Patent ID: 9254789
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: B60R,G02B,G02F

Claim Text:
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.