Electrochromic technology - Application to sunglasses - | Global

Electrically controlling transparency

Background

In Europe and America, people often wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
They use them in a variety of daily environments — driving a car, enjoying sport activities, and more.
An adjustable lens shade can maximize the comfort of using sunglasses. Preferences vary with individuals, and requirements vary with applications.

Solutions

Ricoh has developed a technology to change the lens shade with complete control.

The lenses can be dark under bright light and clear under dim light electrically.
The shades are easily adjustable – automatically or with touch of a switch.

Technical highlights

Ricoh has developed an electrochromic material for use in sunglasses whose shades can be electrically adjusted between transparency and tints.

The electrochromic technology allows transparency to be electrically controlled in tonal gradation while keeping the lens very bright at its maximum transparency.
The frame has built-in switches and batteries to control transparency conveniently.

Figure 1. Transparent and tinted

Ricoh's vision

Ricoh will expand applications of the technology, exploiting its strengths:

Technology to process lenses into curved or spherical shapes
A range of technologies to express colors using original materials

*: This technology has been developed partly under subsidy from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national research and development organization.

For more information:

Color Reflective Display Technology

Related information

(Exhibition) nano tech 2016, the 15th International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference