Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electro-optic devices, more particularly, to provide electrochromic devices used in architectural windows or vehicle rearview mirrors. SOLUTION: To allow the electrochromic device to have little or no offset between its front and rear elements, an electrical conductor may be provided to electrically couple a portion of a first conductive layer provided on the rear surface of the front element with a portion of a second conductive layer provided on the front surface of the rear element. The electrical conductor may be in the form of a conductive portion of a seal. To prevent shorting across an electrochromic medium, at least one of the first and second conductive layers is separated into a first portion and a second portion that is electrically isolated from the first portion, and is in electrical contact with electrochromic material. An elastomeric bezel may be utilized. Also, an edge seal may optionally be employed so as to reduce the need or width of the bezel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrochromic mirror, having a reflector which is at least partially transmissive within a region in front of a light source, such as a display, illuminator or signal light and having a reflector which does not show extreme yellow hue, but has relative color neutrality which is partially reflective and partially transmissive. SOLUTION: The electro-optic mirror is to be used in a rearview mirror assembly, having an electronic device 170 disposed in the back of an electro-optic mirror to selectively project and/or receive light. The mirror includes elements 112, 114 each having front and rear faces and disposed in the front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relation to define a chamber 125; a first transparent electrode 128, including a conductive material layer disposed on the rear surface of the front element 112; an electro-optic material 126 housed in the chamber; and a second electrode 120 superimposed on the front surface of the rear element 114 and including a means 172 to compensate for the blue-green reflected light. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements, and assemblies incorporating these elements.SOLUTION: Electro-optic elements are becoming common in many vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and/or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electro-optical elements, and devices incorporating these elements.SOLUTION: A mirror includes an electro-optic mirror subassembly, and a thin-profiled bezel attached around a perimeter of the electro-optic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a carrier by an adheringly bonded heater and foam tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel may be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or may be bonded and/or interlockingly mechanically attached to an edge of the carrier. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in place, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to permit assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin that prevents seeing past the bezel into the inside of a mirror housing.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrophilic coating suitable for the use with an electrochromic mirror. SOLUTION: An electrochromic mirror element (124) is provided, in which the index of reflectance is changed according to the applied voltage. The electrochromic mirror element has a first transparent base material (112). A front face of the first transparent base material works as a front face of the electrochromic mirror element. In addition, a hydrophilic optical coating (130) having an optical catalyst layer is adhered to the front face of the electrochromic mirror element. A color-compensation and color-suppressing coating (131) is arranged on the surface of the first base material. The color-compensation and color-suppression coating has a mean refractive index between the refractive index of the first base material and the refractive index of the optical catalyst layer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system for controlling the transmission of a variable transmission window, the various configurations of the variable transmission window, a method for manufacturing the variable transmission window and an electric control system for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows.SOLUTION: An electric control system comprises: a master control circuit and a user input circuit for supplying a control signal indicating the transmittance level of a variable transmittance window; and a plurality of slave window control circuits connected to the master control circuit, the user input circuit and the variable transmittance window. Each slave window control circuit controls at least one transmittance of the variable transmittance window in response to the control signal received from the master control circuit and/or the user input circuit. There is also provided a new method for manufacturing an electrochromic element to be used in the variable transmittance window. There is also provided new structural characteristics of improving the transfer of heat separating from the window, protecting the window from an external load, and improving the electric performance of the window.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electro-optic elements and a device incorporated therewith. SOLUTION: A mirror includes: an electro-optic mirror subassembly; and a thin-profiled bezel attached around the perimeter of the electro-optic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a support part by an adherently bonded heater and form a tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel can be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or can be bonded and/or interlockingly and mechanically attached to an edge of the support part. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of a paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in a predetermined position, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to allow the assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin preventing the inside of a mirror housing from being seen over the bezel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrochromic back mirror assembly having a reflector formed as a continuous layer across the entire visible surface of a rear element of a mirror, and also across an area positioned in front of an optical sensor or a receptor arranged in front of an optical source such as a signal light, an information display, or an illuminator, or at the back of the electrochromic mirror. SOLUTION: This mirror comprises a housing formed to a vehicle; a front element 112 and a rear element 114 having a front face and a rear face respectively, sealably coupled with each other at an interval, defining a chamber, and installed in the housing; an electrochromic material 125 accommodated in the chamber; a first transparent electrode 112b including a conducting material layer carried on one face of the element; a second electrode 120 arranged on the front face of the rear element; a light emitting display assembly 170 installed in the housing; and a reflector arranged on the surface of the rear element. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
Environmentally improved rearview mirror assemblies are provided which incorporate a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).