Electrochromic mirror

• US 9,630,561 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Inventors: Kukita, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US14/435,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345105
• 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 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• 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 2001/1555 Counter electrode

Abstract

There is provided an electrochromic (EC) mirror that ensures the insulating properties between electrodes. A transparent electrode film (22), an EC layer (30) that emits a color light upon application of a voltage, and a reflecting electrode film (26) are sequentially laminated on a +X surface of a transparent substrate (21). A protruding portion (22e) of the transparent electrode film (22) is formed on a +Z side of the EC layer (30), and a protruding portion (26e) of the reflecting electrode film (26) is formed on a −Z side of the EC layer (30) when being viewed from a +X-direction. A whole overlapping region (24), where the transparent electrode film (22) and the reflecting electrode film (26) overlap each other, is included within the EC layer (30) when being viewed from the +X-direction.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror comprising:

a transparent electrode film;

an electrochromic layer that emits a color light upon application of a voltage;

a reflecting electrode film;

a protruding portion of the transparent electrode film formed in a first direction of the electrochromic layer when being viewed from a normal direction of a transparent substrate; and

a protruding portion of the reflecting electrode film formed in a second direction of the electrochromic layer when being viewed from the normal direction of the transparent substrate,

the transparent electrode film, the electrochromic layer, and the reflecting electrode film being sequentially laminated on a first surface of the transparent substrate, wherein

a whole overlapping region where the transparent electrode film and the reflecting electrode film overlap each other is included within the electrochromic layer when being viewed from the normal direction, and

an outline of the electrochromic layer is larger than an outline of the transparent electrode film and an outline of the reflecting electrode film when being viewed from the normal direction.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

the transparent electrode film, the electrochromic layer, and the reflecting electrode film have a shape with a long side direction and a short side direction, and are disposed with being sequentially displaced from one another in the short side direction when being viewed from the normal direction, and

a power feeding terminal for transparent electrode is coupled to the protruding portion of the transparent electrode film in the long side direction and a power feeding terminal for reflecting electrode is coupled to the protruding portion of the reflecting electrode film in the long side direction when being viewed from the normal direction.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2,

a contact area between the protruding portion of the transparent electrode film and the power feeding terminal for transparent electrode is larger than a contact area between the protruding portion of the reflecting electrode film and the power feeding terminal for reflecting electrode.

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.

5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.

6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

the transparent electrode film, the electrochromic layer, and the reflecting electrode film have a shape with a long side direction and a short side direction, and are disposed with being sequentially displaced from one another in the short side direction when being viewed from the normal direction, and

a power feeding terminal for transparent electrode is coupled to the protruding portion of the transparent electrode film in the long side direction and a power feeding terminal for reflecting electrode is coupled to the protruding portion of the reflecting electrode film in the long side direction when being viewed from the normal direction.

7. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 6,

a contact area between the protruding portion of the transparent electrode film and the power feeding terminal for transparent electrode is larger than a contact area between the protruding portion of the reflecting electrode film and the power feeding terminal for reflecting electrode.

8. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 6, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, further comprising

a mirror holder that holds the transparent substrate, wherein

the mirror holder covers a peripheral edge portion of a second surface of the transparent substrate, the second surface being a backside surface of the first surface.