper, on the top or bottom of the substrate element
• steps b) and c) can be interchanged, so that it is possible for the electrically conductive layer or coating to first be applied to the substrate element body, which, as mentioned, is z. B. can be an ITO layer, and only then is the contact layer arranged or formed.
• substrate elements configured with a corresponding contact section and a flat surface arranged opposite it, one above the other, in particular in such a way that respective contact sections are exposed and the respective contact layers are relative to one another, in particular to form a closed ring can be arranged relative to each other, but do not electrically contact each other.
• the spacer elements mentioned can be provided between the respective contact layers.
• the method may further include a step of contacting respective exposed contact portions with an electrical power supply.
• the respective contact sections can each have an electrical contact element, such as. B. a wire, a strand, a cable, etc., can be contacted with the electrical power supply.
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a substrate element of an electrochromic arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an electrochromic arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a long-range optical device comprising an electrochromic arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment.
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 initially comprises, from top to bottom, a first substrate element 2 made of a transparent material, such as. B. glass or plastic, on which a contact layer 3 made of an electrically conductive metal, such as. B. copper, and a transparent, electrically conductive layer 4 made of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as. B. ITO, is arranged or designed.
• a first layer 5 made of an electrochromic material which can be referred to as a working electrode, a layer e made of, for. B.
• a second layer 7 serving as an ion storage layer made of an electrochromic material, which can be referred to as a counter electrode.
• the layer structure is then repeated, as the second layer 7 made of an electrochromic material is again followed by a contact layer 3 made of an electrically conductive metal, such as e.g. B. copper, and a transparent, electrically conductive layer 4 made of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as. B. ITO, and a second substrate element 2 follows.
• Reference number 8 denotes spacer elements made of an electrically insulating material, such as. B. plastic, shown.
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 is a change to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG.
• Substrate elements 2 first have a layer 4 made of a transparent, electrically conductive material, such as. B. ITO, is arranged or formed, on which, in addition to the respective layer 5, 7 made of electrochromic material, the respective contact layer 3 is also arranged or formed.
• a transparent, electrically conductive material such as. B. ITO
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 is for a long-range optical device 9, such as. B. is intended for binoculars (monocular or binocular), a rifle scope, a night vision device, etc., and therefore represents an assembly which can be structurally integrated into a corresponding long-range optical device 9 (see FIG. 5).
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 represents an assembly which can be structurally integrated into an optical channel 13 which extends within an optical tube 10 of a corresponding long-range optical device 9 between an objective lens 11 nm and an eyepiece 12 (see FIG. 5).
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 comprises for electrically contacting the electrochromic element(s) typically present as a layer or coating 5, 7 made of an electrochromic material, i.e. H. in particular for applying an electrical voltage or an electrical current, corresponding contact layers 3 made of an electrically conductive material.
• an electrochromic material i.e. H. in particular for applying an electrical voltage or an electrical current
• corresponding contact layers 3 made of an electrically conductive material.
• FIG. 3 shows an example of a top or bottom view of the top or bottom of a substrate element 2 of the electrochromic arrangement 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, whereby the following statements in connection with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 can apply analogously to all substrate elements 2 of the electrochromic arrangement 1.
• the substrate element 2 consists of a substrate element body 14, which in the exemplary embodiment has, for example, a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape.
• the substrate element body 14 has a basic shape which can be integrated into an optical tube 10 of a long-range optical device 9; Therefore, shape-determining geometric-constructive parameters, such as: B. Dimensions of the substrate element body 14 with regard to the long-range optical device 9, i.e. H. particularly in the optical tube 10, the available installation space for intended integration is selected.
• the substrate element body 14 which forms the main extension plane of the substrate element 2 is, as mentioned, made of an electrically conductive material, such as. B. a metal, in particular a precious metal, such as. B. gold, or a semi-precious metal such as. B. copper, formed contact layer 3 arranged or formed.
• the contact layer 3 is typically applied by a chemical and/or physical application process, in particular a chemical and/or physical deposition process, more particularly a chemical and/or physical vapor deposition process applied to the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14.
• the layer thickness of the contact layer 3 can, for. B.
• nm and 500 nm in particular in a range between 10 nm and 450 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 and 400 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 nm and 350 nm, further in particular in a Range between 10 nm and 300 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 nm and 250 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 nm and 200 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 and 150 nm, further in particular in a range between 10 and 100 nm, more particularly in a range between 10 and 50 nm.
• the contact layer 3 extends in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, i.e. H. in particular ring segment-like or -shaped, around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14, which has a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape.
• the contact layer 3 is therefore electrically revolving at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14 conductive layer formed.
• the contact layer 3 is shown as a continuous layer; In principle, quasi-continuous or discontinuous contact layers 3 are also conceivable;
• the contact layer 3 can therefore generally be an electrically conductive layer which runs continuously, quasi-continuously or discontinuously around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14.
• the substrate element body 14 is therefore not provided with the contact layer 3 over its entire surface in the area of its top or bottom, but only in a partial section of the top or bottom running around the edge.
• an electrical power supply such as. B. a battery integrated into a long-range optical device
• an electrical voltage to the electrochromic elements, which occurs at least temporarily during operation of the electrochromic arrangement 1, as these can be contacted in a ring-like or circumferential manner, which - especially in In contrast to only point-shaped contacting - in a surprising way to a particularly rapid and uniform change in the optical properties, i.e. H.
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 leads. Furthermore, e.g. B. There are manufacturing advantages when the substrate element 2 does not have to be provided with a contact layer 3 over the entire surface in the area of the top or bottom of the substrate element body, but only in the area of the edge.
• the contact layer 3 extends in a ring-like or ring-shaped manner, ie in particular in a ring segment-like or ring-shaped manner, ie with a ring-like or ring-shaped or a ring-segment-like or ring-shaped basic shape, at least in sections around the edge or along the edge of the substrate element body 14.
• the faster or more uniformly a change in the optical properties, ie in particular the transmission, of the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be brought about.
• a defined free space 15 can be present, in which the contact layer 3 does not extend. Therefore, the contact layer 3 does not have to extend completely, at least in sections, to the edge of the substrate element body 14 in terms of its radial extent (with respect to a symmetry or central axis A1 of the substrate element body 14), but rather a defined distance, e.g. B. of 0.5 mm, between the outer circumference of the contact layer 3 and the actual edge of the top and bottom of the substrate element body 14.
• the contact layer 3 has an electrical contact element that can be connected to the electrical voltage or energy supply, such as. B. a wire, a strand, a cable, etc., contactable contact section 16 may include.
• the contact section 16 for example in order to ensure reliable contact with a corresponding electrical contact element, has different dimensions than the other areas with regard to its radial extent in the direction of the edge of the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14 the contact layer 3.
• the contact section 16 can therefore be formed by a radial expansion of the contact layer 3 (compared to the remaining areas of the contact layer 3) or represent such, which extends in the circumferential direction around a certain area of the edge of the substrate element body, i.e. H. e.g. B. by at least 10%, extending circumferentially around or along the edge of the substrate element body 14.
• the contact section 16 can be applied directly to the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14; In the area of the contact section 16, there does not have to be a corresponding transparent, electrically conductive layer or coating.
• the edge of the substrate element body 14 can have a flattening 17.
• the flattening 17 can in particular be defined by a straight line L or a corresponding secant S running through two points P1, P2 on the edge of the substrate element body 14 forming the outer circumference of the substrate element body 14.
• the shape of the substrate element body 14 therefore does not have to represent a complete circular disk, since the edge of the substrate element body 14 can have a corresponding flattening 17.
• the flattening 17 can equally simplify the structural integration of the electrochromic arrangement into a long-range optical arrangement 9, for example as the flattening 17 can be used to prevent the electrochromic arrangement 1 from rotating in an optical tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9.
• the flat 17 can form a functionalized interface of the electrochromic arrangement 1, as, as will become apparent in connection with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, a special electrical contacting option for the electrochromic arrangement 1 with an electrical power supply can be realized in this way.
• the contact section 16 is arranged or designed opposite the flat 17.
• the contact section 16 and the flat 17 can therefore be arranged or designed (essentially) offset by 180° in the circumferential direction with respect to the circular disk-like or circular-shaped basic shape of the substrate element body 14.
• the contact section 16 is arranged or formed at the top and the flat 17 is arranged or formed opposite at the bottom.
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 has two correspondingly configured substrate elements 2, each of which has a substrate element body 14 with a corresponding flattening 17 and a contact section 16 arranged or formed opposite the flattening 17.
• the substrate element bodies 14 of the first substrate element 2 and the second substrate element 2 are arranged one above the other, with their contact layers 3 facing each other, but cannot electrically contact each other to avoid short circuits.
• the respective contact layers 3 can lie one above the other in such a way that they can complement each other to form a closed ring; therefore, the contact layer 3 arranged or formed on the substrate element body 14 of a first substrate element 2 (e.g. the upper substrate element in FIG.
• a first electrical contact element can connect the contact section 16 of the contact layer 3 of a first substrate element 2 (e.g. the upper substrate element in FIG. 4) to the electrical power supply and a second electrical contact element can connect the contact section 16 of the contact layer 3 of a second substrate element 2 ( e.g. the lower substrate element in Fig. 4) with the electrical power supply.
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a long-range optical device 9 according to an exemplary embodiment in a side view. Shown purely schematically is an optical tube 10, which comprises an objective 11 nm comprising one or more objective lenses (not shown) and an eyepiece 12 comprising one or more eyepiece lenses (not shown).
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 is structurally integrated in the optical channel or tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9, which extends between the objective 11 nm and the eyepiece 11; The electrochromic arrangement 1 can therefore be arranged or formed in the optical channel or tube 10 of the long-range optical arrangement 9.
• the long-range optical device 9 can be one, e.g. B. as a display, designed optical output device 18 for outputting optical information.
• the optical information that can be output via the optical output device 18, i.e. H. e.g. B. alphanumeric symbols, graphics, images, videos, etc., can be used via a, e.g. B. formed by a prism arrangement comprising one or more prisms or via a film arrangement (not shown in each case) or such a comprehensive coupling device can be coupled into the optical channel of the long-range optical device.
• the electrochromic arrangement 1 can be assigned directly or indirectly to the optical output device 18, so that z. B. the brightness and / or the contrast of the optical information that can be output via the optical output device 18 can be specifically changed via the electrochromic arrangement 1.
• FIG. 5 there is also an electrical power supply integrated into the long-range optical device 9, e.g. B. in the form of a battery, indicated.
• the electrical power supply 19 voltages can be applied to the electrochromic arrangement 1 in an automated manner by means of an assigned hardware and/or software implemented control device (not shown) or by the user by means of an assigned actuating device (not shown), which leads to a corresponding change in the transmission .
• the method comprises at least the steps, which can optionally be carried out several times: a) providing at least one substrate element 2, e.g. B. with a substrate element body 14 having a circular disk-like or -shaped basic shape; b) applying a contact layer 3 made of an electrically conductive material, which runs at least in sections around the edge of the substrate element body 14, to the top or bottom of the substrate element body 14 by a chemical and/or physical application method; c) arranging or forming at least one electrically conductive element on the substrate element body 14 to form an electrically conductive layer or coating 4; d) Arranging or forming at least one electrochromic element formed by or comprising an electrochromic material on the substrate element body 14.
• steps b) and c) can be interchanged, so that it is possible for the electrically conductive layer to be on the substrate element body 14 first or coating, which, as mentioned, is e.g. B. can be an ITO layer, and only then is the contact layer 3 arranged or formed.
• the electrically conductive layer can be on the substrate element body 14 first or coating, which, as mentioned, is e.g. B. can be an ITO layer, and only then is the contact layer 3 arranged or formed.
• the spacer elements 8 mentioned can be provided.
• the method may further include a step of contacting respective exposed contact portions 16 with an electrical power supply.
• the respective contact sections 16 can each have an electrical contact element, such as. B. a wire, a strand, a cable, etc., can be contacted with the electrical power supply.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Nonlinear Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
• Telescopes (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-05-24 DE DE102022113130.0A patent/DE102022113130A1/de active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-05-23 CN CN202380042479.2A patent/CN119256266A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-05-23 US US18/867,902 patent/US20250314938A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-05-23 WO PCT/EP2023/063775 patent/WO2023227593A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2023-05-23 EP EP23729336.0A patent/EP4533175A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-05-23 JP JP2024569271A patent/JP2025517998A/ja active Pending

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