Electrochromic mirror

• US 6,867,894 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Original Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.), Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Inventors: Ikai, Keizo, Asano, Tsuyoshi, Nishikitani, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US10/376,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 252/583, 252/600, 544/347, 546/257, 204/290.07
• US Class Current: 359/272
• 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 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A conventional electrochromic mirror comprises an ion conductive layer provided between a transparent electrically conductive substrate and a reflective electrically conductive substrate and containing spacers. The spacers can be perceived when the mirror was viewed. According to the present invention, the difference in refraction index between the spacers and the ion conductive layer is ±0.03 or less. Therefore, the electrochromic mirror having spacers in the ion conductive layer which are hardly perceived can be provided.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror in which an ion conductive layer is arranged between a transparent electrically conductive substrate and a reflective electrically conductive substrate;

wherein the ion conductive layer contains an organic compound having a structure exhibiting a cathodic electrochromic property and a structure exhibiting an anodic electrochromic property, and wherein the organic compound comprises a metallocene-bipyridine derivative represented by one of formulas (4) to (7);

wherein A⁻

and B⁻

may be the same or different and are each independently a pair-ion selected from the group consisting of a halogen anion, ClO₄⁻

, BF₄⁻

PF₆⁻

, CHCOO⁻

, and CH₃(C₆H₄)SO₃;

Me is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Co, Fe, Mg, Ni, Os, Ru, V, X—

Hf—

Y, X—

Mo—

Y, X—

Nb—

Y, X—

Ti—

Y, X—

V—

Y and X—

Zr—

Y, wherein X and Y may be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen, and an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms;

m is an integer 0≦

m≦

4;

n is an integer 0≦

n≦

4;

R¹ and R² may be the same or different and are each independently a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;

R³ and R⁴ may be the same or different and are each independently a hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and

R⁵ is a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, heterocyclic aromatic groups having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, and substituted hydrocarbon or heterocyclic aromatic groups obtained by substituting at least one hydrogen of the hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic aromatic group with a substituent group;

and wherein spacers are dispersed in the ion conductive layer and a difference in refraction index between the spacers and the ion conductive layer is ±

0.03 or less.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein said spacers are in a form of beads, pellets or belts.