JPH11194372A - Aspherical ec mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speed up the response of coloring/discoloring and to set the boundary of a spherical main mirror area and an aspherical assist mirror area to be clear by providing an electrode conductive film of an electro-chromic element on the boundary line of respective mirror areas. SOLUTION: The mirror finished surface of a back mirror 10 is formed by stacking solid electro-chromic constitution elements at the back of a transparent substrate such as glass and plastic boards. The transparent substrate is constituted by adjacently arranging the main mirror area 12 (sphere) having a constant curvature and an assist mirror area 14 (gradual change area: a spherical face) having the curvature which gradually changes. Since the boundary line 28 of the mirror areas 12 and 14 is formed in the conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode, the electric resistance of the boundary line 28 is considerably low compared to the transparent electrode. Thus, charge is easily supplied to the center part of the back mirror 10 as the electrode. Thus, the response of coloring/discoloring becomes fast even if a distance between the clip electrodes 30a and 30b is enlarged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rearview mirror for a vehicle having a wide field of view having a plurality of surfaces having different curvatures and an antiglare function by an electrochromic element.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrode structure of an aspherical EC mirror in which a boundary of each mirror surface region is used as an electrode of an EC element in an aspherical EC mirror.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, it is difficult for a rearview mirror to recognize a diagonally backward view when the vehicle changes lanes during traveling or when entering a highway. In addition, when the vehicle is driving at night, the rearview mirror receives headlights and the like of the following vehicle and ambient light, and the reflected light often dazzles the driver and threatens safe driving.

[0003] A convex mirror having a relatively large radius of curvature is used to secure the rear view, but if the curvature of the mirror surface is constant, the rear view is limited, and the visibility range cannot be set over a wide range. To improve this point, a door mirror having a mirror surface having two regions having different curvatures is known. For example, JP-A-63-306947. In the lower left column of page 3 of the above-mentioned document, a door mirror having a mirror surface having two regions having different curved states and having a main mirror surface region having a large radius of curvature occupying most of the mirror surface and an auxiliary mirror surface region having a small radius of curvature is described. Have been. However, in a rearview mirror composed of a plurality of surfaces having different curvatures, since the boundary between the two surfaces is unclear, the driver tends to make a mistake in a sense of distance,
This is a problem for safe driving.

[0004] An anti-glare mirror (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an EC mirror) using an electrochromic element as a mirror is used to prevent dazzling of a driver. An EC mirror is formed by laminating a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode, an EC layer, a reflective film / electrode film, an insulating sealing film or an insulating sealing substrate, and utilizes a reversible change in coloring caused by an electrochemical reaction of the EC layer. Things. That is, a predetermined voltage is applied depending on the situation of the backward light or the ambient light to cause the EC layer to react, thereby adjusting the transmittance of the incident light.

In the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-306947, a mirror surface having reflecting means for incident light, a first surface (mirror surface) having a plurality of surfaces having different curvatures, and a front surface are provided. A second plane having a reflective EC layer;
Proposed a mirror that has a glass protection plate placed in front of the flat surface and changes the reflection surface depending on the discoloration of the EC layer. However, when the first surface is used in the above-described configuration, a portion where the curvature of the first surface, which is a mirror surface, differs from that of the first surface is unclear. When the second surface is used with the EC layer in a low transmission state, incident light is reflected by the EC layer in front of the second surface.
Since the transmittance of the EC layer does not become 0%, there is a problem that an image on the first surface and an image on the second surface overlap (become a double image), resulting in an operational danger.

Therefore, the mirror of the rearview mirror has a curvature gradually changing mirror (commonly known as an aspherical mirror) which is composed of a spherical main mirror surface region having a constant curvature and an aspherical auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually changing curvature. A mirror formed by blasting, laser processing, or etching for the purpose of clarifying the boundary between the mirror surfaces has been disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-26.
No. 031 or Japanese Patent Application No. 8-253076.

As described above, an ordinary EC mirror has an EC layer between a pair of upper and lower electrodes. That is, based on a transparent substrate made of a glass plate, a transparent electrode (ITO)
= Indium oxide + tin oxide), first color forming layer (IRTO)
F = iridium oxide + tin oxide, electrolyte layer (Ta ² O ⁵⁾
= Tantalum oxide), a second color-forming layer (WO ³ = tungsten oxide), and a reflective electrode (Al = aluminum) are sequentially deposited by vapor deposition or sputtering. Then, by switching the applied voltage, the EC layer is colored blue by the oxidation-reduction reaction of the first color-forming layer and the second color-forming layer, or decolored by applying a reverse voltage, thereby controlling the reflectance of the mirror. Has an anti-glare effect.

[0008]

However, in the EC mirror, there is a known problem that the response (response) of color erasing and decoloring is deteriorated when the distance between the electrodes is widened. Has become. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and in a vehicle aspherical EC mirror having a wide field of view having a plurality of surfaces having different curvatures and an anti-glare function by an electrochromic element, the boundary of each mirror surface area is defined by the EC element. By using it as an electrode, it is possible to have a structure that can speed up the response of color
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aspheric EC mirror capable of clarifying a boundary between a spherical main mirror surface region and an aspheric auxiliary mirror surface region.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a large-sized mirror having excellent rear visibility without deteriorating the response (response) of color erasure even when the area of the mirror is increased. I do.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mirror having a high anti-glare effect on headlights of a following vehicle as a configuration in which the reflectance can be changed in a short time.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrochromic device in which a plurality of mirror surfaces having different curved states are arranged adjacent to each other, and an electrochromic element is provided between a front transparent body and a back reflector. An antiglare rearview mirror for a vehicle is provided, wherein the antiglare rearview mirror for a vehicle is provided and provided with a conductive film for an electrode of an electrochromic element on a boundary of each mirror surface region.

Further, according to the present invention, a transparent electrode substrate having a main mirror surface region having a constant curvature and an auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually varying curvature with a gradually reduced radius of curvature is sequentially laminated on the back side of the transparent electrode substrate. In the solid-state EC layer, the reflective film / electrode film, the insulating sealing film or the insulating sealing substrate, and the transparent electrode substrate,
We propose an aspherical EC mirror characterized in that the boundary of each mirror surface region is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode.

The present invention also provides an opposing transparent electrode substrate having a main surface region having a constant curvature and an auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually changing radius of curvature. The liquid type EC layer interposed therebetween, the reflector disposed on the back side of the transparent electrode substrate on the back side, and the boundary of each mirror surface area formed by a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode. We propose an aspherical EC mirror that is a feature.

[0014] The boundary line of the mirror surface region is Cr, Ti, N
After forming a thin film of i, Ni—Cr or the like by vacuum evaporation and sputtering, the film is formed by etching or laser cutting.

[0015]

According to the present invention, since the boundary of each mirror surface region is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode, this boundary is formed of ITO.
The electric resistance is very low as compared with the film, and electric charge is easily supplied as an electrode. Therefore, when used as an EC mirror, the response of color erasure can be accelerated, and the EC
By changing the reflectivity of the layer, it is possible to shorten the time during which the headlights and street lamps of the following vehicles are reflected and dazzling at night.

Further, if the boundary of each mirror surface area is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode as described above, the response of the color erasure can be accelerated even if the area of the mirror is increased. The mirror can be easily enlarged.

Since the boundary line between the surfaces having different curvatures is used as an electrode, a line is inevitably entered on the inner surface of the substrate glass, and the line is rarely captured as a double image.

The boundary line is formed by forming a thin film of Cr, Ti, Ni, Ni-Cr or the like by vacuum evaporation and sputtering, and then etching the film by etching or laser cutting. Since it is formed and formed, it is easy to create, and the boundary between each mirror surface region is clear, so that the division of both regions can be easily recognized.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a rearview mirror (aspherical EC mirror) of the present invention, and shows a right outer mirror (only a mirror main body). The mirror surface of the rearview mirror 10 is formed by laminating a solid-state electrochromic component on the back surface of a transparent substrate 11 such as a glass or plastic plate. The transparent substrate 11 is configured by arranging a main mirror surface region 12 (spherical surface) having a constant curvature and an auxiliary mirror surface region 14 (gradually changing region: aspherical surface) having a gradually changing curvature.

On the back surface (concave surface) of the transparent substrate 11 of the present invention, a transparent electrode 22 made of, for example, an ITO film is provided, and an oxidized or reduced chromophoric electrode made of iridium tin, tantalum pentoxide, tungsten oxide or the like is provided. After the chromic layer 23 and the reflective film / electrode (anode) 24 of aluminum, chromium, etc. are sequentially laminated by a technique such as vacuum deposition and sputtering, an insulating sealing material 25 such as epoxy resin or silicon nitride is applied or laminated. I have.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line CC. As shown in the above figures, the transparent electrode 22 formed on the back surface of the transparent substrate 11 is vertically divided into two by a horizontal dividing line 26 formed by cutting or etching. By this division, one transparent electrode (ITO film) is used as an upper electrode, and the other transparent electrode (ITO film) is used as an upper electrode.
The TO film is used as a lower electrode. The line width of the dividing line is, for example, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a part of the EC layer 23 on the transparent electrode is filled in the dividing line portion 26 cut by cutting or the like. Although not shown, when the mirror portion is assembled to the mirror holder, the horizontal dividing line 26
The area 16 below the dividing line 26 is hidden by the lower edge of the mirror holder and is not visible from the outside.

The region above the horizontal dividing line 26 is further divided into two regions by a vertical boundary line 28 also serving as an electrode. The vertical boundary line 28 is configured to be located at a boundary between the main mirror surface region 12 having a constant curvature convex surface and the auxiliary mirror surface region 14 having a gradually changing curvature convex surface. That is, FIG. 1 or FIGS.
, The primary mirror area 12 and the auxiliary mirror area 1
A conductive thin film is formed separately from the transparent electrode on the boundary portion of No. 4. As this conductive film, Cr, Ti, Ni, N
A vapor deposited film or a sputtered film made of i-Cr or the like is preferable. That is, a thin film of Cr, Ti, Ni, Ni-Cr or the like is formed in a line shape by a jig by vacuum deposition and sputtering, or formed in a line shape by etching after film formation, and the boundary line between the two mirror surfaces 12 and 14 is formed. 28. Note that the width of the boundary line 28 is approximately the same as the width of the division line 26, and is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 mm. With such a degree, the boundary line can be clearly recognized at the time of the backward viewing, and the dividing line does not become an obstacle at the time of the backward viewing.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Reference numeral 0b denotes voltage applying clip electrodes provided so as to be sandwiched above and below the rear-view mirror 10, each of which is attached to the transparent electrode 22 and connected to an external wiring (not shown) for supplying an external voltage. Let it.

Aspherical E configured as described above
When the C mirror is used, a predetermined transmittance can be obtained depending on the mode of application of the applied voltage to the EC layer 2 in the main mirror surface region 12 and the auxiliary mirror surface region 14. In this case, the mirror surface area 1
Since the boundary between 2 and 14 is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode, this boundary has a much lower electric resistance than the transparent electrode (ITO layer). As shown in (b), it is easy to supply electric charge to the center of the mirror as an electrode. Therefore, even if the distance between the clip electrodes is increased, the response of the color erasure is quick. On the other hand, when the boundary is formed of an insulator as shown in FIG. 5A, it is difficult to supply electric charges to the center of the mirror.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the aspherical E of the present invention.
It is another example of a C mirror. This example also shows a right outer mirror (only the mirror body). The mirror surface of this rearview mirror 40 is an example in which a liquid electrochromic component is interposed between the front and back transparent electrode substrates facing each other. This transparent electrode substrate is configured such that a main mirror surface region 42 (spherical surface) having a different curved state and an auxiliary mirror surface region 44 (gradual change region: aspherical surface) are arranged adjacently.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show specific examples of the structure of the liquid type EC device. On the back surface (concave surface) of the front transparent substrate 51a, a transparent electrode 52a composed of an ITO film is formed by, for example, an evaporation method. Further, 3 is provided on the transparent electrode 52a.
An EC element layer 53 is formed by depositing a tungsten oxide film. Further, a transparent electrode 52b composed of an ITO film is formed on the transparent substrate 51b on the back side. Reference numeral 54 denotes an electrolytic solution, which is disposed between the EC element layer 53 and the transparent electrode 52b on the back side. 55 is a reflective film formed on the back surface of the transparent substrate 51b on the back side, and 56 is a protective film thereof. Note that 57
Is an insulating sealing frame.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line BB, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line CC. As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, on the transparent electrode 52b on the back transparent substrate, the boundary between the main mirror surface area 42 and the auxiliary mirror surface area 44 is electrically conductive separately from the transparent electrode. Form a thin film. As this conductive film, a vapor deposition film or a sputtered film made of Cr, Ti, Ni, Ni—Cr or the like is suitable as in the above-described embodiment. That is, Cr, T
A thin film of i, Ni, Ni-Cr or the like is formed in a line with a jig by vacuum evaporation or sputtering, or after film formation,
The two mirror surfaces 42 and 44 are formed in a line shape by etching.
Are formed.

In the rearview mirror 40 of the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the clip electrodes 60a and 60b are sandwiched between the lower part of the front transparent substrate 51a and the upper part of the rear transparent substrate 51b. And adhere to the transparent electrodes 52a and 52b, respectively. The clip electrode is connected to an external wiring (not shown) for supplying an external voltage.

Also in the aspherical EC mirror of the above-described embodiment, a predetermined transmittance can be obtained depending on the mode of application of the applied voltage to the EC layer 53 in the main mirror surface region 42 and the auxiliary mirror surface region 44. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10B, since the boundary between the mirror surfaces 42 and 44 is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode, this boundary is formed on the transparent electrode (ITO layer). Since the electric resistance is very low as compared with the above, electric charges can be easily supplied. FIG. 10A shows the case where the boundary line is formed of an insulator.

[0030]

According to the present invention described above, since the boundaries between surfaces having different curvatures can be clearly defined, the driver is useful for preventing erroneous recognition. As is well known, transparent electrodes (ITO
Layer) has a high resistance. On the other hand, since a conductive thin film such as a Cr film has a very low electric resistance, it is easy to supply an electric charge as an electrode, and even if the distance between the electrodes is widened, the response (response) of color erasure can be made faster. . Therefore, when used as an EC mirror, the reflectivity of the EC layer can be changed in a short time, and the time during which the headlights and street lamps of a following vehicle are reflected and dazzling at night can be shortened. In addition, if the boundary line of each mirror surface region is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode as described above, the response of the color erasing and erasing can be accelerated even if the area of the mirror is increased. The rearview mirror can be easily enlarged. Furthermore, the lines are not projected as double images.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a solid-state EC mirror according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the case where the voltages applied to the EC layers in the main mirror area and the auxiliary mirror area are respectively supplied in the rearview mirror of FIG. 1 of the present invention and the conventional rearview mirror. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the ease of supplying electric charges.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a liquid-type EC mirror according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

10 (a) and (b) show the case where the voltages applied to the EC layers in the main mirror surface area and the auxiliary mirror surface area are supplied in the rearview mirror of FIG. 6 of the present invention and the conventional rearview mirror, respectively. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the ease of supplying electric charges.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 40 Rearview mirror 11, 51a, 51b Transparent substrate 12, 42 Main mirror surface area 14, 44 Auxiliary mirror surface region 22, 52a, 52b Transparent electrode 23, 53 EC element layer 24 Reflective film / electrode 25 Insulating sealing material 26 Split Line 28, 48 Boundary line / electrode 30a, 30b Clip electrode 54 Electrolyte 56 Protective film 57 Insulating sealing material 60a, 60b Clip electrode

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 26, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Therefore, the mirror of the rearview mirror has a curvature gradually changing mirror (commonly known as an aspherical mirror) which is composed of a spherical main mirror surface region having a constant curvature and an aspherical auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually changing curvature. A mirror formed by blasting, laser processing, or etching for the purpose of clarifying the boundary between the mirror surfaces has been disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-26.
It is shown open as a 031 or Japanese Patent Application 8-253076.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, an ordinary EC mirror has an EC layer between a pair of upper and lower electrodes. That is, based on a transparent substrate made of a glass plate, a transparent electrode (ITO)
= Indium oxide + tin oxide), first color forming layer (IRTO)
F = iridium oxide + tin oxide, electrolyte layer ( Ta ₂ O)
₅ = 5 tantalum oxide), a second color-forming layer ( WO ₃ = tungsten oxide), and a reflective electrode (Al = aluminum) are sequentially formed by vapor deposition or sputtering. Then, by switching the applied voltage, the EC layer is colored blue by the oxidation-reduction reaction of the first color-forming layer and the second color-forming layer, or decolored by applying a reverse voltage, thereby controlling the reflectance of the mirror. Has an anti-glare effect.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Aspherical E configured as described above
When the C mirror is used, a predetermined transmittance can be obtained depending on the mode of application of the applied voltage to the EC layer 23 in the main mirror surface region 12 and the auxiliary mirror surface region 14. In this case, since the boundary between the mirror regions 12 and 14 is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode, this boundary is formed by the transparent electrode (ITO layer).
Since the electric resistance is very low as compared with the above, as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the distance between the clip electrodes is increased, the response of the color erasure is quick. On the other hand, when the boundary is formed of an insulator as shown in FIG. 5A, it is difficult to supply electric charges to the center of the mirror.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0030

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0030]

According to the present invention described above, the boundaries between surfaces having different curvatures can be clearly defined, which is useful for preventing a driver from making a mistake. As is well known, transparent electrodes (ITO
Layer) has a high resistance. On the other hand, since a conductive thin film such as a Cr film has a very low electric resistance, it is easy to supply an electric charge as an electrode, and even if the distance between the electrodes is widened, the response (response) of color erasure can be made faster. . Therefore, when used as an EC mirror, the reflectivity of the EC layer can be changed in a short time, and the time during which the headlights and street lamps of a following vehicle are reflected and dazzling at night can be shortened. In addition, if the boundary line of each mirror surface region is formed of a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode as described above, the response of the color erasing and erasing can be accelerated even if the area of the mirror is increased. The rearview mirror can be easily enlarged. Furthermore, the lines are not projected as double images.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An antiglare rearview mirror for a vehicle, wherein a plurality of mirror surfaces having different curved states are arranged adjacently and an electrochromic element is arranged between a front transparent body and a rear reflector. An antiglare rearview mirror for a vehicle, wherein a conductive film for an electrode of an electrochromic element is provided on a boundary line between mirror surfaces. 2. A transparent electrode substrate having a main mirror surface region having a constant curvature and an auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually changing radius of curvature gradually reduced, and sequentially laminated on the back side of the transparent electrode substrate. Solid EC
A layer, a reflective film / electrode film, an insulating sealing film or an insulating sealing substrate; and in the transparent electrode substrate, a boundary line of each mirror surface region is formed by a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode. Aspherical EC mirror. 3. An opposing transparent electrode substrate having a main mirror surface region having a constant curvature and an auxiliary mirror surface region having a gradually changing curvature with a gradually reduced radius of curvature, and an intervening transparent electrode substrate between the opposing transparent electrode substrates. The liquid type EC layer disposed on the back side of the transparent electrode substrate, the reflector disposed on the back side thereof, and the boundary line of each mirror surface area formed by a conductive thin film different from the transparent electrode. Aspherical EC mirror. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the boundary line of the mirror surface region is Cr, Ti,
4. The aspherical EC mirror according to claim 2, wherein a thin film of Ni, Ni—Cr or the like is formed by vacuum deposition or sputtering, and the film is formed by etching or laser cutting. 5.