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AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsWilliam L. Tonar, John S. Anderson, David J. Cammenga
Estimating the term…
An electrochromic device is disclosed having a self-cleaning, hydrophilic optical coating. The electrochromic device preferably forms an external rearview mirror for a vehicle. The coating preferably includes alternating layers of a photocatalytic material having a high index of refraction and a hydrophilic material having a low refractive index. More specifically, the coating includes a first layer having a high refractive index, a second layer having a low refractive index, a third layer of titanium dioxide, and a fourth layer of silicon dioxide provided as an outermost layer. The disclosed optical coating exhibits a reflectance at the front surface of the reflective element that is less than about 20 percent, and has sufficient hydrophilic properties such that water droplets on a front surface of the optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 20°.
A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:
A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:
An electrochromic device comprising an electrochromic element having a transmittance that varies in response to an applied voltage, said electrochromic element including a glass substrate having a rear surface coated in a transparent conductive material, and a front surface having a hydrophilic coating formed thereon, wherein the thickness of said transparent conductive coating is selected for suppressing color imparted to the device by said hydrophilic coating, wherein said electrochromic device exhibits a C* value less than about 20 in both high and low transmittance states and wherein said hydrophilic coating is sufficiently hydrophilic such that water droplets on a front surface of said hydrophilic coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 30°.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.