US6064508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface metal reflector
Assignee: GENETEX Corp
•
Filing: 1998-07-13
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2018-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for a vehicle includes a reflector/electrode on the third surface of the mirror. This reflector/electrode forms an integral electrode in contact with the electrochromic media, and may be a single layer of a highly reflective material or may comprise a series of coatings. When a series of coatings is used for the reflector/electrode, there should be a base coating which bonds to the glass surface and resists any adverse interaction, e.g., corrosive action, with the constituents comprising the electrochromic media, an optional intermediate layer (or layers) which bonds well to the base coating and resists any adverse interaction with the electrochromic media, and at least one highly reflective layer which directly contacts the electrochromic media and which is chosen primarily for its high reflectance, stable behavior as an electrode, resistance to adverse interaction with the materials of the electrochromic media, resistance to atmospheric corrosion, resistance to electrical contact corrosion, the ability to adhere to the base or intermediate layer(s) (if present) and to the epoxy seal, and ease of cleaning. If a base layer is deposited it preferably covers the entire third surface; however, when this is done the highly reflective layer may optionally only coat the central portion of the third surface and not the perimeter edge portion. The third surface reflector/electrode provides of improved electrical interconnection techniques used to impart a voltage drive potential to a transparent conductor on the mirror's second surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Forgette
- 👤 Harlan J. Byker
- 👤 William L. Tonar
- 👤 Frederick T. Bauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/2661; B60Q1/2665; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/153; G02F1/155; G02F1/157; G02F1/1506; G02F2001/1502; G02F1/1514; G02F2001/15145; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/34; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/02; H; H10; H10K; H10K50/00; H10K50/80; H10K50/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, said front surface of said rear element having a reflector/electrode including at least a layer of reflective material, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, where said chamber contains at least one electrochromic material and a cross-linked polymer matrix, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, said front surface of said rear element having a reflector/electrode including at least a layer of reflective material, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, where said chamber contains at least one electrochromic material and a cross-linked polymer matrix, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The mirror according to claim 1, where said reflective material is silver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mirror according to claim 1, where said reflector/electrode comprises a plurality of layers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror according to claim 3, where said reflector/electrode further includes a base layer disposed beneath said reflective material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mirror according to claim 4, where said base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: chromium; chromium-molybdenum-nickel alloys; nickel-iron-chromium alloys; stainless steel; and titanium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The mirror according to claim 5, where said reflector/electrode further includes at least one intermediate layer disposed between said reflective material and said base layer, where said intermediate layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: molybdenum; rhodium; stainless steel; and titanium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mirror according to claim 6, where said reflector/electrode further includes at least one flash over-layer disposed over said reflective material, where said flash over-layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: rhodium, molybdenum, and platinum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mirror according to claim 1, where said layer of transparent conductive material has a sheet resistance ranging from about 0.1 ohms per square to about 40 ohms per square.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror according to claim 1, where the sheet resistance of said transparent conductor ranges from about 0.5 ohms per square to about 15 ohms per square.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, said front surface of said rear element having a reflector/electrode comprising a base layer and at least one additional layer including a layer of a reflective material, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, where said chamber contains a cross-linked polymer matrix and at least one solution-phase electrochromic material in contact with said reflector/electrode, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon, said front surface of said rear element having a reflector/electrode comprising a base layer and at least one additional layer including a layer of a reflective material, where said front and rear spaced elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, where said chamber contains a cross-linked polymer matrix and at least one solution-phase electrochromic material in contact with said reflector/electrode, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mirror according to claim 10, where said reflective material is a material selected from the group consisting of silver and silver alloys.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror according to claim 10, where said base layer bonds to said front surface of said rear element and where one of said at least one additional layer bonds to said base layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mirror according to claim 10, where said base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: chromium; chromium-molybdenum-nickel alloys; nickel-iron-chromium alloys; stainless steel; and titanium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror according to claim 10, where said reflector/electrode further includes at least one intermediate layer disposed between said reflective material and said base layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon having a sheet resistance of less than 6 ohms per square, said front surface of said rear element having at least one layer of a reflector/electrode comprising a reflective material covering an inner portion of said front surface of said rear element and extending to a small area of an edge thereof, said front and rear spaced elements being bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber by a seal member disposed on said conductive material, where said chamber contains a cross-linked polymer matrix and at least one solution-phase electrochromic material in contact with said reflector/electrode, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrochromic variable reflectance mirror for automotive vehicles, comprising front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces, said rear surface of said front element having a layer of transparent conductive material disposed thereon having a sheet resistance of less than 6 ohms per square, said front surface of said rear element having at least one layer of a reflector/electrode comprising a reflective material covering an inner portion of said front surface of said rear element and extending to a small area of an edge thereof, said front and rear spaced elements being bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber by a seal member disposed on said conductive material, where said chamber contains a cross-linked polymer matrix and at least one solution-phase electrochromic material in contact with said reflector/electrode, and where said reflector/electrode is effective to reflect light through said electrochromic material and said front element when said light reaches said reflector/electrode after passing through said front element and said at least one electrochromic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mirror according to claim 15, where said reflective material is a material selected from the group consisting of silver and silver alloys.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mirror according to claim 15, where said reflector/electrode further includes a base layer that bonds to said front surface of said rear element and where one of said at least one additional layer bonds to said base layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mirror according to claim 17, where said base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: chromium; chromium-molybdenum-nickel alloys; nickel-iron-chromium alloys; stainless steel; and titanium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror according to claim 15, where said reflector/electrode further includes at least one intermediate layer disposed between said reflective material and said base layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror according to claim 15, where said reflector/electrode further includes a flash layer disposed over said reflective material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror according to claim 15, where said rear surface of said front element includes means for increasing conductance to said transparent conductive material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said reflector/electrode has a sheet resistance below 2 ohms per square.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said layer of transparent conductive material has a sheet resistance ranging from about 0.1 ohms per square to about 20 ohms per square.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said layer of transparent conductive material has a sheet resistance ranging from about 0.2 ohms per square to about 6 ohms per square.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said cross-linked polymer matrix cooperatively interacts with said front and rear elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror is an outside mirror.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror according to claim 26, wherein said mirror has a reflectance of at least about 50 percent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror is an inside mirror.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror according to claim 28, wherein said mirror has a reflectance of at least about 70 percent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic material is a solution-phase electrochromic material contained within said chamber in contact with said reflector/electrode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic material is in a solution that is interspersed in said cross-linked polymer matrix.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |