Patent ID: 7717596

Claim:
A rearview mirror assembly for a motorized vehicle comprising: a) a mirror element, having a substantially uniform thickness and a major external surface with a reflective layer disposed on said major external surface thereof; b) at least one multidimensional graphical image etched through said reflective layer; c) electronic circuitry operatively connected to said vehicle for receiving power and a control signal therefrom; and d) at least one light source located within said housing and operatively connected to said circuitry for the energization thereof, said at least one light source positioned to illuminate said at least one multidimensional graphical image continuously during normal operation at least a first, discrete, non-zero light level in the absence of said control signal to provide a principally aesthetic display of said multidimensional graphical image, and to intermittently illuminate at least a portion of said at least one multidimensional graphical image at another discrete, non-zero light level in response to said control signal to provide a principally informational display of said multidimensional graphical image.