Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-14
2003-09-09
Dang, Hung Xuan (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
C359S267000, C359S273000, C359S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06618180
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrochromic (hereinafter referred to as “EC”) mirror using an EC device which is used for a dimming mirror, a dimming window, and so on, and more particularly, to a reflecting film structure of a solid type EC mirror in which an electrolyte is made of solid.
An EC device is used for an automobile dimming mirror or dimming window by utilizing its capability of varying optical transmittance. As a prior art solid type EC mirror, known in the art is one having a structure as shown in FIG.
2
. On one surface (i.e., rear surface as viewed from the side on which light is incident) of a transparent glass substrate
2
are laminated a transparent electrode film
4
, an EC device
11
consisting of three layers of an anode compound film
6
, a solid electrolyte film
8
and a cathode compound film
10
, and an Al reflecting electrode film
12
. A part of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
constitutes a wiring
12
a
which extends along an end surface of the EC device
11
, and is electrically connected to a cathode side electrode section
18
provided on the glass substrate
2
through a portion of the transparent electrode film
4
. The transparent electrode film
4
is separated in upper and lower portions by a slit
15
which is formed in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the EC device
11
by means of, e.g., laser beam cutting. Short-circuiting between an anode side electrode section
17
and the cathode side electrode section
18
through the transparent electrode film
4
is prevented by this slit
15
. The slit
15
may theoretically be formed at a location immediately above the lower end of the EC device
11
but, in actuality, the slit
15
is formed at a location which is about 1 mm above the lower end of the EC device
11
, having regard to a positioning error in forming the slit
15
. Since the slit
15
is seen as a line with a human eye, it is necessary as a product to conceal this slit
15
with a mirror holder. For this reason, the region of about 1 mm from the lower end of the EC device
11
is excluded from the scope of the reflecting mirror as a slit required width
2
c
. On the other hand, in the upper end portion of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
, an insulation width
2
d
of about 0.5 mm from the upper end of the EC device
11
is provided for preventing forming of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
in contact with the transparent electrode film
4
, having regard to a positioning error in forming the Al reflecting electrode film
12
. The portion of the insulation width
2
d
has no function of a reflecting mirror because the Al reflecting electrode film
12
is not formed in this portion. The surface of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
is sealed with a sealing resin
14
which protects the Al reflecting electrode film
12
from outside moisture or soil and thereby prevents corrosion of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
with moisture. On the surface of the sealing resin
14
is mounted a sealing glass
16
for enhancing stability against variations in outside temperature and humidity.
In the structure of the EC mirror shown in
FIG. 2
, moisture contained in the air tends to permeate into mirror structure through the outer periphery (i.e., surface exposed to the air) of the sealing resin
14
by reason of variations in temperature and humidity. The moisture which has permeated from the sealing resin
14
corrodes the surface of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
which is in contact with the sealing resin
14
and the wiring
12
a
which is a part of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
.
A disadvantage which is caused by corrosion of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
is that a reflection image becomes inaccurate. Another disadvantage is that aluminum becomes an insulating material (Al
2
O
3
) by corrosion. By changing of the wiring
12
a
to an insulating material, electric current which is necessary for coloring and discoloring the EC device
11
can not flow sufficiently and uniformly to the Al reflecting electrode film
12
whereby there occur irregularity in coloring of the EC device and decrease in the coloring and discoloring speeds.
For preventing corrosion of the Al reflecting electrode film
12
, it is necessary to form the sealing resin to a sufficient thickness (e.g., about 3 mm) thereby to prevent permeating of moisture accurately. For forming the sealing resin
14
to a sufficient thickness, the EC device
11
and the Al reflecting electrode film
12
must be formed with their outer peripheries being offset sufficiently inwardly (about 3 mm) from the outer peripheral surface of the glass substrate
2
for providing, as the thickness of the sealing resin
14
, an offset width
2
b
of about 3 mm in which the EC device
11
and the Al reflecting electrode film
12
are not formed. For this reason, the outer peripheral portion of the glass substrate
2
of a range including the offset width
2
b
for providing the sealing resin, the slit required width
2
c
and insulation width
2
d
cannot be used as a reflecting surface and a remaining range
2
a
of an effective field of view is rather narrow. Further, this arrangement requires a mirror holder
3
for concealing the portion excluding the range
2
a
of the effective field of view has a large width and appears awkward.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a solid type EC mirror having an enlarged range of effective field of view by improving resistivity to corrosion of a reflecting electrode film such as an Al reflecting electrode film.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For achieving the above described object of the invention, there is provided an electrochromic mirror comprising a transparent substrate, a first conductive film, an anode or cathode compound film, a solid electrolyte film, a cathode or anode compound film, and a second conductive film, these films being successively laminated on one surface of the transparent substrate, and said second conductive film consisting of a laminate formed by laminating, from the side of the cathode or anode compound film, at least two layers of a high reflecting metal material film and a high corrosion resistant metal film.
According to the present invention, since the high corrosion resistant metal film is formed on the surface of the high reflecting metal material film, moisture contained in the outside air is interrupted by the high corrosion resistant metal film and the high reflective metal material film can thereby be protected from corrosion. The corrosion resistance of the high reflecting metal material film is thereby improved and, as a result, good visibility can be maintained and decrease in the coloring and discoloring function of the EC device can be prevented. Besides, the high corrosion resistant metal film can be formed in a thinner shape than the prior art sealing resin while securing the function of protecting the reflecting film and, therefore, the offset width can be reduced and the range of effective field of view can thereby be enlarged.
The high reflecting metal material film may be made of a semitransparent film. According to this aspect of the invention, reflection by the high reflecting metal material film and the high corrosion resistant reflecting metal film can be obtained and, therefore, a higher reflectance than in the case where only the high corrosion resistant metal film is used can be obtained. Further, since the amount of the high reflecting metal material film used can be reduced, the cost of material can be reduced even when an expensive high reflecting metal material is used.
The high reflecting metal material film may be made of a film which does not transmit light.
In one aspect of the invention, the high corrosion resistant metal film may extend to the transparent substrate or to the vicinity of the transparent substrate along end surfaces of the high reflecting metal material film, the cathode or anode compound film, the solid electrolyte film and the anode or cathode compound film so that the extende
Dang Hung Xuan
Hedman & Costigan ,P.C.
Murakami Corporation
Tra Tuyen
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