Exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly

An exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element comprising:

• a first transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer on a surface thereof;
• a second substrate having a conductive layer on a surface thereof, said conductive layer of said first substrate opposing said second conductive layer of said second substrate in a spaced-apart relationship thereby forming an interpane distance between said substrates;
• a boundary seal interposed between said first and second substrates spacing apart said substrates and forming a cavity wherein said interpane distance is at least about 10 microns;
• an electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film within said cavity, said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film disposed between and contacting said transparent conductive layer of said first transparent substrate and said conductive layer of said second substrate;
• said electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film formed from an electrochromic monomer composition, said electrochromic monomer composition including at least one cathodic electrochromic compound;
• said second conductive layer comprising a metallic reflective layer;
• a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said second substrate;
• said visual indicator display being part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• and
• wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said second substrate, through said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film and through said first substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element.

An exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element comprising:

• a first transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer on a surface thereof;
• a second substrate having a conductive layer on a surface thereof, said conductive layer of said first substrate opposing said second conductive layer of said second substrate in a spaced-apart relationship thereby forming an interpane distance between said substrates;
• a boundary seal interposed between said first and second substrates spacing apart said substrates and forming a cavity wherein said interpane distance is at least about 10 microns;
• an electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film within said cavity, said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film disposed between and contacting said transparent conductive layer of said first transparent substrate and said conductive layer of said second substrate;
• said electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film formed from an electrochromic monomer composition, said electrochromic monomer composition including at least one cathodic electrochromic compound;
• said second conductive layer comprising a metallic reflective layer;
• a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said second substrate;
• said visual indicator display being part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said second substrate, through said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film and through said first substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element and a second indicator at a second location to the rear of the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element and wherein said first location is proximate to and spaced from said second location;
• wherein said first indicator comprises a first light source at said first location and wherein said second indicator comprises a second light source at said second location;
• and
• wherein a first portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed at said first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element at said first location and wherein a second portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed at said second location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive second portion of the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element at said second location.

An exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element comprising:

• a first transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer on a surface thereof;
• a second substrate having a conductive layer on a surface thereof, said conductive layer of said first substrate opposing said second conductive layer of said second substrate in a spaced-apart relationship thereby forming an interpane distance between said substrates;
• a boundary seal interposed between said first and second substrates spacing apart said substrates and forming a cavity wherein said interpane distance is at least about 10 microns;
• an electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film within said cavity, said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film disposed between and contacting said transparent conductive layer of said first transparent substrate and said conductive layer of said second substrate;
• said electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film formed from an electrochromic monomer composition, said electrochromic monomer composition including at least one cathodic electrochromic compound;
• said second conductive layer comprising a metallic reflective layer;
• a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said second substrate;
• said visual indicator display being part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said second substrate, through said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film and through said first substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• and
• wherein another visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of said second substrate, said another visual indicator display being part of a turn signaling system of the vehicle wherein said another visual indicator display is actuated to emit light upon actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the vehicle and wherein light emitted by said another visual indicator display passes through said second substrate, through said electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film and through said first substrate.