Dimmable safety mirror suitable for motor vehicles and method of operation

A dimmable safety mirror having a viewing surface comprising:

• a housing;
• a mirror subassembly mounted in said housing, the mirror subassembly comprising a front dimmable reflective surface and a rear reflective surface, the front dimmable reflective surface switchable between at least a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state;
• and
• a mechanism for securing the mirror subassembly to the housing either in a first position with the front dimmable surface as the viewing surface, or in a second position with the rear reflective surface as the viewing surface.

A dimmable safety mirror having a viewing surface comprising:

• a housing;
• a liquid crystal mirror subassembly mounted in said housing, the mirror subassembly comprising a front dimmable reflective surface and a rear reflective surface, the front dimmable reflective surface switchable between at least a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state;
• and
• a mechanism for securing the mirror subassembly to the housing either in a first position with the from dimmable surface as the viewing surface, or in a second position with the rear reflective surface as the viewing surface.

A dimmable safety mirror for use in motor vehicles having a viewing surface comprising:

• an electrically powered mirror subassembly comprising a dimmable front reflective surface and a rear reflective surface, said dimmable front surface having more than one reflectance level and said rear reflectance surface having a high reflectance mirror;
• a housing:
• and
• means for adjusting the mirror subassembly within the housing to a high reflectance state in the event of electrical failure, wherein said rear reflectance surface of said mirror subassembly is the viewing surface of the safety mirror.