Abstract:
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket fixedly secured to the vehicle, a mirror casing secured to the bracket and defining a primary opening, and a primary mirror disposed within said primary opening for providing a view rearward of the motor vehicle through a primary field of view. The primary mirror defines a primary plane. A spotting mirror is spaced apart from the primary mirror and extends through a secondary plane different from the primary plane. A divider extends between the primary mirror and the spotting mirror to separate the primary and secondary mirrors visually.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/336,018, filed Dec. 23, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/911,274, filed Oct. 25, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,243, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/851,045, filed Aug. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,843, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/197,666, filed Aug. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,842,154, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/709,434, filed May 5, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,756, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/471,872, filed May 20, 2003, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to rearview mirror elements for a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle and, more particularly, to exterior rearview mirror elements comprising multi-radius reflective elements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, mirror reflective elements are formed of glass and have a reflective coating deposited thereon, such as via vacuum deposition or wet chemical silvering or the like, such as on a silver line, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,188, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Polymeric reflective elements are also known, such as are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,601,960; 6,409,354; 4,944,581; 4,385,804; 4,193,668; 4,666,264; and 5,483,386, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. For such polymeric mirror reflective elements, the need exists for a hard coat or surface on the first or outer or exterior surface of the element which is contacted by the exterior elements, such as rain, road debris, or the like, or contacted, for example, by a person scraping ice or wiping snow or condensation off the mirror element outer surface, such as during winter. A variety of hard coats have been proposed in the art, typically applied by dip coating or vacuum deposition techniques. However, a need exists for an automotive mirror reflective element which has the properties of plastic (i.e., a specific gravity roughly half that of glass), and which has a glass-like exterior surface. 
     Also, exterior rearview mirror reflective elements may be aspheric or multi-radius, and may typically have a less curved or substantially flat (around 2000 mm radius or thereabouts) inboard portion or surface at the inboard side of the reflective element (i.e., closer to the side body of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle), and a more curved multi-radius portion or surface at the outboard side of the reflective element (i.e., further from the side body of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle), in order to provide an extended field of view. It is typically desirable to have the reflective elements or substrates of such exterior mirror elements to be formed of a glass material because glass material typically provides an enhanced scratch resistance over conventional optical resins and the like. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a mirror reflective element that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art elements and substrates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a molded wide angle or multi-radius substrate for a reflective element. The molded substrate comprises a polymeric optical resin transparent material and has a curved exterior surface, which may have a less curved/flatter or substantially flat inboard portion or surface and a more curved outboard portion or surface. The molded substrate may have an anti-abrasion film or layer, such as an ultrathin glass film, applied over the exterior surface or first surface to provide substantial protection against scratches occurring to the molded substrate. The inner surface or second surface of the reflective element substrate may have a reflective coating or layer, such as a polymeric reflective film, laminated or adhered or otherwise applied thereto. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a wide angle reflective element for a mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a wide angle substrate having an exterior surface and a glass film disposed at the exterior surface. The exterior surface of the substrate has a less curved inboard portion or surface and a more curved outboard portion or surface. The substrate comprises a polymeric resin material. The glass film is adapted to substantially conform to the exterior surface of the wide angle substrate. The glass film comprises a glass material and has a thickness of less than approximately 0.8 mm. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a reflective element for a mirror assembly for a vehicle comprises a substrate having an exterior surface, and an anti-abrasion film applied to the exterior surface. The substrate comprises a polymeric resin material, such as a transparent optical polymeric resin material. The anti-abrasion film preferably comprises a glass material (such as a soda lime glass or a borosilicate or the like) and has a thickness of less than approximately 0.8 mm, and is flexible to conform to the exterior surface. 
     The substrate may be cut from a strip or sheet of molded or extruded or cast substrate material (or less preferably, may be cut from an injected molded strip or sheet). The flexible glass film may be unrolled from a reel or roll and applied to the exterior surface of the elongated strip or sheet of substrate material. The substrate, including the glass film or layer, may then be cut or otherwise formed from the elongated strip or sheet. 
     The substrate may comprise a wide angle substrate and/or may comprise a multi-radius exterior surface having a less curved inboard portion or surface and a more curved outboard portion or surface. 
     A reflective film or layer may be applied to the inner surface or side of the substrate or strip opposite the exterior surface. The reflective film may comprise a polymeric reflective film laminated or otherwise adhered or applied to the inner side of the substrate or strip. The reflective film may comprise an all polymer-thin-film multilayer, high reflective mirror film comprising multiple coextrusion of many plastic layers to form a highly reflective mirror film. 
     Optionally, a reflective film or layer may be applied to the exterior surface of the substrate or sheet or strip, and the glass film or layer or sheet may be applied over the reflective film layer. In such an application, the substrate acts as a support or backing plate for the reflective film or layer and the glass film or layer, whereby optical clarity/transparency of the substrate material is not necessary. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a reflective element substrate for a mirror assembly of a vehicle comprises generally continuously forming an elongated strip or sheet of substrate material and applying a substantially transparent functional film, such as an anti-abrasion film or a hydrophilic film or a hydrophobic film or the like, to a surface of the elongated strip sheet. The substrate material may comprise a transparent optical polymeric resin. The functional film is preferably unrolled from a reel or roll of film and applied to the surface of the elongated strip or sheet generally continuously as the strip or sheet is formed or extruded or cast or molded. Preferably, multiple mirror element shapes or mirror element substrates may be cut or otherwise formed from the elongated sheet after the functional film is applied to the surface of the strip or sheet. 
     The functional or anti-abrasion film may comprise an ultrathin glass material which is sufficiently flexible to be provided in a reel or roll (or in a sheet that is flexible and conformable to a bent substrate). The substrates may be formed with a wide angle exterior surface or a multi-radius exterior surface. The anti-abrasion film may be sufficiently flexible to conform to the wide angle or multi-radius or curved exterior surface. 
     A reflective film, such as a polymeric reflective film or the like, may be applied to the opposite surface of the substrate or sheet or strip. The reflective film may be sufficiently flexible to be provided in a reel or roll form (or in a sheet that is flexible and conformable to a bent substrate) for unrolling the reflective film as the film is generally continuously applied to the surface of the generally continuously formed sheet or strip. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a molded wide angle or multi-radius single substrate for a rearview mirror assembly which has an anti-abrasion or anti-scratch film or layer applied to the curved, wide angle or multi-radius exterior surface of the substrate. The anti-abrasion film preferably comprises an ultrathin glass film or sheet to provide enhanced scratch resistance. The molded substrate may have a reflective film or layer laminated or applied to the inner surface opposite the exterior surface. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wide angle or multi-radius reflective element in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the wide angle or multi-radius reflective element taken along the line III-III in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing a wide angle or multi-radius reflective element in accordance with the present invention with a reflective film or layer applied to the exterior surface of the element and an anti-abrasion film or layer applied over the reflective film or layer; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the extruding, coating and cutting processes for manufacturing a prismatic mirror reflective element in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is an elevation of the extruder of  FIG. 5 , showing the wedge shape of the extruded strip and reflective element substrate; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the extruded strip showing the cut out shapes of the reflective element cut from the extruded strip; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the reflective element formed by the process shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an alternate process for manufacturing a prismatic mirror reflective element in accordance with the present invention, where a strip of substrate material is cast and formed via a caster and float section; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an automobile equipped with exterior sideview mirror assemblies according to this present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan partial fragmentary view of the driver&#39;s side exterior rearview mirror assembly of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view of a plano-multiradius reflective element assembly of the mirror assembly in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of a demarcation element of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIGS. 13A-13H  illustrate views of various locations for a plano reflective element and an auxiliary reflective element according to this present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a plano reflective element assembly according to the present invention including a demarcation element formed as a dividing wall in a backing plate element; 
         FIG. 14A  is a cross-section taken along line XX of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 14B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic of a third embodiment of a plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly according to this present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a plano reflective element assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the plano reflective element assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an end view of the plano reflective element assembly of  FIG. 16  as viewed from line XVIII-XVIII of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the plano reflective element assembly of  FIG. 16  as viewed from line XIX-XIX of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic representation of the plano reflective element assembly of  FIG. 16  illustrating the orientation of the reflective element; 
         FIG. 21  is another schematic representation of the orientation of the reflective elements of the plano reflective element in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating the range of viewing of the reflective elements of the plano reflective element assembly of  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an exterior rearview mirror system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, an exterior rearview mirror assembly  10  includes a reflective element  12  mounted at a casing  14 , which is mounted at an exterior portion of a vehicle  16  ( FIG. 1 ). Reflective element  12  may provide an enhanced field of view or wide angle field of view to a driver or occupant of the vehicle and may comprise a single reflective element substrate  18  having an inner surface  18   a  and an opposite exterior surface  18   b  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The exterior surface  18   b  comprises a less curved or substantially flat inboard portion or surface  18   c  and a more curved outboard portion or surface  18   d , as discussed below. The substrate  18  may have an anti-abrasion coating or layer or film  20 , such as an ultrathin glass coating or layer or film, laminated or deposited or otherwise applied to the exterior surface  18   b , and may have a reflective coating or layer  22  laminated or applied to the inner surface  18   a , as also discussed below. Aspects of the reflective element of the present invention may be suitable for use in a reflective element for an exterior rearview mirror assembly (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or a reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly (not shown). 
     Reflective element  12  may comprise an aspheric or multi-radius or wide angle single element reflective element substrate. The reflective element  12  may provide a field of view similar to the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,522,451 and 6,717,712, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 9 from U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,712, incorporated above, passenger automobile  110  (which may be a sedan, a station-wagon, a sports car, a convertible, a minivan, a sports utility vehicle, a pick-up truck or a similar passenger carrying non-commercial, personal transportation automobile) includes an interior rearview mirror assembly  127  positioned within interior vehicle cabin  125 . Interior vehicle cabin  125  further includes a steering wheel  116 , a driver seat  129  positioned at steering wheel  116 , a front passenger seat  121  adjacent to driver seat  129  in the front portion of cabin  125 , and a rear passenger seat  123  in the rear portion of cabin  125 . Automobile  110  further includes a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly  112  and a passenger-side exterior sideview mirror assembly  114 , each adapted for attachment to opposing sides of automobile body  111 , most preferably adjacent to the seating position of the driver seated in driver seat  129  for driver-side assembly  112  and adjacent to the front passenger seat  121  for passenger-side assembly  114 . Exterior sideview mirrors, mounted as shown in  FIG. 9  close to the driver seating location, are commonly referred to as door-mounted exterior sideview mirror assemblies. Driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly  112  includes, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a plano-multiradius exterior sideview reflective element assembly  130 . Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is mounted to a reflective element positioning actuator  136 . The orientation of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 , and hence its rearward field of view, is adjustable by actuator  136  in response to control  137 . Control  137  can comprise a handset control that allows the driver manually move the orientation of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  within exterior mirror housing  140  (such as by a lever control or by a cable control) and hence reposition the rearward field of view of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 . Alternately, when actuator  136  comprises an electrically actuated actuator that is electrically operable incorporating at least one motor, control  137  can comprise a switch (which, preferably, is operable under control of the driver seated in cabin  125 ) or control  137  can comprise a memory controller, as known in the automotive mirror art, that controls actuator  136  to move the position of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  to a pre-set orientation that suits the rearward field of view preference of an individual driver. Actuator  136  is mounted to bracket  138  which attaches to vehicle body side  111 . Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is positionable by actuator  136  within exterior mirror housing  140 . 
     Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , comprises a plano element  150  and a separate multiradius element  155 . Preferably, plano element  150  is adjacent to multiradius element at a joint. At their joint, plano element  150  and separate multiradius element  155  can touch leaving substantially no gap or space therebetween, or plano element  150  and separate multiradius element  155  can be spaced apart at their joint by a space or gap, as in  FIG. 11 . Plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  are both mounted to surface  159  of, and are both supported by, a single backing plate element  160 . Plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  are demarcated apart by demarcation element  165 . Surface  161  of backing plate element  160  is preferably adapted to attach, such as by attachment member  164 , to actuator  136  when plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is mounted in driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly  112  (and/or in passenger-side exterior side view mirror assembly  114 ) such that plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  are adjusted and positioned in tandem and simultaneously when the driver (or alternatively, when a mirror memory system, as is conventional in the rearview mirror arts) activates actuator  136  to reposition the rearward field of view of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 . Thus, since elements  150 ,  155  are part of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 , movement of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  by actuator  136  simultaneously and similarly moves plano element  150  and multiradius element  155 . 
     Plano element  150  preferably comprises a flat reflector-coated glass substrate having unit magnification, and comprises a reflective surface through which the angular height and width of the image of an object is equal to the angular height and width of the object when viewed at the same distance (except for flaws that do not exceed normal manufacturing tolerances). Plano element  150  may comprise a conventional fixed reflectance mirror reflector or it may comprise a variable reflectance mirror reflector whose reflectivity is electrically adjustable. For example, plano element  150  may comprise a flat glass substrate coated with a metallic reflector coating such as a chromium coating, a titanium coating, a rhodium coating, a metal alloy coating, a nickel-alloy coating, a silver coating, an aluminum coating (or any alloy or combination of these metal reflectors). The metal reflector coating of plano element  150  may be a first surface coating (such as on surface  166 ) or a second surface coating (such as on surface  167 ), as such terms are known in the mirror art. The reflector coating on plano element  150  may also comprise a dielectric coating, or a multilayer of dielectric coatings, or a combination of a metal layer and a dielectric layer to form automotive mirror reflectors as known in the automotive mirror art. If a variable reflectance reflector element, plano element  150  preferably comprises an electro-optic reflector element and, most preferably, an electrochromic reflector element. 
     When mounted into exterior side view mirror assembly  112  and/or  114 , plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is preferably orientated so that at least a portion of (more preferably a substantial portion of) the reflector surface of plano element  150  is positioned closer to the vehicle body (and hence to the driver) than any portion of the reflector surface of multiradius element  155 . Thus, and referring to  FIG. 11 , side A of plano element  150  of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is positioned closer to the driver than side D of multiradius element  155  when plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is mounted on an automobile. Also, when mounted into exterior side view mirror assembly  112  and/or  114 , surfaces  166 ,  168  of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  face rearwardly in terms of the direction of vehicle travel. 
     Multiradius element  155  of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  preferably comprises a curved/bent mirrored glass substrate. The degree of curvature preferably increases (and hence the local radius of curvature decreases) across the surface of multiradius element  155  with the least curvature (largest radius of curvature) occurring at the side of multiradius element  155  (side C in  FIG. 11 ) positioned adjacent its joint to plano element  150  when both are mounted on backing plate element  160 . Thus, and referring to  FIG. 11 , the local radius of curvature at side C of multiradius element  155 , when mounted on backing plate element  160 , is larger than at side D. Also, the local radius of curvature preferably progressively decreases across multiradius element  155  from side C to side D. Preferably, the local radius of curvature at side C of multiradius element  155  is at least about 1000 mm; more preferably is at least about 2000 mm and most preferably is at least about 3000 mm whereas the local radius of curvature at side D of multiradius element  155  is, preferably, less than about 750 mm, more preferably less than about 350 mm; most preferably less than about 150 mm. Preferably, multiradius element  155  comprises a bent glass substrate with radii of curvature in the range of from about 4000 mm to about 50 mm. The multiradius prescription for the multiradius element to be used in a particular exterior mirror assembly can vary according to the specific field of view needs on a specific automobile model. 
     The total field of view rearwardly of the automobile of the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly (which is a combination of the field of view of the plano reflective element and of the auxiliary reflective element) preferably generally subtends an angle of at least about 20 degrees (and more preferably, generally subtends an angle of at least about 25 degrees and most preferably, generally subtends an angle of at least about 30 degrees) with respect to the side of an automobile to which is attached an exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly. 
     Multiradius element  155  may comprise a conventional fixed reflectance mirror reflector or it may comprise a variable reflectance mirror reflector whose reflectivity is electrically adjustable. For example, multiradius element  155  may comprise a flat glass substrate coated with a metallic reflector coating such as a chromium coating, a titanium coating, a rhodium coating, a metal alloy coating, a nickel-alloy coating, a silver coating, an aluminum coating (or any alloy or combination of these metal reflectors). The metal reflector coating of multiradius element  155  may be a first surface coating (such as on surface  168 ) or a second surface coating (such as on surface  169 ), as such terms are known in the mirror art. The reflector coating on multiradius element  155  may also comprise a dielectric coating, or a multilayer of dielectric coatings, or a combination of a metal layer and a dielectric layer to form automotive mirror reflectors as known in the automotive mirror art. If a variable reflectance reflector element, multiradius element  155  preferably comprises an electro-optic reflector element and, most preferably, an electrochromic reflector element. 
     Also, it is preferable that the thickness of plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  be substantially the same in dimension so that their respective outer surfaces,  166  and  168 , are substantially coplanar so that a driver can readily view images in either or both elements. The thickness dimension of elements  150 ,  155  is determined by the thickness of the substrate (or in the case of laminate-type electrochromic reflective elements, the thickness of the two substrates between which the electrochromic medium is disposed). For example, plano element  150  and/or multiradius element  155  can comprise a reflector coated glass substrate or panel of thickness preferably equal to or less than about 2.3 mm, more preferably equal to or less than about 1.6 mm, most preferably equal to or less than about 1.1 mm. Use of a thinner substrate is beneficial in terms of improving the overall stability/vibration performance of the image seen in plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  when mounted to an automobile. 
     The reflector area of plano element  150  is preferably larger than that of multiradius element  155 . Preferably, the width dimension of plano element  150  is larger than the width dimension of multiradius element  155  (both width dimensions measured at their respective widest dimension and with the width of the respective element being gauged with the respective element oriented as it would be orientated when mounted on the automobile). Thus, and referring to  FIG. 11 , the distance from side A to side B of plano element  150  is larger than the distance from side C to side D of multiradius element  155 . Thus, the ratio of the width of plano element  150  to the width of multiradius element  155  is preferably greater than 1; more preferably greater than 1.5; most preferably greater than 2.5 in order to provide a large, unit magnification plano element  150  as the principal rear viewing portion of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  and providing multiradius element  155  as a smaller, auxiliary, separate, wide-angle viewing portion of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 . For plano-multiradius reflective element assemblies to be mounted to the exterior sideview assemblies of passenger automobiles used non-commercially and for non-towing purpose, the width of plano element  150  (at its widest dimension) is preferably in the range of from about 50 mm to about 225 mm; more preferably in the range of from about 75 mm to about 175 mm; most preferably in the range of from about 100 mm to about 150 mm. 
     Backing plate element  160  is preferably a rigid polymeric substrate capable of supporting plano element  50  and multiradius element  155 . Backing plate element  160  comprises a flat portion (generally between E and F as shown in  FIG. 11 ) that corresponds to and is aligned with plano element  150 . Backing plate element  60  also comprises a curved portion (generally between G and H as shown in  FIG. 11 ) that corresponds to and is aligned with multiradius element  155 . Preferably, curved portion G-H of multiradius element  155  is fabricated with a multiradius prescription that is substantially the same as the multiradius prescription of multiradius element  155 . Backing plate element  160  is formed as a single element to which elements  150  and  155  are separately attached. Preferably, backing plate element  160  is formed by injection molding of a thermoplastic or a thermosetting polymer resin. Materials suitable to use for backing plate element  160  include unfilled or filled polymeric materials such as glass and/or mineral filled nylon or glass and/or mineral filled polypropylene, ABS, polyurethane and similar polymeric materials. For example, backing plate element  160  can be formed of ABS in an injection molding operation. Plano element  150  can be cut from a stock lite of flat chromium mirror-coated 1.6 mm thick glass. Multiradius element  155  can be cut from a stock lite of multiradiusly-bent chromium mirror-coated 1.6 mm thick glass. Plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  can then be attached (such as by an adhesive attachment such as an adhesive pad or by mechanical attachment such by clips, fasteners or the like) to the already molded backing plate element  160 . Alternatively, plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  can each by individually loaded into an injection molding tool. Once loaded, a polymeric resin (or the monomers to form a polymeric resin) can be injected into the mold in order to integrally form backing plate element  160  with elements  150 ,  155  integrally molded thereto. Integral molding of the backing plate element to plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  (along with any other elements such as the demarcation element  165 ) in a single integral molding operation, is a preferred fabrication process for plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 . 
     Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  further preferably includes demarcation element  165  that functions to delineate and demarcate the plano region of the assembly from the wide-angle, multiradius region and also preferably functions to preventingress of debris, dirt, water and similar contaminants (such as road splash, car wash spray, rain, snow, ice, leaves, bugs and similar items that plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  would be subject to when mounted and used on an automobile) into any gap between plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  when both are attached to backing plate element  160 . Optionally, at least a portion of demarcation element  165  can be disposed in any gap between plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  at their joint on backing plate element  160 . Preferably, demarcation element  165  is formed of a polymeric material that is dark colored (such as black or dark blue or dark brown or dark grey or a similar dark color) such as a dark colored polypropylene resin or a dark colored nylon resin or a dark colored polyurethane resin or a dark colored polyvinyl chloride resin or a dark colored silicone material. Most preferably demarcation element  165  is formed of an at least partially elastomeric material (such as silicone, or EPDM, or plasticized PVC or the like) in order to provide a degree of vibration dampening for elements  150 ,  155 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , demarcation element  165  optionally includes a crown portion  170  that includes wing portions  173 ,  173 ′ and a stem portion  171 . Stem portion  171  preferably has a cross-sectional width CCC of less than about 4 mm, more preferably less than about 3 mm and, most preferably less than about 2 mm. Crown portion  170  preferably is dimensioned to not protrude substantially beyond surfaces  166 ,  168  of elements  150 ,  155  when demarcation element  165  is installed between elements  150  and  155 . Also, wings  173 ,  173 ′ are preferably dimensioned to protrude (most preferably slightly) onto surfaces  166 ,  168  of elements  150 ,  155  when demarcation element  165  is installed between elements  150  and  155  in order to provide a weather barrier seal and/or to at least partially accommodate any dimensional tolerances of elements  150 ,  155  that could lead to variation in the inter-element gap between sides C and B. While the demarcation element shown in  FIG. 12  is one embodiment, other constructions are possible including a demarcation element that has minimal or no crown portion. Likewise, a demarcation element can have little or no stem portion, especially when the joint between plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  includes no gap to receive a stem. Also, where a gap at the plano to multiradius joint exists, any stem of the demarcation element can at least partially be disposed in such gap so as to at least partially fill the gap (or it can optionally substantially fill the gap). Optionally, demarcation element  165  is fabricated by injection molding of a polymeric resin. After plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  have been attached to backing plate element  160 , a separately formed demarcation element  165  can then be inserted (and secured such as by an adhesive or by a mechanical attachment such as by a fastener) into a space between elements  150  and  155 . Note that, optionally, side B of plano element  150  and side C of multiradius element  155  can touch (leaving substantially no gap or space therebetween). In such a situation, demarcation element  165  can comprise a dark colored strip such as of a tape or of a plastic film that covers the joint between elements  150  and  155 . Alternatively, demarcation element  165  can comprise a preferably dark-colored paint, lacquer, caulk or similar material that can be applied to, and that can preferably fill into, the joint between elements  150  and  155 . The width of the portion of demarcation element  165  that is visible to the driver is preferably less than about 4 mm, more preferably less than about 3 mm and most preferably less than about 2 mm, but is equal to or greater than about 0.5 mm, more preferably is equal to or greater than about 0.75 mm, most preferably is equal to or greater than about 1 mm in order to provide adequate demarcation of the plano region from the multiradius radius region without unduly obscuring the rearward field of view of the respective elements. Optionally, demarcation element  165  can be formed as part of backing plate element  160  such as by forming demarcation element  165  as a wall structure of the backing plate element that partitions backing plate element  160  into two regions: A first region adapted to receive plano reflective element  150  and a separate and adjacent second region adapted to receive multiradius reflective element  155 . 
     Thus, and referring to  FIG. 14 , a second embodiment of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 ′ may include a backing plate element  160 ′ which comprises a plate molded from a polymer resin (such as a polyolefin such as polypropylene or such as ABS or nylon) with a demarcation element  165 ′ that is molded as a wall structure that partitions backing plate element  165 ′ into a first region (from CC to BB) adapted to receive and accommodate plano reflective element  150 ′ and into a second region (from BB to AA) adapted to receive and accommodate wide-angle optic multiradius reflective element  155 ′. Note that section AA to BB of backing plate element  160 ′ is angled to section BB to CC. Such angling of the auxiliary reflective element relative to the plano element can be advantageous in allowing the auxiliary reflective element view a portion of the road adjacent the automobile that is in a blind spot of the plano reflective element. In this regard, it is preferable that the multiradius element be angled away from the plane of the plano element, as shown in  FIG. 14  by the angling of section AA to BB to section BB to CC. 
     Preferably, demarcation element  165  is formed in an integral molding operation, along with formation of backing plate element  160 , and attachment of elements  150 ,  155  thereto. For example, plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  can each by individually loaded into an injection molding tool. Once loaded, a polymeric resin (or the monomers to form a polymeric resin) can be injected into the mold in order to integrally form backing plate element  160  with elements  150 ,  155  integrally molded thereto and, in the same molding operation and in the same tool, also form by molding the demarcation element. Integral molding of the backing plate element to plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  along with creation in the single molding operation of demarcation element  165  (along with any other elements such as attachment member  164 ) in a single integral molding operation, is a preferred fabrication process for plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 . By loading all the sub components of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  into a molding tool, and then injecting polymeric resin to form the backing plate, demarcation member and any attachment member, a substantially complete or fully complete plano-multiradius reflective element assembly can be unloaded from the tool at the completion of the integral molding operation (as known in the molding art), thus enabling economy in manufacturing and accommodation of any dimensional tolerances in the sub components. Where integral molding is so used, it is preferable to use a reactive molding operation such as reactive injection molding of a urethane as such reactive injection molding operations occur at relatively modest temperatures. 
     Plano element  150  and/or multiradius element  155  can comprise a heater element, as known in the automotive mirror art, that is operable to deice/demist surfaces  166 ,  168 . Such heater elements are conventional and can comprise a positive temperature coefficient heater pad, a resistive heater element and/or a conductive coating. Plano element  150  and/or multiradius element  155  can also optionally comprise a scatterproofing member, as known in the automotive mirror art, such as an adhesive tape, to enhance safety in an accident. 
     Also, plano element  150  and/or multiradius element  155  can comprise a variable reflectance electro-optic element such as an electrochromic mirror reflector. Thus, both element  150  and element  155  can comprise an electrochromic mirror element or either of element  150  and element  155  can comprise an electrochromic mirror element and the other can comprise a fixed reflectance non-variable reflectance mirror element such as a metal reflector coated glass panel such as a chromium coated glass substrate. Also, if both plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  comprise an electro-optic element such as an electrochromic mirror element capable of electrically dimmable reflectivity, both elements  150 ,  155  can dim together and in tandem under control of a common dimming control signal (typically provided by an electro-optic automatic dimming interior mirror assembly mounted in the cabin of the automobile and equipped with photosensors to detect incident glare and ambient light). Alternately, if both plano element  150  and multiradius element  155  comprise an electrooptic element such as an electrochromic mirror element capable of electrically dimmable reflectivity, element  150  can dim independently of element  155  (such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,677, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,712, incorporated herein above). If either or both of elements  150 ,  155  comprise an electrochromic element, preferably, the electrochromic reflective element comprises a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed between, such as a solid polymer matrix electrochromic medium such as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/350,930, filed Jul. 12, 1999, entitled “ELECTROCHROMIC POLYMERIC SOLID FILMS, MANUFACTURING ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES USING SUCH FILMS, AND PROCESSES FOR MAKING SUCH SOLID FILMS AND DEVICES” to Desaraju V. Varaprasad et al., now U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,306, or such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,668,663; 5,724,187; 5,910,854; and 5,239,405, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,712, incorporated herein above. Most preferably, in such laminate-type electrochromic mirror reflective elements, the front substrate comprises a glass plate of thickness less than about 1.6 mm, most preferably about 1.1 mm thickness or lower, and the rear substrate comprises a glass plate of thickness equal to or greater than about 1.6 mm, more preferably greater than about 1.8 mm thickness, most preferably equal to or greater than about 2.0 mm thickness. The rearmost surface of the rear substrate (the fourth surface as known in the mirror art) is reflector coated with a high reflecting metal film such as of aluminum or silver, or an alloy of aluminum or silver. Most preferably, the front-most surface of the rear substrate (the third surface as known in the mirror art) is reflector coated with a high reflecting metal film such as of aluminum or silver, or an alloy of aluminum or silver. 
     Backing plate element  165  of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is optionally equipped on its rearmost surface with attachment member  164  to facilitate attachment to the reflector-positioning actuator of the exterior sideview mirror assembly that plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  is mounted to. Attachment of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  to the actuator can be by mechanical attachment such as by a tab, clip or fastener, or may be by adhesive attachment such as by a silicone adhesive, a urethane adhesive or a similar adhesive material such as a tape coated on both surfaces with a pressure sensitive adhesive to form a “double-sticky” tape. The exterior sideview mirror assembly, on whose mirror reflector-positioning actuator the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is mounted, can be a fixedly attached exterior sideview mirror assembly, a break-away exterior sideview mirror assembly and a powerfold exterior sideview mirror assembly, as known in the automotive mirror art. 
       FIGS. 13A-13H  shows various arrangements of multiradius reflective element  155  relative to its adjacent plano reflective element  150  (with demarcation element  165  disposed at their joint). In  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C,  13 E and  13 F, plano element  150  is mounted wholly inboard of multiradius element  155 . Thus, in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C,  13 E and  13 F, plano element  150  would be disposed closer to the vehicle body (and hence to the driver) than multiradius element  155  when plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130  was mounted in an exterior sideview mirror attached to a side of an automobile. Therefore, in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C,  13 E and  13 F, plano element  150  would be mounted inboard relative to the side of the automobile and multiradius element  155  would be mounted outboard relative to the side of the automobile. In general, the location of the multiradius reflective element in the outboard, upper portion of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly, as in  FIGS. 13B and 13E , is preferred as this allows the plano portion provide a desired rearward field of view along the side of the vehicle. The configuration as shown in  FIG. 13G  (where the multiradius reflective element is along the inboard side of the assembly) is also desirable as this allows the driver view the side of the vehicle (something many drivers desire in order to have a frame of reference for their rearward field of view) while facilitating having a wide field of view for the plano portion. 
     Unlike trucks, busses and commercial vehicles the size of an exterior sideview mirror assembly suitable for use on an automobile (and especially when the automobile is not towing a trailer or the like) is restricted. Automobiles generally are non-commercial vehicles intended for personal transportation. Automobiles typically carry 5 passengers or less, although minivans and large sports utility vehicles (which are classified herein as automobiles) can have seat accommodation for up to 10 passengers (although accommodation for 7 passengers or less is more common). The tandem mounting of a plano element of unit magnification and a separate auxiliary element onto a common, single backing plate element, and the mounting of this backing plate element onto an actuator of an exterior sideview mirror assembly so that a driver can simultaneously and similarly move the auxiliary element and the plano element so as to position their respective rearward fields of view, and to achieve this within the relatively restricted space available in a standard automobile-sized exterior sideview mirror assembly is an important element of this present invention. By utilizing a plano element of unit magnification in the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly, and by sizing the reflector area of the plano element larger than the reflector area of the multiradius element and, preferably, by sizing the reflector area of the plano element at a sufficiently large size that the rearward field of view provided by the plano element alone meets and satisfies the minimum field of view requirement mandated by an automaker specification and/or a government regulation, the need to provide a safety warning indicia such as “OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR” in the plano element and/or in the multiradius element can be obviated. Preferably, the plano element comprises a reflector surface area of a size sufficient, when mounted as part of a plano-multiradius reflective element assembly in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly on an automobile, to provide the driver of the automobile a view of a level road surface extending to the horizon from a line, perpendicular to a longitudinal plane tangent to the driver&#39;s side of the automobile at the widest point, extending 8 feet out from the tangent plane 35 feet behind the driver&#39;s eyes (at a nominal location appropriate for any 95th percentile male driver or at the driver&#39;s eye reference points established in Federal Motor Vehicle Standard No. 104), with the driver seated in the driver&#39;s seat and with the driver&#39;s seat in the rearmost position. Also, preferably, the aspect ratio of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly (defined as the ratio of its largest vertical dimension to its largest horizontal dimension, measured with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly oriented as it would be oriented when mounted in an exterior sideview mirror assembly on an automobile, and with “horizontal” being generally parallel with the road surface the automobile travels on and “vertical” being generally perpendicular to the road surface the automobile travels on) is preferably less than 1, more preferably less than 0.8, most preferably less than 0.6. Further, it is preferable that the multiradius element be disposed outboard (relative to the side of the vehicle and with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly oriented as it would be when mounted in an exterior sideview mirror assembly on an automobile) on the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly so that the multiradius element is positioned to provide an auxiliary, wide-angle view of a “blind-spot” region in an adjacent sidelane while the more inboard-disposed plano element with unit magnification provides the principal sideview image to the driver. 
     Also, it is preferable that the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the multiradius element be different from and angled to the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the plano element when both are attached to the backing plate element of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly and when the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is mounted and operated in an exterior sideview mirror assembly on an automobile. Preferably, the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the plano element is directed generally parallel to the road that the automobile equipped with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is travelling on (i.e. generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile) so as to provide the driver with a long-distance view of approaching vehicles in the side lane that the plano element views). However, preferably the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the multiradius element of, for example, a door-mounted driver-side (or passenger-side) exterior sideview mirror assembly in which the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is mounted is directed generally downwardly towards the road surface adjacent to the driver seating location and/or several feet (such as about 1 foot to about 24 feet; more preferably, about 1 foot to about 12 feet; most preferably about 1 foot to about 8 feet in distance) to its rear (in order to capture a field of view of a rear approaching vehicle that is approaching to overtake, or is about to overtake, or is overtaking the automobile equipped with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly). Thus, preferably, the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the multiradius element is angled and directed generally downwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the automobile and thus is at an angle to the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the plano element. For example, multiradius element  155 ′ when attached to surface  173 ″ of backing plate  160 ′ (see  FIG. 14B ) would have its principal axis of rearward view as indicated by  180 ′ as in  FIG. 14B , and as such would be canted towards the road surface when mounted in an exterior sideview mirror assembly attached to the side of an automobile. By contrast, plano element  150 ′ when attached to surface  174 ′ of backing plate  160 ′ (see  FIG. 14A ) would have a principal axis as indicated by  185 ′ as in  FIG. 14A  and, as such, would be generally parallel to the road surface when mounted in an exterior sideview mirror assembly attached to the side of an automobile. Having the multiradius element canted somewhat downwards towards the road surface assists visual detection by the driver of overtaking vehicles in the traditional “blind-spot” in the adjacent side lane. The angle that the multiradius element is angled on the backing plate element of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly relative to the plane of the plano reflective element will vary from automobile model to model, but generally is preferred to be in the about 1 degree to about 10 degrees range; about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees range more preferred; and about 3 degrees to about 6 degrees range most preferred. In order to conveniently achieve an angling of the multiradius portion with respect to the plano portion (and preferably a downward angling), the portion of the backing plate element that the multiradius reflective element is attached to can be angled relative to the adjacent portion of the backing plate element that the plano reflective portion is attached to. Thus, and referring to  FIG. 14 , plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 ′ includes a molded polymeric backing plate element  160 ′ comprising a generally flat portion  162 ′ (between BB and CC in  FIG. 14 ) and an adjacent curved portion  161 ′ (between AA and BB). As indicated by  190 ′ and  195 ′, portion AA to BB of backing plate element  160 ′ is generally angled to portion BB to CC of backing plate  160 ′. Preferably, the portion of backing plate element  160 ′ to which the auxiliary reflective element attaches is angled towards the front (compared to the angling of plano reflective element) of an automobile equipped with the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly of the present invention.  FIG. 14  is a view of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  130 ′ as it would appear from above the vehicle as it would be orientated in use (with portion  162 ′ closer to the driver than portion  161 ′). The wall section, section XX in  FIG. 14 , taken through section  162 ′ of backing plate element  160 ′ is of substantially constant dimension (as illustrated in  FIG. 14A ) whereas the wall section, section YY in  FIG. 14B , taken through section  161 ′ of backing plate element  160 ′ is of varying dimension and is angled. Plano reflective element  150 ′ and multiradius reflective element  155 ′ (for example, plano element  150 ′ can comprise an electrochromic mirror element and multiradius element  155 ′ can comprise a chrome coated glass reflector) are attached to portions  162 ′ and  161 ′, respectively. By being supported on the angled face  173 ″ (see  FIG. 14B ) of portion  161 ′, the principal viewing axis of multiradius reflector element  155 ′ is angled downwards towards the road surface, as compared to the more horizontal-viewing principal viewing axis of plano element  150 ′, when plano-multiradius reflective element  130 ′ is mounted in an exterior sideview mirror assembly on an automobile. Demarcation element  165 ′ is preferably molded in the same molding tool as is used to mold backing plate element  160 ′, and so demarcation element  165 ′ is formed as an integral part of backing plate element  160 ′, forming a wall thereof that partitions the surface of backing plate element  160 ′ into a region for receiving the plano reflective element  150 ′ and a region for receiving the auxiliary reflective element  155 ′. Also, end-caps  170 ′ and  171 ′ are optionally provided. Plano reflective element  150 ′ can attach into the cavity formed between demarcation element  165 ′ and end-cap  171 ′; multiradius reflective element  155 ′ can attach into the cavity formed between demarcation element  165 ′ and end-cap  170 ′. Note that the portion of the backing plate element where the wide-angle optic multiradius element attaches can have a thicker wall thickness than that of the portion of the backing plate element where the unit magnification optic element attaches in order to allow for the angling of the multiradius element downwardly relative to the angle of the plano element, as illustrated in  FIGS. 14A-B . As illustrated in  FIGS. 14A-B , the angle downwards to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle of the multiradius element can generally be set by an angling of a surface of the backing plate element in order to ensure that the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the plano element is directed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of an automobile equipped with the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly and that the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the multiradius element is directed generally at an angle downwards to the longitudinal axis of the automobile. 
     Note that the provision of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly of this invention as a unitary module has manufacturing advantages, particularly for exterior sideview mirror assembly manufacturers who can procure a plano-multiradius reflective element assembly module from a mirror reflector supplier and then mount the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly module onto an actuator. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a third embodiment  230  of a plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is illustrated. Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  230  includes a plano reflective element  250  and a separate multiradius reflective element assembly  255 , both individually attached to a backing plate element, and with demarcation element  265  disposed at their joint. Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  230  is about 8.5 inches wide and about 4.25 inches tall (aspect ratio of 0.5), at their largest dimension. Shown as the shaded triangle  240  in plano reflective element  250  is the image of a triangular target object set about 35 feet rearward and of width about 8 feet and of height of about 4.1 feet as would be seen were plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  230  mounted in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly in an automobile such as a sports utility vehicle. In general, it is desirable that the plano reflective element be dimensioned and configured so as to have its rearward field of view capture an image (that is visible, by reflection in the plano reflective element, to a driver seated in the driver&#39;s seat in an automobile to which is attached an exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly according to this present invention) of a triangular shaped target located about 35 feet rearward of the driver seating location, extending about 8 feet out from the plane defined by the side of the automobile and reaching a height of between about 4 feet and about 5 feet from the road surface at that location 35 feet rearward of the automobile. The total field of view rearwardly of the vehicle of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  230  (which is a combination of the field of view of plano reflective element  250  and of the auxiliary multiradius reflective element  255 ) preferably generally subtends an angle of at least about 30 degrees (and more preferably, generally subtends an angle of at least about 35 degrees and most preferably, generally subtends an angle of at least about 40 degrees) with respect to the side of an automobile to which is attached an exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with plano-multiradius reflective element assembly  230 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , another embodiment  310  of the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly of the present invention is illustrated. Plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly  310  includes a first reflective element  312  and a second or auxiliary, separate reflective element  314  which are together supported in a frame element assembly  316 . As will be more fully described below, frame element assembly  316  is adapted such that when reflective elements  312  and  314  are placed, or otherwise positioned, in frame element assembly  316 , the angular orientation of each reflective element is pre-established such that during assembly, the assembler need simply place the reflective elements in frame element assembly  316 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, frame element assembly  316  includes a frame  318  with a forward facing open portion  318   a  ( FIG. 17 ) (and thus when frame element assembly  316  is mounted in a vehicle-mounted exterior sideview mirror assembly, the forward facing open portion ( 318   a ) is facing to the front of the vehicle) through which a reflective element subassembly  317   a , which includes reflective element  312 , is positioned in frame element assembly  316  and a rearward facing open portion  318   b  ( FIG. 16 ) (which faces the rear of the vehicle when frame element assembly  316  is mounted in a vehicle mounted exterior sideview mirror assembly) in which a second reflective element subassembly  317   b , which includes reflective element  314 , is positioned in frame element assembly  316 . Frame  318  preferably comprises a molded member formed from a plastic material, such as a reinforced nylon. 
     In preferred form, first reflective element  312  comprises a plano reflective element  350 , such as a flat reflector coated glass substrate, with a reflective surface through which the angular height and width of an image of an object is equal to the angular height and width of the object when viewed to the same distance (except for flaws that do not exceed normal manufacturing tolerances) so as to have a unit magnification. Similar to the previous embodiment, plano reflective element  350  may comprise a conventional fixed reflectance reflective element or may comprise a variable reflectance reflective element who&#39;s reflectivity is electrically adjustable, as is known in the art. For example, plano reflective element  350  may comprise a flat glass substrate coated with metallic reflector coating, such as a chromium coating, titanium coating, rhodium coating, metal alloy coating, nickel alloy coating, silver coating, aluminum coating, or any alloy or composition of these metal reflectors. For further details of plano reflective element  350 , reference is made to the previous embodiments. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, reflective element  312  comprises an electrochromic reflective element and includes a first substrate  312   a  and a second substrate  312   b  with an electrochromic medium  312   c  disposed between first and second substrates  312   a ,  312   b . Such suitable electrochromic media include, for example, a solid polymer matrix electrochromic medium as noted in reference to the previous embodiments. Electrical connectors  320   a  and  320   b  are coupled to the electrochromic medium  312   c  to provide a potential across the electrochromic medium which induces the electrochromic medium to darken, as is known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, reflective element subassembly  317   a  also includes an optional heater pad  322 , which is disposed behind reflective element  312 , and a vibration reducing element, such as a foam pad  326 , positioned behind heater pad  322 , which absorbs vibration of reflective element  312 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 17 , frame  318  is adapted to receive and support reflective element subassembly  317   a , which is mounted to frame  318  by a backing plate  324 , such as a plastic backing plate. In the illustrated embodiment, backing plate  324  mounts to the inner perimeter portion of frame  318  using conventional techniques, such as by adhesive bonding, heatstaking, snap-fit coupling, welding, or the like, to form part of frame element assembly  316 . Alternatively, backing plate  324  may mount onto foam pad  326 , for example, by an adhesive attachment, such as double sided sticky tape. In which case, reflective element  312  may be mounted to an inner surface of frame  318 , such as by an adhesive attachment, including for example a silicone adhesive, with heater pad  322  mounted to reflective element  312 , such as by an adhesive attachment, and foam pad  326  mounted to heater pad  322 , such as by an adhesive attachment including, for example, double-sided sticky tape. 
     Frame element assembly  316  mounts reflective element assembly  310  in the mirror casing and preferably on an actuator, such as an electric actuator, which permits adjustment to the orientation of reflective element assembly  310  about one or more axis. Examples of suitable actuators are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,900,999; 5,986,364; 6,132,052; 6,037,689; and 6,094,027 and application Ser. No. 09/277,632, filed Mar. 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,226, and Ser. No. 09/408,867, filed Sep. 29, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,218, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties in U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,712 (incorporated herein above). Optionally and preferably, backing plate  324  is adapted to engage or be engaged by the actuator for repositioning of plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly  310  about one or more axes. In this manner, the orientation of both reflective element  312  and reflective element  314  are simultaneously adjusted by the actuator. As best seen in  FIG. 17 , forward facing side  324   a  of backing plate  324  includes mounting structures  324   b  which are engaged by the actuator to thereby mount reflective element assembly  310  in the mirror casing. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 16 , frame  318  is a unitary frame and includes a first bezel portion  330  which extends around reflective element  312  and a second bezel portion  332  which extends around reflective element  314  to provide styling utility as well as functional utility. In this manner, a portion of forward facing side of frame  318  forms a support surface for reflective element  312 , while a portion of rearward facing side of frame  318  forms first bezel portion  330 . Similarly, another portion of the rearward facing side of frame provides support for reflective element  314  and also provides bezel portion  332 . In addition, a portion of frame  318  forms a demarcation element at the juncture of reflective elements  312  and  314 . In the illustrated embodiment, the demarcation element is formed by a section or portion of bezel portion  330 , which will be described in greater detail in reference to bezel portion  330 . Thus, frame element assembly  316  provides a support function, a positioning function, including an angling function, while also serving to provide styling utility and a demarcation function. 
     Second reflective element  314  comprises a radiused reflective element and, more preferably, a multiradiused reflective element  355  having a multiradiused curvature. For example, the radii of curvature of reflective element  314  may range from about 4000 mm to about 100 mm and, preferably, range from about 3000 mm to about 150 mm, and, most preferably, range from about 2000 mm to about 200 mm. In addition, reflective element  314  may comprise a fixed reflectance reflective element or may comprise a variable reflectance reflective element who&#39;s reflectivity is electrically adjustable. Preferably, reflective elements  312  and  314  include glass substrates, with at least the outer surface of each reflective element comprising glass. However, metalized plastic reflectors may also be used which is especially suitable for reflective element  314 . In which case, the reflective element ( 314 ) would be especially suitable for molding in or along with frame  318 , with the preformed metalized substrate forming reflective element  314  being placed into the mold forming frame  318 . For further details of other suitable reflective elements, reference is made to the previous embodiments. In addition to reflective element  314 , reflective element subassembly  317   b  includes a vibration reducing element, such as a foam pad  314   a , which is positioned behind reflective element  314 . Similar to reflective element  312 , foam pad  314   a  is attached to reflective element  314  by an adhesive attachment, such as a double-sided sticky tape and, similarly, is attached to frame  318  as will be more fully described below. 
     As noted above, frame  318  includes a first bezel portion  330  and a second bezel portion  332 . In addition, frame  318  includes an auxiliary support element  320  that provides a mounting surface or support surface for reflective element subassembly  317   b . As best seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , support element  320  includes a recessed support surface  328  which is angled to provide an angled support surface for reflective element subassembly  317   b . Thus, when reflective subassembly  317   b  is positioned on and mounted on support surface  328 , such as by an adhesive attachment between foam pad  314   a  and support surface  328 , the orientation of reflective element  314  is established by the angle of the support surface. Optionally, support element  320  includes gussets  321   a  and  321   b  which project forwardly from the forward facing side of frame  318  to thereby reinforce support surface  328 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , first bezel portion  330  includes an upper portion  330   a , two side portions  330   b  and  330   c , and a lower portion  330   d . Side portion  330   b  forms an acute angle with respect to the lower portion  330   d  and an obtuse angle with respect to upper portion  330   a  and together with upper portion  330   a , side portion  330   c , and lower portion  330   d  form a perimeter around reflective element  312  to thereby form a styling feature. Second bezel portion  332  extends outwardly from upper portion  330   a  and downwardly to lower portion  330   d  of first perimeter portion  330  and together with side portion  330   b  forms a perimeter around second reflective element  314 . Support element  320  extends behind and between side portion  330   b  and second bezel portion  332  so that reflective element  314  is recessed behind side portion  330   b  and bezel portion  332 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 18 , upper portion  330   a , side portions  330   b  and  330   a , and lower portion  330   d  are substantially coplanar and together define an outer surface below which reflective element  312  is recessed when reflective element  312  is mounted in frame  318 . In contrast, perimeter portion  332  is angled forwardly with respect to the plane in which upper portion  330   a , side portions  330   b  and  330   c , and lower portion  330   d  lie. It should be understood that the terms “forwardly”, “rearwardly” and “downwardly”, are used in reference to when the mirror system is mounted in an automobile. Therefore, “forwardly” is a direction heading toward the front of the automobile, “rearwardly” is a direction heading to the rear of the automobile, “outwardly” is a direction away from the side of the vehicle on which the mirror assembly is mounted, and “downwardly” is a direction heading toward the surface on which the vehicle is positioned (such as a ground or road surface). Similarly as noted above, reflective element  314  is recessed below an outer surface of perimeter portion  332  and also below the outer surface of side portion  330   b  when mounted in frame  318 . 
     As would be understood from  FIGS. 17-19 , support surface  328  is also angled forwardly with respect to back plate  324  and/or reflective element  312  when frame element assembly  316  is mounted in an automobile mounted exterior sideview mirror system. In addition, support surface  328  is also angled or tilted downwardly with respect to reflective element  312  and/or backing plate  324  such that when reflective element  314  is supported on support surface  328 , reflective element  314  provides an increased field of view extending laterally or outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the automobile and also downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the automobile. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , support surface  328  is configured such that reflective element  314  is tilted forwardly at an angle α with respect to the X-axis of reflective element  312 . In one form, angle α is in a range of about 0.75 degrees to about 5 degrees. In another form, angle α is in a range of about 1 degree to about 3 degrees. In yet another form, angle α is in a range of about 1.25 degrees to about 2.5 degrees. Reflective element  314  is also tilted downwardly with respect to the Y-axis of reflective element  312  at an angle β. In one form, angle β is in a range of about 0.75 degrees to about 5 degrees. In another form, angle β is in a range of about 1.5 degrees to about 3.5. In yet another form, angle β is in a range of about 2 degrees to about 3 degrees. With the tilted orientation of reflective element  314 , reflective element  314  provides a field of view with a principal axis that sweeps outwardly and downwardly with respect to the principal axis of the field of view of reflective element  312 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, support surface  328  is provided by a plate member  321 . Plate member  321  may comprise a solid plate member or a foraminous plate member. In the illustrated embodiment, plate member  321  is integrally formed with perimeter portions  330  and  332  during the molding process of frame  318 . As previously noted, frame  318  includes a rearwardly facing opening  318   b  through which reflective element  314  is inserted for placement on support surface  328 . For example, reflective element  314  may be positioned in frame  318  on support surface  328  during the molding process of frame  318 , such as by insert molding, or may be inserted into frame  318  before the plastic material forming frame  318  is fully cured and is still pliable. In which case, reflective element subassembly  317   b  is mounted to auxiliary support  320  by an adhesive attachment or a mechanical attachment. Alternatively, support surface  328  may be formed by peripheral flange or a frame. In this manner, reflective element subassembly  317   b  may be placed in frame  318  from its forward facing side. 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , when reflective element assembly  310  is mounted in a vehicle reflective element  312  has a field of view  360  which forms an angle A with respect to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle in a range of about 8 degrees to about 20 degrees. In another form, angle A is in a range of about 10 degrees to about 18 degrees. In yet another form, angle A is in a range of about 12 degrees to about 16 degrees. Similarly, reflective element  314  has a field of view  362  which forms an angle C in range of about 15 degrees to about 50 degrees. In another form, angle C is in a range of about 15 degrees to about 35 degrees. In yet another form, angle C is in a range of about 15 degrees to about 25 degrees. Consequently, the overall field of view of reflective elements  312  and  314  extends over an angle B, which ranges from about 8 degrees to about 50 degrees in one form, about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees in another form, and about 12 degrees to about 25 degrees in yet another form. Furthermore, field of views  360  and  362  overlap over a range having angle D in a range of about 20 degrees to about 2 degrees, or in a range of about 15 degrees to about 5 degrees. In another form, angle D is in a range of about 10 degrees to about 8 degrees. 
     From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that reflective elements  312  and  314  provide a wider field of view than a wholly planar rearview mirror element that fully accommodates an equivalent frame having similar dimensions. In addition, because reflective elements  312  and  314  have overlapping field of views, an image in the field of view of reflective element  314  will transition or move between the reflective elements and appear in both reflective elements during the transition to thereby enable the driver of the automobile to view or be conscious of the object continuously. In the illustrated embodiment, reflective element  314  is positioned in an outboard position relative to reflective element  312 ; therefore, when a vehicle or object that is approaching the automobile from the rear and to some extent from the side, the image of the approaching object will first appear in reflective element  312 , then appear in both reflective elements  314  and  312 , and then move to reflective element  314  so that the driver will be initially aware of the approaching object when its image first appears in reflective element  312  and continue to be aware of the object as it moves closer to the automobile, thus increasing the range of viewing of the driver. Since the image transitions smoothly from reflective element  312  to reflective element  314 , the driver&#39;s awareness of the object is continuous and, further, the driver is not distracted from sudden transitions that often occur with conventional spotter mirrors. Typically, when an object “falls” or “drops” out, a driver&#39;s consciousness of the object reduces significantly, if not ceases, which is one of the causes of many automobile blind spot accidents. Hence, when combined with the field of view of an interior rearview mirror system, the present invention reduces, if not eliminates, an automobile&#39;s blind spot. For further discussion of blind spots in vehicle rearview mirror systems, reference is made to U.S. provisional application entitled VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM, Ser. No. 60/252,149, filed Nov. 20, 2000 by Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore, and Richard J. Weber, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety in U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,712 (incorporated herein above). Thus, the plano-auxiliary reflective element assembly provides a seamless rearvision function whereby the image of a side approaching/side overtaking other vehicle is substantially seamlessly maintained as the image of the overtaking or approaching vehicle transitions from being principally and substantially viewed by the driver of the vehicle (the vehicle mounted with the mirror system of the present invention) in the plano reflective element to be seen in the auxiliary reflective element. 
     Referring to  FIG. 23 , the numeral  410  generally designates yet another embodiment of an automobile exterior sideview mirror system of the present invention. Exterior sideview mirror system  410  includes a housing  412 , a first reflective element  414 , and a second or auxiliary, separate reflective element  416 , which together provide an increase field of view over conventional planar reflectors mounted in a frame of equivalent dimensions to the combined lateral dimensions of reflective element  414  and  416 . 
     Housing  412  includes a mirror casing  417  and a sail  418 , which mounts casing  412  to a side of an automobile. Though illustrated as a fixed mounting arrangement, it should be understood that mirror system  410 , like the previous embodiments, may comprise a break-away mirror system or a powerfold mirror system. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, reflective element  414  comprises a plano reflective element having a unit magnification, similar to the plano reflective elements described in reference to the previous embodiments. Reflective element  416  preferably comprises a wide-angle reflector, such as a convex or aspheric reflector, and may include a multiradiused curvature. For further description of suitable reflectors, reference is made to the previous embodiment. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, reflective element  416  is mounted in an outboard position relative to reflective element  414  and is fixedly mounted to bezel  420  of mirror casing  417 . In addition, reflective element  416  is preferably angled downwardly and forwardly relative to first reflective element  414  when mirror system  410  is mounted to an automobile to thereby increase the field of view of mirror system  410 . Optionally and preferably, reflective element  416  is detachably mounted to bezel  420 , such as by mechanical fasteners, including clips, so that reflective element  416  can be removed, such as for replacement. 
     Reflective element  414  preferably comprises an independently positionable reflective element and is mounted by a backing member, such as a backing plate, to an actuator, which provides multi-axis positioning of reflective element  414 . In this manner, reflective element  414  and reflective element  416  are separately and independently mounted in housing  412 . In addition, reflective element  414  optionally extends behind reflective element  416  in order to maintain the overlap of the field of views of reflective elements  414  and  416  even when reflective element  414  is moved by the actuator. Similar to the previous embodiment, when an object moves toward the automobile, in which mirror system  410  is mounted, from the rear of the automobile or laterally with respect to the automobile, the image of the object will appear initially in reflective element  414 . As the object moves closer to the automobile, the image of the object will move from reflective element  414  to reflective element  416  such that when the image transitions between reflective element  414  and reflective element  416 , the image will appear in both reflective elements. 
     Also, although it is preferable to utilize a multiradius or compound curvature reflective element, such as an aspherical element or a compound curvature element, for the second or auxiliary mirror element adjacent the plano or first reflective element (as this enables least discontinuity in image at the joint between the adjacent elements of the assembly), a spherical reflective element (that has substantially only one radius of curvature and, as such, is a section from a sphere) can optionally be used adjacent the plano reflective element instead of, or in addition to, the multiradius reflective element. Also, a plano auxiliary mirror such as a flat mirrored substrate can be used, less preferably, as a substitute for a multiradius reflective element in those embodiments where the auxiliary reflective element is angled relative to the plane of the principal, plano reflective element so as to view a blind spot region of the principal plano element. Also, the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly can optionally be fixedly attached to an exterior sideview mirror assembly housing that is not movable, or, alternately, the exterior sideview mirror assembly housing to which the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly is fixedly attached can itself be actuated to move, such as by motor action, so that by moving the exterior sideview mirror assembly housing, the field of rearward view of the plano-multiradius reflective element assembly fixedly attached thereto can correspondingly move and be repositioned to suit the field of view need of a particular driver seated in the automobile cabin. 
     The substrate  18  of the reflective element  12  of the present invention may be formed (such as by casting, extrusion or injection molding) of a polymeric optical resin material, such as an acrylic or polycarbonate resin, a polyolefin, a cyclic olefin copolymer, such as a COC resin known as “TOPAS” and available from Ticona of Summit, N.J. (such as a resin of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/946,228, filed Sep. 5, 2001 for IMPROVED PLASTIC SUBSTRATE FOR INFORMATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) or the like. Because the substrate can be, for example, injection molded from an optical resin, the substrate may be molded or formed to a desired shape having a wide angle or multi-radius surface, which is typically challenging to accomplish with glass sheets. This is because any prescription or form for the substrate can be established in an injection mold by machining, such that when the injection mold is filled with molten injected optical resin material, the optical resin material takes the shape of the mold. Thus, for example, a substrate having a substantially or fully flat inboard region for a multi-radius (often referred to as an aspheric) exterior mirror element is fully practical. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , inboard portion or surface  18   c  of exterior surface  18   b  is positioned at or toward the side of the reflective element that is toward the side body of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to or attached to the vehicle. The inboard portion  18   c  of surface  18   b  of substrate  18  may comprise a substantially flat or slightly curved or less curved surface, such as a surface having a radius of curvature of preferably greater than at least approximately 4000 mm, more preferably greater than at least approximately 9000 mm, and most preferably greater than at least approximately 12000 mm. The inboard surface  18   c  may provide a field of view of up to approximately 10 degrees, preferably up to approximately 15 degrees, and more preferably up to approximately 20 degrees. 
     Outboard portion or surface  18   d  of exterior surface  18   b  of substrate  18  is positioned outward from inboard portion and is thus further away from the side body of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to or attached to the vehicle. Outboard portion  18   d  of exterior surface  18   b  may be a more convex or curved surface, such that the substrate comprises a wide angle or multi-radius exterior surface substrate. The more curved outboard surface  18   d  of the substrate may have radii of curvature in the range of less than about 4000 mm to about 100 mm or lower. The more curved outboard portion or surface  18   d  may provide an extended field of view when combined with the less curved inboard portion or surface  18   c . For example, the combined field of view of the mirror reflective element  12  may be preferably greater than at least approximately 25 degrees, more preferably greater than at least approximately 35 degrees, and most preferably greater than at least approximately 45 degrees. The substrate may be formed to have curves or shapes or to provide other field of views, without affecting the scope of the present invention. 
     The exterior surface  18   b  of substrate  18  may be coated or covered with a substantially transparent functional film or layer  20 , such as an anti-abrasion film or layer, such as an ultrathin glass film or layer or sheet having a thickness of preferably less than or equal to approximately 0.8 mm, more preferably less than or equal to approximately 0.5 mm, and most preferably less than or equal to approximately 0.3 mm. The ultrathin glass film or layer or sheet  20  provides a flexible glass film which can be conformed to the exterior surface of the molded substrate (for example, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,907, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) after the substrate is molded. The ultrathin glass film or layer may provide substantial protection against scratches on the outboard surface, such as may occur due to impact by debris at the outside of the vehicle (for exterior mirror assembly applications) or by use of ice scrapers and the like on the glass surface and the like. The ultrathin glass film or layer may be applied to a molded or extruded strip (such as described below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 ) or may be applied to the surface or surfaces of a formed or cut substrate, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The flexible ultrathin glass film or layer of the present invention allows the wide angle or multi-radius substrate to be molded in the desired shape out of a transparent acrylic resin material, yet may conform to the curved or multi-radius or aspheric shape and provide enhanced protection or scratch resistance to the substrate. 
     It is envisioned that other functional films or hard coats or anti-abrasion films or the like may be applied to the exterior surface of the molded substrate, such as via adhering or applying a film to the exterior surface or via dip coating or vacuum deposition or the like. Optionally, a hydrophobic film or hydrophilic film or element or property may also or otherwise be applied to the exterior surface  18   b  of the substrate. Optionally, the functional film may comprise a non-glass or polymeric film, such as a polymeric material that is a harder and/or different property material than the substrate itself. Optionally, the anti-abrasion film may be formed of the same resin material as the substrate to match the coefficients of thermal expansion and thus reduce thermal expansion/contraction mismatches between the materials. 
     Optionally, the inner or rear surface  18   a  of the substrate  18  may have a reflective layer or coating or film or sheet  22  laminated or otherwise applied thereto. For example, the reflective layer or film  22  may comprise a polymeric reflective film  22  laminated or otherwise adhered or applied to the rear or inner surface  18   a  of a molded or extruded or cast strip (such as described below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 ) or of the molded or formed substrate  18 . Reflective film  22  may comprise a polymeric reflective film, such as an all polymer-thin-film multilayer, high reflective mirror film, such as a multilayer, non-metallic reflective film which may comprise multiple coextrusion of many plastic layers to form a highly reflective mirror film, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,773,882; 3,884,606; and 3,759,647, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Such a reflective film thus may comprise multilayers of polymer materials to form a highly reflective mirror film, such as a Radiant Light Film, a Radiant Mirror Film or a Radiant Color Film, such as commercially available from 3M of St. Paul, Minn., such as a Radiant Color Film CM590 or CM500. Also, a durable metallized polymeric mirror layer can be used, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,172, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , it is envisioned that a substrate or substrate shape or sheet or strip of substrate material  118  may have a reflective film or layer  122  adhered or laminated or otherwise applied to the exterior surface  118   b  of the substrate material. An anti-abrasion film or layer  120  (which may comprise an ultrathin glass film or layer as described above) may be adhered or laminated or otherwise applied to the reflective film or layer  122 . In such an application, with the reflective layer on the front or exterior surface of the substrate, the substrate material may be molded or formed of a polymeric material that does not provide optical clarity and need not be transparent. The substrate material may act only as a support or backing plate for the reflective film or layer and the anti-abrasion film or layer and thus may be opaque or non-transparent. The exterior surface  118   b  of substrate material  118  may comprise a wide angle exterior surface or a multi-radius exterior surface having a less curved inboard portion or surface  118   c  and a more curved outboard portion or surface  118   d , such as discussed above with respect to substrate  18 . 
     Optionally, and such as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 , the optical resin material may be molded or extruded or cast into a generally continuous strip  19  having the desired curved or multi-radius surfaces, and may be cut to form the substrates. The substrates may be cut from the strip via any known cutting process, such as via a laser cutting process or a water-jet cutting process or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the molding processes and film or layer application processes of the present invention may be used to form a prismatic or wedge-shaped strip for forming prismatic or wedge-shaped substrates  18 ′ ( FIG. 7 ) for use in an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the substrate material or optical resin material may be extruded or cast to form the continuous strip or sheet  19 . For example, and as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , the strip  19  may be extruded by an extruder  24 , which, preferably continuously, extrudes the optical resin material through an extrusion nozzle  26 . The extruded material may be moved through an annealing lehr  28  to reduce or substantially eliminate birefringence, striation, stress and/or distortion in the strip or substrates. The coatings or layers or films  20  and/or  22  may be applied to one or both surfaces of the strip or substrate after the annealing process. The strip  19  may then be cut, such as via laser cutting or water-jet cutting devices or processes  30 , or via other forming processes, to form the substrates  18 ′ after the films or coatings have been applied thereto. 
     Optionally, and as shown in  FIG. 8 , the strip  19  of optical polymeric resin material may be cast by a caster  32 , which deposits the molten polymer or resin material onto a float section  34 , such as a heated plate or heated melt. The float section  34  may be angled to form the wedge-shaped strip as the strip or ribbon of cast molten polymer solidifies as it passes across the hot float section (it is also envisioned that the float may provide a curved surface to form the curved outboard surface of the substrate). The coatings or layers or films  20 ,  22  may be applied to the solidified strip and the strip may be cut to form the substrates after the coatings or layers or films have been applied thereto. 
     Because the films or layers are flexible, it is envisioned that the anti-abrasion film or ultrathin glass film and/or the reflective polymeric film may be unwound or unrolled and applied along the generally continuously extruded or cast substrate material or strip  19 . For example, and as shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the ultrathin glass film (or other outer layer anti-abrasion coating or film)  20  may be provided in a reel or roll form or strip  20   a  and may be unwound or unrolled and laminated or otherwise adhered or applied along the exterior surface  19   b  of the extruded or cast strip  19  of substrate material. Likewise, the reflective polymeric film  22  may be provided in a reel or roll form or strip  22   a  and may be attached or applied to the inner surface  19   a  of the substrate material strip  19 , such as via laminating or adhering or otherwise applying the film to the substrate material, such as by using optical adhesive and/or via rolling or ironing the film or sheet (preferably at an elevated temperature and with vacuum assist) onto the substrate or strip surface, to secure the reflective film to the substrate or extruded or cast strip or sheet. 
     Optionally, the glass film or layer or sheet (or reel or roll of glass sheet or strip) may be coated with a highly reflective metallic layer, such as silver or aluminum or the like, deposited on or applied to its inner surface (i.e., the surface which is adhered to or otherwise applied to the substrate or substrate sheet or strip). The reflective layer or coating may be applied to the glass film or layer with or without transparent overcoats. The glass film thus may provide the reflective layer at the exterior surface of the substrate, such that the reflective layer provides the second layer or surface, with the substrate behind the reflective layer. The glass sheet or film may thus be provided with the reflective mirror coating already applied thereto. The glass layer with reflective layer or coating applied thereto may be provided in a reel or roll form for applying both the reflective layer and the anti-abrasion layer to the exterior surface of the substrate or substrate strip or sheet in one application process. In such an application, the substrate material need not comprise a transparent optical resin material, and a separate reflective layer or film or coating would not be necessary at the inner or rear surface of the substrate. 
     It is envisioned that other hard coats or films or the like may be applied to one or more surfaces of the molded substrate strip or to the molded and cut substrates, such as via dip coating or vacuum deposition or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The other hard coats or films may be substantially flexible and may be applied via unrolling of a reel of an anti-abrasion film or sheet and applying the film or sheet to a surface of an extruded or cast strip of transparent acrylic resin or the like, as discussed above. Optionally, a hydrophobic film or hydrophilic film or element or property may also or otherwise be applied to (or sprayed on) one or both surfaces  18   a ,  18   b  of the substrate or strip or sheet. Optionally, one or both of the reflective polymeric film  22  and the anti-abrasion film  20  may be formed of the same resin material as the substrate  18 ,  18 ′ or substrate strip  19  to match the coefficients of thermal expansion and thus reduce thermal expansion/contraction mismatches between the materials. 
     Optionally, it is envisioned that such ultrathin glass films, anti-abrasion films, reflective films or reflective systems may be used for electrochromic mirror reflective elements or cells as well. For example, the interior or exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention may comprise an electrochromic mirror, such as an electrochromic mirror assembly and electrochromic element utilizing principles disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,690,268; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or as disclosed in the following publications: N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., Optical Engineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. The mirror assembly may comprise an interior rearview mirror assembly, and may include an accessory module or may be mounted to an accessory module, such as an accessory module of the types disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays for displaying information to a driver of the vehicle at or through the reflective element of the mirror assembly. For example, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,329,925; 6,501,387; 6,690,268; 5,910,854; 6,420,036; 5,668,663; and 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; and Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, and/or in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for ELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR ASSEMBLY; PCT Application No. PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/508,086, filed Oct. 2, 2003 by Schofield for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMPONENT; Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE; Ser. No. 60/471,546, filed May 19, 2003; Ser. No. 60/525,537, filed Nov. 26, 2003; and Ser. No. 60/556,259, filed Mar. 25, 2004, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention. 
     Optionally, the mirror assembly may include or be associated with electronic accessories, such as, for example, antennas, including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detection system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, a high/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like, a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video device for internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keyless entry receiver or system or circuitry and/or a universal garage door opening system or circuitry (such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771; 5,798,688 and 5,479,155, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/770,736, filed Feb. 3, 2004 by Baumgardner et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,322), lights, such as map reading lights or one or more other lights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, microphones, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003, speakers, a compass or compass system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, a navigation system, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,464, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; Ser. No. 10/287,178, filed Nov. 4, 2002 by McCarthy et al. for NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,614; Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796; and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, a tire pressure monitoring system, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/206,495, filed Jul. 26, 2002 by Schofield et al. for SELF TRAINING TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,731,205, a seat occupancy detector, a trip computer, a telematics system, such as an ONSTAR® system or the like, and/or any other desired accessory or system or the like (with all of the above-referenced patents and patent applications and PCT applications being commonly assigned to Donnelly Corporation, and with the disclosures of all of the above referenced patents and patent applications and PCT applications being hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). 
     Optionally, a vehicle compass or compass system may comprise a printed circuit board and may be positioned within a pod or the like that may be fixedly mounted in the vehicle. The compass may be initially calibrated (such as at the assembly plant or the like) via a small Helmholtz coil that may accommodate the small circuit board or pod. The coil induces a field to calibrate the compass, such as described in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/467,899, filed May 5, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The induced field in the miniature Helmholtz coil may be controlled via the use of a highly permeable magnetic shielding material that may enclose the miniature Helmholtz coil with only a small slot for the circuit board or compass pod to enter through. Such a set up may allow the compass pod manufacturer to automate and magnetically shield the calibration and test stage of a microprocessor-based compass. The calibration process may utilize an indexing rotary table that may rotate to move a compass pod from a loading bay to a calibration bay. The shielded Helmholtz coil may be adjacent to the rotary table and may be shuttled back and forth to align with the rotary table to receive a compass pod therefrom. The rotary table may rotate to move a calibrated compass pod (after it leaves the miniature Helmholtz coil) from the calibration bay to a final functional test station to test the calibrated compass pod. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a wide angle or multi-radius single substrate or reflective element which may provide an enhanced field of view for an interior or exterior rearview mirror assembly. The wide angle or multi-radius single element reflector may have an anti-abrasion coating or ultrathin glass film conformed to and applied to the exterior curved surface of the substrate. The substrate may be molded or extruded into the desired shape and may be formed into an elongated strip or sheet, whereby the anti-abrasion coating or film may be applied along the strip before the strip is cut into the desired substrates. The present invention thus provides a single element wide angle or multi-radius substrate which has enhanced scratch resistance. A polymeric reflective film may be laminated, adhered or otherwise applied to the opposite inner surface of the substrate or extruded strip while the anti-abrasion coating or film is applied to the exterior surface. Optionally, a reflective film or layer may be applied to the exterior surface of the substrate and an anti-abrasion film or layer may be applied to the reflective film or layer. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.