Patent ID: 6301039
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A method for determining the thickness of a mirror metal deposit on a mirror electrode of a reversible electrochemical mirror device for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic radiation, of the type includinga mirror electrode,a counter electrode, at least one of the mirror and counter electrodes being substantially transparent to at least a portion of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, andan electrolyte disposed between and in electrical contact with the mirror and counter electrodes, wherein the electrolyte contains cations of an electrodepositable mirror metal,such that a negative electrical potential applied to the mirror electrode relative to the counter electrode tends to cause mirror metal to dissolve from the counter electrode into the electrolyte and to electrodeposit from the electrolyte onto the mirror electrode as a mirror deposit, andsuch that a positive electrical potential applied to the mirror electrode relative to the counter electrode tends to cause mirror metal to dissolve from the mirror electrode into the electrolyte and to electrodeposit onto the counter electrode,the thickness of deposited mirror metal subsisting on the mirror electrode affecting the reflectance of the device for electromagnetic radiation,comprising the steps of:(1) measuring the electrical resistance between two locations on the mirror electrode; and(2) comparing said measured resistance with a known electrical resistance for a mirror metal deposit having a known thickness, and calculating the mirror deposit thickness corresponding to the measured resistance based on the known resistance and the known thickness.