ELECTRO-OPTIC SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO REDUCE A PERCEIVED COLOR CHANGE

• US 20160033843A1
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Baumann, Kelvin L., VanderPloeg, John A., Theiste, David A., Guarr, Thomas F., Luten, Henry A., Neuman, George A., Anderson, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,342 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: 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 1/155 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 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element having first and second surfaces, a rear element including third and fourth surfaces, wherein the front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electro-optic medium contained in the chamber, and the electro-optic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state. The electro-optic system further includes a display device in optical communication with the electro-optic element, the display device including at least one light source and is configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, the first and second primaries each having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in the first and second hues (Δh_ab) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

Claims

1. An electrochromic system comprising:

an electrochromic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a transparent electrode on said second surface;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, such that said second surface and said third surface face one another; and

an electrochromic medium contained in said chamber, wherein said electrochromic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state,

wherein light passing through said electrochromic element has at least a first primary and a second primary, and said first and said second primaries each have a first hue (h_ab) when passing through said electrochromic medium in said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when passing through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, wherein a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both said first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees,

wherein a ratio of intensities of said first and second primaries remains approximately constant.

2. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein a change of the ratio of intensities of said first and second primaries is between about 0.25 and 1.

3. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein a change of the ratio of intensities of said first and second primaries is between about 0.50 and 1.

4. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein a change of the ratio of intensities of said first and second primaries is between about 0.75 and 1.

5. The electrochromic system of claim 1, and further comprising a display device in optical communication with said electrochromic element, wherein said display device comprising at least one light source, and wherein said display device being configured to emit at least said first and second primaries.

6. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second primaries has a first color (u′

,v′

) when passing through at least a portion of said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)'"'"' when passing through at least a portion of said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said first and second primaries is less than approximately 0.06.

7. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said first primary is light having a red hue and said second primary is light having a green hue.

8. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein a third primary having a first hue (h_ab) when passing through at least a portion of said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

9. The electrochromic system of claim 8, wherein said third primary has a first color (u′

,v′

) when passing through at least a portion of said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)'"'"' when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said third primary is less than approximately 0.05.

10. The electrochromic system of claim 8, wherein said third primary is light having a blue hue.

11. The electrochromic system of claim 1 further comprising a reflector electrode on said third surface, wherein said transparent electrode is selected to have a beneficial effect on the reflected color of said electrochromic element, such that during a color excursion the reflected C* remains below approximately 20.

12. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said first primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 405 nm.

13. The electrochromic system of claim 12, wherein said secondary primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 565 nm.

14. The electrochromic system of claim 12, wherein said secondary primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 630 nm.

15. The electrochromic system of claim 14, wherein light passing through said electrochromic element further has a third primary which is a narrow band emission having a central wavelength of 565 nm.

16. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said first primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 460 nm.

17. The electrochromic system of claim 16, wherein said secondary primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 550 nm.

18. The electrochromic system of claim 16, wherein said secondary primary is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 635 nm.

19. The electrochromic system of claim 18, wherein light passing through said electrochromic element further has a third primary which is a narrow bandwidth emission having a central wavelength of 550 nm.

20. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said first and second primaries have narrow wavelength bandwidths of 5 nm or less full width half max.