Patent ID: 7864399
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: B60Q,B60R,F21S,F21Y,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An interior rearview mirror reflective element suitable for use in an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror reflective element comprising: a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said first surface generally faces a driver of a vehicle when said reflective element is incorporated in an interior rearview mirror assembly and when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said second surface faces said electrochromic medium; a first electrically conductive layer disposed at said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said first electrically conductive layer comprises a transparent electrically conductive layer; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third surface facing said electrochromic medium; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflective layer; wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate in a cavity established inboard of a perimeter seal that connects said front substrate to said rear substrate and that spaces said front substrate apart from said rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a circumferential outer edge and said rear substrate has a circumferential outer edge; wherein, when said front substrate is connected with said rear substrate via said perimeter seal, at least a portion of said circumferential outer edge of said rear substrate is inward of said circumferential outer edge of said front substrate and no portion of said rear substrate substantially protrudes beyond said front substrate; a first electrical connection establishing electrically conductive connection to said first electrically conductive layer and a second electrical connection establishing electrically conductive connection to said mirror reflector; and a perimeter band disposed at said second surface of said front substrate and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said perimeter band comprises a metallic electrically conductive layer, and wherein said perimeter band substantially hides said perimeter seal and said first and second electrical connections from view by a driver normally operating the vehicle and viewing said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.