US-12625407-B2 - Electro-optic assembly having an antireflective electrode stack with covert conduction wells

Abstract

An electro-optic assembly includes a front substrate that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces face each other to define a gap. A first electrode is coupled to the second surface and a second electrode is coupled to the third surface. An electro-optic medium is in the gap. At least one of the first and second electrodes are an antireflective electrode stack including a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material, an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer, and a base layer between the substrate and conductive layer. A conduction well contains the electro-optic medium and extends through the insulating layer.

Inventors

• Mario F. Saenger Nayver
• David J. Cammenga
• Henry A. Luten
• John S. Anderson

Assignees

• GENTEX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231219

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; a first electrode coupled to the second surface; a second electrode coupled to the third surface; an electro-optic medium located between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one of the first and second electrodes being an antireflective electrode stack comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and a conduction well at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer.
2. 2 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conduction well is at least partially defined by a well sidewall entirely formed by and integral with the overcoat layer.
3. 3 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 2 , wherein the well sidewall extends partially into the conductive layer.
4. 4 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 2 , wherein the well sidewall extends entirely through the conductive layer.
5. 5 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 2 , wherein the conduction well is further defined by a well floor formed by and integral with the overcoat layer.
6. 6 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 5 , wherein the well floor defines a roughness greater than the insulating layer adjacent to the conduction well.
7. 7 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conduction well is at least partially defined by a well sidewall formed by the overcoat layer and the insulating layer.
8. 8 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 7 , wherein the conduction well is further formed by the conductive layer.
9. 9 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antireflective electrode stack further includes a base layer connected to the conductive layer opposite the insulating layer.
10. 10 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 9 , wherein the conduction well extends through the insulating layer, the conductive layer, and terminates at the base layer.
11. 11 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are each an antireflective electrode stack.
12. 12 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 11 , wherein the conduction well on the first electrode stack is misaligned with the conduction well on the second antireflective electrode stack.
13. 13 . An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; a first antireflective electrode stack coupled to the second surface; a second antireflective electrode stack coupled to the third surface; an electro-optic medium located between the first antireflective electrode stack and the second antireflective electrode stack; and each of the first and second antireflective electrode stacks comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and a plurality of conduction wells at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer.
14. 14 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 13 , wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are aligned with the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack.
15. 15 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 13 , wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are offset from the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack.
16. 16 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 15 , wherein the conduction wells on the first antireflective electrode stack are spaced by a space and the conduction wells on the second antireflective electrode stack are aligned substantially centrally in the space.
17. 17 . An electro-optic assembly, comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other to define a gap; an antireflective electrode stack coupled to the second surface or the third surface, the antireflective electrode stack comprising: a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide; an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material; an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer; and at least one conduction well at least partially containing the electro-optic medium and extending through the insulating layer.
18. 18 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least one conduction well includes a plurality of conduction wells that cover less than 1% of the antireflective electrode stack.
19. 19 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 17 , wherein the antireflective electrode stack has a reflectance in the visible spectral range lower than 2% and a color saturation C* less than 5.
20. 20 . The electro-optic assembly of claim 17 , wherein the overcoat layer has a thickness between 5 nm and 50 nm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/433,861, filed on Dec. 20, 2022, entitled “ELECTRO-OPTIC ASSEMBLY HAVING AN ANTIREFLECTIVE ELECTRODE STACK WITH COVERT CONDUCTION WELLS,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to an electro-optic assembly, and, more particularly, to an electro-optic assembly that includes an antireflective electrode stack defining reflectance and color matched conduction wells that provide electric continuity between layers. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electro-optic assembly comprises a front substrate that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces face each other to define a gap. A first electrode is coupled to the second surface and a second electrode is coupled to the third surface. An electro-optic medium is located between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes are an antireflective electrode stack that includes a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material, an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer, and a base layer between the substrate and conductive layer. A conduction well at least partially contains the electro-optic medium and extends through the insulating layer. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electro-optic assembly comprises a front substrate that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces face each other to define a gap. A first antireflective electrode stack is coupled to the second surface and a second antireflective electrode stack is coupled to the third surface. An electro-optic medium is located between the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of the first and second antireflective electrode stacks includes a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material, an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer, and a base layer between the substrate and conductive layer. A plurality of conduction wells at least partially contains the electro-optic medium and extends through the insulating layer. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an electro-optic assembly comprises a front substrate that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the second and third surfaces face each other to define a gap. An antireflective electrode stack is coupled to the second surface or the third surface, the antireflective electrode stack includes a conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, an overcoat layer in contact with the electro-optic medium and formed of a substantially transparent conductive material, an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the overcoat layer, and a base layer between the substrate and conductive layer. A conduction well at least partially contains the electro-optic medium and extends through the insulating layer. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electro-optic assembly that includes a pair of opposing antireflective electrode stacks, each defining conduction wells in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2A is an upper perspective view of an antireflective electrode stack that defines conduction wells in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2B is a series of top plan views of a first electrode stack that includes a first conduction well pattern and a second electrode stack that includes a second conduction well pattern that is aligned with the first conduction well pattern in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2C is a series of top plan views of a first electrode stack that includes a first conduction well pattern and a second electrode stack that includes a second conduction well pattern that is offset from the first conduction well pattern in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 3A i