MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT

• US 20150191123A1
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCabe, Ian A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• 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 1/155 Electrodes
• 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 variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly includes a front substrate and a rear substrate with a perimeter seal disposed therebetween. The front substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the second surface having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat. The rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, with the third surface having a conductive reflector coating disposed thereat. The reflector coating may include a plurality of layers having first and second layers of nickel chromium. The front substrate may have a perimeter band disposed along a perimeter region of the second surface. The perimeter band may include a plurality of layers having first and second layers of nickel chromium.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly 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;

wherein said front substrate has a perimeter band disposed along a perimeter region of said second surface;

wherein said perimeter band comprises (i) a layer of chromium established at said second surface, (ii) a first layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of chromium, (iii) a layer of silver or silver alloy established at said first layer of nickel chromium, and (iv) a second layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of silver or silver alloy;

a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein said third surface has a conductive reflector 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; and

wherein said third surface conductive reflector coating comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said plurality of layers comprises (i) a first layer of nickel chromium, (ii) a silver or silver alloy layer established at said first layer of nickel chromium, (iii) a second layer of nickel chromium established at said silver or silver alloy layer, and (iv) a reflective layer established at said second layer of nickel chromium, wherein said reflective layer comprises one of ruthenium, rhodium, platinum and palladium.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first layer of nickel chromium of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of no more than around 300 angstroms.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said silver or silver alloy layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of between about 100 angstroms and about 1,000 angstroms.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said second nickel chromium layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of no more than about 300 angstroms.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said reflective layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating comprises a ruthenium layer having a thickness of about 200 angstroms to about 400 angstroms.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a sheet resistance of less than about 0.5 ohms per square and wherein said perimeter band has a sheet resistance of less than about 0.5 ohms per square.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating are disposed over a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate and wherein electrical connection is established at said plurality of layers at said fourth surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein electrical connection is established at said perimeter band at said second surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said second surface of said front substrate.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a sheet resistance of less than about 1 ohm per square and wherein said perimeter band has a sheet resistance of less than about 1 ohm per square.

9. A variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly 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 reflector 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;

an electrochromic medium disposed in said interpane cavity to provide an electrochromically-active region;

wherein said electrochromically-active region has an area of at least about 175 square centimeters; and

wherein said third surface conductive reflector coating comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein said plurality of layers comprises (i) a first layer of nickel chromium, (ii) a silver or silver alloy layer established at said first layer of nickel chromium, (iii) a second layer of nickel chromium established at said silver or silver alloy layer, and (iv) a reflective layer established at said second layer of nickel chromium, wherein said reflective layer comprises one of ruthenium, rhodium, platinum and palladium.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said first layer of nickel chromium of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of no more than around 300 angstroms.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said silver or silver alloy layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of between about 100 angstroms and about 1,000 angstroms.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said second nickel chromium layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a thickness of no more than about 300 angstroms.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said reflective layer of said third surface conductive reflector coating comprises a ruthenium layer having a thickness of about 200 angstroms to about 400 angstroms.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating has a sheet resistance of less than about 1 ohm per square.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating are disposed over a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate and wherein electrical connection is established at said plurality of layers at said fourth surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein electrical connection is established at said perimeter band at said second surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said second surface of said front substrate.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said front substrate has a perimeter band disposed along a perimeter region of said second surface, and wherein said perimeter band comprises (i) a layer of chromium established at said second surface, (ii) a first layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of chromium, (iii) a layer of silver or silver alloy established at said first layer of nickel chromium, and (iv) a second layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of silver or silver alloy.

17. A variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly 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;

wherein said front substrate has a perimeter band disposed along a perimeter region of said second surface;

wherein said perimeter band comprises (i) a layer of chromium established at said second surface, (ii) a first layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of chromium, (iii) a layer of silver or silver alloy established at said first layer of nickel chromium, and (iv) a second layer of nickel chromium established at said layer of silver or silver alloy;

a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein said third surface has a conductive reflector 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; and

an electrochromic medium disposed in said interpane cavity to provide an electrochromically-active region.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said layer of chromium has a thickness of about 700 angstroms.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said perimeter band has a sheet resistance of less than about 1 ohm per square.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said plurality of layers of said third surface conductive reflector coating are disposed over a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate and wherein electrical connection is established at said plurality of layers at said fourth surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein electrical connection is established at said perimeter band at said second surface at a central location of said perimeter region of said second surface of said front substrate.