Reflective mirror assembly

A reflective mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said reflective mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a front substrate and a rear substrate;
• said electrochromic medium disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate in a cavity established by a seal that connects said front substrate to said rear substrate and that spaces said front substrate apart from said rear substrate;
• said front substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said rear substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
• said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
• said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• a first overhang region at a first edge region of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge region of said rear substrate when said seal connects said front substrate and said rear substrate;
• a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said front substrate;
• an electrically conducting and visible light reflecting mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate;
• said electrochromic medium contacting said mirror reflector inward of said seal;
• an electrically conducting tab that at least partially extends across said third surface proximate an edge of said rear substrate, said tab extending outward from said seal at least partially to the edge of said rear substrate and said tab making electrical contact with said mirror reflector;
• at least one hiding layer disposed around a perimeter region of said second surface of said front substrate;
• said at least one hiding layer being substantially non-transparent and dimensioned so as to render the presence of said seal substantially not noticeable to a driver normally viewing said reflective mirror assembly when the vehicle is normally equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• wherein a first electrical connection is made with said transparent electrical conductor, said first electrical connection being made with said transparent electrical conductor at said first overhang region without exposure of said first electrical connection at said first surface of said front substrate;
• wherein said first overhang region at least partially obscures the presence of said first electrical connection from normal view of the front of said electrochromic reflective element by the driver of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein a second overhang region at a second edge region of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding second edge region of said rear substrate and said second overhang region overhangs at said edge of said rear substrate that said tab extends outward from said seal towards;
• wherein said first and second overhang regions are separated by a dimension of the said front substrate;
• wherein a second electrical connection is made with said electrically conducting tab without exposure of said second electrical connection at said first surface of said front substrate;
• and
• wherein said second overhang region at least partially obscures the presence of said second electrical connection from normal view of the front of said electrochromic reflective element by the driver of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly.

A reflective mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said reflective mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a front substrate and a rear substrate;
• said electrochromic medium disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate in a cavity established by a seal that connects said front substrate to said rear substrate and that spaces said front substrate apart from said rear substrate;
• said front substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said rear substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
• said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
• said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• a first overhang region at a first edge region of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge region of said rear substrate when said seal connects said front substrate and said rear substrate;
• a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said front substrate;
• an electrically conducting and visible light reflecting mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate;
• said reflector comprising at least one metallic layer;
• said electrochromic medium contacting said mirror reflector inward of said seal;
• an electrically conducting tab that at least partially extends across said third surface proximate an edge of said rear substrate, said tab extending outward from said seal at least partially to the edge of said rear substrate and said tab comprising a portion of said mirror reflector;
• at least one hiding layer disposed around a perimeter region of said second surface of said front substrate;
• said at least one hiding layer being substantially non-transparent and dimensioned so as to render the presence of said seal substantially not noticeable to a driver normally viewing said reflective mirror assembly when the vehicle is normally equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• wherein a first electrical connection is made with said transparent electrical conductor, said first electrical connection being made with said transparent electrical conductor at said first overhang region without exposure of said first electrical connection at said first surface of said front substrate;
• wherein said first overhang region at least partially obscures the presence of said first electrical connection from normal view of the front of said electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• wherein a second overhang region at a second edge region of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding second edge region of said rear substrate and said second overhang region overhangs at said edge of said rear substrate that said tab extends outward from said seal towards;
• wherein a second electrical connection is made with said electrically conducting tab;
• and
• wherein said second overhang region at least partially obscures the presence of said second electrical connection from normal view of the front of said electrochromic reflective element by the driver of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly.

A reflective mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said reflective mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a front substrate and a rear substrate;
• said electrochromic medium disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate in a cavity established by a seal that connects said front substrate to said rear substrate and that spaces said front substrate apart from said rear substrate;
• said front substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said rear substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
• said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
• said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said reflective mirror assembly;
• a first overhang region at a first edge region of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge region of said rear substrate when said seal connects said front substrate and said rear substrate;
• a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said front substrate;
• an electrically conducting and visible light reflecting mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate;
• said electrochromic medium contacting said mirror reflector inward of said seal;
• an electrically conducting tab that at least partially extends across said third surface proximate an edge of said rear substrate;
• wherein said tab is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate and extends at least to said seal, said tab making electrical contact with said mirror reflector;
• wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector;
• wherein said reflective mirror assembly comprises an interior reflective mirror assembly adapted for mounting to an interior portion of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein said interior video mirror assembly comprises a video display disposed to the rear of said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, said video display operable, on demand, to be viewable by a driver viewing said reflective element of said interior video mirror assembly when mounted at said interior portion of the vehicle.