Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a signal indication module and a mirror back plate attached at the mirror reflective element. The signal indication module attaches to the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the back plate and has a light source that is activatable to emit light. The signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases the light source. The signal indication module includes an inner surface at an angle relative to the mirror reflective element. The signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at the inner surface and at least partially in front of the light source, the baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by the light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when viewed when the light source is activated.

Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle and includes a mirror case and a reflective element. A video display device disposed at the mirror case. The video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera and, responsive to receipt of the video signal, the on-screen display controller is operable to generate a video feed to the video display device. The video feed generated by the on-screen display controller may include a graphic overlay.

Abstract: A rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle. A camera is incorporated into the interior rearview mirror assembly and has a field of view toward a front seat of the vehicle so as to capture images of an occupant of the vehicle. The camera captures image data. An image processor is provided with image data captured by the camera. The image processor image processes image data captured by the camera. The image processor, responsive at least in part to image processing of image data captured by the camera, recognizes movement. The movement comprises a hand gesture made by the occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle and includes a mirror case and a reflective element. A video display device may be one of (i) fixedly disposed in the mirror case and (ii) extendable and retractable relative to the mirror case. The video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera and, responsive to receipt of the video signal, the on-screen display controller is operable to generate a video feed to the video display device.

Abstract: A user-interactive display system for a vehicle includes a portable hand-held device capable of being carried into and out of the vehicle and a display device viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The portable hand-held device is operable to communicate with a vehicle-based receiver, and the display device is operable to display a listing of choices in response to the communication. A user input of an interior rearview mirror assembly is actuatable by a user to select an item from the displayed listing of choices. The user-interactive display system is operable to at least one of (a) display at the display device data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices and (b) audibly play at an audio device in the vehicle data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reflective element for a vehicle rearview mirror assembly includes providing front and rear glass substrates and establishing an uncured trace material at least at the rear glass substrate and establishing an uncured seal material along a perimeter region of at least one of the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate. The front and rear glass substrates are joined with the uncured seal material disposed therebetween. The uncured seal material and the uncured trace material are cured via a common curing process. The curing of the uncured trace material forms an electrically conductive trace at the rear glass substrate and the curing of the uncured seal material forms a perimeter seal of the reflective element. The electrically conductive trace is in electrical continuity with the electrically conductive mirror reflector.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a video display device operable to display video information that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle through said mirror reflective element and at a display region of said mirror reflective element. The video display device may be operable to display a directional heading at a compass display portion of the display region, and means may be provided to adjust the directional heading display to limit image sticking of the displayed directional heading. The mirror assembly may have a touch zone having at least one touch pad established at a perimeter border band of the reflective element, and may have another touch sensor to detect a touch of a user away from the touch zone to determine when a detected touch at the touch zone is an unintentional touch.

Abstract: An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between the front and rear substrates. The electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between a third surface of the rear substrate and a second surface of said the substrate, and the electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal. A conductive layer is disposed at a fourth surface of the rear substrate. A non-conductive layer covers a covered portion of the conductive layer and leaves an exposed portion of the conductive layer exposed. An electronic circuitry component is disposed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to the exposed portion of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle and includes a mirror case and a reflective element. A video display device may be one of (i) fixedly disposed in the mirror case and (ii) extendable and retractable relative to the mirror case. The video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera and, responsive to receipt of the video signal, the on-screen display controller is operable to generate a video feed to the video display device.

Abstract: An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between the front and rear substrates. The electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between a third surface of the rear substrate and a second surface of said the substrate, and the electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal. A conductive layer is disposed at a fourth surface of the rear substrate. A non-conductive layer covers a covered portion of the conductive layer and leaves an exposed portion of the conductive layer exposed. An electronic circuitry component is disposed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to the exposed portion of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a video display screen module. The video display screen module may have a metallic enclosure and at least one of (a) a polarizer film and (b) a brightness enhancing film, and includes a liquid crystal display panel that is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes. The video display screen module is fixedly disposed to the rear of the reflective element or near the reflective element or is extendable from a position at the rear of the reflective element to a position near the reflective element. The video display screen module, when activated, displays video images viewable by the driver and having a driver-viewable display luminance of at least about 700 candelas per square meter when viewable by the driver during daytime viewing.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween. The reflective element includes a resin material disposed at least at a portion of a fourth surface of the rear substrate. While the resin material is in its uncured state at the rear substrate, an electrical connector is engaged with the uncured resin material. The electrical connector is electrically conductively connected with the resin material and is substantially affixed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate via curing of the resin material while the electrical connector is engaged with the resin material. The electrical connector may establish electrical conductivity between the cured resin material and one of (i) a transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate and (ii) a mirror reflector at the third surface of the rear substrate.

Abstract: A user-interactive display system for a vehicle includes a portable hand-held device capable of being carried into and out of the vehicle and a display device viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The portable hand-held device is operable to communicate with a vehicle-based receiver, and the display device is operable to display a listing of choices in response to the communication. A user input of an interior rearview mirror assembly is actuatable by a user to select an item from the displayed listing of choices. The user-interactive display system is operable to at least one of (a) display at the display device data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices and (b) audibly play at an audio device in the vehicle data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween. The reflective element includes a resin material disposed at least at a portion of a fourth surface of the rear substrate. While the resin material is in its uncured state at the rear substrate, an electrical connector is engaged with the uncured resin material. The electrical connector is electrically conductively connected with the resin material and is substantially affixed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate via curing of the resin material while the electrical connector is engaged with the resin material. The electrical connector may establish electrical conductivity between the cured resin material and one of (i) a transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate and (ii) a mirror reflector at the third surface of the rear substrate.

Abstract: A user-interactive display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a portable hand-held device, and a display device. The portable hand-held device is operable to communicate a first signal to a vehicle-based receiver. A user input is actuatable so that a user can select an item from a listing of choices displayed by the display device, whereby the user-interactive display system (a) displays at the display device data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices, and/or (b) audibly plays at an audio device of the vehicle data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween. The reflective element includes (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at a second surface of a front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at a third surface of a rear glass substrate. A conductive trace is established on a fourth surface of the rear glass substrate. An electrical connector establishes electrical conductivity between the conductive trace and one of (i) the transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at the second surface of the front glass substrate and (ii) the mirror reflector disposed at the third surface of the rear glass substrate. The electrical connector connects to the conductive trace via a solderless connection.

Abstract: A reflective element assembly for a mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a reflective element substrate and a conductive trace or layer disposed at a rear surface of the reflective element substrate. A non-conductive layer is applied at the conductive layer and covers at least a portion of the conductive layer and leaves at least some portions of the conductive layer exposed. At least one circuitry component is applied to at least one of the portions of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A reflective element assembly for a mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a reflective element substrate and a conductive trace or layer disposed at a rear surface of the reflective element substrate. A non-conductive layer is applied at the conductive layer and covers at least a portion of the conductive layer and leaves at least some portions of the conductive layer exposed. At least one circuitry component is applied to at least one of the portions of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A reflective element assembly for a mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a reflective element substrate and a conductive trace or layer disposed at a rear surface of the reflective element substrate. A non-conductive layer is applied at the conductive layer and covers at least a portion of the conductive layer and leaves at least some portions of the conductive layer exposed. At least one circuitry component is applied to at least one of the portions of the conductive layer. The circuitry component may include a carbon ink resistor printed onto the conductive trace.

Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a video display screen module. The video display screen module may have a metallic enclosure and at least one of (a) a polarizer film and (b) a brightness enhancing film, and includes a liquid crystal display panel that is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes. The video display screen module is fixedly disposed to the rear of the reflective element or near the reflective element or is extendable from a position at the rear of the reflective element to a position near the reflective element. The video display screen module, when activated, displays video images viewable by the driver and having a driver-viewable display luminance of at least about 700 candelas per square meter when viewable by the driver during daytime viewing.