Mirror reflective element assembly

A prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising:

• a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
• a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
• a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• at least one of (a) a protective element disposed over said transflective reflector and (b) a light adjusting element between said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen and said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector, the transflective reflector substantially transmitting at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• and
• wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough.

A prismatic mirror system of a vehicle, said prismatic mirror system comprising:

• a prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
• wherein said prismatic reflective element assembly comprises a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
• a backlit video display disposed behind said transfiective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• wherein display information emitted by said backlit video display screen passes through said transfiective reflector and said prismatic substrate for viewing by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector, the transflective reflector substantially transmitting at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
• and
• wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough;
• and
• wherein said backlit video display is operable to emit said display information in response to the vehicle being shifted into a forward or reverse gear.

A reflective element assembly for a rearview mirror of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly comprising:

• a mirror reflective element having at least one substrate, said mirror reflective element comprising one of (a) a prismatic reflective element assembly having a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate, and (b) an electrochromic reflective element assembly having front and rear substrates with an electrochromic medium established therebetween;
• said mirror reflective element having a transflective reflector disposed at one of (a) said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, and (b) a forward facing surface of said rear substrate of said electrochromic reflective element, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
• a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind a rearmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element;
• at least one of (a) a protective element disposed over said transflective reflector and (b) a light adjusting element between said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen and said rearmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element;
• wherein display information emitted by said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing by a person viewing a forwardmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element;
• and
• wherein light incident on said forward most surface and passing through at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element to be incident on said transflective reflector, the transflective reflector substantially transmitting at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forwardmost surface of said mirror reflective element;
• and
• wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough.

A method of forming a mirror reflective element assembly for a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein said rear substrate has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface;
• disposing a transflective reflector at said forward facing surface of said rear substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
• joining said front and rear substrates with a perimeter seal;
• establishing an electro-optic medium in a cavity between said front and rear substrates and bounded by said perimeter seal, said transflective reflector opposing said electro-optic medium when said front and rear substrates are joined and said electro-optic medium is established in said cavity;
• providing a display element behind said mirror substrate, said display element operable to emit display information through said substrates and through said transflective reflector for viewing by a person viewing said front substrate;
• and
• providing means for reducing washout of said display information in high ambient conditions.