Electro-optic device having a self-cleaning hydrophilic coating

• US 20080123190A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David J. Cammenga, John S. Anderson, William L. Tonar
• Original Assignee: David J. Cammenga, John S. Anderson, William L. Tonar
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Anderson, John S.
• Application Number:
  US11/807,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20080123190A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/507
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

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.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. :

An electrochromic device, comprising;

a first substantially transparent element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein a self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating is applied to at least a portion of the front surface, and further wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the rear surface;

a second element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the front surface;

an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second elements which comprises at least one solvent, an anodic material, and a cathodic material; and

wherein the electrochromic device is not strongly colored in a low reflectance state.

49. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 48, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating includes at least one layer of photocatalytic material having a thickness of less than approximately 300 angstroms.

50. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 48, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating is sufficiently hydrophilic such that water droplets on a front surface of the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 30 degrees.

51. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 50, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating includes at least one layer of photocatalytic material having a thickness of less than approximately 300 angstroms.

52. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 48, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating is sufficiently hydrophilic such that water droplets on a front surface of the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 20 degrees.

53. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 52, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating includes at least one layer of photocatalytic material having a thickness of less than approximately 300 angstroms.

54. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 48, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating is sufficiently hydrophilic such that water droplets on a front surface of the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 10 degrees.

55. :

The electrochromic device according to claim 54, wherein the self-cleaning, hydrophilic, optical coating includes at least one layer of photocatalytic material having a thickness of less than approximately 300 angstroms.