Electrochromic Mirrors and other Electrooptic Devices

• US 20110255141A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Cronin, John P., LeCompte, Robert S., Tonazzi, Juan Carlos Lopez
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 163/00 Adhesives based on epoxy resins; Adhesives based on derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

This invention focuses on automotive electrochromic (EC) mirrors. There are several ways to improve the attribute of this product and also use superior processing methods. This invention improves on busbars which are used to power these devices. This discloses novel busbar designs, materials and busbar deposition methods. This invention also addresses the composition of transparent conductor coatings which can be used in an advantageous configuration for third surface mirrors, and corrosion resistant reflective coating compositions for EC mirrors. Processing methods to deposit coatings for third surface mirrors are also disclosed. Insignias may also be incorporated in EC mirrors by using conductive materials deposited on the second surface of an EC mirror configuration that is formed b two substrates.

Claims

1. -62. (canceled)

63. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element comprises a reflective element having at least one layer of conductive coating deposited on a front surface thereof, where the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a chamber there between, said chamber containing an electrochromic medium, and wherein the rear surface of the said front element has a conductive busbar deposited on its perimeter or a portion of its perimeter by a spray process.

64. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror as in claim 63, wherein the width of the conductive busbar is less than 5 mm.

65. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element comprises a reflective element having at least one layer of conductive coating deposited on a front surface thereof, where the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a chamber there between, said chamber containing an electrochromic medium, and wherein the rear surface of the said front element has a conductive perimeter busbar deposited in a length exceeding 50% of the perimeter of the said mirror, when the product of the width of the said mirror in cm and the surface resistance of the transparent conductive coating on the front element in ohms/square exceeds 100, and

(a) the said conductive busbar deposited from a material comprising conductive particles dispersed in an organic binder or;

(b) the conductive busbar is deposited by a spray process.

66. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles as in claim 65, wherein the electrical resistance of the busbar would be less than by at least a factor of 2 of the surface resistance of the transparent conductor deposited on the said front element, when the said electrical resistance is measured in a busbar length of about half of the perimeter of the said EC mirror.

67. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon;

and said front surface of said rear element comprises a at least one layer of metal with reflective properties and in contact with a transparent conductive oxide coating; and

the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a chamber there between, said chamber containing an electrochromic medium; and

wherein the said conductive oxide coating on the rear element comprises of zinc in its composition and the said transparent conductive coating on the front element has a different composition.

68. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles as in claim 67, wherein the said transparent conductive oxide on the rear element has a lower conductivity as compared to the transparent conductive oxide on the front substrate.

69. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles with an insignia, wherein the said mirror comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element comprises a at least one layer of conductive coating, where the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a chamber there between, said chamber containing an electrochromic medium, and the insignia formed by deposition of a conductive material in contact with the transparent conductive coating of the said front element.

70. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles with an insignia as in claim 69, wherein the conductive material is a light absorber.

71. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles with an insignia, wherein the said mirror comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element comprises a at least one layer of conductive coating, where the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a cavity there between, said cavity containing an electrochromic medium, and the said insignia is formed by a conductive material located on the same side of the cavity as the front element.

72. A process to make a electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for vehicles comprising front and rear spaced elements, said rear surface of the front element having a layer of transparent conductive coating disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element comprises a at least one layer of conductive coating with reflective properties deposited on its front surface thereof;

and the front and the rear elements are sealably bonded together by a spaced apart relationship defining a chamber there between, said chamber containing an electrochromic medium; and

wherein the said reflective rear element comprises of deposition of at least one reflective metal coating on a substrate after at least one of an ion beam treatment and a plasma treatment of the underlying surface is conducted.

73. A process to make a electrochromic variable reflectance mirror as in claim 72, wherein the ion beam comprises of ions selected from at least one of argon ions, oxygen ions, nitrogen ions and xenon ions or the plasma is formed from at least one of argon, oxygen, ammonia and xenon.

74. A process to make an electrochromic variable reflectance mirror as in claim 72, wherein the ion beam is used during the deposition of the said metal coating.

75. An electrochromic mirror assembly, comprising a rear element and a transparent front element and being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electrochromic material contained in the said chamber, and the surface of the said front element facing within the chamber having a transparent conductor electrode layer and the said rear element having a reflective layer comprising at least one of (a) silver alloyed with a lanthanide element and (b) aluminum alloyed with at least one of manganese, iron, silicon, magnesium, zinc and chromium elements.