Automotive mirror using electrochromic element

• US 4,878,743 A
• Filed: 06/07/1988
• Issued: 11/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Sekine, Eiichi, Aikawa, Toyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCutcheon, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US07/203,139
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 350/353, 350/355, 350/357, 350/356, 340/785
• US Class Current: 359/271
• 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 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

In an automotive mirror using an electrochromic element, the electrochromic element comprises a first electrode made of a transparent conductive layer laminated on a substantially rectangular glass substrate, two EC (electrochromic) layers disposed opposing each other with a solid electrolyte layer placed between them, a second electrode made of a reflective metal film and an insulative/protective layer disposed outside the second electrode. There are formed on the first electrode longitudinally and laterally in positions off the adjoining EC layer, strip-shaped metal films considerably superior in conductivity to the first electrode. The power supply to the first electrode is made through a pair of terminal fixtures electrically connected to the strip-shaped metal films in locations near a set of diagonally opposing corners of the glass substrate, and the power supply to the second electrode is made to another pair of terminal fixtures electrically connected to a pair of electrode portions extended to the insulative areas, respectively, near the other set of diagonally opposing corners of the glass substrate. Therefore, at start of the power supply, the voltage drop depending upon the position on the first electrode is markedly reduced, and the colored areas of the two EC laters can quickly shift to the center of the mirror surface from the regions near the strip-shaped metal films, whereby the entire mirror surface can get colored to a predetermined extent in a considerably reduced time.

Claims

1. An automotive nonglaring mirror using an electrochromic element, comprising:

a generally rectangular glass substrate having four corners;

a first transparent electrode layer formed on said glass substrate with portions of a set of corners diagonally opposing each other among said four corners being left uncovered for a pair of insulative portions;

strip-shaped metal films formed longitudinally and laterally, respectively, on the first electrode layer and made of a material of a rather higher electric conductivity than said first electrode layer;

a first EC (electrochromic) layer located inside said metal films and formed as laminated on said first electrode layer;

an electrolyte layer formed on said first EC layer;

a second EC layer formed on said electrolyte layer;

a second electrode layer having a portion extended to said pair of insulative portions, formed on said second EC layer and having a light reflective action;

a pair of first terminal fixtures secured near the corners in a set among the four corners of said glass substrate and electrically connected to said metal films;

a pair of second terminal fixture secured near the corners in another set among the four corners of said glass substrate and electrically connected to the extended portion of said second electrode layer; and

an insulative and protective layer insulating the exposed surface of said second electrode layer.

2. An automotive nonglaring mirror according to claim 1, said metal films taking the form of a pair of L-shaped conductive paths formed longitudinally and laterally on said first electrode layer.

3. An automotive nonglaring mirror according to claim 2, said metal films being made of aluminum.