Electro-optic device having a self-cleaning hydrophilic coating
First Claim
1. An electro-optic device comprising:
- an electro-optic element having a variable transmittance, said electro-optic element having a front surface and a rear surface; and
a hydrophilic optical coating disposed on the front surface of said electro-optic element, said coating comprising a color suppression coating and a layer of a photocatalytic material.
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Abstract
An electro-optic device is disclosed having a self-cleaning, hydrophilic optical coating. The electro-optic device preferably forms an external rearview mirror for a vehicle. The optical coating preferably includes photocatalytic layer(s), a hydrophilic layer, and a color suppression coating. The electro-optic device is preferably an electrochromic mirror. The disclosed optical coating exhibits a reflectance at the front surface of the reflective element that is less than about 20 percent, and has sufficient hydrophilic properties such that water droplets on a front surface of the optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 20°. The mirror exhibits a C* value of less than 25.
57 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An electro-optic device comprising:
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an electro-optic element having a variable transmittance, said electro-optic element having a front surface and a rear surface; and
a hydrophilic optical coating disposed on the front surface of said electro-optic element, said coating comprising a color suppression coating and a layer of a photocatalytic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflectance mirror element having a front surface and a rear surface; and
a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed on the front surface of said mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A variable transmittance window comprising:
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first and second spaced apart transparent elements;
a variable transmittance element positioned between said first and second transparent elements; and
a hydrophilic coating disposed over an outer surface of said first transparent element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An electrochromic element comprising:
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first and second substrates spaced apart and sealed to provide a sealed chamber therebetween, the front surface of said first substrate serves as the front surface of the electrochromic element, and the rear surface of said second substrate serves as the rear surface of the electrochromic element;
a first electrode disposed on the rear surface of said first substrate;
a second electrode disposed on the front surface of said second substrate; and
an electrochromic medium disposed in the sealed chamber, wherein said electrochromic medium having a color such that, when combined with said first substrate and said first electrode, decreases C* relative to a neutral colored electrochromic medium when the electrochromic medium is activated.
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41. An electrochromic element comprising:
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first and second substrates spaced apart and sealed to provide a sealed chamber therebetween, the front surface of said first substrate serves as the front surface of the electrochromic element, and the rear surface of said second substrate serves as the rear surface of the electrochromic element;
a first electrode disposed on the rear surface of said first substrate;
a color compensation layer disposed on a surface of said first substrate, said color compensation layer having a refractive index intermediate that of said first electrode and said first substrate;
a second electrode disposed on the front surface of said second substrate; and
an electrochromic medium disposed in the sealed chamber. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A non-planar electrochromic mirror comprising:
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first and second non-planar substrates spaced apart and sealed to provide a sealed chamber therebetween, the front surface of said first substrate serves as the front surface of the electrochromic element, and the rear surface of said second substrate serves as the rear surface of the electrochromic element;
a first electrode disposed on the rear surface of said first substrate;
a second electrode disposed on the front surface of said second substrate;
an electrochromic medium disposed in the sealed chamber; and
a layer disposed on the front surface of said first substrate, said layer having a refractive index higher than that of said first substrate so as to increase the reflectance of the mirror when said electrochromic medium is activated.
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Specification