Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the minor element comprising:
- a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces;
a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween;
a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band, that is circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, and an optically transparent layer adjoining and overlaying said optical thin-film band;
a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and
an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap,wherein the second thin-film stack includes at least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
99 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the minor element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces; a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band, that is circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, and an optically transparent layer adjoining and overlaying said optical thin-film band; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes at least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, 27)
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18. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces, a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface, at least one of the first and second thin-film stacks including a sequence of a first transparent oxide layer, at least one metal layer, and a second transparent oxide layer; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section, the conductive section including a thin-film coating. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces, a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, the first thin-film stack being electrically extended to the fourth surface through an electrically conductive member; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section; an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap; and a conformal coating configured to cover at least a portion of at least one of the conductive section and the electrically conductive member, the at least a portion being adjacent the fourth surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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28. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces; a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section that includes a thin-film coating.
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29. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces; a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band, that is circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, and an optically transparent layer adjoining said optical thin-film band; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section, and wherein the intensity of ambient light reflected from the periphery area differs from the intensity of light reflected from inside the periphery area by no more than 10 percent.
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30. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces; a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band, that is circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, and an optically transparent layer adjoining said optical thin-film band; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section, and wherein a difference in color of ambient light reflected from a periphery area and ambient light reflected from inside the periphery area is less than 30 C* units.
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31. A variable reflectance mirror element having a periphery area, the mirror element comprising:
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a first optically transparent substrate including first and second surfaces; a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the first and second substrates disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with the second and third surfaces facing one another so as to define a gap therebetween; a first thin-film stack deposited on the second surface, the first thin-film stack containing an optical thin-film band, that is circumferentially disposed at a peripheral area of the second surface, and an optically transparent layer adjoining said optical thin-film band; a second thin-film stack covering at least a central portion of the third surface; and an electrochromic medium disposed in the gap, wherein the second thin-film stack includes a least one electrically conductive layer that is electrically extended over the edge surface to the fourth surface through a conductive section, and wherein the reflectance of ambient light from the periphery area exceeds 60 percent.
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Specification