Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface metal reflector and a display/signal light

An electrochromic rearview mirror comprising:

• front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• and
• a partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode disposed over substantially all of said front surface of said rear element, said second electrode including a transparent electrically conductive coating applied over a surface of said rear element and a thin reflective layer of metal applied over said transparent electrically conductive coating, wherein said electrochromic rearview mirror exhibits a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of a least about 5percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a b* value of less than about 15.

An electrochromic rearview mirror comprising:

• front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• and
• a partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode disposed over substantially all of said front surface of said rear element, said second electrode including a transparent electrically conductive coating applied over a surface of said rear element and a thin reflective layer of silver or silver alloy applied over said transparent electrically conductive coating, said second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a C* value of less than about 20.

An electrochromic rearview mirror comprising:

• front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• and
• a partially transmissive, partially reflective second electrode disposed over substantially all of said front surface of said rear element, said second electrode including a transparent electrically conductive coating applied over a surface of said rear element and a thin reflective layer of silver or silver alloy applied over said transparent electrically conductive coating, said second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a b* value of less than about 15.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• and
• a light emitting display assembly mounted in said housing, said display assembly having a front surface and being mounted behind said rear surface of said rear element such that said front surface of said display assembly is not parallel with said rear surface,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least a location in front of said display assembly.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• and
• a light emitting display assembly mounted in said housing, wherein said display assembly has a non-specular front surface that is mounted adjacent said rear surface of said rear element,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least a location in front of said display assembly.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• a light emitting display assembly mounted in said housing, said display assembly having a front surface that is mounted adjacent said rear surface of said rear element;
• and
• an anti-reflection coating applied to said front surface of said display assembly,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least a location in front of said display assembly.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode formed on said front surface of said rear element;
• and
• a light emitting display assembly mounted in said housing, said display assembly having a front surface that is mounted adjacent said rear surface of said rear element,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least a location in front of said display assembly,
• said display assembly including at least one masking component for minimizing light that is emitted from said display assembly from reflecting off of said reflective electrode/reflector back toward said display assembly and then reflecting back off said front surface of said display assembly toward said front surface of said front element and a viewer.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• and
• a light emitting display assembly mounted in said chamber or to said front surface of said front element,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• and
• an organic light emitting diode display mounted to one of the surfaces of said front and rear elements,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element, wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective over substantially all of one of the surfaces of said rear element;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• and
• a light sensor mounted in said housing behind said rear element and behind said partially transmissive, partially reflective electrode/reflector.

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the exterior of the vehicle;
• a first element mounted in said housing, said first element having a front and rear surface;
• a reflector disposed on one of the surfaces of said first element;
• and
• a light source mounted in said housing behind said rear surface of said first element, said light source being positioned within said housing so as to emit light, when activated, through said first element, and through a region of said reflector that is at least partially transmissive toward a side of the vehicle.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• front and rear elements mounted in said housing, said elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber;
• a transparent first electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of said elements within said chamber;
• a second electrode disposed on said front surface of said rear element;
• an electrochromic material contained in said chamber;
• and
• a graphic display positioned in said housing behind said rear element,
• wherein either said second electrode is a reflective electrode or a separate reflector is disposed over substantially all of said rear surface of said rear element, said reflective electrode/reflector being partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least a location in front of said graphic display.