Mirror assembly incorporating a scanning apparatus

A method for identifying a vehicle passenger comprising:

• emitting detection light in a near infrared spectrum comprising a wavelength of light from 800 nm to 940 nm from a scanning apparatus;
• transmitting the detection light outward through an electrochromic element comprising a transflective dielectric coating;
• receiving the detection light as reflected light reflected from a subject proximate the scanning apparatus;
• transmitting the reflected light through the electrochromic element and the transflective dielectric element;
• capturing the reflected light in the form of image data;
• emitting display light demonstrating the image data and transmitting the display light over a range of visible wavelengths through the electrochromic element, wherein the range of visible wavelengths comprises an average visible transmittance of at least 20% over a visible range of wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm, and wherein a near infrared transmittance of the detection light through the electrochromic elements is greater than the visible transmittance through the electrochromic element;
• and processing the image data to generate an identification of the subject.

A vehicle passenger identification system comprising:

• an electrochromic element comprising:
• a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface;
• a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate form a cavity wherein a transflective dielectric coating comprising alternating layers of a plurality of high refractive index (H) materials and a plurality of low refractive index (L) materials is disposed on one of the third surface and the fourth surface;
• and
• an electrochromic medium contained in the cavity;
• an image sensor directed toward the fourth surface and configured to capture image data of an object through the electrochromic element, wherein the electrochromic element is configured to transmit an emission of near infrared light;
• and
• a video display configured to emit visible light disposed proximate to the fourth surface and configured to transmit the visible light over a range of visible wavelengths, wherein the range of visible wavelengths comprises an average visible transmittance of at least 20% over a visible range from 400 nm to 700 nm through the electrochromic element and wherein the visible transmittance through the electrochromic element comprises a shift in a green-red color coordinate (a*) and blue-yellow color coordinate (b*) of less than 5, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture the image data to identify at least one passenger of the vehicle.