ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR ELEMENT AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME

• US 20150140146A1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,454,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/127
• 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 variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic element assembly (such as for a rearview mirror assembly) includes a front substrate, a rear substrate and a perimeter seal disposed between the front and rear substrates. The perimeter seal spaces the front and rear substrates apart and forms an interpane cavity therebetween. The perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of the perimeter seal to provide a fill port for the mirror reflective element assembly when the front and rear substrates are mated together. The fill port allows an electro-optic medium to flow therethrough during the filling process. During the filling process, the front and rear substrates are fixtured in a chamber with the fill port disposed at an upper portion of the front and rear substrates, with the filling process being one of (i) a gravity feed filling process and (ii) a pressurized filling process.

Claims

1. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly, said system comprising:

a front substrate having a first surface that generally faces a driver of a vehicle equipped with a mirror assembly that incorporates said rearview mirror reflective element assembly;

said front substrate having a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;

a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein said third surface has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a perimeter seal disposed between said front and rear substrates, said perimeter seal spacing said front and rear substrates apart and forming an interpane cavity therebetween, wherein said perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of said perimeter seal to provide a fill port for said mirror reflective element assembly when said front and rear substrates are mated together;

said fill port allowing an electro-optic medium to flow therethrough during the filling process; and

wherein, during the filling process, said front and rear substrates are fixtured in a chamber with said fill port disposed at an upper portion of said front and rear substrates, and wherein the filling process comprises one of (i) a gravity feed filling process and (ii) a pressurized filling process.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the filling process comprises a gravity feed filling process.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with said fill port at an upper region of said mirror reflective element assembly.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with a filling element having (i) a fluid reservoir that receives electro-optic fluid and (ii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid reservoir and said fill port.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said filling element is substantially sealed at said front and rear substrates around said fill port via a sealing element.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said filling element is substantially sealed via a sealing element and wherein said sealing element comprises a compressible ring having a passageway therethrough with said passageway generally aligned between said channel and said fill port.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said filling element comprises Teflon.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the filling process comprises a pressurized filling process.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with a filling element having (i) a tube port that receives a tube that provides pressurized electro-optic fluid and (ii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said tube port and said fill port.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said filling element is substantially sealed at said front and rear substrates around said fill port.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said filling element comprises Teflon.

13. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly, said system comprising:

a front substrate having a first surface that generally faces a driver of a vehicle equipped with a mirror assembly that incorporates said rearview mirror reflective element assembly;

said front substrate having a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;

a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein said third surface has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a perimeter seal disposed between said front and rear substrates, said perimeter seal spacing said front and rear substrates apart and forming an interpane cavity therebetween, wherein said perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of said perimeter seal to provide a fill port for said mirror reflective element assembly when said front and rear substrates are mated together;

said fill port allowing an electro-optic medium to flow therethrough during the filling process;

wherein, during the filling process, said front and rear substrates are fixtured in a chamber with said fill port disposed at an upper portion of said front and rear substrates, and wherein the filling process comprises one of (i) a gravity feed filling process and (ii) a pressurized filling process;

wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with a filling element having (i) a fluid receiver that receives electro-optic fluid and (ii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid receiver and said fill port;

wherein said filling element is substantially sealed at said front and rear substrates around said fill port via a sealing element; and

wherein said filling element is substantially sealed via a sealing element and wherein said sealing element comprises a compressible ring having a passageway therethrough with said passageway generally aligned between said channel and said fill port.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with said fill port at an upper region of said mirror reflective element assembly.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said filling element comprises Teflon.

17. A system for filling a variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly, said system comprising:

a front substrate having a first surface that generally faces a driver of a vehicle equipped with a mirror assembly that incorporates said rearview mirror reflective element assembly;

said front substrate having a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;

a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein said third surface has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a perimeter seal disposed between said front and rear substrates, said perimeter seal spacing said front and rear substrates apart and forming an interpane cavity therebetween, wherein said perimeter seal has a gap between terminal ends of said perimeter seal to provide a fill port for said mirror reflective element assembly when said front and rear substrates are mated together;

said fill port allowing an electrochromic medium to flow therethrough during the filling process;

wherein, during the filling process, said front and rear substrates are fixtured in a chamber with said fill port disposed at an upper portion of said front and rear substrates, and wherein the filling process comprises one of (i) a gravity feed filling process and (ii) a pressurized filling process;

wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with said fill port at an upper region of said mirror reflective element assembly;

wherein said front and rear substrates are fixtured with a filling element having (i) a fluid receiver that receives electrochromic fluid and (ii) a channel that provides fluid communication between said fluid reservoir and said fill port; and

wherein said filling element is substantially sealed at said front and rear substrates around said fill port via a sealing element that circumscribes said fill port.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the filling process comprises a gravity feed filling process.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the filling process comprises a pressurized filling process, and wherein said fluid receiver receives a tube that provides pressurized electrochromic fluid.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said filling element comprises Teflon.