# US 2024/0201552 A1 · Electro-optic assembly having an antireflective electrode stack with covert conduction wells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201552 A1 - Document ID: US20240201552A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/545,112 - Filed: 2023-12-19 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: Gentex Corporation - Applicants: Gentex Corporation - Inventors: Mario F. Saenger Nayver; David J. Cammenga; Henry A. Luten; John S. Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201552A1 ## CPC - G02F 1/155: Electrodes - G02F 1/133502: {Antiglare, refractive index matching layers} - G02F 2201/38: Anti-reflection arrangements - 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 ## Abstract An electro-optic assembly includes a front substrate that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces face each other to define a gap. A first electrode is coupled to the second surface and a second electrode is coupled to the third surface. An electro-optic medium is in the gap. At least one of the first and second electrodes are an antireflective electrode stack including a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material, an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer, and a base layer between the substrate and conductive layer. A conduction well contains the electro-optic medium and extends through the insulating layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; a first electrode coupled to the second surface; a second electrode coupled to the third surface; an electro-optic medium located between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one of the first and second electrodes being an antireflective electrode stack comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and a conduction well at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electro-optic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduction well is at least partially defined by a well sidewall entirely formed by and integral with the overcoat layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electro-optic assembly of claim 2, wherein the well sidewall extends partially into the conductive layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electro-optic assembly of claim 2, wherein the well sidewall extends entirely through the conductive layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electro-optic assembly of claim 2, wherein the conduction well is further defined by a well floor formed by and integral with the overcoat layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electro-optic assembly of claim 5, wherein the well floor defines a roughness greater than the insulating layer adjacent to the conduction well. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electro-optic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduction well is at least partially defined by a well sidewall formed by the overcoat layer and the insulating layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electro-optic assembly of claim 7, wherein the conduction well is further formed by the conductive layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electro-optic assembly of claim 1, wherein the antireflective electrode stack further includes a base layer connected to the conductive layer opposite the insulating layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electro-optic assembly of claim 9, wherein the conduction well extends through the insulating layer, the conductive layer, and terminates at the base layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electro-optic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are each an antireflective electrode stack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electro-optic assembly of claim 11, wherein the conduction well on the first electrode stack is misaligned with the conduction well on the second antireflective electrode stack. ### Claim 13 An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; a first antireflective electrode stack coupled to the second surface; a second antireflective electrode stack coupled to the third surface; an electro-optic medium located between the first antireflective electrode stack and the second antireflective electrode stack; and each of the first and second antireflective electrode stacks comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and a plurality of conduction wells at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electro-optic assembly of claim 13, wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are aligned with the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electro-optic assembly of claim 13, wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are offset from the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electro-optic assembly of claim 15, wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are spaced by a space and the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack are aligned substantially centrally in the space. ### Claim 17 An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; an antireflective electrode stack coupled to the second surface or the third surface, the antireflective electrode stack comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and at least one conduction well at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electro-optic assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one conduction well includes a plurality of conduction wells that cover less than 1% of the antireflective electrode stack. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electro-optic assembly of claim 17, wherein the antireflective electrode stack has a reflectance in the visible spectral range lower than 2% and a color saturation C* less than 5. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The electro-optic assembly of claim 17, wherein the overcoat layer has a thickness between 5 nm and 50 nm.