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| Library apparatus |
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| Illuminated sign |
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| Illuminated sign |
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| Surprise box for containing objects |
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Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface metal reflector and a display/signal light
| Details |
Inventors: Cammenga, David J.; Tonar, William L.; Vander Zwaag, Scott W.; Roberts, John K.; Bauer, Frederick T.; Forgette, Jeffrey A.; Byker, Harlan J.;
Assignee: Gentex Corporation (Zeeland, MI)
Primary Examiner: Ben; Loha
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt & Litton, Rees; Brian J.
An electrochromic mirror is disclosed for use in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, at least one solution-phase electrochromic material contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlying the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a coating of electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is at least partially transmissive. The electrically conductive coating may include a single transparent layer or a plurality of partially reflective and transmissive layers, or an electrically conductive dichroic coating. The light source may be an information display, such as a compass/temperature display as used in an inside rearview mirror, or may be a signal light as used in an outside rearview mirror. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to solve the above problems by providing an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly that includes a third surface reflector/electrode that provides a continuous layer of electrically conductive material across the entire visible surface of the rear element of the mirror, even those regions that lie in front of a light source, such as a signal light or information display that is positioned behind the electrochromic mirror.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic mirror having a third surface reflector/electrode that is at least partially transmissive at least in regions in front of a light source, such as a display or signal light.
To achieve these and other aspects and advantages, the electrochromic mirror according to the present invention comprises front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber; a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element; at least one solution-phase electrochromic material contained within the chamber; and a second electrode overlying the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material.
The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a coating of electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element.
The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is disposed behind the electrochromic mirror that is at least partially transmissive.
An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a third surface reflector/electrode (i.
e.
, second electrode) that is at least partially reflective in those regions in front of the light source so as to provide an ascetically pleasing appearance.
To achieve this and other aspects and advantages, either a thin layer of the reflective material may be applied to those regions in front of the light source or the electrically conductive coating underlying the reflective layer may be made of materials that are not only electrically conductive, but also partially reflective and partially transmissive
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Light Fixtures 
