Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements

• US 20080278793A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Neuman, George A., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Anderson, John S., Stray, Joel A., Ypma, Kenton J., Busscher, Bradley L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10321 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing liquid layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• 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 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance mirror element, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent layer of material on at least a portion of a second surface;

a second substrate comprising at least one at least partially reflective layer on at least a portion of a third surface;

an electrochromic material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate;

a first electrical contact conductively connected to said substantially transparent layer of material; and

a second electrical contact conductively connected to said at least one at least partially reflective layer, wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.45V.

2. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.25V.

3. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.15V.

4. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.45V.

5. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.25V.

6. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.15V.

7. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said first electrical contact comprises at least one metal selected from the group comprising:

gold, platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, silver titanium, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, stainless steel, Hastalloy C, titanium/aluminum alloys, titanium palladium alloys, titanium ruthenium, Zirconium and alloys thereof.

8. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 1000 ohms.

9. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 500 ohms.

10. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 200 ohms.

11. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 1000 ohms.

12. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 500 ohms.

13. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 200 ohms.

14. A variable reflectance mirror element, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent layer of material on at least a portion of a second surface;

a second substrate comprising at least one at least partially reflective layer on at least a portion of a third surface;

an electrochromic material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate;

a first electrical contact conductively connected to said substantially transparent layer of material; and

a second electrical contact conductively connected to said at least one at least partially reflective layer, wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 1000 ohms.

15. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.45V.

16. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.25V.

17. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.15V.

18. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.45V.

19. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.25V.

20. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.15V.

21. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein said first electrical contact comprises at least one metal selected from the group comprising:

gold, platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, silver titanium, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, stainless steel, Hastalloy C, titanium/aluminum alloys, titanium palladium alloys, titanium ruthenium, Zirconium and alloys thereof.

22. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 500 ohms.

23. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 200 ohms.

24. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 1000 ohms.

25. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 500 ohms.

26. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 200 ohms.

27. A variable reflectance mirror element, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent layer of material on at least a portion of a second surface;

a second substrate comprising at least one at least partially reflective layer on at least a portion of a third surface;

an electrochromic material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate;

a first electrical contact conductively connected to said substantially transparent layer of material;

a second electrical contact conductively connected to said at least one at least partially reflective layer; and

an electrical circuit configured to insure that said first electrical contact is maintained as an anode and said second electrical contact is maintained as a cathode.

28. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.45V.

29. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.25V.

30. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 0.15V.

31. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.45V.

32. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.25V.

33. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a potential difference between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 0.15V.

34. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein said first electrical contact comprises at least one metal selected from the group comprising:

gold, platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, silver titanium, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, stainless steel, Hastalloy C, titanium/aluminum alloys, titanium palladium alloys, titanium ruthenium, Zirconium and alloys thereof.

35. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 1000 ohms.

36. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 500 ohms.

37. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said first electrical contact and said substantially transparent layer of material is less than 200 ohms.

38. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 1000 ohms.

39. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 500 ohms.

40. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 27 wherein a linear conductivity between any two materials interposed between said second electrical contact and said at least one at least partially reflective layer is less than 200 ohms.