ELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:
- a first substrate and a second substrate having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said perimeter seal is disposed between said first and second substrates;
wherein said first substrate comprises a first substantially transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface;
wherein said second substrate comprises a second substantially transparent substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface;
wherein a transparent electrically conductive thin film is disposed at least a portion of said second surface of said first substrate;
wherein a perimeter coating is disposed at said second surface of said first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of said first substrate, and wherein said perimeter coating comprises at least one of (i) a reflective perimeter coating, (ii) an electrically conductive perimeter coating and (iii) a substantially opaque perimeter coating;
wherein said perimeter coating generally conceals said perimeter seal from view by a person viewing said first surface of said first substrate and through said first substrate;
wherein an at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said at least partially reflective stack of thin films comprises at least one metal thin film; and
wherein said perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing said fourth surface of said second substrate and through said second substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes first and second substrates having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. A perimeter coating is disposed at a second surface of the first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of the first substrate. The perimeter coating generally conceals the perimeter seal from view by a person viewing a first surface of the first substrate and through the first substrate. An at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of a third surface of the second substrate. The perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing a fourth surface of the second substrate and through the second substrate.
22 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:
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a first substrate and a second substrate having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said perimeter seal is disposed between said first and second substrates; wherein said first substrate comprises a first substantially transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface; wherein said second substrate comprises a second substantially transparent substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface; wherein a transparent electrically conductive thin film is disposed at least a portion of said second surface of said first substrate; wherein a perimeter coating is disposed at said second surface of said first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of said first substrate, and wherein said perimeter coating comprises at least one of (i) a reflective perimeter coating, (ii) an electrically conductive perimeter coating and (iii) a substantially opaque perimeter coating; wherein said perimeter coating generally conceals said perimeter seal from view by a person viewing said first surface of said first substrate and through said first substrate; wherein an at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said at least partially reflective stack of thin films comprises at least one metal thin film; and wherein said perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing said fourth surface of said second substrate and through said second substrate. - 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, 24)
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25. An interior electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said interior electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:
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a first substrate and a second substrate having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said perimeter seal is disposed between said first and second substrates; wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are generally sized and shaped to like dimensions, and wherein said second substrate is disposed to the rear of said second surface of said first substrate in a generally flush design; wherein said first substrate comprises a first substantially transparent glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface; wherein said second substrate comprises a second substantially transparent glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface; wherein a transparent electrically conductive thin film is disposed at least a portion of said second surface of said first substrate; wherein a perimeter coating is disposed at said second surface of said first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of said first substrate, and wherein said perimeter coating circumscribes the outer perimeter of said second surface of said second substrate; wherein said perimeter coating comprises a reflective metal thin film; wherein said perimeter coating generally conceals said perimeter seal from view by a person viewing said first surface of said first substrate and through said first substrate; wherein an at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said at least partially reflective stack of thin films comprises at least one metal thin film; and wherein said perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing said fourth surface of said second substrate and through said second substrate. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An exterior electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said exterior electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:
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a first substrate and a second substrate having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said perimeter seal is disposed between said first and second substrates; wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are generally sized and shaped to like dimensions, and wherein said second substrate is disposed to the rear of said second surface of said first substrate in a generally flush design; wherein said first substrate comprises a first substantially transparent glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface; wherein said second substrate comprises a second substantially transparent glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface; wherein a transparent electrically conductive thin film is disposed at least a portion of said second surface of said first substrate; wherein a perimeter coating is disposed at said second surface of said first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of said first substrate, and wherein said perimeter coating circumscribes the outer perimeter of said second surface of said second substrate; wherein said perimeter coating comprises a reflective metal thin film, and wherein said perimeter coating is electrically conductive; wherein said perimeter coating generally conceals said perimeter seal from view by a person viewing said first surface of said first substrate and through said first substrate; wherein an at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said at least partially reflective stack of thin films comprises at least one metal thin film; and wherein said perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing said fourth surface of said second substrate and through said second substrate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification