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US 7,746,534 B2Granted
Thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsWilliam L. Tonar, John S. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Forgette, George A. Neuman, Gary J. Dozeman, David J. Cammenga, Henry A. Luten, G. Bruce Poe, Nelson F. Brummel, Lansen M. Perron
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Abstract
Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements.
Claims24
An optical element comprising:
- a first substrate;
- at least one thin-film layer deposited on the first substrate, and
- a boundary-modifying material adjoining a boundary formed by any two of the substrate and the at least one thin-film layer,
- wherein the boundary-modifying material differs from materials forming the substrate and the at least one thin-film layer, wherein an accumulation of the boundary-modifying material does not exceed ten atomic layers, and wherein the boundary-modifying material includes an element from a group consisting of chalcogenides and pnictogens.
1 more element
A method for manufacturing an optical element, the method comprising:
- providing a first base having a surface;
- disposing a modifying material below the surface;
- and
- overcoating the surface with a thin-film overlayer;
- wherein the modifying material differs from materials forming the base and the thin-film overlayer, the modifying material includes an element from a group consisting of chalcogenides and pnistogens, and an accumulation of the modifying material does not exceed ten atomic layers.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.