Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements

• US 7,570,413 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Neuman, George A., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Anderson, John S., Stray, Joel A., Ypma, Kenton J., Busscher, Bradley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/151,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10321 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing liquid layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces and a spectral filter material proximate the second surface in at least a peripheral portion, said spectral filter material comprising at least one layer including chromium;

a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of the third surface;

said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate secured in a spaced apart relation with respect to one another with said second surface and said third surface facing one another,

wherein said at least one layer including chromium is characterized by a refractive index, at approximately 550 nm, comprising n between approximately 2.7 and approximately 4.1, k between approximately 3.5 and approximately 4.5, and a ratio of n/k between 0.64 and 0.93.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising

an electrical circuit board having an electrical connector;

and

at least one electrical clip carried on said second surface, wherein said electrical connector is in electrical communication with said electrical clip.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said electrical clip is a J-clip.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said J-clip comprises a stress relief area.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between intensity of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and intensity of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 10%.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between intensity of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and intensity of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 6%.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between intensity of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and intensity of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 3%.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between color of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and color of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 30 C* units.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between color of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and color of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 15 C* units.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a difference between color of ambient light reflected from the peripheral portion and color of ambient light reflected from inside the peripheral portion is less than 10 C* units.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein n is approximately equal to 3.4559 and k is approximately equal to 3.9808.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a reflectivity of said spectral material is greater than 55%.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one layer including chromium is approximately 80 nm thick and a layer of indium-tin oxide approximately 148.7 nm thick is positioned between said at least one layer including chromium and said first substantially transparent substrate.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured as a rearview mirror element.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured not to cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material.

17. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewed from the fourth surface of said second substrate.

18. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

19. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one device selected from the group consisting of an interior illumination assembly, a digital voice processing system, a power supply, a global positioning system, an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.