Rearview mirror assembly with added feature modular display

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror case having a variable reflectance reflective element, said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector and wherein at least a region of said mirror reflector is adapted to form a light transmitting portion;
• said variable reflectance reflective element comprising an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said electrochromic reflective element includes a first sheet having a first surface and a second surface, and a second sheet having a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface of said first sheet opposing said third surface of said second sheet, said second surface of said first sheet being closer to said third surface of said second sheet than said first surface of said first sheet;
• an electrochromic medium between said second surface of said first sheet and said third surface of said second sheet, said electrochromic medium having a light transmittance which varies when electrical voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium to thereby vary the reflectivity of said reflective element, and wherein said first sheet includes a transparent electroconductive coating on said second surface thereof;
• a user actuatable interface at said mirror case;
• an information display disposed to the rear of said second sheet of said electrochromic reflective element;
• a control for adjusting the display intensity of said information display;
• wherein said information display is positioned in said mirror case such that said information display is generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element to define a display area at said reflective element;
• and
• wherein said mirror reflector is disposed on said third surface of said second sheet, said mirror reflector comprising a reflective metal coating;
• and
• wherein said mirror reflector is adapted so that the presence of said information display at said display area at said mirror reflective element is substantially not apparent until said information display is actuated.

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror case having a variable reflectance reflective element, said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector and wherein at least a region of said mirror reflector is adapted to form a light transmitting portion;
• said variable reflectance reflective element comprising an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said electrochromic reflective element includes a first sheet having a first surface and a second surface, and a second sheet having a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface of said first sheet opposing said third surface of said second sheet, said second surface of said first sheet being closer to said third surface of said second sheet than said first surface of said first sheet;
• an electrochromic medium between said second surface of said first sheet and said third surface of said second sheet, said electrochromic medium having a light transmittance which varies when electrical voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium to thereby vary the reflectivity of said reflective element, and wherein said first sheet includes a transparent electroconductive coating on said second surface thereof;
• a user actuatable interface at said mirror case;
• an information display disposed to the rear of said second sheet of said electrochromic reflective element and a control for adjusting the display intensity of said information display;
• wherein said information display is positioned in said mirror case such that said information display is generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element to define a display area at said reflective element;
• wherein said mirror reflector is disposed on said third surface of said second sheet, said mirror reflector comprising a reflective metal coating;
• wherein said user actuatable interface enables user interface with a vehicle audio system, wherein said interior mirror assembly includes at least one microphone, wherein said at least one microphone provides a vocal input to said vehicle audio system, wherein said vehicle audio system communicates wirelessly with a remote telecommunication system;
• and
• wherein said interior mirror assembly communicates via a wireless link with another vehicular accessory.

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror case having a variable reflectance reflective element, said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector and wherein at least a region of said mirror reflector is adapted to form a light transmitting portion;
• said variable reflectance reflective element comprising an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said electrochromic reflective element includes a first sheet having a first surface and a second surface, and a second sheet having a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface of said first sheet opposing said third surface of said second sheet, said second surface of said first sheet being closer to said third surface of said second sheet than said first surface of said first sheet;
• an electrochromic medium between said second surface of said first sheet and said third surface of said second sheet, said electrochromic medium having a light transmittance which varies when electrical voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium to thereby vary the reflectivity of said reflective element, and wherein said first sheet includes a transparent electroconductive coating on said second surface thereof;
• a user actuatable interface at said mirror case;
• an information display disposed to the rear of said second sheet of said electrochromic reflective element;
• a control for adjusting the display intensity of said information display;
• wherein said information display is positioned in said mirror case such that said information display is generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element to define a display area at said reflective element;
• wherein said mirror reflector is disposed on said third surface of said second sheet, said mirror reflector comprising a reflective metal coating;
• wherein said user actuatable interface enables user interface with a vehicle audio system, wherein said vehicle audio system communicates wirelessly with a remote telecommunication system;
• and
• wherein said mirror reflector is adapted so that the presence of said information display at said display area at said mirror reflective element is substantially not apparent until said information display is actuated.

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror case having a variable reflectance reflective element, said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector;
• said variable reflectance reflective element comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, said first sheet having a first surface and a second surface, said second sheet having a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface of said first sheet opposing said third surface of said second sheet, and said second surface of said first sheet being closer to said third surface of said second sheet than said first surface of said first sheet;
• an electrochromic medium between said second surface of said first sheet and said third surface of said second sheet, said electrochromic medium having a light transmittance which varies when electrical voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium to thereby vary the reflectivity of said reflective element, and wherein said first sheet includes a transparent electroconductive coating on said second surface thereof;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising at least one microphone for providing a vocal input to an audio system of a vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising at least one chosen from A) a user actuatable interface for enabling user interface with the audio system of a vehicle, and B) an information display;
• and
• wherein the audio system of a vehicle communicates wirelessly with a remote telecommunication system, wherein the audio system of a vehicle provides a hands-free input to the telecommunication system and wherein the audio system includes a wireless link, the wireless link comprising a short-range radio frequency link.