Variable reflectance automobile mirror

• US 5,801,873 A
• Filed: 12/30/1993
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Byker, Harlan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US08/175,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/275, 359/274, 359/268, 359/272, 359/270, 359/273
• US Class Current: 359/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 498/04 Ortho-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/40 using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect visual indication of correct tuning H03J3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds

Abstract

The present invention provides variable reflectance automobile mirrors wherein the component of variable transmittance is an electrochromic device wherein the medium of variable transmittance comprises an electrochromic compound in a gel or a thickened solution.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance rearview mirror for an automobile, wherein the variable reflectance is provided by a component of reversibly variable transmittance, which component is an electrochromic device comprising a medium of reversibly variable transmittance which is a gel comprising at least one electrochromic compound, and wherein there is an highly reflecting layer which reflects through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device light which reaches the highly reflecting layer after passing through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device.

3. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein the gel comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

19. The mirror according to any one of claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11-18, 1 and 2, wherein the electrochromic device is self-erasing.

20. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the gel comprises a solvent.

2. A variable reflectance rearview mirror for an automobile, wherein the variable reflectance is provided by a component of reversibly variable transmittance, which component is an electrochromic device comprising a medium of reversibly variable transmittance which comprises an acrylic material and at least one electrochromic compound, and wherein there is an highly reflecting layer which reflects through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device light which reaches the highly reflecting layer after passing through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device.

4. The mirror according to claim 2 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a solvent.

5. The mirror according to claim 2 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

6. The mirror according to claim 4 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

7. The mirror according to claim 2 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

8. The mirror according to claim 4 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

9. The mirror according to claim 5, wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

10. The mirror according to claim 6 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

11. A mirror according to claim 2 wherein the acrylic material is an acrylic sheet material.

12. A mirror according to claim 4 wherein the acrylic material is an acrylic sheet material.

13. The mirror according to claim 11 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

14. The mirror according to claim 12 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

15. The mirror according to claim 11 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

16. The mirror according to claim 12 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

17. The mirror according to claim 13 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

18. The mirror according to claim 14 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance is thickened.

21. A variable reflectance rearview mirror for an automobile, wherein the variable reflectance is provided by a component of reversibly variable transmittance, which component is an electrochromic device comprising a medium of reversibly variable transmittance which comprises a thickening material and at least one electrochromic compound, and wherein there is an highly reflecting layer which reflects through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device light which reaches the highly reflecting layer after passing through the medium of reversibly variable transmittance of the electrochromic device.

22. The mirror according to claim 21 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a solvent.

23. The mirror according to claim 22 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

24. The mirror according to claim 21 wherein the medium of reversibly variable transmittance comprises a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

25. The mirror according to claim 21 wherein the thickener comprises an acrylic material.