Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface reflector with at least one graphical indicia

• US 7,209,277 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US11/348,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/269, 359/273, 359/241, 359/240, 359/238, 359/601, 359/604
• 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 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• 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 2001/1536 additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell
• 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 a vehicle, comprising:

a variable reflectance element comprising a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substantially transparent substrate secured proximate one another such that a second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate is closer to a third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate than is a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate and defining a chamber therebetween, said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one layer of conductive material and a majority of said third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate comprising an at least partially reflective stack of materials; and

a plurality of graphical indicia symbols formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials defining an information display indicative of a vehicle heading.

2. A rearview assembly as in claim 1 further comprising at least one alphanumeric character formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials.

3. A rearview assembly as in claim 1 wherein said graphical indicia symbol is defined by a series of individual voids in an otherwise continuous layer of material.

4. A rearview assembly as in claim 1, said third surface stack of materials comprising at least a first layer of materials and a second layer of materials.

5. A rearview assembly as in claim 1, at least one of said third surface layer of materials comprising a thickness corresponding to an odd integer multiple of a quarter wave frequency of an associated light source.

6. A rearview assembly as in claim 1 wherein said third surface stack of materials is an IMI stack.

7. A rearview assembly as in claim 1 wherein said third surface stack of materials defines a reflector/electrode, said reflector/electrode is in direct contact with a solution phase electrochromic medium contained within said chamber.

8. A rearview assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a variable reflectance element comprising a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substantially transparent substrate secured proximate one another such that a second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate is closer to a third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate than is a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate and defining a chamber therebetween, said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one layer of conductive material and a majority of said third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate comprising an at least partially reflective stack of materials; and

at least one graphical indicia symbol formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials indicative of the status of a vehicle passenger side air bag.

9. A rearview assembly as in claim 8 further comprising at least one alphanumeric character formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials.

10. A rearview assembly as in claim 8 wherein said graphical indicia symbol is defined by a series of individual voids in an otherwise continuous layer of material.

11. A rearview assembly as in claim 8, said third surface stack of materials comprising at least a first layer of materials and a second layer of materials.

12. A rearview assembly as in claim 8, at least one of said third surface layer of materials comprising a thickness corresponding to an odd integer multiple of a quarter wave frequency of an associated light source.

13. A rearview assembly as in claim 8 wherein said third surface stack of materials is an IMI stack.

14. A rearview assembly as in claim 8 wherein said third surface stack of materials defines a reflector/electrode, said reflector/electrode is in direct contact with a solution phase electrochromic medium contained within said chamber.

15. A rearview assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a variable reflectance element comprising a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substantially transparent substrate secured proximate one another such that a second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate is closer to a third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate than is a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate and defining a chamber therebetween, said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one layer of conductive material and a majority of said third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate comprising an at least partially reflective stack of materials; and

at least one graphical indicia symbol formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials.

16. A rearview assembly as in claim 15 further comprising at least one alphanumeric character formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials.

17. A rearview assembly as in claim 15 wherein said graphical indicia symbol is defined by a series of individual voids in an otherwise continuous layer of material.

18. A rearview assembly as in claim 15, said third surface stack of materials comprising at least a first layer of materials and a second layer of materials.

19. A rearview assembly as in claim 15, at least one of said third surface layer of materials comprising a thickness corresponding to an odd integer multiple of a quarter wave frequency of an associated light source.

20. A rearview assembly as in claim 15 wherein said third surface stack of materials is an IMI stack.

21. A rearview assembly as in claim 15 wherein said third surface stack of materials defines a reflector/electrode, said reflector/electrode is in direct contact with a solution phase electrochromic medium contained within said chamber.

22. A rearview assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a variable reflectance element comprising a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substantially transparent substrate secured proximate one another such that a second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate is closer to a third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate than is a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate and defining a chamber therebetween, said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one layer of conductive material and a majority of said third surface of said second substantially transparent substrate comprising an at least partially reflective stack of materials; and

at least one graphical indicia symbol formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials indicative of an impending latitudinal vehicle movement.

23. A rearview assembly as in claim 22 further comprising at least one alphanumeric character formed in at least one layer of said third surface at least partially reflective stack of materials.

24. A rearview assembly as in claim 22 wherein said graphical indicia symbol is defined by a series of individual voids in an otherwise continuous layer of material.

25. A rearview assembly as in claim 22, said third surface stack of materials comprising at least a first layer of materials and a second layer of materials.

26. A rearview assembly as in claim 22, at least one of said third surface layer of materials comprising a thickness corresponding to an odd integer multiple of a quarter wave frequency of an associated light source.

27. A rearview assembly as in claim 22 wherein said third surface stack of materials is an IMI stack.

28. A rearview assembly as in claim 22 wherein said third surface stack of materials defines a reflector/electrode, said reflector/electrode is in direct contact with a solution phase electrochromic medium contained within said chamber.