Rearview mirror assemblies with anisotropic polymer laminates

A variable reflectance mirror system for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a light source transmitting light of a first polarization through the minor system, the mirror system comprising

• an optical element having a proximal side and a distal side, the minor element reflecting ambient light incident upon the proximal side;
• and
• a laminate including an anisotropic plastic film structure, the anisotropic plastic film structure substantially transmitting light of the first polarization and substantially reflecting light of a second polarization, the second polarization being opposite the first polarization, the anisotropic plastic film structure disposed between the distal side of the optical element and the light source such that the light emitted by the light source passes through the laminate,
• wherein optical distortions of the mirror system, corresponding to surface distortions and measured from the proximal side, are represented by metrics, Wa, Wb, and Wc of a wave-scan dual scale, which quantify surface distortions with frequencies corresponding to 0.1 to 0.3 mm, 0.3 to 1.0 mm, 1 to 3 mm, respectively, and at least one of the Wa, Wb, and Wc values is less than 7.

An optical element for increasing a contrast of light generated by a light source and transmitted through a mirror structure of an automotive rearview mirror assembly, the optical element comprising:

• an optical substrate having a surface;
• and
• a layered structure adhered to the surface, the layered structure including an anisotropic layer transmitting light of a first polarization and reflecting light of a second polarization that is opposite to the first polarization, the layered structure characterized by a range of glass transition temperatures,
• wherein optical distortions of the optical element, corresponding to surface distortions and measured in reflection off of the optical element, are characterized by metrics, Wa, Wb, and Wc of a wave-scan dual scale, which quantify surface distortions with frequencies corresponding to 0.1 to 0.3 mm, 0.3 to 1.0 mm, 1 to 3 mm, respectively, and at least one of the Wa, Wb, and Wc values is less than 7.