JP2632835B2 - Electrochromic device having a clip provided with a slit portion - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement in an electrochromic device. Hereinafter, electrochromic is abbreviated as “EC” and EC
The element is abbreviated as “ECD”.

[Conventional technology]

A phenomenon in which an electrolytic oxidation or reduction reaction occurs reversibly when a voltage is applied to cause reversible coloring is called electrochromism. Using an electrochromic (hereinafter, abbreviated as EC) substance exhibiting such a phenomenon, an EC element (hereinafter, abbreviated as ECD) that can be turned on and off by a voltage operation is manufactured, and this ECD is used as a light amount control element (for example, a protection device) Attempts to use such devices for glare mirrors and numerical display elements using 7 segments have been made for more than 20 years. For example, a transparent electrode film (cathode), a tungsten trioxide thin film, an insulating film such as silicon dioxide, and an electrode film (anode) are sequentially laminated on a glass substrate.
ECD (see JP-A-52-46098) is known as an all-solid type ECD. When a voltage is applied to this ECD, the tungsten trioxide (WO ₃ ) thin film is colored blue. Then this ECD
When a reverse voltage is applied to the WO ₃ thin film, the blue color of the WO ₃ thin film disappears and the WO ₃ thin film becomes colorless. Although the mechanism of coloring and decoloring is not elucidated in detail, it is understood that a small amount of water contained in the WO ₃ thin film and the insulating film (ion conductive layer) controls the coloring and decoloring of WO _3. ing. The coloring reaction formula is estimated as follows.

^{_{Cathode: H 2 O → H + +}} OH - WO 3 + nH + + ne - → H n WO 3 ( colorless) (blue-white) _{^{anode: OH - → 1 / 2H 2}} O + 1 / 4O 2 ↑ + 1 / 2e - Incidentally, At least one of the pair of electrode layers directly or indirectly sandwiching the EC layer must be transparent in order to make the coloration and discoloration of the EC layer appear to the outside. In particular, in the case of a transmissive ECD, both must be transparent. Currently, transparent electrode materials include SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , and ITO (SnO ₂ and In ₂ O ₃
And ZnO, etc., are known, but these materials have to be thin because of their relatively poor transparency, and for this and other reasons, the ECD is placed on a substrate such as a glass or plastic plate. An example of such an ECD structure, which is usually formed, is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, (A) is an upper transparent electrode, (B) is a lower transparent electrode, (E) is a reducing coloring EC layer (for example, WO ₃ ),
(D) shows an ion conductive layer, (C) shows a reversible electrolytic oxide layer or an oxidative coloring EC layer (for example, oxidized or iridium hydroxide), and basically has a laminated structure of (A) and (B). The ECD is composed of only these ECDs.
The CD is formed on the substrate (S).

(R) is an ECD sealing material such as an epoxy resin,
(G) is a sealing substrate for protection.

In order to supply external power to the electrodes (A) and (B) of such an ECD, an extraction (electrode) unit is required, respectively.
Here external wiring _{(L A), (L B} ) it is, were connected by soldering.

Conventionally, the extraction portion is formed of the same material and manufacturing method as the upper electrode and the lower electrode. Therefore, (a) ITO and other oxide thin films formed by vacuum thin film forming techniques such as vacuum deposition, ion plating, and sputtering; Or (ii) Al or other metal thin films have been used.

However, in both cases (a) and (b), the take-out part is very thin, so there is a problem that the work efficiency of soldering is poor. In the case of (a), the electric resistance is relatively low. If the external wiring is soldered directly, the external wiring with low resistance and the extraction part with high resistance are in contact at one point, so the supply speed of the charge supplied from the external wiring to the entire electrode through the extraction part is slow. Become
There are problems such as poor response and uneven coloring and decoloring, and furthermore, when subjected to a hot water immersion test, there is a problem that the external wiring is peeled off from the extraction portion. In the case of (b), when subjected to the hot water immersion test, there was a problem that the take-out portion was peeled off from the substrate.

Therefore, to solve these problems, even when subjected to a hot water immersion test, peeling does not occur, and the supply speed of the charge supplied to the entire electrode through the extraction portion from the external wiring is not slow,
ECD with good response and no coloring / decoloring unevenness
First, the present inventors have invented that a low-resistance conductive clip as shown in FIG. 5 is attached to an extraction portion of an electrode, and an external wiring is connected thereto. Patent application filed on May 20, 1986 (Japanese Patent Application No. 61-11 / 1986)
No. 5349). Since this application has not been published yet at this time, it will be referred to as a prior application below.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, ECDs are generally susceptible to the external environment and have poor durability. Therefore, a sealing material is applied (applied) on the upper electrode, and a sealing glass plate is placed thereon (sealing material). The ECD is sealed by curing or solidifying in a short time.

Therefore, even in the ECD of the prior application, after attaching the clip, the same sealing was attempted, but the clip hindered the sealing of the electrode extraction portion hidden by the clip with the sealing material was not sufficiently performed. In addition, there is a first problem that a sufficient amount of the sealing material does not enter between the substrate and the clip, and the adhesive strength between the clip and the substrate is weak.

Further, when the end face of the substrate has a curvature, there is a second problem that it is difficult to bend a linear clip along the end face of the substrate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve the invention of the prior application to solve the first problem or the second problem.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention provides the same substrate in which a groove is formed in a commonly formed electrode layer, and an electrode extraction portion of an upper electrode and an electrode extraction portion of a lower electrode and a lower electrode continuous with the lower electrode are formed separately. An electrochromic element comprising at least an electrochromic layer and an upper electrode, the upper electrode being in direct contact with the electrode extraction portion of the upper electrode in a strip shape, and the upper electrode and the lower electrode not being short-circuited. An electrode extraction portion of the upper electrode and an electrode extraction portion of the lower electrode are formed into different strip-shaped regions along the sides of the substrate, and are overlapped with the respective regions to have a substantially gutter-like and spring-like shape having a U-shaped cross section. Attach each metal clip with
External wiring is connected via this, and the ratio of the maximum width of the slit portion (cut portion) to the installation interval of the slit portion is 1/20 to 1/2 on the substrate contact piece of the metal clip. Are provided with a plurality of slit portions (cut portions) so as to have a predetermined value.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the contact area and the contact length between the strip-shaped electrode extraction portion and the gutter-shaped metal clip become very large, and the electric resistance between the two is extremely small. In addition, since the metal clip has a very low resistance, the potential on the metal clip (that is, on the strip-shaped electrode extraction portion in contact with the gutter-shaped metal clip) becomes substantially equipotential.

Therefore, even if the external wiring and the metal clip are brought into contact at one point, the length of the strip-shaped electrode extraction section (along the substrate side) is passed through the strip-shaped electrode extraction section in contact with the gutter-shaped metal clip from the external wiring. The supply of charge to each electrode (upper and lower electrodes) having a length equal to or longer than the above (direction along the side of the substrate) is smooth, the response is good, and the coloring / decoloring unevenness is improved. Disappears.

Further, the ratio of the maximum width of the slit portion (cut portion) to the installation interval of the slit portion is set to a predetermined value of 1/20 to 1/2 on the substrate contact piece of the gutter-shaped metal clip. In addition, since a plurality of slit portions (cut portions) are provided, a gutter-shaped metal clip can be easily and reliably attached to the end face of the substrate having a curvature. Is achieved.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a metal clip used in the present invention. This clip has a substantially gutter-like shape having a substantially “U” -shaped cross section as shown in FIG. .

The clip includes a fragment H ₁ in contact with the take-out portion, and the fragment H ₂ for pressing the substrate consists of connecting plate H ₃ which connects them. Then a fragment H ₁ and fragment H _2, sandwiching the substrate peripheral portion extraction portion is formed on the peripheral surface.

Slits H _S, which is a feature of the present invention, which can be also referred to cut or split as shown in 13-15 Figure, is provided on each of the top pieces of the clip H ₁ and the lower fragment H _2. Slit portion is not particularly necessary to provide symmetrical above and below the fragment H ₁ and H _2. However, when the end face of the substrate (S) is bent as shown in FIG. 16, the slit allows the clip to be bent along the end face of the substrate. Is preferably provided.

After the clip is sandwiched electrode extraction portion formed thereon and the substrate, so that the clip does not come off from the substrate, it is preferable that fragment H ₁ and fragment H ₂ is firmly bite into the substrate. Therefore, the clip is near the inlet is narrow between fragment H ₁ and fragment H ₂ as shown in FIG. 6, has a widens shape as it approaches the connecting plate H _2, and a metal having a spring property It is preferred that it is made.

If the slits are provided densely, the force with which the clip is engaged with the substrate becomes weak as a whole, so the ratio between the space between the slits and the space between the slits as in the present invention. It is preferable to set it to 1/2 or less.
However, if the slits are provided sparsely, the original effect of providing the slits is reduced.
It is preferable to make the above.

It is preferable that the clip is made of metal as in the present invention, since the external wiring can be soldered. As a metal having a preferable spring property, phosphor bronze can be mentioned, but in addition, brass, stainless steel, beryllium copper alloy and the like can also be used. The metal clip may be coated with a relatively soft metal such as tin, indium, solder, a mixture thereof, or other conductive material, at least on the contact surface with the take-out part. Such a clip would have the best contact with the take-out. This is because, in general, the metal surface has fine irregularities when viewed with a microscope, and good contact with the take-out portion is not maximized by simply pressing. In addition, tin on phosphor bronze or beryllium copper clips,
Plating with chromium, gold, silver, platinum, palladium or the like improves corrosion resistance.

The clip is not limited in length, so it is the same or almost the same as the length of the take-out part, or half or one-third according to individual circumstances, depending on the strip-like take-out part. Use the one of the required length. Then, the contact area between the take-out part and the clip becomes very large, the electric resistance between them becomes small, and since the clip is made of a low-resistance material, it is connected to the external wiring at one point. In addition, the supply of electric charge from the external wiring to the electrode through the extraction portion is smooth, the response is improved, and the unevenness of coloring and decoloring is eliminated.

In addition, since the clip always keeps the take-out part against the substrate, there is no danger that the take-out part will be peeled off from the substrate even if it is subjected to a hot water immersion test. However, when the clip is attached, the take-out part may be damaged. Therefore, it is preferable that the take-out part itself be made of tough ITO or another oxide measuring electrode material. However, the risk of breakage can be eliminated by paying close attention to the installation work.

Although the overall shape of the clip was described as almost gutter-like earlier,
It may be curved in the length direction according to the shape of the ECD. For example, even if the ECD has a rectangular substrate, if the substrate has an R (circle) along the entire circumference of the cylinder, or the substrate is cut off from a circle instead of a rectangle, using two parallel straight lines If it has the shape as shown in FIG. 7 and the shape of the television screen as shown in FIG.
The clip may have a shape that matches the shape of the periphery of such a substrate.

When the ECD is an all solid thin film type, the thickness of the ECD itself excluding the substrate is extremely thin (for example, 0.01 mm or less),
On the other hand, clips are generally 0.05-
Since 2mm and thick, when attached to the ECD, as shown in FIG. 9, compared with ECD, fragment H ₁ of the clip becomes thick, thus a step is formed at the boundary between the display section and the fragment H ₁ in ECD. Therefore, when the sealing glass is positioned using this step, the positioning operation can be performed easily and accurately.

To make this positioning work easier and more accurate,
Make a leading end of the fragment H ₁ of the clip vertically abutting piece H ₄ may be provided as shown in FIG. If the clip is curved in the longitudinal direction, which makes it easy to bend to put the wedge-shaped slits (split) in some places in advance contact piece H _4. Also,
Contact piece H ₄ may be partially without standing on the entire edge of the front end of the fragment H _1.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the end of the sealing glass is in contact with the clip and there is no gap between them, when the take-out part is made of a metal which is easily corroded such as Al, the take-out part is Hard to corrode. If there is a gap,
Even if the take-out part is sealed with a sealing material such as epoxy resin, the take-out part is easily corroded by the influence of moisture coming through the sealing material. However, if the sealing material and the clip cover the sealing material and cut off the contact with the outside world, the take-out portion is hardly corroded. Therefore, even when the electrode is formed of a metal that is easily corroded, such as Al, it is not necessary to change only the extraction portion or its peripheral portion to ITO or another oxide-based material that is resistant to corrosion, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the ECD. Let it.

The metal clip used in the present invention may also serve as a shielding material or a decoration material for the peripheral portion of the electrochromic element. In particular, in the case of an anti-glare mirror (the amount of reflected light can be electrically controlled) in which the ECD can be viewed from the substrate side, it is preferable from the viewpoint of aesthetics to make the display area as large as possible and make the peripheral part thinner. It is advantageous to use them together.

The clip can be attached to the ECD either before or after sealing.However, if you attach it before sealing, apply the sealing material to the sealing glass and attach it to the ECD, and then cure the sealing material. Then, the sealing material enters the gap between the substrate end face and the clip through the slit portion, and fills the gap (see FIG. 11). Then, compared to when the clip is attached after sealing and the sealing material does not fill the gap, it is more difficult for the sealing material to penetrate external moisture to the take-out portion, so that the take-out portion is less likely to be corroded. In addition, since the sealing material that has entered the gap adheres the substrate and the clip, there is also obtained an advantage that the clip does not easily come off the substrate.

When the clip is made of a material that can be soldered, soldering may be performed when connecting the external wiring to the clip, but instead of soldering, the connection may be performed by crimping or pressing.

As a method of crimping or pressing, for example, (1) a method of simply sandwiching the exposed external wiring between the end of the clip (particularly the fragment H ₃ ) and the substrate, Alternatively, a groove or a slit (split) is opened, a tip of an external wiring exposed through the hole or the groove is inserted, and the clip is inserted between a clip (especially, a fragment H ₃ ) and a substrate. Open two holes or grooves or slits (splits) in the middle of the direction,
Insert the tip of the external wiring exposed from the first hole or groove or slit (split) into the second hole or groove or slit (split) and insert the exposed external wiring into a clip (particularly fragment H ₃ ). Method of sandwiching between the board,
(2) Using a longer clip, insert the end of the exposed external wiring into the clip protruding from the ECD,
How to crush the clip and (3) clip the crimping pieces H ₅ of shaped substantially inverted "J" for example in cross-section as shown in FIG. 12 in the middle or end of the length direction is provided, and exposed during this a method of crimping the tip of the external wiring (L _a) can be mentioned. Incidentally, crimping pieces H ₅ may be prepared by bending A part of the fragment H _1.

When the connection of the external wiring to the clip is performed by soldering, it is preferable to perform the connection before mounting the clip to the ECD. That way, the ECD is not exposed to the heat of soldering and the risk of thermal damage is eliminated.

Since the connection between the external wiring and the clip is physically and chemically weak, it is preferable to seal the connection. This seal is ECD
It is particularly preferable to perform the sealing at the same time as the sealing is not required, since a separate sealing step becomes unnecessary.

On the other hand, the laminated structure of the ECD in the present invention is not particularly limited, but the structure of the solid-type ECD is, for example, a four-layer structure of an electrode layer / EC layer / ion conductive layer / electrode layer. The structure includes a five-layer structure such as an electrode layer / a reduction coloring EC layer / an ion conductive layer / a reversible electrolytic oxidation layer or an oxidation coloring EC layer / electrode layer.

As a material of the transparent electrode, for example, SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , ITO, or the like is used. Such an electrode layer is generally formed by a vacuum thin film forming technique such as vacuum deposition, ion plating, and sputtering. (Reduction coloring) WO ₃ , MoO _{3 and the} like are generally used as the EC layer.

As the ion conductive layer, for example, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium fluoride, and the like are used. Although these material thin films are insulators for electrons depending on the manufacturing method, they are good conductors for protons (H ⁺ ) and hydroxy ions (OH ⁻ ). A cation is required for the color decoloring reaction of the EC layer, and it is necessary to include H ⁺ ions and Li ⁺ ions in the EC layer and the like. The H ⁺ ions do not need to be ions from the beginning, and only need to generate H ⁺ ions when a voltage is applied,
Therefore, water may be contained instead of H ⁺ ions. This water is very small and sufficient, and often discolors even water that naturally enters from the atmosphere.

Either the EC layer or the ionic conductive layer may be on the upper side or the lower side. Further, a reversible electrolytic oxidation layer (or an oxidative coloring type EC layer) or a catalyst layer may be provided on the EC layer with an ion conductive layer interposed therebetween. Examples of such a layer include iridium oxide or hydroxide, nickel, chromium, panadium, ruthenium, rhodium, and the like. These and the substance may be dispersed in the ion conductive layer or the transparent electrode, or they may be dispersed. The opaque electrode layer may also serve as the reflection layer, and for example, a metal such as gold, silver, aluminum, chromium, tin, zinc, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, and stainless steel is used.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples with reference to FIGS.

Example 1 A rectangular glass substrate having a length of 9 cm, a width of 15 cm, and a thickness of 1.8 mm was prepared, and the entire surface of the glass substrate (S) was 0.3 μm thick.
Then, a groove was formed between the extraction portion (F) for the upper electrode (A) and the lower electrode (B) by photoetching or laser cutting. An extraction portion (F), a rectangular lower electrode (B) separated from the extraction portion (F), and an extraction portion (B ₁ ) of the lower electrode continuing from the extraction portion (F) were formed (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Note that these patterns may be formed directly by depositing ITO using a mask.

Next, a 0.1 μm-thick reversible electrolytic oxide layer (C) made of a mixture of iridium oxide and tin oxide, a 0.6 μm-thick tantalum oxide layer (D), and a 0.6 μm-thick tungsten oxide layer (E) were formed. Formed in order.

Next, Al having a thickness of 0.1 μm was deposited as an upper electrode (A), and at this time, the Al was formed such that one end thereof was in contact with the extraction portion (F) already formed on the substrate (S).

On the other hand, two phosphor bronze plates each having a length 1 = 8.5 cm × a width 4.4 mm × a thickness 0.1 mm were prepared and bent in the width direction as shown in FIG. 17 to produce a clip. As shown in FIG. 17, the dimensions of the pieces H ₁ and H ₂ are 1.1 mm, and the width of the connecting plate H ₃ is 2.2 mm.
And the width of the opening is 1.6 mm. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the slits H _S having a width (gap) of 0.9 mm are applied to the fragments H ₁ and H ₂ .
Was repeatedly provided in the length direction every 7.8 mm. The slits are provided symmetrically for the fragments H ₁ , H ₂ and for the fragments H ₁
Connecting external wiring (L _A) or (L _B) by soldering or conductive adhesive on the.

This clip, the clip (H) mounted respectively on the short side of the substrate, thereby fragment H ₁ clip extraction unit (F), and so as to crimp the (B _1).

The shape and dimensions of the metal clip (H) are set so that the sealing glass plate (G) can be positioned and the non-display portion around the ECD can be masked.

Finally, a sealing glass plate (G) coated with a large amount of an epoxy resin sealing material (R) was overlaid on the ECD, and the glass plate (G) was inserted between two opposing clips. Since the distance between the two clips and the length of the glass plate (G) are almost matched, the positioning of the glass plate (G) can be performed easily and quickly by inserting the glass plate (G) between the clips. Was.

When the sealing material (R) is left to cure, the extra sealing material (R) covers the take-out portion, a part of the clip, the external wiring connection portion, and fills the gap between the substrate (S) and the clip, They were sealed. As a result, the clip was firmly adhered to the substrate and could not be removed.

Thus, the ECD of this example was manufactured. FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section of the ECD. This figure is partially deformed and does not have an exact dimensional ratio.

When a coloring voltage (+1.35 V) is applied to the ECD from the driving power supply (Su), the reflectance of light having a wavelength of 633 nm incident from the substrate (S) decreases to 16% (after 11 seconds), This reflectance was maintained for a while even when the voltage application was stopped. Next, when the decoloring voltage (-1.35V) is applied, the reflectance is also 66%.
(After 11 seconds).

Therefore, the ECD of this embodiment is useful as an anti-glare mirror for automobiles and other vehicles. When a strong light from an approaching automobile hits the mirror and a voltage is applied to reduce the reflectivity, the driver is not dazzled.

In this embodiment, one extraction portion is provided on each of the short sides of the substrate for both the upper electrode and the lower electrode. However, an extraction portion may be provided on the terminal portion, and charges may be supplied from both. In this case, the extraction portions of one electrode are provided on both short sides of the substrate, the extraction portions of the other electrode are provided on both long sides of the substrate, and the clips are provided on all four sides of the substrate.

Example 2 As shown in FIG. 8, Example 1 was repeated using a substrate having a vertical side having a curvature.

In this case, since the clip can be curved along the vertical side of the substrate due to the provision of the slit portion, the clip was so curved when the clip was mounted on the substrate.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a metal clip is attached in advance to the extraction portion of the electrode of the ECD, and the external wiring is connected through the metal clip. Therefore, (1) the responsiveness of the ECD is improved,
(2) connection workability of external wiring is improved, and (3) even when subjected to a hot water immersion test, the take-out part is peeled off from the substrate or the connection part with the external wiring is peeled. In addition to the effects of the invention of the prior application that the reliability of the ECD is improved, the provision of the slit makes it easier for the sealing material applied from above the slit to enter the clip through the slit. Therefore, the sealing of the electrode extraction portion becomes sufficient, and the durability of the ECD is improved. For the same reason, the adhesive strength between the substrate and the clip is improved, and the clip is hard to be detached.In general, the clip is long, and the upper and lower fragments H ₁ and H ₂ are thin, so that the fragments H ₁ and H ₂ are bent or bent in the longitudinal direction. wavy tend, therefore vacant some places gaps between the extraction section and the fragment H _1, or higher contact resistance, the clip where weakens force bite substrate (a force wearing) is, in some places Since the slit portion is provided, the fragments H ₁ and H ₂ do not have a tendency to bend or wave in the longitudinal direction, so that the contact resistance is reduced, and the force at which the clip bites the substrate (the mounting force) increases. also the substrate end faces have a curvature, it becomes possible or easier to bend the clip along the substrate, in addition to the contact area is the contact increases resistance between extraction portion and fragment H ₁ is reduced, the substrate Good adhesion,
There are effects such as improvement in adhesion strength, appearance, and sealing workability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an ECD according to Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the substrate (S) on which the electrodes according to the first embodiment are formed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a conventional ECD. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the clip of the invention of the prior application. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the conductive clip of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the substrate. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a substrate used in Example 2. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the ECD of the present invention represented by a dimensional ratio closer to the actual one than FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of another example of a conductive clip. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the sealing material has entered a gap between the substrate and the conductive clip. FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of still another example of the conductive clip. 13 to 15 are schematic perspective views of a clip according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the clip according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a substrate having a curvature. FIG. 17 is a schematic sectional view for explaining the dimensions of the clip used in the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the dimensions of the slit portion of the clip used in the first embodiment. (Explanation of reference numerals of main parts) S: Substrate A: Upper electrode B: Lower electrode B ₁ : Extraction portion of lower electrode E: Reduction coloring EC layer or WO ₃ layer F: Extraction of upper electrode Part H: Conductive clip H _S: Slit G: Sealing glass plate R: Sealing material L _A , L _B: External wiring

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An identical electrode is formed by providing a groove in an electrode layer formed in common so that an electrode extraction portion of an upper electrode is separated from an electrode extraction portion of a lower electrode and a lower electrode continuous with the lower electrode. In an electrochromic device, at least an electrochromic layer and an upper electrode are laminated on a substrate so that the upper electrode is in direct contact with the electrode extraction portion of the upper electrode in a strip shape and the upper electrode and the lower electrode are not short-circuited. The electrode take-out portion of the upper electrode and the electrode take-out portion of the lower electrode are formed as different strip-shaped regions along the sides of the substrate, and are overlapped with the respective regions to form a substantially gutter-shaped spring having a U-shaped cross section. Metal clips each having a specific property, external wirings are connected through the metal clips, and the maximum width of the cut portion and the installation of the cut portion are set on the board contact piece of the metal clip. An electrochromic device, wherein a plurality of cut portions are provided so that a ratio to an interval becomes a predetermined value of 1/20 to 1/2.