Kathy L Roberts

US Patent:

6525861, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Dec 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/012937

Inventors:

Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 115

US Classification:

359265, 359272, 359273, 359275

Abstract:

An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.

US Patent:

6545794, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Dec 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/745639

Inventors:

Kevin L. Ash - Grand Rapids MI
William L. Tonar - Holland MI
Frederick T. Bauer - Holland MI
Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI
David A. Theiste - Byron Center MI

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1153

US Classification:

359270, 359265, 359267

Abstract:

An electrochromic device comprising: a first glass element having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, wherein said first element comprises a height (h ), a width (w ), a thickness (t ), an inner surface, and an outer surface; a second element having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, wherein said second element comprises a height (h ), a width (w ) , and a thickness (t ), an inner surface, and an outer surface; a cell spacing (c) which comprises a distance between said inner surface of said first element and said inner surface of said second element; a gelled electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between said first and second elements; wherein (h ), (w ), (t ), (h ), (w ), (t ), and (c) are numerical values in millimeters; and wherein (h ), (w ), and (t ) of said first element, and (h ), (w ), and (t ) of said second element and (c) comprise numerical values such that the following inequality is satisfied:.

US Patent:

6700693, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

Oct 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/283506

Inventors:

Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI
Rongguang Lin - Holland MI
Kelvin L. Baumann - Holland MI
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI
David A. Theiste - Byron Center MI

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 115

US Classification:

359265, 359267, 359268, 359275, 359271, 359273

Abstract:

An electrochromic device comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic material; a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is slow-diffusing; and an electron shuttle, wherein the electron shuttle serves to decrease switching time of the electrochromic device relative to the same without the electron shuttle.

US Patent:

6778311, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Feb 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/372073

Inventors:

Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 115

US Classification:

359265, 359273, 359275, 252586

Abstract:

An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.

US Patent:

6934067, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Apr 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/115433

Inventors:

Kevin L. Ash - Grand Rapids MI, US
William L. Tonar - Holland MI, US
Frederick T. Bauer - Holland MI, US
Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F001/153

US Classification:

359273, 359268, 359265, 359275

Abstract:

An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating thin front and rear spaced glass elements having a thickness ranging from about 0. 5 to about 1. 5. A layer of transparent conductive material is placed onto the mirror's second surface, and either another layer of transparent conductive material or a combined reflector/electrode is placed onto the mirror's third surface. A chamber, defined by the layers on the interior surfaces of the front and rear glass elements and a peripheral sealing member, contains a free-standing gel comprising a solvent and a crosslinked polymer matrix. The chamber further contains at least one electrochromic material in solution with the solvent and interspersed in the crosslinked polymer matrix. The gel cooperatively interacts with the thin glass elements to form a thick, strong unitary member which is resistant to flexing, warping, bowing and/or shattering and further allows the mirror to exhibit reduced vibrational distortion and double imaging.

US Patent:

7031043, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Jan 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/753049

Inventors:

Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI, US
Rongguang Lin - Holland MI, US
Kelvin L. Baumann - Holland MI, US
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI, US
David A. Theiste - Byron Center MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/15

US Classification:

359265, 359267, 359270, 345105

Abstract:

An electrochromic device comprising: a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; and an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which comprises: at least one solvent; an anodic material; a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is slow-diffusing; and an electron shuttle, wherein the electron shuttle serves to decrease switching time of the electrochromic device relative to the same without the electron shuttle.

US Patent:

7031044, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Jul 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/884480

Inventors:

Kathy E. Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI, US
Thomas F. Guarr - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02F 1/153
G02B 5/23

US Classification:

359267, 359272, 359273, 252586

Abstract:

An electrochromic medium for use in an electrochromic device comprising: at least one solvent; an anodic electroactive material; a cathodic electroactive material, wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and a current-reducing additive, wherein the current-reducing additive comprises a polymer present in an effective concentration to materially reduce the current of the electrochromic medium upon application of an electrical potential, relative to an electrochromic medium without the current-reducing additive, while maintaining an electrochromic medium viscosity which facilitates acceptable production rates without a problematic degree of seal or other device component failure.

US Patent:

20010055143, Dec 27, 2001

Filed:

Jul 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/918213

Inventors:

Kevin Ash - Grand Rapids MI, US
William Tonar - Holland MI, US
Frederick Bauer - Holland MI, US
Kathy Roberts - East Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

G02F001/15
G02F001/153

US Classification:

359/267000, 359/265000, 359/273000, 359/275000

Abstract:

An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating thin front and rear spaced glass elements having a thickness ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5. A layer of transparent conductive material is placed onto the mirror's second surface, and either another layer of transparent conductive material or a combined reflector/electrode is placed onto the mirror's third surface. A chamber, defined by the layers on the interior surfaces of the front and rear glass elements and a peripheral sealing member, contains a free-standing gel comprising a solvent and a crosslinked polymer matrix. The chamber further contains at least one electrochromic material in solution with the solvent and interspersed in the crosslinked polymer matrix. The gel cooperatively interacts with the thin glass elements to form a thick, strong unitary member which is resistant to flexing, warping, bowing and/or shattering and further allows the mirror to exhibit reduced vibrational distortion and double imaging.