Electrochromic anti-glare mirror

• US 6,583,919 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Mizutani, Kenichi, Ayabe, Masao, Ishigami, Narumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/577,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/271, 359/272, 359/273, 359/601, 359/275, 359/266, 359/602, 359/603
• US Class Current: 359/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

An electrochromic anti-glare mirror is provided in which incorrect assembly can be prevented, assemblability can be improved, a number of work processes can be reduced, and costs can be reduced. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror includes an electrochromic layer which is provided at a rear surface side of a substrate glass, and in which an electrochromic film is nipped between a transparent conductive film and a reflective conductive film. By energizing the electrochromic film between the transparent conductive film and reflective conductive film, the electrochromic film is electrically made to color. Wires for electrochromic anti-glare for energizing the electrochromic film between the transparent conductive film and the reflective conductive film are printed on the printed circuit board. As a result, there is no need for complex work for installing and connecting cords as in conventional structures in which wires are cords. Therefore, incorrect assembly can be prevented, assemblability can be improved, the number of work processes can be reduced, costs can thereby be reduced.

Claims

1. An electrochromic anti-glare mirror for electrically altering reflectance when connected to a power supply, said mirror comprising:

(a) a reflective film;

(b) an electrochromic layer disposed on a front side of the reflective film, through which light reflected from the reflective film passes, and whose color changes due to the electrochromic layer being energized; and

(c) a circuit board having a conductor with two ends, one end being connected to the electrochromic layer and the other end being for connection to a power supply,

wherein said reflective film, said electrochromic layer and said circuit board are disposed in direct or indirect close contact with each other,

wherein the electrochromic layer is formed by a pair of conductive films consisting of a front transparent conductive film and a rear conductive film, and an electrochromic film nipped between the pair of conductive films, wherein said reflective film is a part of the electrochromic layer, serving as said rear conductive film.

2. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further including a connector for connection to a power supply, connected to said other end of the conductor.

3. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein the reflective film includes a rear surface opposite the electrochromic layer, the circuit board is disposed at the rear surface side and approximately parallel to the reflective film.

4. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein a heater is provided between the reflective film and the circuit board, and the circuit board includes a conductor for supplying electric power to the heater.

5. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further comprising a cover member, wherein the circuit board includes opposite sides, one side being proximate the reflective film, with the cover member provided at the other side of the circuit board.

6. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 5, further comprising a connector mounted to the cover member.

7. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes two types of conductors having polarities different from each other for supplying electric power to the electrochromic layer, and the electrochromic layer is formed in laminated configuration and includes opposite edges, with one of the two types of conductors connected to one edge, and the other type of the two types of conductors connected to the opposite edge.

8. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes two types of conductors having polarities different from each other for supplying electric power to the electrochromic layer, and the electrochromic layer is formed in laminated configuration and includes a periphery, with one of the two types of conductors connected to a set of plural locations spaced apart from one another along the periphery, and the other type of the two types of conductors connects to a location different from said set of the plural locations along the periphery.

9. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further comprising a heater having ends, wherein the power supply and circuit board are connected via two types of wires whose polarities are different from each other, the circuit board including:

(a) first electrode terminals connected to one of the two types of wires, the first electrode terminals consisting of an electrode terminal connected to a portion of the electrochromic layer and an electrode terminal connected to one end of the heater; and

(b) second electrode terminals connected to the other of the two types of wires, the second electrode terminal consisting of an electrode terminal connected to another portion of the electrochromic layer and an electrode terminal connected to another end of the heater.

10. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further comprising a transparent substrate disposed on a front side of the electrochromic layer, wherein the circuit board is electrically connected to the front transparent conductive film via a connecting terminal pressing the front transparent conductive film against the transparent substrate.

11. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further comprising a transparent substrate disposed on a front side of the electrochromic layer, wherein the circuit board is electrically connected to the rear transparent conductive film via a connecting terminal pressing the rear transparent film against the transparent substrate.

12. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer includes a periphery having connecting terminals provide there along, said connecting terminals connected to the circuit board through welded portions.

13. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, further comprising a substrate glass, a protective board, and an adhesive, with the substrate glass being disposed on the electrochromic layer, and the adhesive adhering the protective board to the reflective film, with the circuit board disposed on the protective board, wherein the substrate glass, protective board, electrochromic layer and circuit board are all approximately parallel to one another.

14. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 1, wherein said circuit board indirectly contacts said reflective film and electrochromic layer through a protective plate.

24. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 14, wherein said circuit board directly contacts said reflective film and electrochromic layer through a conductive terminal that engages an outer edge of said electrochromic layer and reflective film.

15. An electrochromic anti-glare mirror for electrically altering reflectance when connected to a power supply, said mirror comprising:

(a) a reflective film;

(b) an electrochromic layer disposed on a front side of the reflective film, through which light reflected from the reflective film passes, and whose color changes due to the electrochromic layer being energized; and

(c) a circuit board having a conductor with two ends, one end being connected to the electrochromic layer and the other end being for connection to a power supply,

wherein said reflective film, said electrochromic layer and said circuit board are disposed in direct or indirect close contact with each other,

wherein the circuit board includes two types of conductors having polarities different from each other for supplying electric power to the electrochromic layer, and a resistance for fail-safe disposed between the two types of conductors which discharges electrical power if there is a power supply malfunction.

16. An electrochromic anti-glare mirror comprising:

(a) a substrate glass having front and back surfaces;

(b) an electrochromic layer provided on the back surface of the substrate glass, the electrochromic layer including an electrochromic film disposed between a transparent conductive film and a reflective conductive film, wherein the electrochromic film alters color when subjected to an electric voltage via the transparent and reflective conductive film; and

(c) a printed circuit board on which circuitry is printed for applying an electric voltage to the electrochromic film,

wherein said substrate glass, said electrochromic layer and said printed circuit board are disposed in direct or indirect close contact with each other.

17. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 16, further comprising a resistance for fail-safe printed on the printed circuit board, which discharges electric power between the transparent conductive film and the reflective conductive film when electric power is supplied to the electrochromic layer and there is a malfunction.

18. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 17, further comprising an electric heater having a pair of heater terminals, the heater being provided between the electrochromic layer and the printed circuit board, with the heater terminals connected directly to the printed circuit board.

19. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 16, wherein said circuit board indirectly contacts said electrochromic layer through a protective plate.

20. An electrochromic anti-glare mirror for electrically altering reflectance when connected to a power supply, the electrochromic anti-glare mirror comprising:

(a) a transparent substrate having a rear surface;

(b) a transparent conductive film having a rear surface, the transparent conductive film being disposed at the rear surface side of the transparent substrate;

(c) a reflective conductive film having a rear surface, the reflective conductive film being disposed at the rear surface side of the transparent conductive film;

(d) an electrochromic film disposed between the transparent conductive film and the reflective conductive film, and through which light reflected from the reflective conductive film passes to the transparent substrate, and whose color changes due to electrical energization thereof; and

(e) a circuit board disposed at the rear surface side of the reflective conductive film, the circuit board having a conductor with two ends, one end being connected to the electrochromic film, and the other end being for connection to a power supply,

wherein said transparent substrate, said transparent conductive film, said reflective conductive film, said electrochromic film and said circuit board are disposed in direct or indirect close contact with each other.

21. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 20, wherein the circuit board includes two types of conductors having polarities different from each other for supplying electric power to the electrochromic film, and a resistance for fail-safe disposed between the two types of conductors which discharges electrical power if there is malfunction in supplying power.

22. The electrochromic anti-glare mirror of claim 20, wherein said circuit board indirectly contacts said electrochromic layer through a protective plate.

23. An electrochromic anti-glare mirror for electrically altering reflectance when connected to a power supply, said mirror comprising:

(a) a reflective film;

(b) an electrochromic layer disposed on a front side of the reflective film, through which light reflected from the reflective film passes, and whose color changes due to the electrochromic layer being energized;

(c) a heater including a pair of terminals having different polarities;

(d) a circuit board having a conductor with two ends, one end being connected to the electrochromic layer and the other end being for connection to a power supply;

(e) a cover sheet which protects said circuit board, said cover sheet being provided with at least one metal plate disposed to correspond to the position of said one end of said conductor of said circuit board and at least one hole thereon so as to correspond to the position of said other end of said conductor of said circuit board;

(f) at least one terminal including a portion shaped in a substantial U-shape and a leg portion which protrudes from said substantially U-shaped portion; and

(g) an electrical connector that is connected to said power supply, wherein said cover sheet, said circuit board, said heater and said electrochromic layer are electrically conducted by connecting said leg portion of said terminal to said metal plate provided on said cover sheet, and disposing said electrical connector over said hole provided in said cover sheet, and having said reflective film, said electrochromic layer, said heater, said circuit board and said cover sheet disposed in direct or indirect close contact with each other.