Patent ID: 7400435

Claim:
A mirror reflective element system for a variable reflectance vehicular mirror, said mirror reflective element system comprising: a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface having a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon; a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface having a third surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon; a fourth surface electrically conductive element at said fourth surface, said fourth surface electrically conductive element being in electrically conductive continuity with one of said third surface electrically conductive coating and said second surface electrically conductive coating; a heating element attached to said fourth surface of said rear substrate, said heating element comprising a heating element substrate having an attaching surface for attaching to said fourth surface and a rear surface opposite said attaching surface, said heating element substrate having a first electrically conductive element established thereat, said first conductive element generating heat to heat a portion of said heating element when powered; said heating element including a second electrically conductive element established thereat, said second conductive element being at least partially established at said attaching surface, said first and second conductive elements being electrically isolated from one another; said second conductive element connecting to said fourth surface electrically conductive element at said fourth surface of said rear substrate such that electrically conductive continuity is established between said second electrically conductive element and said fourth surface electrically conductive element when said heating element is attached to said fourth surface; and wherein said first and second conductive elements are accessible at said rear surface of said heating element substrate.