System for filling electrochromic mirror element

• US 10,782,584 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid, Gallas, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US15/899,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20180173072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00596 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2063/00 Use of EP, i.e. epoxy resins or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/20 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0005 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/003 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10917 between two pre-positioned glass layers
• 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 1/1341 Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A system for filling a vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror reflective element includes a filling crucible, a compressible sealing element, and a fixture configured to support an unfilled mirror cell. The filling crucible includes a fluid reservoir, a mirror cell receiving portion and a channel between the fluid reservoir and the mirror element receiving portion. The mirror cell receiving portion of the filling crucible is shaped to receive a perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell therein such that the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is aligned with the channel of the filling crucible. With the unfilled mirror cell supported at the fixture, the mirror cell receiving portion of the filling crucible receives the upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell with the compressible sealing element between the filling crucible and the unfilled mirror cell. The mirror cell is filled under negative pressure.

Claims

1. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror reflective element, said system comprising:

a filling crucible;

a compressible sealing element having a passageway therethrough;

a fixture configured to support an unfilled mirror cell, wherein the unfilled mirror cell comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate joined by a perimeter seal, and wherein the perimeter seal spaces the front and rear glass substrates apart and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween, and wherein the perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of the perimeter seal to establish a fill port for the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein said filling crucible comprises (i) a fluid reservoir configured to receive electrochromic fluid medium therein, (ii) a mirror cell receiving portion and (iii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid reservoir and said mirror cell receiving portion;

wherein said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible is shaped to receive a perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell therein such that the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is aligned with said channel of said filling crucible;

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is disposed at an upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell; and

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible receives the upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell with said compressible sealing element between said filling crucible and the unfilled mirror cell such that said filling crucible seals at the unfilled mirror cell around said fill port via said compressible sealing element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unfilled mirror cell does not include spacing beads disposed in the interpane cavity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir flows to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror for gravity feed filling of the unfilled mirror cell.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell for pressurized filling of the unfilled mirror cell.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said fluid reservoir of said filling crucible comprises a tube port that receives a tube that is configured to provide pressurized electrochromic fluid medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said filling crucible comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said filling crucible comprises a two piece construction having first and second portions attached together, and wherein said fluid reservoir, said passageway and said mirror cell receiving portion are partially formed at an internal surface of each of said first and second portions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the front glass substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at a surface facing the interpane cavity, and wherein the rear glass substrate has an electrically conductive coating disposed at a surface facing the interpane cavity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said fixture is configured to support the unfilled mirror cell in a vertical orientation with the fill port at an uppermost portion of the unfilled mirror cell.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said fixture is configured to support the unfilled mirror cell at an angled vertical orientation so that the front and rear glass substrates are at an angle relative to vertical.

11. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror reflective element, said system comprising:

a filling crucible;

a compressible sealing element having a passageway therethrough;

a fixture configured to support an unfilled mirror cell, wherein the unfilled mirror cell comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate joined by a perimeter seal, and wherein the perimeter seal spaces the front and rear glass substrates apart and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween, and wherein the perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of the perimeter seal to establish a fill port for the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein said filling crucible comprises (i) a fluid reservoir configured to receive electrochromic fluid medium therein, (ii) a mirror cell receiving portion and (iii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid reservoir and said mirror cell receiving portion;

wherein said filling crucible comprises a two piece construction having first and second portions attached together, and wherein said fluid reservoir, said passageway and said mirror cell receiving portion are partially formed at an internal surface of each of said first and second portions;

wherein said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible is shaped to receive a perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell therein such that the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is aligned with said channel of said filling crucible;

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is disposed at an upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein said fixture is configured to support the unfilled mirror cell in a vertical orientation with the fill port at an uppermost portion of the unfilled mirror cell; and

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible receives the upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell with said compressible sealing element between said filling crucible and the unfilled mirror cell such that said filling crucible seals at the unfilled mirror cell around said fill port via said compressible sealing element.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell for gravity feed filling of the unfilled mirror cell.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow the electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell for pressurized filling of the unfilled mirror cell.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said fluid reservoir of said filling crucible comprises a tube port that receives a tube that is configured to provide pressurized electrochromic fluid medium.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the front glass substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at a surface facing the interpane cavity, and wherein the rear glass substrate has an electrically conductive coating disposed at a surface facing the interpane cavity.

16. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror reflective element, said system comprising:

a filling crucible;

a compressible sealing element having a passageway therethrough;

a fixture configured to support an unfilled mirror cell, wherein the unfilled mirror cell comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate joined by a perimeter seal, and wherein the perimeter seal spaces the front and rear glass substrates apart and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween, and wherein the perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of the perimeter seal to establish a fill port for the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein said filling crucible comprises (i) a fluid reservoir configured to receive electrochromic fluid medium therein, (ii) a mirror cell receiving portion and (iii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid reservoir and said mirror cell receiving portion;

wherein said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible is shaped to receive a perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell therein such that the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is aligned with said channel of said filling crucible;

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is disposed at an upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein said fixture is configured to support the unfilled mirror cell in a vertical orientation with the fill port at an uppermost portion of the unfilled mirror cell;

wherein the unfilled mirror cell does not include spacing beads disposed in the interpane cavity; and

wherein, with the unfilled mirror cell supported at said fixture, said mirror cell receiving portion of said filling crucible receives the upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell with said compressible sealing element between said filling crucible and the unfilled mirror cell such that said filling crucible seals at the unfilled mirror cell around said fill port via said compressible sealing element.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell for gravity feed filling of the unfilled mirror cell.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said filling crucible is configured to allow electrochromic fluid medium disposed at said fluid reservoir to flow through said channel of said filling crucible and through said passageway of said compressible sealing element and through the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell for pressurized filling of the unfilled mirror cell.