Electro-optic system configured to reduce a perceived color change

• US 8,964,278 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• 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 A., Neuman, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US13/865,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 359/267
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

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 that said second surface and said third surface face one another; and

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 sensor device in optical communication with said electrochromic element;

wherein light passing through said electrochromic element and received by said sensor device has at least a first primary and a second primary, and said first and second primaries each having a first hue (hab) when received by said sensor device through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) 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

hab) 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

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) 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

hab) of less than approximately 31 degrees when received 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 sensor device is further configured to receive a third primary having a first hue (hab) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

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

hab) 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

hab) 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

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) 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 sensor device is further configured to receive a fourth primary having a first hue (hab) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

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

hab) 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

hab) 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

hab) 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

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

,v′

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

Eu′

,v′

) 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. An electro-optic system comprising:

an electro-optic element comprising;

a front element comprising first and second surfaces;

a rear element comprising third and fourth surfaces; 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 sensor device in optical communication with said electro-optic element;

wherein said sensor device being is configured to receive at least a first primary and a second primary, and said first and second primaries each having a first hue (hab) when received through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

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

21. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

22. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

23. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein each of said first and second primaries has a first color (u′

,v′

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

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

24. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein said first primary is light having a red hue and said second primary is light having a green hue.

25. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein both said first and second primaries exhibit said change in hue (Δ

hab) of less than approximately 31 degrees when received 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.

26. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein said sensor device is further configured to receive a third primary having a first hue (hab) when received through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

27. The electro-optic system of claim 26, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

28. The electro-optic system of claim 26, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

29. The electro-optic system of claim 26, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

30. The electro-optic system of claim 26, wherein said third primary has a first color (u′

,v′

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) for said third primary is less than approximately 0.05.

31. The electro-optic system of claim 26, wherein said third primary is light having a blue hue.

32. The electro-optic system of claim 20, wherein said sensor device is further configured to receive a fourth primary having a first hue (hab) when received through said electro-optic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

33. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

34. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

35. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

36. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

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

37. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said fourth primary has a first color (u′

,v′

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) for said fourth primary is less than approximately 0.05.

38. The electro-optic system of claim 32, wherein said fourth primary is light having a yellow hue.

39. 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; and

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 sensor device in optical communication with said electrochromic element;

wherein said sensor device is configured to receive 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 (hab) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 55 degrees.

41. The electrochromic system of claim 39, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

hab) for said at least one primary is less than approximately 25 degrees.

42. The electrochromic system of claim 39, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

hab) for at least one primary is less than approximately 15 degrees.

43. The electrochromic system of claim 39, wherein said at least one primary has a first color (u′

,v′

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) for said at least one primary is less than approximately 0.05.

44. The electrochromic system of claim 39, wherein said at least one primary received by said sensor device further includes another primary having a blue hue (hab) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 41 degrees.

45. The electrochromic system of claim 44, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

hab) of said primary having a blue hue is less than approximately 35 degrees.

46. The electrochromic system of claim 44, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

hab) of said primary having a blue hue is less than approximately 20 degrees.

47. The electrochromic system of claim 44, wherein said change in said first and second hues (Δ

hab) of said primary having a blue hue is less than approximately 10 degrees.

40. 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; and

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 sensor device in optical communication with said electrochromic element;

wherein said sensor device is configured to receive a primary that is light having a blue hue, and said primary having a first hue (hab) when received through said electrochromic element in approximately said high transmittance state and a second hue (hab′

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

hab) is less than approximately 49 degrees.

48. The electrochromic system of claim 40, wherein said at least one primary has a first color (u′

,v′

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

,v′

)′

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

Eu′

,v′

) for said at least one primary is less than approximately 0.05.