Electrochromic rearview mirror assembly incorporating a display/signal light

• US 7,379,224 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Forgette, Jeffrey A., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Anderson, John S., Watson, Alan R., Turnbull, Robert R., Bugno, Mark D., Hall, Philip B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US11/430,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/245, 359/273, 359/275, 359/547, 359/589, 359/601, 359/603, 359/839, 359/884, 359/64, 359/609, 359/843, 359/604, 340/461, 362/494, 362/464, 362/30, 362/516, 362/545, 250/214.AL
• 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: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• 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: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• 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 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• 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 2201/58 : Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 : transflective
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49562 : for devices being provided for in H01L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/09701 : Low temperature co-fired ceramic [LTCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 : OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 : Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 : Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 : Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 : Arrangements for heating or cooling

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic mirror having a variable reflectivity, a glare sensor for sensing levels of light directed towards the front element from the rear of the vehicle, an ambient sensor for sensing levels of ambient light, a display positioned behind the partially transmissive, partially reflective portion of the reflector for displaying information therethrough.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror element for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substrate secured in a spaced apart relationship with respect to one another to form a chamber there between, said second substrate comprising a layer of reflective material at least approximately 200 Å

thick comprising silver proximate a surface of said second substrate closest to said first substantially transparent substrate and a first layer of substantially transparent conductive material less than approximately 300 Å

comprising indium tin oxide positioned between said layer of reflective material and said first substantially transparent substrate, wherein the rearview mirror element exhibits at least 35% reflectivity.

2. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 further comprising a second layer of substantially transparent conductive material positioned between said layer of reflective material and said second substrate.

3. A rearview mirror element as in claim 2 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide and said second layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

4. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

5. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said layer of reflective material is silver alloy.

6. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

7. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 configured within an assembly further comprising a light source positioned behind said second substrate to through light through the rearview mirror element.

8. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 7 wherein a transmittance characteristic of the rearview mirror element is higher for a spectral band associated with emissions from said light source.

9. A rearview mirror element as in claim 1 further comprising at least one solution phase electrochromic medium within the chamber.

10. A rearview mirror element for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substrate secured in a spaced apart relationship with respect to one another to form a chamber there between, said second substrate comprising a layer of reflective material at least approximately 200 Å

thick comprising silver proximate a surface of said second substrate closest to said first substantially transparent substrate and a first layer of substantially transparent conductive material less than approximately 300 Å

positioned between said layer of reflective material and said first substantially transparent substrate, wherein the rearview mirror element exhibits at least 35% reflectivity.

11. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 further comprising a second layer of substantially transparent conductive material positioned between said layer of reflective material and said second substrate.

12. A rearview mirror element as in claim 11 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide and said second layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

13. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

14. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 wherein said layer of reflective material is silver alloy.

15. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

16. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 configured within an assembly further comprising a light source positioned behind said second substrate to project light through the rearview mirror element.

17. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 16 wherein a transmittance characteristic of the rearview mirror element is higher for a spectral band associated with emissions from said light source.

18. A rearview mirror element as in claim 10 further comprising at least one solution phase electrochromic medium within the chamber.

19. A rearview mirror element for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substrate secured in a spaced apart relationship with respect to one another to form a chamber there between comprising at least one solution phase electrochromic medium within the chamber, said second substrate comprising a layer of reflective material at least approximately 200 Å

thick comprising silver proximate a surface of said second substrate closest to said first substantially transparent substrate and a first layer of substantially transparent conductive material less than approximately 300 Å

positioned between said layer of reflective material and said first substantially transparent substrate, wherein the rearview mirror element exhibits at least 35% reflectivity.

20. A rearview mirror element as in claim 19 further comprising a second layer of substantially transparent conductive material positioned between said layer of reflective material and said second substrate.

21. A rearview mirror element as in claim 20 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide and said second layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

22. A rearview mirror element as in claim 19 wherein said layer of reflective material is silver.

23. A rearview mirror element as in claim 19 wherein said layer of reflective material is sliver alloy.

24. A rearview mirror element as in claim 19 wherein said first layer of substantially transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

25. A rearview mirror element as in claim 19 configured within an assembly further comprising a light source positioned behind said second substrate to project light through the rearview mirror element.

26. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 25 wherein a transmittance characteristic of the rearview mirror element is higher for a spectral band associated with emissions from said light source.