# US 7,612,929 B2 · Electrochromic devices with thin bezel-covered edge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,929 B2 - Document ID: US7612929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/928,336 - Filed: 2007-10-30 - Published: 2008-02-28 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-09 - Assignees: Gentex Corporation - Inventors: William L. Tonar; Frederick T. Bauer; John W. Arnold; David J. Cammenga; John W. Carter; Bradley L. Busscher; Jeremy A. Fogg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612929B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/153: Constructional details - C09K 9/02: Organic tenebrescent materials - G02F 1/1503: caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions - G02F 2001/1502: {complementary cell} - G02F 2001/15145: {the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds} - 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 - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A mirror includes an electro-optic mirror subassembly, and a thin-profiled bezel attached around a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a carrier by an adheringly bonded heater and foam tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel may be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or may be bonded and/or interlockingly mechanically attached to an edge of the carrier. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in place, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to permit assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin that prevents seeing past the bezel into the inside of a mirror housing. In at least one embodiment, the assembly has no bezel or only a bezel on one edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mirror element, comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent conductor on a second surface thereof, wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 1.0 Ω/□ and approximately 10 Ω/□, and wherein light reflected by any two points on the mirror element is characterized by a difference in color of less than 5 C* units. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of less than 8 Ω/□. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 2.0 Ω/□ and approximately 4 Ω/□. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said first substantially transparent substrate has a thickness of less than 2.0 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said second substrate has a thickness of less than 2.0 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor comprises at least one layer selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, doped-zinc oxide, IMI, and ITO. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 wherein said substantially transparent conductor is placed on said second surface of said first substantially transparent substrate by either sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition or plating. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A mirror element as in claim 1 further comprising a second substrate comprising an at least partially reflective conductor, wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises a sheet resistance of between approximately 0.05 Ω/□ and approximately 0.5 Ω/□. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises a sheet resistance of approximately 0.1 Ω/□. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor comprises at least one layer selected from the group consisting of silver and silver-gold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A mirror element as in claim 8 wherein said at least partially reflective conductor is placed on at least one surface of said second substantially transparent substrate by either sputtering, evaporation, chemical vapor deposition or plating. ### Claim 12 A mirror element, comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a substantially transparent conductor on a second surface thereof and further comprising a first perimeter length; and a second substrate comprising a second perimeter length and further comprising an electrical conductor comprising a sheet resistance of between approximately 0.05 Ω/□ and approximately 8.0 Ω/□, wherein said first perimeter length is larger than said second perimeter length. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a Z clip connector in contact with said substantially transparent conductor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a J clip connector in contact with said electrical conductor of said second substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a C clip connector in contact with said electrical conductor of said second substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A mirror element as in claim 12 further comprising a substantially transparent seal disposed between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate to define a chamber therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A mirror element as in claim 16 further comprising a spectral filter material disposed proximate a perimeter portion of said first substantially transparent substrate such that selected light rays are prevented from impinging upon said seal.