Electrochromic mirrors and devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to electrochromic mirrors and devices whose electrochromic element is composed of an electrochromic solid film and an electrolyte comprising redox reaction promoters and alkali ions and/or protons.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . An electrochromic rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising: 
 (a) a substantially transparent substrate coated with a substantially transparent conductive electrode coating on its inward surface;    (b) a substrate positioned in spaced-apart relationship with said substrate of (a);    (c) a layer of reflective material coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b) or onto a thin film or stack of thin films coated onto the inward surface of said substrate of (b);    (d) an electrochromic solid film coated onto said layer of reflective material of (c), wherein said solid film comprises an inorganic transition metal oxide;    (e) a sealing means positioned toward the peripheral edge of each of said substrate of (a) and said substrate of (b) and sealingly forming a cavity therebetween;    (f) an electrolyte comprising a redox reaction promoter, wherein said electrolyte is located within said cavity to form an electrochromic element; and    (g) a means for introducing an applied potential to said electrochromic element to controllably cause a variation in the amount of light reflected from said mirror.    
     
     
         2 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of a Group IV-B metal oxide, a Group V-B metal oxide, a Group VI-B metal oxide and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 2 , wherein said metal oxide is doped with a dopant selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, rhenium, tin, rhodium, indium, bismuth, barium, titanium, tantalum, niobium, copper, cerium, lanthanum, zirconium, zinc and nickel.  
     
     
         4 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 3 , wherein said metal oxide comprises tungsten oxide.  
     
     
         5 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 4 , wherein said dopant comprises a tin dopant.  
     
     
         6 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is deposited with a computer numerical control controlled dispenser.  
     
     
         7 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are bent so as to form a convex mirror.  
     
     
         8 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are bent so as to form a multi-radius mirror.  
     
     
         9 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said mirror is prepared using a vacuum bagging technique.  
     
     
         10 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 9 , wherein said cavity includes rigid, spacer means.  
     
     
         11 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 10 , wherein said spacer means comprises glass spacer beads.  
     
     
         12 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 5 , wherein said electrochromic solid film is deposited by a non-vacuum deposition method.  
     
     
         13 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 12 , wherein said non-vacuum deposition method comprises a wet chemical method.  
     
     
         14 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 13 , wherein said wet chemical method comprises a dip/fire deposition method.  
     
     
         15 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of reflective material comprises a silver thin film coating.  
     
     
         16 . The electrochromic mirror according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of reflective material comprises an aluminum thin film coating.