Information display area on electrochromic mirrors having a third surface metal reflector

• US 5,825,527 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Forgette, Jeffrey A., Vander Zwaag, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bey, Dawn-Marie
• Application Number:
  US08/831,808
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 359/267, 359/271, 359/603, 359/604, 359/609, 359/843, 359/844
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 Arrangements for heating or cooling

Abstract

An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating an information display area by removing a portion of a reflective and conductive layer on the inside (third) surface of the back glass element of a dimming portion of the rearview mirror and aligning a display device with this information display area. The portion removed is laser ablated to leave lines devoid of reflective material separated by lines of the reflective material. The remaining lines of reflective material are in electrical contact with the remaining reflective and conductive layer on the third surface. The reflective layer forms an integral electrode in contact with the electrochromic media, and may be a single layer of a highly reflective material or may comprise a series of coatings where the outer coating is a highly reflecting material. The other electrode on the inside (second) surface of the front glass is a transparent electrode which also contacts the electrochromic media inside the mirror element.

Claims

1. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising:

front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element having at least one layer of a conductive reflector/electrode material disposed thereon, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween, said chamber containing an electrochromic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent conductive material and said reflector/electrode;

an information display area disposed within said reflector/electrode having areas containing reflector/electrode and areas substantially devoid of reflector/electrode; and

a display that is juxtaposed with said rear surface of said rear element and aligned with said information display area;

where said reflector/electrode material is effective to reflect light through said medium and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said medium.

2. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, where, within said information display area, said area containing reflector/electrode provides current to reversibly vary the transmittance of said electrochromic medium, and said area devoid of said reflector/electrode allows viewing of said display.

3. The electrochromic mirror of claim 2, where, said area containing reflector/electrode comprises about 70-80 percent of the information display area and said area devoid of reflector/electrode comprises about 20-30 percent of said information display area.

4. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, where, within said information display area, said area containing reflector/electrode is reflective and electrically conductive.

5. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, where, within said information display area, said area containing reflector/electrode includes a plurality of lines that are separated by lines substantially devoid of reflector/electrode.

6. The electrochromic mirror of claim 5, where, within said information display area, said area containing reflector/electrode provides sufficient current to reversibly vary the transmittance of said electrochromic medium, and said area devoid of said reflector/electrode allows viewing of said display.

7. The electrochromic mirror of claim 5, where, said area containing reflector/electrode comprises about 70-80 percent of the information display area and said area devoid of reflector/electrode comprises about 20-30 percent of said information display area.

8. The electrochromic mirror of claim 7, where said lines of conductive material and lines devoid of conducive material are horizontal.

9. The electrochromic mirror of claim 7, where said lines of conductive material and lines devoid of conducive material are vertical.

10. The electrochromic mirror of claim 5, where said lines of reflector/electrode have a width of approximately 0.002 inches and said lines devoid of reflector/electrode have a width of approximately 0.006 inches.

11. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, there the coloration in the information display area is generally uniform with the coloration in the remaining area of reflector/electrode.

12. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, where, said area containing reflector/electrode comprises about 70-80 percent of the information display area and said area devoid of reflector/electrode comprises about 20-30 percent of said information display area.

13. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, further comprising a glare sensor area disposed within said reflector/electrode having areas containing reflector/electrode and areas substantially devoid of reflector/electrode.

14. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising:

front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, and said front surface of said rear element having at least one layer of a conductive reflector/electrode material disposed thereon, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween, said chamber containing an electrochromic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent conductive material and said reflector/electrode;

a glare sensor area disposed within said reflector/electrode having areas containing reflector/electrode and areas substantially devoid of reflector/electrode; and

a glare sensor juxtaposed with said rear surface of said rear element and aligned with said glare sensor area;

where said reflector/electrode material is effective to reflect light through said medium and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said medium.

15. The electrochromic mirror of claim 14, where, within said glare sensor area, said area containing reflector/electrode is reflective and electrically conductive.

16. The electrochromic mirror of claim 14, where, within said glare sensor area, said area containing reflector/electrode includes a plurality of lines that are separated by lines substantially devoid of reflector/electrode.

17. The electrochromic mirror of claim 16, where, within said glare sensor area, said area containing reflector/electrode provides sufficient current to reversibly vary the transmittance of said electrochromic medium, and said area devoid of said reflector/electrode allows said glare sensor to sense glare light.

18. The electrochromic mirror of claim 16, where said lines of reflector/electrode and lines devoid of reflector/electrode material are horizontal.

19. The electrochromic mirror of claim 16, where said lines of reflector/electrode have a width of approximately 0.002 inches and said lines devoid of reflector/electrode have a width of approximately 0.006 inches.

20. The electrochromic mirror of claim 14, there the coloration in the glare sensor area is generally uniform with the coloration in the remaining area of reflector/electrode.