Interior rearview mirror system

An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal;
• wherein said front substrate has a first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the vehicle, and wherein said front substrate has a second surface opposite said first surface;
• wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat;
• wherein said rear substrate has a third surface that contacts said electro-optic medium and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said rear substrate has a mirror reflector established at a surface thereof;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (i) an electro-optic active region where said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of said electro-optic active region;
• wherein a hiding band is disposed at said second surface of said front substrate and at a location that generally corresponds to said perimeter seal when said front and rear substrates are mated together, and wherein said hiding band substantially hides said perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing said first surface of said front substrate;
• at least one backlit user input disposed at said reflective element at said user input region and outboard of said perimeter seal and said electro-optic medium, wherein said at least one backlit user input comprises a capacitive touch sensor;
• wherein an isolation line is established at said second surface of said front substrate to electrically isolate a first portion of said transparent conductive coating that is at said user input region and outboard of said perimeter seal and said electro-optic medium from a second portion of said transparent conductive coating that is at said electro-optic active region and in contact with said electro-optic medium;
• wherein said perimeter seal covers said isolation line;
• wherein said isolation line is established via laser scribing said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate;
• and
• a control, wherein said control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of a finger of a user that is at or near said first surface of said front substrate at said user input region, and wherein said control generates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximity of a finger of a user.

An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal;
• wherein said front substrate has a first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the vehicle, and wherein said front substrate has a second surface opposite said first surface;
• wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat;
• wherein said rear substrate has a third surface that contacts said electro-optic medium and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said rear substrate has a mirror reflector established at a surface thereof;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (i) an electro-optic active region where said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of said electro-optic active region;
• wherein a hiding band is disposed at said second surface of said front substrate and at a location that generally corresponds to said perimeter seal when said front and rear substrates are mated together, and wherein said hiding band substantially hides said perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing said first surface of said front substrate;
• at least one backlit user input disposed at said reflective element at said user input region and outboard of said perimeter seal and said electro-optic medium, wherein said at least one backlit user input comprises a projective capacitive touch sensor;
• wherein an isolation line is established at said second surface of said front substrate to electrically isolate a first portion of said transparent conductive coating that is at said user input region and outboard of said perimeter seal and said electro-optic medium from a second portion of said transparent conductive coating that is at said electro-optic active region and in contact with said electro-optic medium;
• wherein said perimeter seal covers said isolation line;
• and
• a control, wherein said control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of a finger of a user that is at or near said first surface of said front substrate at said user input region, and wherein said control generates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximity of a finger of a user.