Electrochromic mirror with two thin glass elements and a gelled electrochromic medium
First Claim
1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
- front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and each having a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm;
a layer of transparent conductive material associated with at least one of said front and rear spaced elements;
a perimeter sealing member bonding together said front and rear spaced elements in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween; and
an electrochromic medium contained within said chamber comprising a free-standing gel, wherein the free-standing gel includes a solvent, a crosslinked polymer matrix, and an electrochromic material.
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Abstract
An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating thin front and rear spaced glass elements having a thickness ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5. A layer of transparent conductive material is placed onto the mirror'"'"'s second surface, and either another layer of transparent conductive material or a combined reflector/electrode is placed onto the mirror'"'"'s third surface. A chamber, defined by the layers on the interior surfaces of the front and rear glass elements and a peripheral sealing member, contains a free-standing gel comprising a solvent and a crosslinked polymer matrix. The chamber further contains at least one electrochromic material in solution with the solvent and interspersed in the crosslinked polymer matrix. The gel cooperatively interacts with the thin glass elements to form a thick, strong unitary member which is resistant to flexing, warping, bowing and/or shattering and further allows the mirror to exhibit reduced vibrational distortion and double imaging.
63 Citations
51 Claims
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1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and each having a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm;
a layer of transparent conductive material associated with at least one of said front and rear spaced elements;
a perimeter sealing member bonding together said front and rear spaced elements in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween; and
an electrochromic medium contained within said chamber comprising a free-standing gel, wherein the free-standing gel includes a solvent, a crosslinked polymer matrix, and an electrochromic material. - 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)
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25. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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non-planar front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces;
a layer of transparent conductive material associated with least one of said front and rear spaced elements;
a reflector disposed on one side of said rear element provided that, if said reflector is on said rear surface of said rear element, then said front surface of said rear element contains a layer of a transparent conductive material;
a perimeter sealing member bonding together said front and rear spaced elements in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween; and
an electrochromic medium contained within said chamber comprising a free-standing gel, wherein the free-standing gel includes a solvent, a crosslinked polymer matrix, and an electrochromic material. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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non-planar front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces;
a layer of transparent conductive material associated with at least one of said front and rear spaced elements;
a perimeter sealing member bonding together said front and rear spaced elements in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween; and
an electrochromic medium contained within said chamber comprising a free-standing gel, wherein the free-standing gel includes a solvent, a crosslinked polymer matrix, and an electrochromic material.
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51. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces;
a layer of transparent conductive material associated with at least one of said front and rear spaced elements;
a perimeter sealing member bonding together said front and rear spaced elements in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber therebetween;
an electrochromic medium contained within said chamber comprising a free-standing gel, wherein the free-standing gel includes a solvent, a crosslinked polymer matrix, and an electrochromic material; and
means cooperatively associated with the front and rear spaced elements and the electrochromic medium for increasing pressure point resistance of the electrochromic device greater than approximately 167 pounds.
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Specification