Mirror monitor using two levels of reflectivity

A rear view mirror and modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within or exterior to a vehicle comprising:

• a rear-view mirror mounted forward of the vehicle operator, the rear-view mirror having a first area with a first reflectivity not less than about 20% and a second area with a second reflectivity not less than about 20%;
• at least one monitor module disposed on a rear side of the rear-view mirror and aligned with the first area of the rear-view mirror;
• a first image capture device mounted at a first location on the vehicle and configured to provide a first image to the at least one monitor module, the first image being displayable on the monitor;
• a second image capture device mounted at a second location on the vehicle and configured to provide a second image to the at least one monitor module, the second image being displayable on the monitor;
• and
• an input switch connected to the first and second image capture devices, and configured to provide at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view;
• wherein, when at least one of the first image and the second image is provided to the at least one monitor module and displayed on the monitor module, the at least one of the first image and the second image is viewable through the first area of the rear-view mirror;
• and
• wherein the first reflectivity and the second reflectivity are not less than about 20%.

A method of applying a reflective coating to a rear-view mirror configured to accommodate a modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within or exterior to a bus or public transit vehicle, the method comprising:

• applying at least a first reflective coating of a first reflective material on a front surface of a mirror substrate for the mirror;
• applying a mask over a first area of the first reflective coating, the mask having a size and position on the mirror substrate corresponding to a size and mounting position of a monitor module configured to display an image through the first area;
• applying at least a second reflective coating of a second reflective material on the first reflective coating;
• and
• removing the mask from the first area;
• wherein the at least a first reflective coating and the at least a second reflective coating are selected so that the first area has a first reflectivity of not less than about 20% and a second area of the mirror comprising the second reflective coating has a second reflectivity of not less than about 20%, and wherein the first reflectivity of the first area and the second reflectivity of the second area are configured to be substantially visually similar when the monitor module is not displaying the image.