Patent ID: 8654433

Claim:
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising: an electrochromic reflective element having a viewing region operable to exhibit electrically variable reflectivity between a high reflectance state and a dimmed reflectance state when an electrical voltage is applied thereto; said electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface; said electrochromic reflective element comprising a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate opposing each other in said electrochromic reflective element and spaced apart by a seal, and with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; a specularly reflective mirror reflector established at a surface of said rear substrate; wherein a specularly reflective perimeter layer is established at least partially around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic reflective element and, at least in part, is visible through said front substrate to a viewer when viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic reflective element; wherein said perimeter layer comprises at least one metal thin film coating; wherein, when said electrochromic reflective element is normally viewed by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when operating the vehicle, said perimeter layer conceals at least a portion of said seal from direct view by the driver; and wherein at least one of (a) at least one light source is disposed behind said perimeter layer and emits light that is visible to a viewer viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic reflective element at said perimeter layer, and (b) a light sensor is disposed behind said perimeter layer and senses light that passes through said front substrate at said perimeter layer.