Electrochromic devices with thin bezel-covered edge

• US 7,612,929 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Arnold, John W., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Bauer, Frederick T., Fogg, Jeremy A., Busscher, Bradley L., Carter, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/928,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• 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

A mirror includes an electro-optic mirror subassembly, and a thin-profiled bezel attached around a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a carrier by an adheringly bonded heater and foam tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel may be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or may be bonded and/or interlockingly mechanically attached to an edge of the carrier. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in place, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to permit assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin that prevents seeing past the bezel into the inside of a mirror housing. In at least one embodiment, the assembly has no bezel or only a bezel on one edge.

Claims

1. A mirror element, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent conductor on a second surface thereof, wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 1.0 Ω

/□ and

approximately 10 Ω

/□

, and wherein light reflected by any two points on the mirror element is characterized by a difference in color of less than 5 C* units.

2. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of less than 8 Ω

/□

.

3. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 2.0 Ω

/□ and

approximately 4 Ω

/□

.

4. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said first substantially transparent substrate has a thickness of less than 2.0 mm.

5. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said second substrate has a thickness of less than 2.0 mm.

6. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises at least one layer selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, doped-zinc oxide, IMI, and ITO.

7. A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor is placed on said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate by either sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition or plating.

8. A mirror element as in claim 1 further comprising a second substrate comprising an at least partially reflective conductor, wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 0.05 Ω

/□ and

approximately 0.5 Ω

/□

.

9. A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises a sheet resistance of approximately 0.1 Ω

/□

.

10. A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises at least one layer selected from the group consisting of silver and silver-gold.

11. A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor is placed on at least one surface of said second substantially transparent substrate by either sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition or plating.

12. A mirror element, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent conductor on a second surface thereof and further comprising a first perimeter length; and

a second substrate comprising a second perimeter length and further comprising an electrical conductor comprising a sheet resistance of between approximately 0.05 Ω

/□ and

approximately 8.0 Ω

/□

, wherein said first perimeter length is larger than said second perimeter length.

13. A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a Z clip connector in contact with said substantially transparent conductor.

14. A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a J clip connector in contact with said electrical conductor of said second substrate.

15. A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a C clip connector in contact with said electrical conductor of said second substrate.

16. A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a substantially transparent seal disposed between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate to define a chamber therebetween.

17. A mirror element as in claim 16 further comprising a spectral filter material disposed proximate a perimeter portion of said first substantially transparent substrate such that selected light rays are prevented from impinging upon said seal.