# US 10,768,475 B2 · Transflective film for electro-optic elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,475 B2 - Document ID: US10768475B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/956,056 - Filed: 2018-04-18 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-18 - Assignees: Gentex Corporation - Applicants: Gentex Corporation - Inventors: William L. Tonar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768475B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/133555: {Transflectors} - G02F 1/1339: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells - B60R 1/088: {using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors} - G02F 1/15: based on an electrochromic effect - G02F 1/17: based on variable-absorption elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169 - G02F 1/172: {based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays} - G02F 2201/343: cholesteric liquid crystal reflector - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An electro-optic element includes a first substrate defining first and second surfaces. The second surface includes a first electrically conductive layer. A second substrate defines third and fourth surfaces. The third surface includes a second electrically conductive layer. A primary seal is disposed between the first and second substrates. The seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic material is disposed in the cavity. The electro-optic material being variably transmissive such that the electro-optic element is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. A transflective film includes a liquid crystal material. The transflective film has a thickness of from about 6 μm to about 24 μm. An adhesion layer is positioned between the transflective film and the second substrate. An alignment layer is positioned between the transflective film and the adhesion layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electro-optic element comprising: a first substrate defining first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface comprises a first electrically conductive layer; a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces, wherein the third surface comprises a second electrically conductive layer; a primary seal disposed between the first and second substrates, wherein the seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween; an electro-optic material disposed in the cavity, the electro-optic material being variably transmissive such that the electro-optic element is operable between substantially clear and darkened states; a transflective film comprising a liquid crystal material, wherein the transflective film comprises an average roughness of less than about 18 nm; and an adhesion layer positioned between the transflective film and the second substrate, wherein the transflective film is directly in contact with the second electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electro-optic element of claim 1, wherein the electro-optic material is an electrochromic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electro-optic element of claim 1, wherein the transflective film is configured to reflect circularly polarized light. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electro-optic element of claim 3, further comprising: an alignment layer positioned between the transflective film and the adhesion layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electro-optic element of claim 1, wherein a waviness of the transflective film is less than about 0.20. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electro-optic element of claim 1, wherein the transflective film comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material. ### Claim 7 An electro-optic element comprising: a first substrate defining first and second surfaces; a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces; a primary seal disposed between the first and second substrates, wherein the seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween; an electro-optic material disposed in the cavity, wherein the electro-optic material is variably transmissive; and a transflective film comprising a liquid crystal material, wherein the transflective film comprises an average roughness of less than about 18 nm and wherein a waviness of the transflective film is less than about 0.38. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electro-optic element of claim 7, further comprising: an adhesion layer positioned between the transflective film and the second substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electro-optic element of claim 8, wherein the adhesion layer comprises a silane material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electro-optic element of claim 9, wherein the transflective film comprises a plurality of layers, further wherein each of the layers is configured to reflect a different wavelength band of light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electro-optic element of claim 10, wherein the transflective film comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electro-optic element of claim 11, wherein the transflective film comprises at least one layer configured to one of (a) convert linear polarized light to circular polarized light or (b) convert circular polarized light to linear polarized light. ### Claim 13 An electro-optic element comprising: a first substrate defining first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface comprises a first electrically conductive layer; a second substrate defining third and fourth surfaces, wherein the third surface comprises a second electrically conductive layer; a primary seal disposed between the first and second substrates, wherein the seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween; an electro-optic material disposed in the cavity, the electro-optic material being variably transmissive such that the electro-optic element is operable between substantially clear and darkened states; a transflective film comprising a liquid crystal material, wherein the transflective film has a thickness of from about 6 μm to about 24 μm and a waviness of less than about 0.9; an adhesion layer positioned between the transflective film and the second substrate; and an alignment layer positioned between the transflective film and the adhesion layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electro-optic element of claim 13, wherein the transflective film comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electro-optic element of claim 14, wherein the transflective film comprises at least one layer configured to one of (a) convert linear polarized light to circular polarized light or (b) convert circular polarized light to linear polarized light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electro-optic element of claim 14, wherein the transflective film comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a first one of the plurality of layers is configured to reflect, absorb, scatter, or transmit a first band and polarization of light and a second one of the plurality of layers is configured to reflect, absorb, scatter, or transmit a second band and polarization of light that is different than the first band and polarization of light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The electro-optic element of claim 6, wherein the transflective film comprises at least one layer configured to one of (a) convert linear polarized light to circular polarized light or (b) convert circular polarized light to linear polarized light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The electro-optic element of claim 6, wherein the transflective film comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a first one of the plurality of layers is configured to reflect, absorb, scatter, or transmit a first band and polarization of light and a second one of the plurality of layers is configured to reflect, absorb, scatter, or transmit a second band and polarization of light that is different than the first band and polarization of light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The electro-optic element of claim 13, wherein the transflective film comprises an average roughness of less than about 18 nm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The electro-optic element of claim 13, wherein the transflective film comprises a plurality of sublayers, wherein each of the sublayers has a thickness of from about 0.5 μm to about 5.0 μm.