Patent ID: 7318648

Claim:
A vehicle mirror assembly comprising: a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side; a dimming element for varying the intensity of incident light reflected from the viewable side; a photo-electrical power cell for powering the dimming element; a controller for controlling the dimming element; a first directional element for allowing incident light having an angle of incidence falling within a first preset range with respect to the reflective element to reach the photo-electrical power cell, and for preventing incident light having an angle of incidence falling outside the first preset range from reaching the photo-electrical power cell; a photo-electrical switching device; and a second directional element for allowing ambient light having an angle of incidence falling within a second preset range with respect to the reflective element to reach the photo-electrical switching device, wherein power is supplied from the photo-electrical power cell to the dimming element as a result of incident light reaching the photo-electrical power cell, and wherein the power supplied from the photo-electrical power cell to the dimming element is reduced as a result of ambient light reaching the photo-electrical switching device.