Multi-zone mirrors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-zone mirror element having a transflective zone and an opaque zone, the mirror element comprisinga supporting base;
- at least one of a prismatic element and an electrochromic (EC) element having a surface and distanced from the supporting base, the surface being parallel to the supporting base;
an opacifying layer proximate to the supporting base substantially outside the transflective zone, the opacifying layer having a lower surface facing the supporting base and an upper surface, the opacifying layer having thickness that varies with displacement in a first direction from the transflective zone to the opaque zone, the thickness of the opacifying layer varying at a first rate; and
an upper continuous reflecting layer extending substantially completely over the transflective zone, the upper continuous reflecting layer having thickness that varies with displacement in a second direction from the transflective zone to the opaque zone, the thickness of the upper continuous reflecting layer varying at a second rate.
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Abstract
A multi-zone reflector having an opaque zone and a transflective zone. The reflector includes a supporting base, a lower reflecting layer disposed adjacent the supporting base, and an upper reflecting layer extending over the opacifying layer and the transflective zone of the reflector. The lower reflecting layer substantially completely covers the transflective zone, and the opacifying layer is disposed substantially outside the transflective zone adjacent to the lower reflecting layer. Over at least a portion of the transflective zone, the upper and lower reflecting layers have a common surface.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A multi-zone mirror element having a transflective zone and an opaque zone, the mirror element comprising
a supporting base; -
at least one of a prismatic element and an electrochromic (EC) element having a surface and distanced from the supporting base, the surface being parallel to the supporting base; an opacifying layer proximate to the supporting base substantially outside the transflective zone, the opacifying layer having a lower surface facing the supporting base and an upper surface, the opacifying layer having thickness that varies with displacement in a first direction from the transflective zone to the opaque zone, the thickness of the opacifying layer varying at a first rate; and an upper continuous reflecting layer extending substantially completely over the transflective zone, the upper continuous reflecting layer having thickness that varies with displacement in a second direction from the transflective zone to the opaque zone, the thickness of the upper continuous reflecting layer varying at a second rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multi-zone mirror element comprising:
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a first substantially transparent supporting base having a thin-film stack with a quarter-wave optical thickness thereon; a lower continuous reflecting layer disposed adjacent the supporting base, the lower reflecting layer substantially completely covering a first transflective zone of the mirror element; an opacifying layer having a lower surface facing the supporting base and an upper surface, the opacifying layer disposed substantially outside the first transflective zone adjacent to the lower reflecting layer of the mirror element; an upper continuous reflecting layer extending substantially completely over the opacifying layer and the first transflective zone of the mirror element;
the upper continuous reflecting layer and the lower continuous reflecting layer having a common surface over at least a portion of the first transflective zone; anda second supporting base in optical communication with said first supporting base through said lower continuous reflecting layer, said opacifying layer, and said upper continuous reflecting layer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A multi-zone mirror element comprising:
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a substantially transparent supporting base; a thin-film stack carried on said supporting base, the thin-film stack including a first opacifying layer having a lateral bound defining a first zone of the thin-film stack that is free of the first opacifying layer, the first opacifying layer having thickness changing in a direction towards the first zone; and a second opacifying layer deposited adjacent the first opacifying layer so as to extend over the first opacifying layer and beyond the lateral bound of the first opacifying layer, the second opacifying layer defining a second zone of the thin-film stack that is free of the second opacifying layer, the second zone characterized by a lateral extent that is smaller than a lateral extent of the first zone, the second zone being at least partially aligned with the first zone along a direction perpendicular to the stack; and an upper reflective layer deposited on the second opacifying layer, the upper reflective layer substantially continuously covering the first zone. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A multi-zone mirror element comprising:
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a first substantially transparent supporting base; a thin-film stack carried on the supporting base, the thin-film stack including a first opacifying layer on the supporting base and a second opacifying layer adjacent to the first opacifying layer, the first opacifying layer having a first opening therein and the second opacifying layer having a second opening therein, the first opacifying layer having a graded portion characterized by thickness increasing in a direction away from the first opening, the second opacifying layer extending over at least part of the first opening; and an upper reflective layer substantially completely covering the thin-film stack and the first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A multi-zone mirror element having a transflective zone and an opaque zone, the mirror element comprising
a supporting base; -
at least one of a prismatic element and an electrochromic (EC) element having a surface and distanced from the supporting base, the surface being parallel to the supporting base; an opacifying layer proximate to the supporting base substantially outside the transflective zone, the opacifying layer having a lower surface facing the supporting base and an upper surface, the opacifying layer having thickness that varies with displacement in a first direction from the transflective zone to the opaque zone, said thickness of the opacifying layer varying at a first rate; an upper reflecting layer substantially completely covering the transflective zone, wherein the upper reflecting layer includes a reflective polarizer containing an anisotropic film, and wherein the upper reflecting layer disposed between the at least one of a prismatic element and an EC element and the supporting base. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification