Perimeter coated, electro-optic mirror
First Claim
1. An electro-optic mirror assembly comprising:
- at least first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements each having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces and defining a space therebetween;
an electro-optic medium confined in said space the transmittance of said medium being variable upon the application of an electric field thereto;
seal means extending around the entire periphery of said assembly and extending between said first and second elements adjacent said peripheral edges for spacing said elements apart and confining said electro-optic medium in said space;
electrical means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium;
a reflective coating on one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said second element adapted to reflect light incident thereon through said first element and said electro-optic medium; and
a perimeter coating on at least one of a portion of said electrical means and one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said first element adjacent said peripheral edge of said first element for concealing said seal means and portions of said electrical means therebehind when said assembly is viewed from said first element toward said second element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optic mirror of the type having an electro-optic cell or medium with a transmittance which is variable upon the application of an electric field includes a perimeter coating applied to a front or rear surface of a substrate element for concealing any seal and/or electrical connections for the elctro-optic cell or meidum. The perimeter coating may be reflective to increase the field of view in the mirror and allow use of smaller cases or retaining bezels. Alternately, the perimeter coating may be opaque and nonreflective such as black frit, paint or lacquer. In either case, the coating may also be electrically conductive to substantially encircle an electrically conductive layer on the substrate and evenly distribute electric current to the electro-optic cell or medium for enhanced coloration response. The perimeter coating may be used with either a single, optically transparent mirror substrate including solid-state electro-optic cell or a laminate mirror assembly including spaced, optically transparent substrates with an electro-optic medium confined therebetween. Alternately, the laminate assembly includes a seal between said substrate elements which is either dark or color matched to the surrounding rim/bezel providing a border of uniform color around the assembly perimeter.
530 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An electro-optic mirror assembly comprising:
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at least first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements each having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces and defining a space therebetween; an electro-optic medium confined in said space the transmittance of said medium being variable upon the application of an electric field thereto; seal means extending around the entire periphery of said assembly and extending between said first and second elements adjacent said peripheral edges for spacing said elements apart and confining said electro-optic medium in said space; electrical means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium; a reflective coating on one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said second element adapted to reflect light incident thereon through said first element and said electro-optic medium; and a perimeter coating on at least one of a portion of said electrical means and one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said first element adjacent said peripheral edge of said first element for concealing said seal means and portions of said electrical means therebehind when said assembly is viewed from said first element toward said second element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electro-optic mirror comprising:
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an optically transparent element having front and rear surfaces and a peripheral edge; an electro-optic medium on the rear surface of said element, said medium having an optically variable transmittance upon the application of an electric field thereto; electrical means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium; a reflective coating on said electro-optic medium adapted to reflect light incident thereon through said element and said electro-optic medium; a perimeter coating on at least one of said electrical means or a surface of said element and adjacent the periphery of said element for concealing perimeter portions of said assembly including portions of said electrical means therebehind when said assembly is viewed from said front surface of said element. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An electro-optic mirror assembly comprising:
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at least first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements each having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces and defining a space therebetween; an electro-optic medium confined in said space, the transmittance of said medium being variable upon the application of an electric field thereto; electrical means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium; a reflective coating on one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said second element adapted to reflect light incident thereon through said first element and said electro-optic medium; and seal means adjacent and extending around the entire periphery of and extending between said first and second elements adjacent said peripheral edges for spacing said elements apart and confining said electro-optic medium in said space, said seal means being dark in color such that it provides a dark perimeter border around said assembly when viewed from said front facing surface of said first element. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electro-optic mirror assembly comprising:
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at least first and second spaced, optically transparent elements, said elements each having a peripheral edge and front and rear facing surfaces and defining a space therebetween; an electro-optic medium confined in said space, the transmittance of said medium being variable upon the application of an electric field thereto; electrical means for applying an electric field to said electro-optic medium to cause variation in the light transmittance of said medium; a reflective coating on one of said front and rear facing surfaces of said second element adapted to reflect light incident thereon through said first element and said electro-optic medium; and seal means adjacent and extending around the entire periphery of and extending between said first and second elements adjacent said peripheral edges for spacing said elements apart and confining said electro-optic medium in said space; said mirror assembly includes a mirror case including a bezel/retaining rim extending over the perimeter portion of said front facing surface of said first element; said seal means having a color matched and corresponding to said bezel/retaining rim such that said bezel/retaining rim and seal means appear as a perimeter border of uniform color around said assembly when viewed from said front facing surface of said first element. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification