Added feature electrooptical devices and automotive components

• US 20130128333A1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ajjer, LLC
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Tonazzi, Juan Carlos L., Cronin, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,571,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• 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

This invention focuses on electrooptic devices and in particular on electrochromic (EC) devices with many aspects directed towards automotive EC mirrors. This invention improves the visual impact of such devices by employing modifications to the materials and layers so that their refractive index can be changed and/or matched to get this improvement. In addition this also discloses use of in-molded electronic components to reduce the assembly cost of these devices and improve their reliability. Displays can be incorporated in EC mirrors while having reflective coatings on the fourth surface.

Claims

1. 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, and wherein the chamber comprising an electrolyte layer and spacers displaced within the said electrolyte layer so that at least one of the following condition applies:

i. spacers are porous;

ii. the spacers are made from more than one material composition, wherein the material compositions are present as distinct phases in the said spacers.

iii. the spacers are made from an inorganic material which is not soluble in the electrolyte and the refractive index of the spacer matches the RI of the electrolyte;

2. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein;

the pore size in the said porous spacers is in the range of 5 nm to 200 nm.

3. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein;

the spacers with more than one material composition comprise of a core shell structure with the composition of the shell being different from the composition of the core.

4. An electrochromic device as in claim 3, wherein the spacers with the core shell structure have one or more of the following property;

(a) the shell has a lower mechanical modulus than the core;

(b) the shell is soluble in the electrolyte;

(c) the shell is compatible with the electrolyte;

(d) the core has the same refractive index as the electrolyte.

5. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein;

the spacer comprises of more than one material compositions which are present as distinct phases, and one of these material compositions either,

(a) matches the refractive index of the electrolyte, or

(b) is soluble in the electrolyte.

6. An electrochromic device as in claim 5, wherein;

the spacers are made by making porous spacers of a first composition which is not soluble in the electrolyte and then filling the pores of the said porous spacer with a material of a second composition.

7. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein;

the composition of the spacer made from the said inorganic material is selected from at least one of silica and a metal fluoride.

8. An electrochromic device as in claim 1, wherein this device is an automotive rearview mirror.

9. 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, and the rear elements and the front elements comprise front and rear substrates respectively, wherein the chamber is filled with an electrolyte with a refractive index greater than 1.5.

10. An electrochromic device as in claim 9, wherein the electrolyte further comprises of spacers, and the refractive index of the electrolyte matches with the refractive index of the said spacers.

11. An electrochromic device as in claim 9 wherein the refractive index of the electrolyte matches with the refractive index of at least one of the substrates.

12. An electrochromic device as in claim 9, wherein this device is an automotive rearview mirror.

13. An electrochromic device, wherein the device comprises a rear substrate and a transparent front substrate being sealably bonded together in a spaced apart relationship to define a chamber, and the said chamber comprising an electrolyte, wherein the refractive index of the electrolyte is matched to the refractive index of one of the substrates.

14. An electrochromic device as in claim 13, wherein the electrolyte layer further comprises of spacers wherein the said spacers have a refractive index that matches with the refractive index of the electrolyte.

15. 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 comprising a layer of transparent 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 the said rear surface of the rear element having a reflective coating followed by a transparent coating.

16. An electrochromic mirror as in claim 15, wherein the reflective layer is a metal alloy and the transparent layer is selected from at least one of a metal compound and a polymeric material.

17. An electrochromic mirror as in claim 15, wherein the reflective layer is corrosion resistant.

18. An electrochromic mirror as in claim 15, wherein the reflective layer is semitransparent.

19. An electrochromic mirror as in claim 15, where additional layers are deposited on the transparent coating so as to reduce reflectivity from the said reflective coating when a light source is directed from behind the rear element.

20. An electrochromic mirror as in claim 18, wherein;

at least one display or a light emitting indicator is attached behind the rear substrate.

21. 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 comprising a layer of transparent conductive coating deposited on a front surface thereof, wherein 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 said rear surface of the rear element having a reflective coating formed from a corrosion resistant metal alloy.

22. An electrochromic device for use as a automotive mirror or a window, wherein the said device is housed in a molded polymeric housing or a frame, wherein the said molded housing or the molded frame comprise of at least one in-molded electronic circuit.

23. An electrochromic device as in claim 22, wherein the in-molded electronic circuit comprise of capacitive or touch sensitive switch components.

24. An electrochromic device for use as a automotive mirror or a window, wherein the said device is housed in a molded polymeric housing or a frame, wherein at least one current carrying conductor is formed by printing a conductive trace on the surface of the said molded housing and the frame.

25. A rearview mirror in a vehicle, with a display feature to show the direction of a place of interest without showing a navigable route towards the said place of interest.

26. A rearview mirror as in claim 25 wherein the said display simultaneously displays the orientation of the said vehicle.

27. A rearview mirror in a vehicle comprising a reflective element and a polymeric housing, wherein at least one of a retroreflective and a luminescent insignia is placed in any of the location selected from (a) reflective area of the said mirror and (b) in the said housing.

28. rearview mirror as in claim 27, wherein the automotive mirror is an electrochromic mirror.

29. An rearview mirror as in claim 27, wherein the retroreflective or the luminescent material to form the insignia is deposited by a printing process.

30. An electrochromic device with an indicia, 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, and the rear elements and the front elements comprise front and rear substrates respectively with conductive coatings facing the said chamber, and said chamber comprising an electrolyte wherein the said indicia is formed using a luminescent material.

31. :

A rearview mirror in a vehicle comprising a energy harvesting unit that harvests power from the environment it is subjected to and converts that to electrical energy.

32. :

A rearview mirror as in claim 31, wherein the environmental factor utilized to convert to the electrical energy is selected from at least one of light, sound, electromagnetic radiation, vibration, air-flow, pressure and temperature.

33. A rearview mirror as in claim 31 which has a variable reflective element.

34. A rearview mirror as in claim 31 which is not hard wired to another source of power in the said vehicle.

35. A rearview mirror as in claim 31, which further comprises of a power storage unit.

36. A rearview mirror as in claim 31, where electrical power derived from the energy harvesting unit is used to drive at least one of an indicator, display, communication from or to the mirror.

37. :

A rearview mirror as in claim 31, wherein the said mirror further comprises of a power storage unit.

38. A rearview mirror as in claim 33, wherein electrical power derived from the energy harvesting unit is used to change the reflectivity of the said variable reflective element.

39. A rearview mirror as in claim 33, wherein the variable reflectivity element is an electrochromic (EC) cell.

40. :

A rearview mirror as in claim 37, wherein the said power storage unit is at least one of a rechargeable battery and a capacitor.