Electrochromic mirror and reflective layer thereof

• US 20040051930A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Fu-Shing
• Granted Patent: US 6,753,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror is provided for performing color change in response to a voltage applied thereto. The electrochromic mirror includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first and a second electrodes, an electrochromic composition and a reflective layer. The reflective layer is made of aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and disposed on the second substrate for partially reflecting the light entering from the first substrate back to the first substrate. A reflective layer of an electrochromic mirror for partially reflecting incident light from an image is also provided. The reflective layer includes an aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer and an indium tin oxide (ITO) attached to the aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror for performing color change in response to a voltage applied thereto, comprising:

a first substrate being light tranmissible;

a second substrate positioned substantially parallel to said first substrate, and spaced apart from said first substrate by a predetermined clearance to form a space therebetween;

a first and a second electrodes provided on opposite surfaces of said first and second substrates facing said space, respectively, for providing a voltage, said first electrode being light transmissible;

an electrochromic composition disposed in said space between said first and second substrates for performing color change in response to said voltage; and

a reflective layer made of aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and disposed on said second substrate for partially reflecting the light entering from said first substrate back to said first substrate.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1 wherein said first and second substrates are made of glass.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second electrodes are made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1 wherein said reflective layer is disposed on said second substrate opposite to said second electrode.

5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 4 further comprising an intermediate layer between said second substrate and said reflective layer for cooperating with said reflective layer to provide different color from that resulting from only said reflective layer.

6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 5 wherein said intermediate layer is made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

7. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1 wherein said reflective layer is disposed between said second substrate and said second electrode.

8. An electrochromic mirror for performing color change in response to a voltage applied thereto, comprising:

a first substrate being light transmissible;

a second substrate positioned substantially parallel to said first substrate, and spaced apart from said first substrate by a predetermined clearance to form a space therebetween;

a first and a second electrodes provided on opposite surfaces of said first and second substrates facing said space, respectively, for providing a voltage, said first electrode being light transmissible;

an electrochromic composition disposed in said space between said first and second substrates for performing color change in response to said voltage; and

a composite reflective layer disposed on said second substrate for partially reflecting the light entering from said first substrate back to said first substrate,

wherein said composite reflective layer is made of an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer and a highly reflective layer.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8 wherein said first and second substrates are made of glass.

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8 wherein said first and said second electrodes are made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8 wherein said highly reflective layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and silver (Ag).

12. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8 wherein said composite reflective layer is disposed on said second substrate opposite to said second electrode.

13. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 12 wherein said indium tin oxide (ITO) layer of said composite reflective layer is disposed between said second substrate and said highly reflective layer.

14. An electrochromic mirror for performing color change in response to a voltage applied thereto, comprising:

a first substrate being light transmissible;

a second substrate positioned substantially parallel to said first substrate, and spaced apart from said first substrate by a predetermined clearance to form a space therebetween;

a light-transmissible electrode disposed on said first substrate facing said space;

a composite electrode made of an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer and a highly reflective layer and disposed on said second substrate facing said space for cooperating with said light-transmissible electrode to provide a voltage; and

an electrochromic composition disposed in said space between said light-transmissible electrode and said composite electrode for performing color change in response to said voltage.

15. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 14 wherein said highly reflective layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and silver (Ag).

16. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 14 wherein said highly reflective layer is disposed between said second substrate and said indium tin oxide (ITO) layer of said composite reflective electrode.

17. A reflective layer of an electrochromic mirror for partially reflecting incident light from an image, comprising an aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer.

19. A reflective layer of an electrochromic mirror for partially reflecting incident light from an image, comprising immediately adjacent indium tin oxide (ITO) layer and highly reflective layer.

18. The reflective layer according to claim 19 further comprising an indium tin oxide (ITO) attached to said aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer.

20. The reflective layer according to claim 19 wherein said highly reflective layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and silver (Ag).