Patent ID: 7910859

Claim:
A heater pad suitable for use for an electro-optical variable reflectance mirror reflective element of a vehicular mirror assembly, the electro-optical variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium established therebetween, wherein the front substrate has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface having a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, and wherein the rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface having a third surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, said heater pad comprising: a flexible substrate having an attaching surface for attaching at the fourth surface of the electro-optical variable reflectance mirror reflective element equipped with said heater pad; an electrically conductive heating element, said electrically conductive heating element generating heat when electrically powered; first and second electrically conducting elements, wherein said first electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with the transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed at the second surface of the front substrate of the equipped mirror reflective element when the mirror reflective element is normally equipped with said heater pad, and wherein said second electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with the third surface electrically conductive coating disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate of the equipped mirror reflective element when the equipped mirror reflective element is normally equipped with said heater pad; wherein said first and second electrically conducting elements and said heating element are electrically isolated from one another; wherein said heating element and said first and second electrically conducting elements terminate at an electrical connector at said heater pad; and wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically conductively connect with a wire harness that provides electrical connection to at least one of a power source and a control circuit.