Electrochromic mirror

• US 7,573,632 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakaho, Junichi, Hattori, Masaharu, Ayabe, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrington; Alicia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US10/560,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 359/273, 359/365, 359/266, 359/267, 359/269, 359/270, 359/271
• US Class Current: 359/273
• 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 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• 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

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror 10 has a simple construction wherein only two layers of films, namely an electrochromic film 14 and an electrically conductive light reflecting film 16 are formed on a glass substrate 12, and a film thickness and film quality and the like of the electrochromic film 14 and the electrically conductive light reflecting film 16 hardly affects performance. Therefore, this leads to easy manufacturing at low cost. Further, since the electrochromic mirror has such a construction that light introduced from a surface side of the glass substrate 12 is reflected by the electrically conductive light reflecting film 16 formed on a back of this glass substrate 12, occurrence of a double image is prevented.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror, comprising:

a transparent substrate wherein an electrochromic film which can be reduction-colored is formed on the back thereof, and an electrically conductive light reflecting film which is permeable to hydrogen atoms is formed on the back of the electrochromic film,

a substrate which has an electrically conductive part having electrical conductivity on at least one side, and is provided in a vicinity of the transparent substrate in a state where the electrically conductive part faces the electrically conductive light reflecting film, and

an electrolysis solution which contains at least a hydrogen ion and a material oxidizable with a neutral molecule or an anion, and is sealed between the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate and the electrically conductive part of the substrate,

wherein incident light enters said transparent substrate and is transmitted through said electrochromic layer and reflected off of said electrically conductive light reflecting film without being transmitted through said electrolysis solution.

2. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

the electrically conductive part of the substrate is an electrode film having electrical conductivity and formed on the substrate.

3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

a material for the electrochromic film of the transparent substrate contains at least one of tungsten trioxide and molybdenum trioxide.

4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

a material for the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate is selected from a metal belonging to the platinum group, and an alloy of silver and a metal belonging to the platinum group.

5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

a material for the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate is rhodium.

6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 1, wherein

the electrolysis solution is a gel containing a polymer or an inorganic substance that does not react with the electrolysis solution.

7. An electrochromic mirror, comprising:

a transparent substrate wherein an electrochromic film which can be reduction-colored is formed on the back thereof, and an electrically conductive light reflecting film which is permeable to lithium atoms is formed on the back of the electrochromic film,

a substrate which has an electrically conductive part having electrical conductivity on at least one side, and is provided in a vicinity of the transparent substrate in a state where the electrically conductive part faces the electrically conductive light reflecting film, and

an electrolysis solution which contains at least a lithium ion and a material oxidizable with a neutral molecule or an anion, and is sealed between the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate and the electrically conductive part of the substrate,

wherein incident light enters said transparent substrate and is transmitted through said electrochromic layer and reflected off of said electrically conductive light reflecting film without being transmitted through said electrolysis solution.

8. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, wherein

the electrically conductive part of the substrate is an electrode film having electrical conductivity and formed on the substrate.

9. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, wherein

a material for the electrochromic film of the transparent substrate contains at least one of tungsten trioxide and molybdenum trioxide.

10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, wherein

a material for the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate is selected from a metal belonging to the platinum group, and an alloy of silver and a metal belonging to the platinum group.

11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, wherein

a material for the electrically conductive light reflecting film of the transparent substrate is rhodium.

12. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 7, wherein

the electrolysis solution is a gel containing a polymer or an inorganic substance which does not react with the electrolysis solution.