Electrochromic rearview mirror element incorporating a third surface reflector

• US 6,870,656 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Anderson, John S., Forgette, Jeffrey A., Stam, Joseph S., Bechtel, Jon H., Carter, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US10/352,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/271, 359/273, 359/275, 359/268, 359/266, 359/269, 359/270, 359/274, 362/494, 362/30, 362/135, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/34 reflector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 Arrangements for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8794 Arrangements for heating and cooling

Abstract

The inventive electrochromic mirror may be used in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, an electrochromic material is contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlies the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a partially transmissive coating of and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is at least partially transmissive.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in the housing for providing an image to the driver of a rearward view from the rearview assembly, wherein said rearview element is an electro-optic mirror element having a reflective layer; and

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said rearview element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a secondary optical element positioned between said glare sensor device and said rearview element, wherein at least a portion of said reflective layer in front of said glare sensor subassembly is transfiective.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said electro-optic mirror element is an electrochromic mirror element.

2. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in the housing for providing an image to the driver of a rearward view from the rearview assembly; and

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said rearview element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a secondary optical element positioned between said glare sensor device and said rearview element, wherein said secondary optical element serves to collect light over an area greater than a sensing area of said glare sensor device so as to direct at least a portion of the collected light to said glare sensor device.

3. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in the housing for providing an image to the driver of a rearward view from the rearview assembly; and

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said rearview element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a secondary optical element positioned between said glare sensor device and said rearview element, wherein said secondary optical element is a lens that condenses the collected light towards a focal plane of said lens.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 3, wherein said glare sensor device is positioned in front of the focal plane of said lens.

5. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

an electro-optic mirror element positioned in said housing; and

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said electro-optic element so as to sense light passing through said electro-optic mirror element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a secondary optical element positioned between said glare sensor device and said electro-optic mirror element,

wherein said electro-optic mirror element has a reflective layer.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said reflective layer in front of said glare sensor subassembly is transfiective.

7. The rview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said electro-optic mirror element is an electrochromic mirror element.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said secondary optical element serves to collect light over an area greater than a sensing area of said glare sensor device so as to direct at least a portion of the collected light to said glare sensor device.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said secondary optical element is a lens that condenses the collected light towards a focal plane of said lens.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said glare sensor device is positioned in front of the focal plane of said lens.

8. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

an electro-optic mirror element positioned in said housing for providing an image to a driver of the vehicle, said electro-optic mirror element having a variable attenuator for attenuating the brightness of the image;

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said electro-optic element so as to sense light passing through said electro-optic mirror element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a lens positioned between said glare sensor device and said electro-optic mirror element; and

a control circuit coupled to said electro-optic mirror element and said glare sensor device for controlling the attenuation of the image by said electro-optic element in response to glare levels sensed by said glare sensor device,

wherein said serves to collect light over an area greater than a sensing area of said glare sensor device so as to direct at least a portion of the collected light to said glare sensor device.

11. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said electro-optic mirror element has a reflective layer.

9. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

an electro-optic mirror element positioned in said housing for providing an image to a driver of the vehicle, said electro-optic mirror element having a variable attenuator for attenuating the brightness of the image;

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said electro-optic element so as to sense light passing through said electro-optic mirror element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a lens positioned between said glare sensor device and said electro-optic mirror element; and

a control circuit coupled to said electro-optic mirror element and said glare sensor device for controlling the attenuation of the image by said electro-optic element in response to glare levels sensed by said glare sensor device,

wherein said lens condenses the collected light towards a focal plane of said lens.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said glare sensor device is positioned in front of the focal plane of said lens.

12. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

an electro-optic mirror element positioned in said housing for providing an image to a driver of the vehicle, said electro-optic mirror element having a variable attenuator for attenuating the brightness of the image, wherein said electro-optic mirror element has a reflective layer;

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said electro-optic element so as to sense light passing through said electro-optic mirror element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a lens positioned between said glare sensor device and said electro-optic mirror element; and

a control circuit coupled to said electro-optic mirror element and said glare sensor device for controlling the attenuation of the image by said electro-optic element in response to glare levels sensed by said glare sensor device,

wherein at least a portion of said reflective layer in front of said glare sensor subassembly is transflective.