US5202787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optic device
Assignee: Gentex Corp
•
Filing: 1992-01-10
•
Granted: 1993-04-13
•
Expires: 2012-01-10
Abstract
Abstract Electro optic devices incorporating an improved configuration of elements which dramatically reduces light scattering and haziness with relatively inexpensive coated glass. The devices are liquid or gel containing electro optic devices, such as an electrochromic automatic rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, which has for at least one of its walls a sheet of glass coated with a transparent conductive coating. The combination of the coated glass, which has a tendency to have an optically rough surface, and the liquid or gel electro optic material reduces the scattering of any incident light by wetting out the rough optical surface of the coated glass, thereby improving the optical quality. The coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of visible white light prior to assembly into the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Harlan J. Byker
- 👤 William L. Tonar
- 👤 Larry L. Barrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:01
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133502; G02F1/15; G02F1/153; G02F1/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
An electro-optic device including a plurality of walls defining a compartment, at least one of said walls comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electro-optic device including a plurality of walls defining a compartment, at least one of said walls comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a solution-phase electrochromic device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a variable reflectance rearview mirror for use with a motor vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the sheet resistance of the transparent electronic conductive layer is 1-40 ohms per square.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a solution-phase electrochromic, variable reflectance rearview mirror for automotive vehicles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the sheet resistance of the transparent electronic conductive layer is 1-40 ohms per square.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a dynamic scattering liquid crystal device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A variable reflectance electro-optic device comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device wherein the compartment is defined by at least one wall comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A variable reflectance electro-optic device comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device wherein the compartment is defined by at least one wall comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A variable reflectance rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device wherein the compartment is defined by at least one wall including a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A variable reflectance rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device wherein the compartment is defined by at least one wall including a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein the sheet resistance of the transparent electronic conductive layer is 1-40 ohms per square.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mirror according to claim 9 which has a range of reflectance from greater than 70% to less than 10%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mirror according to claim 9 wherein the electrochromic device includes electronic conductive layers and is gray-scale controllable over a range of reflectance by applying electrical potential differences between the electrode layers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mirror according to claim 9 wherein the electrochromic device comprises two planar, parallel spaced-apart electrode layers to which DC current is provided through leads connected to a DC power source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
152 words
A variable reflectance rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device, the compartment being defined by a plurality of walls, at least one of the walls of the compartment comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air, said electrochromic device including two planar, parallel spaced-apart electronic conductive layers to which electrical current is provided through leads connected to a power source, said transparent electronic conductive layer being in contact with a solution having an index of refraction higher than air, the difference in the index of refraction between the coated surface and air being larger than the difference in the index of refraction between the coated surface and the electrochromic solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
152 words
A variable reflectance rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle comprising as a variable transmittance component a single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic device, the compartment being defined by a plurality of walls, at least one of the walls of the compartment comprising a sheet of glass coated with a transparent electronic conductive layer such that the coated glass scatters between 0.2 and 4.0% of the visible white light passing through the coated glass when it is in contact with air, said electrochromic device including two planar, parallel spaced-apart electronic conductive layers to which electrical current is provided through leads connected to a power source, said transparent electronic conductive layer being in contact with a solution having an index of refraction higher than air, the difference in the index of refraction between the coated surface and air being larger than the difference in the index of refraction between the coated surface and the electrochromic solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A rearview mirror as set forth in claim 14 wherein said mirror has a range of reflectance from greater than 70% to less than 10%, said electrochromic device being gray-scale controllable over a range of reflectance by applying electrical potential differences between the electrode layers of the device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3578843A
Cited
US3807832A
Cited
US3844636A
Cited
US4664479A
Cited
US4671617A
Cited
US4820022A
Cited
US4902108A
Cited
US5128799A
Cited
US5128799B1
Cited
US4712879A
Cited
US4917477A
Cited
US5148014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |