Electro-optic system configured to reduce a perceived color change

• US 8,228,590 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Baumann, Kelvin L., VanderPloeg, John A., Theiste, David A., Guarr, Thomas F., Luten, Henry W., Neuman, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US12/852,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20120033285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 359/267
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers

Abstract

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element having first and second surfaces, a rear element including third and fourth surfaces, wherein the front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electro-optic medium contained in the chamber, and the electro-optic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state. The electro-optic system further includes a display device in optical communication with the electro-optic element, the display device including at least one light source and is configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, the first and second primaries each having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in the first and second hues (Δh_ab) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

Claims

1. An electrochromic system comprising:

an electrochromic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, such that said second surface and said third surface face one another;

a transparent first electrode comprising a layer of conductive material carried on said second surface;

an electrochromic medium contained in said chamber, wherein said electrochromic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state; and

an at least partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode; and

a display device in optical communication with said electrochromic element, said display device comprising;

at least one light source; and

said display device being configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, and said first and second primaries each having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, wherein a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

2. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both said first and second primaries is less than approximately 25 degrees.

3. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both said first and second primaries is less than approximately 15 degrees.

4. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second primaries has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)′

when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said first and second primaries is less than approximately 0.06.

5. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said first primary is light having a red hue and said second primary is light having a green hue.

6. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein both said first and second primaries exhibit said change in hue (Δ

h_ab) of less than approximately 31 degrees when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and said electrochromic element in a transmittance state intermediate to said high and low transmittance states.

7. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said display device is further configured to emit a third primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

8. The electrochromic system of claim 7, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 35 degrees.

9. The electrochromic system of claim 7, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 20 degrees.

10. The electrochromic system of claim 7, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 10 degrees.

11. The electrochromic system of claim 7, wherein said third primary has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)′

when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said third primary is less than approximately 0.05.

12. The electrochromic system of claim 7, wherein said third primary is light having a blue hue.

13. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein said display device is further configured to emit a fourth primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

14. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 50 degrees.

15. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 40 degrees.

16. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 30 degrees.

17. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 15 degrees.

18. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said fourth primary has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 0.05.

19. The electrochromic system of claim 13, wherein said fourth primary is light having a yellow hue.

20. The electrochromic system of claim 1, wherein a C* value of reflected light throughout a range of reflectance as said electrochromic element is altered between approximately said high transmittance state and approximately said low transmittance state is less than approximately 15.

21. A rearview mirror comprising:

an electro-optic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces;

at least one reflective surface; and

an electro-optic medium in optical communication between said front element and said rear element, wherein said electro-optic medium is configured to adjust between at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state; and

a display device in optical communication with said electro-optic element, said display device comprising;

at least one light source; and

said display device being configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, and said first and second primaries each having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, wherein a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

22. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both said first and second primary primaries is less than approximately 25 degrees.

23. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for both said first and second primaries is less than approximately 15 degrees.

24. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein each of said first and second primaries has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)′

when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said first and second primaries is less than approximately 0.06.

25. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein said first primary is light having a red hue and said second primary is light having a green hue.

26. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein both said first and second primaries exhibit said change in hue (Δ

h_ab) of less than approximately 31 degrees when viewed through said electro-optic element approximately in said high transmittance state and said electro-optic element in a transmittance state intermediate to said high and low transmittance states.

27. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein said display device is further configured to emit a third primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

28. The rearview mirror of claim 27, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 35 degrees.

29. The rearview mirror of claim 27, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 20 degrees.

30. The rearview mirror of claim 27, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) of said third primary is less than approximately 10 degrees.

31. The rearview mirror of claim 27, wherein said third primary has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)′

when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said third primary is less than approximately 0.05.

32. The rearview mirror of claim 27, wherein said third primary is light having a blue hue.

33. The rearview mirror of claim 21, wherein said display device is further configured to emit a fourth primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

34. The rearview mirror of claim 33, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 50 degrees.

35. The rearview mirror of claim 33, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 40 degrees.

36. The rearview mirror of claim 33, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 30 degrees.

37. The rearview mirror of claim 33, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 15 degrees.

38. The rearview mirror of claim 33, wherein said fourth primary has a first color (u′

,v′

) when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second color (u′

,v′

)′

when viewed through said electro-optic element in approximately said low transmittance state, and a difference in said first and second colors (Δ

E<sub>u′

,v′</sub>

) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 0.05.

39. The rearview minor of claim 33, wherein said fourth primary is light having a yellow hue.

40. The rearview minor of claim 21, wherein a C* value of reflected light throughout a range of reflectance as said electro-optic medium is altered between approximately said high transmittance state and approximately said low transmittance state is less than 15.

41. A electrochromic system comprising:

an electrochromic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, such that said second surface and said third surface face one another;

a transparent first electrode comprising a layer of conductive material carried on said second surface;

an electrochromic medium contained in said chamber, wherein said electrochromic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state; and

a partially transmissive, partially reflective layer; and

a display device in optical communication with said electrochromic element, said display device comprising;

at least one light source; and

said display device being configured to emit at least one primary that is light having at least one of a yellow hue and an amber hue, and said at least one primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electrochromic device in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

42. An electrochromic system comprising:

an electrochromic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, such that said second surface and said third surface face one another;

a transparent first electrode comprising a layer of conductive material carried on said second surface;

an electrochromic medium contained in said chamber, wherein said electrochromic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state; and

a partially transmissive, partially reflective layer; and

a display device in optical communication with said electrochromic element, said display device comprising;

at least one light source; and

said display device being configured to emit a primary that is light having a blue hue, and said primary having a first hue (h_ab) when viewed through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (h_ab′

) when viewed through said electrochromic device in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in said first and second hues (Δ

h_ab) is less than approximately 49 degrees.