REARVIEW ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150329054A1
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Neuman, George A., Forgette, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 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: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

A vehicular rearview assembly with a mirror element having a curved or rounded edge on the first surface that is fully observable from the front of the assembly, a complex peripheral ring, and a user interface with switches and sensors that activate and configure pre-defined function(s) or device(s) of the assembly in response to the user input applied to the user interface. The mirror element is supported by a hybrid carrier co-molded of at least two materials, a portion of which is compressible between the housing shell and an edge of the mirror element. The peripheral ring may include multiple bands. Electrical communications between the electronic circuitry, the mirror element, and the user interface utilize connectors configured to exert a low contact force, onto the mirror element, limited in part by the strength of adhesive affixing the EC element to an element of the housing of the assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview assembly, the assembly comprising:

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substrate having a first surface configured as an outer surface of the electro-optic mirror element that corresponds to the front of the vehicular rearview assembly, a second surface, and a transparent electrically-conductive layer carried on the second surface;

a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and an electrically-conductive, reflective element carried on at least the third surface, wherein the first and second substrates are disposed in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship with the second and third surfaces facing each other;

a perimeter seal between the second and third surfaces, the seal and the second and third surfaces defining a cavity; and

an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity,

wherein the first surface or the second surface defines an annular, perimeter portion and a central portion, and

further wherein the annular, perimeter portion is configured for glare reduction and is characterized by a reflectance of less than about 50% and a color having a* and b* values such that a*≦

−

b*+15 and a*≧

−

b*−

15.

2. The rearview assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular, perimeter portion is further characterized by a reflectance between approximately 35% and 50%.

3. The rearview assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first surface defines the annular, perimeter portion and a central portion.

4. The rearview assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second surface defines the annular, perimeter portion and a central portion.

5. The rearview assembly according to claim 2, wherein the reflectance of the annular, perimeter portion is based on a D65 standard illuminant as perceived by a 10-degree observer, and further wherein a photopic reflectance of the annular portion is less than a scotopic reflectance of the annular portion as illuminated by at least one of a standard illuminant A, a standard high-intensity discharge (HID) light source, and a standard light-emitting diode (LED) light source.

6. The rearview assembly according to claim 2, wherein the reflectance of the annular, perimeter portion is based on a D65 standard illuminant as perceived by a 10-degree observer, and further wherein a photopic reflectance of the annular portion is greater than a scotopic reflectance of the annular portion as illuminated by at least one of a standard illuminant A, a standard high-intensity discharge (HID) light source, and a standard light-emitting diode (LED) light source.

7. The rearview assembly according to claim 4, wherein the annular, perimeter portion comprises a multi-layer thin film structure.

8. The rearview assembly according to claim 7, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure comprises a base layer over the second surface of the first substrate, a first metallic layer over the base layer, a middle layer over the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer over the middle layer, the middle layer comprising a dielectric or a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) material, and the base layer comprising a dielectric or a TCO material.

9. The rearview assembly according to claim 8, wherein the middle layer comprises a TCO material selected from the group consisting of ITO, F:

SnO₂, Sb;

SnO₂, doped ZnO, and indium zinc oxide (IZO) material.

10. The rearview assembly according to claim 8, wherein the middle layer comprises a dielectric material selected from the group consisting of SiO₂, MgO, Ta₂O₅, ZrO₂, MgF₂, ITO, TiO_x, CeO_x, SnO₂, ZnS, NiO_x, CrO_x, NbO_x, ZrO_x, WO₃, NiO, Ti_xSiO_y, ZnO, Al:

ZnO (AZO), TiO₂, and Si_xN_y.

11. The rearview assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first and second metallic layers each comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a silver-gold alloy, a silver alloy, chromium, ruthenium, stainless steel, silicon, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, alloys of chromium, molybdenum and nickel, nickel chromium, nickel-based alloys, Inconel, indium, palladium, osmium, cobalt, cadmium, niobium, brass, bronze, tungsten, rhenium, iridium, aluminum and aluminum alloys, scandium, yttrium, zirconium, vanadium, manganese, iron, zinc, tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, rhodium, tantalum, copper, nickel, gold, platinum, platinum group metals, and combinations thereof.

12. The rearview assembly according to claim 7, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure comprises a first metallic layer that comprises a metal doped with oxygen, nitrogen or a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen.

13. The rearview assembly according to claim 12, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure further comprises a base metallic layer under the first metallic layer, and a bulk metallic layer over the first metallic layer.

14. The rearview assembly according to claim 12, wherein the metal is chromium.

15. The rearview assembly according to claim 8, wherein the base layer has a thickness from about 12 to 200 nm, the first metallic layer has a thickness from about 3 to about 50 nm, and the middle layer has a thickness from about 10 to about 150 nm.

16. The rearview assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second metallic layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to 15 nm.

17. The rearview assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular, perimeter portion is further characterized by a transmittance of about 2% or less in the visible spectrum.

18. The rearview assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic material.

19. A vehicular rearview assembly, the assembly comprising:

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substrate having a first surface configured as an outer surface of the electro-optic mirror element that corresponds to the front of the vehicular rearview assembly, a second surface, and a transparent electrically-conductive layer carried on the second surface;

a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and an electrically-conductive, reflective element carried on at least the third surface, wherein the first and second substrates are disposed in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship with the second and third surfaces facing each other;

a perimeter seal between the second and third surfaces, the seal and the second and third surfaces defining a cavity; and

an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity,

wherein the first surface or the second surface defines an annular, perimeter portion and a central portion, and

further wherein the annular, perimeter portion is characterized by a reflectance between about 4% and about 50% and comprises a multi-layer thin film structure.

20. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure comprises a base layer over the second surface of the first substrate, a first metallic layer over the base layer, a middle layer over the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer over the middle layer, the middle layer comprising a dielectric or a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) material, and the base layer comprising a dielectric or a TCO material.

21. The rearview assembly according to claim 20, wherein the middle layer comprises a TCO material selected from the group consisting of ITO, F:

SnO₂, Sb;

SnO₂, doped ZnO, and indium zinc oxide (IZO) material.

22. The rearview assembly according to claim 20, wherein the middle layer comprises a dielectric material selected from the group consisting of SiO₂, MgO, Ta₂O₅, ZrO₂, MgF₂, ITO, TiO_x, CeO_x, SnO₂, ZnS, NiO_x, CrO_x, NbO_x, ZrO_x, WO₃, NiO, Ti_xSiO_y, ZnO, Al:

ZnO (AZO), TiO₂, and Si_xN_y.

23. The rearview assembly according to claim 20, wherein the first and second metallic layers each comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a silver-gold alloy, a silver alloy, chromium, ruthenium, stainless steel, silicon, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, alloys of chromium, molybdenum and nickel, nickel chromium, nickel-based alloys, Inconel, indium, palladium, osmium, cobalt, cadmium, niobium, brass, bronze, tungsten, rhenium, iridium, aluminum and aluminum alloys, scandium, yttrium, zirconium, vanadium, manganese, iron, zinc, tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, rhodium, tantalum, copper, nickel, gold, platinum, platinum group metals, and combinations thereof.

24. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first surface defines the annular, perimeter portion and a central portion.

25. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the second surface defines the annular, perimeter portion and a central portion.

26. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure comprises a first metallic layer that comprises a metal doped with oxygen, nitrogen or a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen.

27. The rearview assembly according to claim 20, wherein the base layer has a thickness from about 12 to 200 nm, the first metallic layer has a thickness from about 3 to about 50 nm, the middle layer has a thickness from about 10 to about 150 nm, and the second metallic layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to 15 nm.

28. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the annular, perimeter portion is further characterized by a transmittance of about 2% or less in the visible spectrum.

29. The rearview assembly according to claim 19, wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic material.

30. A vehicular rearview assembly, the assembly comprising:

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substrate having a first surface configured as an outer surface of the electro-optic mirror element that corresponds to the front of the vehicular rearview assembly, a second surface, and a transparent electrically-conductive layer carried on the second surface;

a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and an electrically-conductive, reflective element carried on at least the third surface, wherein the first and second substrates are disposed in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship with the second and third surfaces facing each other;

a perimeter seal between the second and third surfaces, the seal and the second and third surfaces defining a cavity; and

an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity,

wherein the first surface or the second surface defines an annular, perimeter portion and a central portion, and

further wherein the annular, perimeter portion comprises a multi-layer thin film structure and is characterized by a reflectance that is based on a D65 standard illuminant as perceived by a 10-degree observer, the reflectance being less than about 50% and greater than a scotopic or photopic reflectance of the annular portion as illuminated by at least one of a standard illuminant A, a standard high-intensity discharge (HID) light source, and a standard light-emitting diode (LED) light source.

31. The rearview assembly according to claim 30, wherein the multi-layer thin film structure comprises a base layer over the second surface of the first substrate, a first metallic layer over the base layer, a middle layer over the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer over the middle layer, the middle layer comprising a dielectric or a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) material, and the base layer comprising a dielectric or a TCO material.

32. The rearview assembly according to claim 31, wherein the middle layer comprises a TCO material selected from the group consisting of ITO, F:

SnO₂, Sb;

SnO₂, doped ZnO, and indium zinc oxide (IZO) material.

33. The rearview assembly according to claim 31, wherein the middle layer comprises a dielectric material selected from the group consisting of SiO₂, MgO, Ta₂O₅, ZrO₂, MgF₂, ITO, TiO_x, CeO_x, SnO₂, ZnS, NiO_x, CrO_x, NbO_x, ZrO_x, WO₃, NiO, Ti_xSiO_y, ZnO, Al:

ZnO (AZO), TiO₂, and Si_xN_y.

34. The rearview assembly according to claim 31, wherein the first and second metallic layers each comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a silver-gold alloy, a silver alloy, chromium, ruthenium, stainless steel, silicon, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, alloys of chromium, molybdenum and nickel, nickel chromium, nickel-based alloys, Inconel, indium, palladium, osmium, cobalt, cadmium, niobium, brass, bronze, tungsten, rhenium, iridium, aluminum and aluminum alloys, scandium, yttrium, zirconium, vanadium, manganese, iron, zinc, tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, rhodium, tantalum, copper, nickel, gold, platinum, platinum group metals, and combinations thereof.

35. The rearview assembly according to claim 31, wherein the base layer has a thickness from about 12 to 200 nm, the first metallic layer has a thickness from about 3 to about 50 nm, the middle layer has a thickness from about 10 to about 150 nm, and the second metallic layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to 15 nm.

36. The rearview assembly according to claim 30, wherein the annular, perimeter portion is further characterized by a transmittance of about 2% or less in the visible spectrum.

37. The rearview assembly according to claim 30, wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic material.