Patent ID: 7255451

Claim:
A mirror reflective element assembly for a variable reflectance vehicular mirror, said mirror reficetive element assembly comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereon; a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, said rear substrate comprising a perimeter edge around its perimeter and between said third surface and said fourth surface; said third surface having an electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, at least a portion of said third surface conductive coating continuing from said third surface over at least a first portion of said perimeter edge, said third surface conductive coating establishing electrical continuity between said third surface and said first portion of said perimeter edge; said fourth surface having a fourth surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, at least a portion of said fourth surface conductive coating continuing from said fourth surface over at least a second portion of said perimeter edge, said fourth surface conductive coating establishing electrical continuity between said fourth surface and said second portion of said perimeter edge; said first portion of said perimeter edge and said second portion of said perimeter edge at least partially coinciding at a perimeter edge overlap region whereby electrical continuity is established between said fourth surface conductive coating on said fourth surface said rear substrate and said third surface conductive coating on said third surface of said rear substrate; an electro-optic medium disposed between said second surface conductive coating and said third surface conductive coating; and a first electrical connection at said fourth surface making electrical contact with said fourth surface conductive coating, said first electrical connection being operable to power said third surface conductive coating via electrical conduction between said fourth surface conductive coating and said third surface conductive coating at said overlap region.