Patent ID: 8922867
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: B60R,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising: an electrochromic reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said front glass substrate has a generally planar first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and a second surface opposite said first surface, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a generally planar third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed between said second and third surfaces; wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic active region where said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal; wherein said second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating established at said electrochromic active region; wherein said rear glass substrate has a reflective mirror reflector established thereat; wherein said front glass substrate has a perimeter reflective band established along a perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate to generally hide at least said perimeter seal from view by the driver of the vehicle normally viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle; wherein a perimeter portion of said front glass substrate extends beyond a corresponding perimeter portion of said rear glass substrate to establish a user input region that is outboard of said electrochromic active region; wherein a touch sensor is disposed at said user input region; and wherein said touch sensor is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person's finger at said first surface of said front glass substrate at said user input region.