Environmentally safe electrochromic mirrors

• US 20060285190A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrochromix, Inc.
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Cronin, John P., Tonazzi, Juan Carlos Lopez
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• 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 1/153 Constructional details

Abstract

This invention recognizes the hazards of beryllium and beryllium oxide in automotive applications and offers alternative material solutions. In particular, commercial electrochromic mirrors use beryllium comprising alloys for busbars and may also use beryllium oxide for the electronics used to power and control these mirrors. Further, this can be combined by reducing other known hazards such as mercury, cadmium, lead and antimony compounds.

Claims

1. An environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

an electrical control circuit with at least one light transducer and a variable reflective element that is in communication with the electrical control circuit;

wherein the assembly is substantially free of beryllium.

2. The environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of lead, cadmium, mercury and antimony oxide.

3. An environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

an electrical control circuit with at least one light transducer and a variable reflective element that is in communication with the electrical circuit;

wherein the assembly uses busbar clips that are substantially free of beryllium and the assembly is substantially free of at least one of lead, cadmium, mercury and antimony oxide.

4. A single compartment electrochromic mirror assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a rear element and a transparent front element being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and a solid electrolyte material contained in the said chamber, wherein the said solid electrolyte includes a multiphase solid formed by cooling a low viscosity fluid that has a viscosity less than 1,000 cP.

5. A single compartment electrochromic mirror assembly as in claim 4 where the solvent in the electrolyte is substantially non-ionic.

6. A process for assembling an electrochromic device, wherein the device comprises a rear element and a transparent front element being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, comprising the steps of injecting a low viscosity electrolyte having a viscosity less than 1,000 cP into the chamber at elevated temperature, wherein the electrolyte being of a type that upon cooling will solidify by multiphase formation.

7. A process for assembling an electrochromic device in claim 6 where the solvent in the electrolyte is substantially non-ionic.

8. An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, where the said mirror is coated with a reflective layer along its perimeter where the said reflective layer is accented

9. An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween sealed by a perimeter seal, wherein the said perimeter sealant is electrically conductive and configured to provide separate electronic communication with each of the front and rear elements.

10. An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising,

a. in combination, front and rear spaced elements wherein each of these elements have a conductive coating,

b. said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween with the said conductive coatings facing inside the chamber,

c. Further the said conductive coatings having part of their perimeter coated with an additional electrically insulative material

d. and the chamber perimeter sealed by a perimeter seal, wherein the said perimeter sealant is electrically conductive and configured to provide separate electronic communication with each of the front and rear elements