G02F1/163

ELECTROCHROMIC ELEMENT AND DEVICES WITH BULK HETEROJUNCTION LAYER FOR ENHANCED DARK STATE RETENTION
20230046847 · 2023-02-16 ·

The present disclosure relates to electrochromic elements (10) and devices (110) comprising an electrochromic material layer (114), an insulating layer (116), and a bulk heterojunction layer (118), having one or more optical properties that may be changed upon application of an electric potential. Upon provision of an electric potential above a threshold, electrons and holes may be injected into the electrochromic layer (114) and bulk heterojunction layer (118), and blocked by the insulating layer (116), resulting in an accumulation of the electrons and holes in their respective electrochromic material resulting in a change to the one or more optical properties of the electrochromic materials (114; 118). An opposite electric potential may be provided to reverse the change in the one or more optical properties.

ELECTROCHROMIC ELEMENT AND DEVICES WITH BULK HETEROJUNCTION LAYER FOR ENHANCED DARK STATE RETENTION
20230046847 · 2023-02-16 ·

The present disclosure relates to electrochromic elements (10) and devices (110) comprising an electrochromic material layer (114), an insulating layer (116), and a bulk heterojunction layer (118), having one or more optical properties that may be changed upon application of an electric potential. Upon provision of an electric potential above a threshold, electrons and holes may be injected into the electrochromic layer (114) and bulk heterojunction layer (118), and blocked by the insulating layer (116), resulting in an accumulation of the electrons and holes in their respective electrochromic material resulting in a change to the one or more optical properties of the electrochromic materials (114; 118). An opposite electric potential may be provided to reverse the change in the one or more optical properties.

OPTICAL ELEMENT FOR INFLUENCING LIGHT DIRECTIONS, ARRANGEMENT FOR IMAGING A MULTIPLICITY OF ILLUMINATED OR SELF-LUMINOUS SURFACES, AND ILLUMINATION DEVICE
20230047322 · 2023-02-16 ·

An optical element including a plate-shaped substrate with a light-entrance surface and a light-exit surface, a multiplicity of imaging elements formed on the light-exit surface and a multiplicity of diaphragms formed on the light-entrance surface. Each diaphragm includes a transparent geometric region in an opaque region. The optical element can be switched between two operating modes B1 and B2 such that some of the imaging elements change their focal length between values f1 and f2 and/or, some of the diaphragms change their aperture width and/or their position. Exactly one diaphragm is associated with each imaging element in mode B1 so that light passing through the diaphragm is imaged or collimated by the associated imaging element. Consequently, light arriving in the optical element through the diaphragms and then through the light-entrance surface has, after passing through the associated imaging elements in the two operating modes B1 and B2, different propagation angles.

OPTICAL ELEMENT FOR INFLUENCING LIGHT DIRECTIONS, ARRANGEMENT FOR IMAGING A MULTIPLICITY OF ILLUMINATED OR SELF-LUMINOUS SURFACES, AND ILLUMINATION DEVICE
20230047322 · 2023-02-16 ·

An optical element including a plate-shaped substrate with a light-entrance surface and a light-exit surface, a multiplicity of imaging elements formed on the light-exit surface and a multiplicity of diaphragms formed on the light-entrance surface. Each diaphragm includes a transparent geometric region in an opaque region. The optical element can be switched between two operating modes B1 and B2 such that some of the imaging elements change their focal length between values f1 and f2 and/or, some of the diaphragms change their aperture width and/or their position. Exactly one diaphragm is associated with each imaging element in mode B1 so that light passing through the diaphragm is imaged or collimated by the associated imaging element. Consequently, light arriving in the optical element through the diaphragms and then through the light-entrance surface has, after passing through the associated imaging elements in the two operating modes B1 and B2, different propagation angles.

Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices

Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage.

Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices

Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage.

Monitoring sites containing switchable optical devices and controllers

A site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure associated with optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals.

Monitoring sites containing switchable optical devices and controllers

A site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure associated with optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals.

Frameless interior rearview mirror assembly

A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver of the vehicle to adjust the rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.

Frameless interior rearview mirror assembly

A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver of the vehicle to adjust the rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.