Patent ID: 7898719

Claim:
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising: an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween; wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle; wherein said second surface is opposite said first surface and faces said electrochromic medium; wherein said third surface faces said electrochromic medium and said fourth surface is opposite said third surface; wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate; wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector; a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises a trace of electrically conductive epoxy; an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate; and wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection.