Darkenable Mirror Device with Integrated Organic Optoelectronic Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mirror devices for reducing glare, such as rearview mirrors in vehicles, often require separate external sensors for brightness control, which are not integrated and lack multifunctionality, limiting their ability to adapt to changing light conditions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mirror device with an electrochromic substrate and integrated organic optoelectronic elements that can detect ambient light and control transparency, allowing for automatic dimming and potentially serving as both a sensor and a light source, eliminating the need for separate components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate external sensors are used for brightness control, then the mirror device can detect ambient light, but the device complexity increases and multifunctionality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor function and light source function into a single organic optoelectronic element. The organic functional layer stack can operate in different modes: detecting ambient light through the substrate in a first operating state, and emitting light through the substrate in a second operating state. This merging eliminates the need for separate external sensors and integrates multiple functions into one component, resolving the contradiction between multifunctionality and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic optoelectronic element is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect ambient light (sensor function) and emit light (light source function) depending on its operating state. This universal element replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or enhancing adaptability.
2Device complexity
If integrated organic optoelectronic elements are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect ambient light through the substrate may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and light source functions are merged into a single organic optoelectronic element with an organic functional layer stack. The element detects ambient light through the substrate in a first operating state, maintaining reliable light detection capability while integrating the function into the mirror device structure, thereby reducing device complexity without compromising detection reliability.
3Device complexity
If the organic optoelectronic element is placed between the substrate and reflective layer, then integration is achieved, but the path for ambient light detection through the substrate must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The organic optoelectronic element is integrated into the mirror device by placing it between the substrate and the reflective layer. The element comprises an organic functional layer stack with at least one organic optoelectronic layer between two electrodes. This integrated arrangement achieves high integration level while the specific positioning allows ambient light to pass through the substrate to reach the organic layer for detection, optimizing the light path within the constrained structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mirror device can automatically adjust its transparency based on ambient light conditions, reducing glare effectively while integrating light detection and emission functions, enhancing adaptability and reducing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
an organic optoelectronic layer between two electrodes, which is embodied as an organic light-detecting layer and which, in a first operating state of the mirror device, detects ambient light through the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a substrate with an electrochromic material that has a controllable transparency
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The relates to a dimming mirror device having the following characteristics: a substrate (101) having an electrochromic material which has a controllable transparency; on the substrate (101), at least one organic optoelectronic element (100) which has an organically functional layer stack (103) having at least one organic optoelectronic layer between two electrodes (102, 104), which is embodied as a layer detecting organic light and which detects, in a first operational state of the mirror device, ambient light (3) through the substrate such that the organic optoelectronic element (100) acts, in the first operational state, as an element detecting organic light. The transparency of the substrate (101) can be controlled in the first operational state in accordance with a measurement signal from the organic optoelectronic element (100); also comprising a reflective layer (120) on one side of the organic functional layer stack (103) facing away from the substrate (101).