Rearview mirror assemblies with anisotropic polymer laminates

摘要

Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminate is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1.

主权项

1. A switchable mirror system (SMS) for use in a vehicular rearview assembly equipped with a light source transmitting light from within the rearview assembly through said SMS to a field-of-view (FOV) outside the assembly, the SMS comprising:
at least two electro-optic (EO) cells defined by at least three sequentially disposed spaced-apart substrates, a first EO-cell corresponding to an outside portion of the rearview assembly and a second EO-cell disposed between the first EO-cell and the light source; and at least two linear reflective polarizers disposed so as to sandwich an EO-medium of the second EO-cell between said linear reflective polarizers, wherein the first EO-cell has an EO-medium comprising absorbing and non-absorbing states, and is adapted to be a switchable linear absorptive polarizer that attenuates light reflected from the second EO-cell, and does not substantially attenuate light transmitted from the light source through the second EO-cell, and further wherein said SMS has a reflectance value that is gradually variable in response to changes in voltages applied to the first EO-cell, and as measured in said FOV in ambient light.