Electrochromic devices having no positional offset between substrates

• US 7,064,882 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Busscher, Bradley L., Kar, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/260,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 527/75, 523/091.4
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10321 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing liquid layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10513 Electrochromic layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

To allow an electrochromic device to have little or no offset between its front and rear elements, an electrical conductor may be provided to electrically couple a portion of a first conductive layer provided on the rear surface of the front element with a portion of a second conductive layer provided on the front surface of the rear element. The electrical conductor may be in the form of a conductive portion of the seal. To prevent shorting across the electrochromic medium, at least one of the first and second conductive layers is separated into a first portion and a second portion that is electrically isolated from the first portion and is in electrical contact with the electrochromic material. An elastomeric bezel may be utilized. Also, an edge seal may optionally be employed so as to reduce the need or width of the bezel.

Claims

1. An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a front element having a front surface and a rear surface having a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a rear element having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface of said rear element having a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed thereon;

a seal provided to sealably bond said elements together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;

an electrochromic material disposed in said chamber; and

a bezel disposed around the periphery of at least said front element and having a front lip extending over part of said front surface of said front element, said bezel having a width of about 3.6 mm or less.

2. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein one of said rear surface of said front element and said front surface of said rear element is tapered proximate its peripheral edge to provide a heavy seam, and wherein at least a portion of said seal is provided in said heavy seam.

3. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein said front and rear elements are substantially aligned with less than 0.5 mm offset in any lateral direction.

4. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1 and further including an electrical conductor provided to electrically couple a portion of said first conductive layer with a portion of said second conductive layer.

5. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein said front lip of said bezel has a sufficient width to extend over all of said seal.

6. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein said front lip of said bezel has a sufficient width to extend about 0.5 mm beyond an innermost edge of said seal.

7. The electrochromic device of claim 1, wherein said bezel is made of a material having a tensile modulus of less than about 72,000 psi.