Patent ID: 8545030

Claim:
A variable reflectance mirror system having a front, for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a light source adapted to transmit light of a first polarization through the mirror system towards the front, the mirror system comprising: a first substrate having a first electrode disposed on a surface thereof; a second substrate having a second electrode disposed on a surface thereof, the first and second substrates placed in a spaced-apart relationship to define a gap therebetween; an electro-optic medium deployed in the gap, the electro-optic medium characterized by transmittance changing in response to a voltage difference applied between the first and second electrodes; a reflective polarizer including an anisotropic film, the reflective polarizer disposed between the second substrate and the light source such that the light emitted by the light source passes through the reflective polarizer, and where the reflective polarizer is configured to reflect light of a second polarization, the second polarization being orthogonal with respect to the first polarization, and an optical distortion, caused by a surface distortion representing said reflective polarizer, when measured from the front is characterized by one or more of (a) curvature units of ONDULO phase-shifting deflectometry that quantify surface distortions and that do not exceed about 0.04, and (b) an optical power value, measured in reflection, that does not exceed 1,000 millidiopters.