Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface partially transmissive reflector

• US 6,512,624 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tonar, William L., Anderson, John S., Forgette, Jeffrey A., Stam, Joseph S., Bechtel, Jon H., Carter, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): O NEILL, GARY W
• Application Number:
  US09/994,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/271, 359/273, 359/275, 362/30, 362/135, 362/494, 307/10.1, 318/466
• US Class Current: 359/265
• 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: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/34 reflector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 Arrangements for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8794 Arrangements for heating and cooling

Abstract

The inventive electrochromic mirror may be used in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, an electrochromic material is contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlies the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a partially transmissive coating of and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is at least partially transmissive.

Claims

1. An electrochromic rearview mirror comprising:

front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;

a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements;

an electrochromic material contained in said chamber; and

a partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode disposed over substantially all of said front surface of said rear element, said second electrode including a transparent coating applied over a surface of said rear element and a thin reflective layer of metal applied over said transparent coating, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror exhibits a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a C* value of less than about 20.

2. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a C* value less than about 15.

3. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a C* value less than about 10.

4. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a b* value less than about 15.

5. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a b* value less than about 10.

6. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 65 percent.

7. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 70 percent.

8. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum.

9. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin reflective layer is made of a silver alloy including a combination of silver and an element selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, rhodium, and palladium.

10. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin reflective layer is made of a silver alloy including about 94 percent silver and about 6 percent gold.

11. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin reflective layer has a thickness of between about 180 and 500 Å

.

12. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of fluorine-doped tin oxide.

13. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of indium tin oxide.

14. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein said transparent coating includes a second layer of transparent material between said layer of indium tin oxide and said rear element.

15. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 14, wherein said second layer is made of silicon.

16. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 14, wherein said second layer is made of titanium dioxide.

17. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 16, wherein said transparent coating further includes a third layer of silica and a fourth layer of indium tin oxide between said first indium tin oxide layer and said reflective layer.

18. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflective layer includes a layer of silver and said mirror further includes a flash layer of silver alloy disposed over said layer of silver.

19. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of silicon.

20. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said first electrode is disposed on the rear surface of said front element.

21. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said transparent coating has an optical thickness of mλ

/4, where λ

equals about 500 nm and m is a positive, odd integer.

22. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said second electrode includes a layer of indium tin oxide and a thin reflective layer of silver or silver alloy applied over said indium tin oxide layer, said indium tin oxide layer having one of a ¼

wave, ¾

wave, 1¼

wave, and 1 ¾

wave thickness.

23. An electrochromic mirror for use in a rearview mirror assembly having an electronic device positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting and/or receiving light therethrough, said electrochromic mirror comprising:

front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;

a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements;

an electrochromic material contained within said chamber; and

a second electrode overlying said front surface of said rear element in contact with said electrochromic material, said second electrode including a reflective layer of reflective material and a coating of a material that is at least partially transmissive and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of said rear element, wherein said second electrode includes a region in front of the electronic device that is at least partially transmissive.

24. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein the electronic device is a light source.

25. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 24, wherein said light source is an indicator light.

26. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 24, wherein said light source is a signal light.

27. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 24, wherein said light source is a display.

28. The electrochrornic rearview mirror as defined in claim 27 and further including an electronic compass electrically coupled to said information display for displaying a vehicle heading.

29. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electronic device is a light sensor.

30. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said second electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective over substantially all of the front surface of said rear element.

31. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23 and further including an organic light emitting diode display mounted to one of the surfaces of said front or rear elements.

32. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a C* value less than about 15.

33. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a C* value less than about 10.

34. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a b* value less than about 15.

35. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror has a b* value less than about 10.

36. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 65 percent.

37. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 70 percent.

38. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrochromic mirror has a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum.

39. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said reflective layer is made of a silver alloy including a combination of silver and an element selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, rhodium, and palladium.

40. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of fluorine-doped tin oxide.

41. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of indium tin oxide.

42. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, further including a flash layer disposed over said reflective layer.

43. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a C* value of less than about 20.

44. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23, wherein said second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a b* value of less than about 15.

45. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23 and further including a housing in which said electrochromic mirror and the electronic device are mounted, said housing having a mounting member for mounting said housing to the exterior of a vehicle.

46. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 23 and further including a housing in which said electrochromic mirror and the electronic device are mounted, said housing having a mounting member for mounting said housing to the interior of a vehicle.

47. An electrochromic rearview mirror comprising:

front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;

an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;

a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements; and

a partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode disposed over substantially all of said front surface of said rear element, said second electrode including a transparent coating applied over a surface of said rear element and a thin reflective layer of silver or silver alloy applied over said transparent coating, said second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a C* value of less than about 20.

48. The electrochrornic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a C* less than about 15.

49. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a C* less than about 10.

50. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a b* less than about 15.

51. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a b* less than about 10.

52. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a reflectance of at least about 50 percent.

53. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a reflectance of at least about 65 percent.

54. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said second electrode has a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least portios of the visible spectrum.

55. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said thin reflective layer is made of a silver alloy including a combination of silver and an element selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, rhodium, and palladium.

56. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said thin reflective layer is made of a silver alloy including about 94 percent silver and about 6 percent gold.

57. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of fluorine-doped tin oxide.

58. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, wherein said transparent coating includes a layer of indium tin oxide.

59. The electrochromic rearview mirror as defined in claim 47, and further including a flash layer disposed over said reflective layer.