Electrochromic mirrors and devices

• US 5,668,663 A
• Filed: 05/05/1994
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid, Varaprasad, Desaraju V., McCabe, Ian A., Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US08/238,521
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 359/601-608, 359/267-272, 252/583, 252/586
• US Class Current: 359/608
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10293 Edge features, e.g. inserts or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• 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 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1524 Transition metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte

Abstract

The present invention relates to electrochromic mirrors and devices whose electrochromic element is composed of an electrochromic solid film and an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters and alkali ions and/or protons.

Claims

1. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate with a conductive electrode coating on its inward surface, said substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto a surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said substantially transparent conductive electrode coating of (a) or onto said conductive electrode coating of (b);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise a metallocene in combination with a phenothiazine, and wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic solid film is an inorganic transition metal oxide.

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, wherein said electrochromic solid film is tungsten oxide.

5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise ferrocene.

6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise phenothiazine.

7. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte further comprises an ultraviolet stabilizing agent.

8. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate coated with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or onto a thin film or stack of thin films coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward the peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising a redox reaction promoter, wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesion promoter coated between said layer of reflective material of (c) and

(i) the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or

(ii) the thin film or stack of thin films coated on the inward surface of said substrate of (b).

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 9, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide and a conducting metal oxide.

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, monel, nichrome and molybdenum.

12. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide.

13. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, wherein said conducting metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of indium oxide, indium tin oxide, tin oxide, doped tin oxide, and doped zinc oxide.

14. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

15. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein said electrochromic solid film is an inorganic transition metal oxide.

16. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 15, wherein said electrochromic solid film is tungsten oxide.

17. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein said redox reaction promoter comprises a metallocene.

18. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein said redox reaction promoter comprises a phenothiazine.

19. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 8, wherein said electrolyte further comprises an ultraviolet stabilizing agent.

20. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate with a conductive electrode coating on its inward surface, said substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto a surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said substantially transparent conductive electrode coating of (a) or onto said conductive electrode coating of (b);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising;

(1) redox reaction promoters, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise a metallocene in combination with a phenothiazine,

(2) an ultraviolet stabilizing agent and

(3) an organic solvent,

wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

21. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) an adhesion promoter coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) a layer of reflective material coated over said adhesion promoter of (c);

(e) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (d);

(f) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(g) an electrolyte comprising;

(1) a redox reaction promoter,

(2) an ultraviolet stabilizing agent and

(3) an organic solvent,

wherein said electrolyte has been dispensed into and is confined within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(h) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

22. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) a layer of reflective material coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or onto a thin film or stack of thin films coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrolyte comprising;

(1) a redox reaction promoter,

(2) an ultraviolet stabilizing agent, and

(3) an organic solvent,

wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

23. An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent substrate with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;

(b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);

(c) an adhesion promoter coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);

(d) a layer of reflective material coated over said adhesion promoter of (c);

(e) a sealing means positioned toward, but inward from, a peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;

(f) an electrochromic medium positioned between said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b); and

(g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic medium to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.

24. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, wherein said adhesion promoter is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide and a conducting metal oxide.

25. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 24, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, monel, nichrome and molybdenum.

26. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 24, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide.

27. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 24, wherein said conducting metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of indium oxide, indium tin oxide, tin oxide, doped tin oxide, and doped zinc oxide.

28. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

29. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises an electrochromic solid film.

30. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 29, wherein said electrochromic solid film is an inorganic transition metal oxide.

31. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 30, wherein said electrochromic solid film is tungsten oxide.

32. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, further comprising an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters, and wherein said electrolyte has been dispensed into and is confined within said cavity.

33. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 32, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise a metallocene in combination with a phenothiazine.

34. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 33, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise ferrocene.

35. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 33, wherein said redox reaction promoters comprise phenothiazine.

36. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 32, wherein said electrolyte further comprises an ultraviolet stabilizing agent.

37. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 23, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises an electrochromic solution.

38. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 37, wherein said electrochromic solution further comprises an ultraviolet stabilizing agent.