Patent ID: 7489431

Claim:
An electrochromic device comprising: a first charge carrier path having a first electrode electronically connected to a first electrochromic element, the first electrochromic element being ionically connected by a first portion of solidified electrolyte to an adjacent first counter element, the adjacent first counter element being electronically connected to a second electrode, wherein said first electrochromic element and said first counter element are electronically separated from each other; a second charge carrier path having a third electrode electronically connected to a second electrochromic element, the second electrochromic element being ionically connected by at least a second portion of solidified electrolyte to a second counter element, the second counter element being electronically connected to a fourth electrode, wherein said second electrochromic element and said second counter element are electronically separated from each other; and at least one resistance device arranged between said third and fourth electrodes and in series with said second electrochromic element and said second counter element, wherein each of said first and second electrochromic and first and second counter elements are arranged of electrochemically active material; wherein said first path is electrically connected to said second path at an interface located between said first electrochromic element and said at least one resistance device, such that electric current may flow both between said first and fourth electrodes and between said third and fourth electrodes; wherein said first and second electrodes are arranged to receive a first potential difference along said first path, said third and fourth electrodes are arranged to receive a second potential difference along said second path, and said potential differences and said at least one resistance device are arranged such that in an initial state said first electrochromic element is electrochemically reacted at a higher rate compared to said second electrochromic element, and wherein a second state the potential at said interface is sufficiently increased, by said increased resistance of said first electrochromic element, such that the rate of the electrochemical reaction at said second electrochromic element, which reaction changes a color thereof, is substantially relatively increased as compared to the rate in said initial state.