Electrochromic mirror and room mirror module for vehicle comprising the same

• US 9,494,840 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Sang Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Tra, Tuyen
• Application Number:
  US14/035,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345/105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1508 using a solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

Provided are an electrochromic mirror and a method of manufacturing the same, the electrochromic mirror including: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; and an electrochromic layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and containing an electrochromic material and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is a transparent film, whereby an entire thickness and weight of the electrochromic mirror can be reduced, and as a result, the degree of design freedom can be improved, and since the electrochromic layer containing the electrochromic material and the electrolyte is formed by a coating method, the efficiency of a manufacturing process can be improved, and a production cost can be reduced.

Claims

1. An electrochromic mirror, comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;

an electrochromic layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a first electrode interposed between the first substrate and the electrochromic layer;

a conductive reflection layer interposed between the electrochromic layer and the second substrate; and

a voltage source connected to the first electrode and the conductive reflection layer;

wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is a flexible transparent film material;

wherein the electrochromic layer has a memory effect related to discoloration and decolorization of the electrochromic layer;

wherein the electrochromic mirror is configured such that the voltage source applies a voltage based on a memory of the electrochromic layer such that the voltage is applied only upon the discoloration and decolorization of the electrochromic layer, and the voltage source applies a reverse voltage such that the reverse voltage is applied upon the decolorization;

wherein the electrochromic layer corn irises a solid electrochromic material layer and an electrolyte layer; and

wherein the solid electrochromic material layer is coated on both surfaces of the electrolyte layer.

2. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is a substrate made of a transparent material.

3. The electrochromic mirror of claim 2, wherein the conductive reflection layer comprises:

a second electrode formed between the electrochromic layer and one surface of the second substrate; and

a reflective layer formed on another surface opposite to the one surface of the second substrate.

4. The electrochromic mirror of claim 3, wherein the reflective layer is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, Ni, Al, Cr, Ru, Re, Pb, Sn, In and Zn, or an alloy containing these metals.

5. The electrochromic mirror of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is any one selected form the group consisting of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), FTO (Fluor doped Tin Oxide), AZO (Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide), GZO (Gallium doped Zinc Oxide), ATO (Antimony doped Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium doped Zinc Oxide), NTO (Niobium doped Titanium Oxide), ZnO, and a combination thereof.

6. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic material contains at least one metal oxide of tungsten, iridium, nickel and vanadium oxides.

7. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic material is an organic electrochromic material containing viologen or quinone.

8. The electrochromic mirror of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic material is any one selected from the group consisting of polythiophene, polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyanthracene, polyfluorene, polycarbazole, polyphenylenevinylene, and a derivative thereof.

9. A room mirror module for a vehicle, comprising an electrochromic mirror of claim 1.