Heads up display system

Abstract

An electro-optic assembly of a vehicle includes a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface and a second substrate with a third surface and a fourth surface. The first substrate and the second substrate are configured to be held in a parallel spaced apart relationship. A transflective coating is positioned on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the first substrate. An antireflective electrode positioned on at least one of the second and third surfaces. An antireflection coating is positioned on at least one of the first surface and the fourth surface. An electro-optic medium is positioned between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate. The electro-optic assembly is configured to reflect an image from a projector of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electro-optic assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface;   a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface,   wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are configured to be held in a parallel spaced apart relationship;   a transflective coating positioned on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the first substrate;   an antireflective electrode positioned on at least one of the second and third surfaces;   an antireflection coating positioned on at least one of the first surface and the fourth surface; and   an electro-optic medium positioned between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate,   wherein the electro-optic assembly is configured to reflect an image from a projector of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transflective coating comprises a spectrally selective dielectric multilayer. 
     
     
         3 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transflective coating comprises a diamond-like carbon coating. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transflective coating comprises a dielectric layer. 
     
     
         5 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transflective coating comprises a dielectric-metal multilayer. 
     
     
         6 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projector is a component of a heads up display system. 
     
     
         7 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the electro-optic material is at least about 1.2. 
     
     
         8 . The electro-optic element of  claim 1 , wherein the antireflection coating comprises a metal-based antireflection coating. 
     
     
         9 . An electro-optic assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface;   a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, the first substrate and the second substrate configured to be positioned in a parallel spaced apart relationship;   a transflective coating positioned on at least one of the first and second surfaces; and   an electro-optic medium positioned between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate,   wherein a reflectance across the transflective coating is substantially non-varying,   wherein the electro-optic assembly is configured to control a transmittance from a clear state to a darkened state, and   wherein the electro-optic assembly is configured to reflect an image from a projector of the vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the transflective coating is positioned on the first surface of the first substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the transflective coating has a reflectance of from about 15% to about 45%. 
     
     
         12 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a scratch-resistant coating positioned on the transflective coating.   
     
     
         13 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the scratch-resistant coating comprises diamond-like carbon. 
     
     
         14 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an antireflection coating positioned on at least one of the first and fourth surfaces of the second substrate.   
     
     
         15 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the antireflection coating is positioned on the fourth surface, the antireflection coating comprising a metal-based antireflection coating. 
     
     
         16 . An electro-optic assembly, comprising:
 a substrate defining a first surface and a second surface;   a transflective layer positioned on the first surface of the first substrate;   a second substrate defining a third surface and a fourth surface;   an antireflective electrode positioned on the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate;   an antireflection coating positioned on the fourth surface of the second substrate; and   an electro-optic medium positioned between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate and operable between a clear state and a darkened state,   wherein the electro-optic assembly is configured to reflect an image from a projector.   
     
     
         17 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of a reflected light and a transmitted light has a color rendering index of at least 85. 
     
     
         18 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the transflective layer comprising a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) structure with a reflectance of from about 15% to 35%. 
     
     
         19 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a reflectance from the antireflection coating and antireflective electrode are each less than 1%. 
     
     
         20 . The electro-optic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the antireflection coating a single layer of a metallic material having a thickness of from about 0.1 nm to about 5 nm.