Electrochromic device for safety detector
A detector for detecting a hazardous safety condition. The detector includes a housing, an electrochromic material disposed within the housing, and a power source in operative electrical communication with the electrochromic material, the electrochromic material providing a visual display to indicate a condition of the detector.
1. A detector for detecting a hazardous safety condition, the detector comprising at least one of a fire detector, a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector, the detector comprising:
a housing;
an electrochromic material disposed within the housing of the detector; and
a power source in operative electrical communication with the electrochromic material, the electrochromic material providing a visual display to indicate a condition of the power source;
wherein the visual display is visible from outside the housing;
wherein the visual display is maintained displaying the indication condition of the power source after the power source has reached an end of life condition;
wherein the power source comprises a capacitor charged by a battery.
2. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the power source is in operative electrical communication with the electrochromic material with at least one electrode.
3. The detector of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the electrochromic material on opposing sides of the electrochromic material.
4. The detector of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode is in electrical communication with the power source.
5. The detector of claim 3 , wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode.
6. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the visual display is at least one of a change in color, symbol, and text.
7. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic material provides a plurality of visual displays indicative of a plurality of conditions of the detector.
8. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic material is one of a plurality of electrochromic materials disposed within the housing.
9. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the electrochromic material is a polymer based material.
10. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the detector is one of a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector.
11. A method of visually displaying a condition of a detector, the detector comprising at least one of a fire detector, a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector, the method comprising:
powering the detector with a power source;
applying an electric field across an electrochromic material disposed within a housing of the detector;
changing a visual display provided by the electrochromic material in response to application of the electric field; and
maintaining the visual display displaying an indication condition of the power source after the power source has reached an end of life condition;
wherein the power source comprises a capacitor charged by a battery.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electric field is applied with the power source in operative electric communication with a pair of electrodes disposed adjacent the electrochromic material.
13. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor powers the detector.
14. The detector of claim 2 , wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled to the at least one electrode.
15. The detector of claim 14 , wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled to the at least one electrode by a switch.