Patent ID: 8503062

Claim:
A rearview mirror element assembly suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror element assembly comprising: an electrochromic reflective element having a primary 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 said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector is established at said primary viewing region; an auxiliary viewing region, wherein said auxiliary viewing region provides an auxiliary wide angle view of a blind spot to the side of a vehicle when said electrochromic reflective element is used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of a vehicle and is normally viewed by a driver of the vehicle when operating the vehicle; said primary viewing region of said electrochromic reflective element providing a primary view generally rearward of the vehicle when said electrochromic reflective element is used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of a vehicle and is normally viewed by a driver of the vehicle when operating the vehicle; a specularly reflective demarcating layer established at said second surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic reflective element; wherein said demarcating layer, 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 and wherein said demarcating layer at least partially traverses said reflective element adjacent said auxiliary viewing region; wherein said demarcating layer comprises at least one metal thin film coating; 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; and wherein said demarcating layer joins with said perimeter layer and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary viewing region.