Abstract: A vehicular signal mirror includes a reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector on a light-transmitting substrate. The visible light reflectance is at least about 40% for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. A turn signal light display and/or a blind-spot indicator light display is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured so that the light emitted by the light display passes through the reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element. The light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with the light display placed behind, and emitting light through, the reflective mirror element.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror reflective element includes a front substrate connected with a rear substrate via a perimeter seal, whereby, when so connected, at least a portion of a circumferential outer edge of the rear substrate is inward of a circumferential outer edge of the front substrate and no portion of the rear substrate substantially protrudes beyond the front substrate. A first electrical connection establishes electrical connection to an electrically conductive layer at the second surface of the front substrate and a second electrical connection establishes electrical connection to a mirror reflector at the third surface of the rear substrate. A perimeter band is disposed around a border region of the front substrate and substantially hides the seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver normally operating the vehicle and viewing the reflective element when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent substrate and a multi-zone mirror reflector established at a surface thereof. The mirror reflector includes at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least one metallic reflective layer is commonly established at the surface and across the first and second zones of the mirror reflector. A display device is disposed behind the second zone of the mirror reflector and, when the display device is operating to emit display information, emitted display information passes through the second zone of the mirror reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. The second zone has a degree of transmissivity of light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of light through the first zone of the mirror reflector.

Abstract: An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.

Abstract: A display mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate. Visible light transmission through the reflective mirror element is at least 3 percent and visible light reflectance by the reflective mirror element is at least 40 percent for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. The reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon its front side. A display device is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured so that light emitted by the display device passes through the semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front. When electrically powered, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with said display device placed behind, and emitting light through, the reflective element is achieved.

Abstract: A diffuser is provided in an illumination system, where the diffuser is capable of blocking significant amounts of infrared (IR) and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the diffuser includes a glass substrate which supports an IR/UV coating(s) that blocks significant amounts of IR and/or UV radiation thereby reducing the amount of IR and/or UV radiation which can makes its way through the diffuser. In certain example embodiments, the coating may include particulate in a frit matrix so that the coating may both diffuse visible light and perform IR and/or UV blocking.

Abstract: A composite oxide coating is provided on a substrate over an infrared (IR) blocking multi-layer coating (e.g., low-E coating), where the composite oxide coating efficiently blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The composite oxide coating and the low-E coating may be heat resistant, and the coated glass substrate may be processed in a single high temperature heat treatment step. The coated article may be effective at blocking both IR and UV radiation in applications such as window applications. The UV blocking coating may include ceria as a UV blocker in certain example embodiment of this invention.

Abstract: An automotive rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a transparent electrical conductor disposed at a second surface of a first substrate and a mirror reflector disposed at a third surface of a second substrate. The mirror assembly includes electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of the electrochromic medium. The mirror assembly may include one or more features and at least one of the features may share a component with the electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and/or share circuitry with the electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry. The mirror assembly may include a video camera and/or an on-demand display viewable through the mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective element assembly having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween. A substantially non-transparent perimeter band is disposed at the second surface of the front substrate and around a perimeter border region of the second surface of the front substrate. The perimeter band is not specularly reflective to visible light that passes through the first substrate and is incident on the perimeter band. A first electrical connection is at the first electrically conductive layer at a first overhang region and a second electrical connection is at the second electrically conductive layer. The perimeter band is dimensioned so as to render the presence of the perimeter seal and at least the first electrical connection substantially unobservable to a driver normally viewing the reflective element assembly when the vehicle is normally equipped with the interior rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a coated article including a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) which supports a coating thereon, wherein the coating includes at least one layer of or including SbOxNy. This layer is desirable for blocking (reflection and/or absorption) of at least some ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the layer of SbOxNy may be used as a dielectric layer in a low-E (low-emissivity) coating, and may improve UV-blocking capability of such a low-E coating. Coated articles in certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of windows.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to robust semi-transparent coatings that are suitable for use in a wide variety of display-on-demand mirror applications, and methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a coating supported by a glass substrate. A reflective metal-inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the glass substrate. A silicon oxide inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the reflective metallic layer. A titanium oxide inclusive layer is formed, directly or indirectly, on the silicon oxide inclusive layer. The metal-inclusive layer is formed so as to reflect incoming light away from the glass substrate such that substantially less incoming light would be reflected away from the glass substrate if lighting were provided on a side of the glass substrate opposite the coating than if no lighting were provided. The surface of the coated article need not necessarily be conductive.

Abstract: An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent substrate and a multi-zone mirror reflector established at a surface thereof. The mirror reflector includes at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least one metallic reflective layer is commonly established at the surface and across the first and second zones of the mirror reflector. A display device is disposed behind the second zone of the mirror reflector and, when the display device is operating to emit display information, emitted display information passes through the second zone of the mirror reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. The second zone has a degree of transmissivity of light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of light through the first zone of the mirror reflector.

Abstract: A composite oxide coating is provided that efficiently blocks both ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. Certain embodiments of this invention relate to a coating having IR and UV blocking characteristics. In certain example embodiments, the coating includes a silica matrix, zinc antimonite, and a UV blocking material such as cerium oxide, thereby permitting the coating after application to block significant amounts of both IR and UV radiation.

Abstract: Methods of making titania coatings having self-cleaning properties, and associated articles are provided. In certain example instances, a substrate supports a layer comprising titanium dioxide. The substrate may support multiple layers. After curing using ultraviolet radiation and/or electron beams, the resulting coating may inhibit fouling.

Abstract: A temporary protective coating is provided over a coated glass substrate. The temporary protective coating includes a hot melt adhesive and is preferably applied in liquid form then solidified on the substrate. Moreover, the temporary protective coating can be easily removed by simply peeling it off. In certain example embodiments, the temporary protective coating is applied after heat treatment and is removed by peeling it off before the coated substrate is coupled to another substrate to form a window unit such as an IG window unit or a laminated vehicle windshield.

Abstract: A first-surface mirror or other substrate includes protective coating and is for use in a solar collector, projection television, or the like. In certain example embodiments, a protective coating is formed over a reflective coating of a first surface mirror. In other aspects, this application is related to other coated articles, including, for example, articles (such as insulating glass (IG) window units) having coatings providing for low emissivity. In certain example embodiments, the protective coating may comprise organic materials containing alkyl chains or fluoro-alkyl chains and reactive functionalities comprising silicon and/or phosphorous so as to protect the reflective coating and improve durability.

Abstract: An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to surface-assisted combustion deposition deposited coatings (e.g., metal oxide coatings) formed on glass substrates, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a wet-applied (e.g., sol-gel applied) pre-treatment coating increases a number of nucleation sites on or proximate to the at least one surface of the substrate to be coated, and/or increases a number of binding sites or forms a binding medium on the at least one surface of the substrate to be coated. A combustion deposition deposited growth is formed thereon. The pre-treatment coating may facilitate the combustion deposition depositing of coatings.

Abstract: An exterior mirror suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a light transmitting substrate with a mirror reflector having a metallic reflective layer coated thereon. A visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of the light transmitting substrate and actuated to emit light when powered. Light emitted by light sources of the display passes through the light transmitting substrate so as to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the reflective mirror element. The mirror element has portions of the metallic reflective layer at least partially removed by laser scribing to establish at least partially light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector so that light emitted by light sources, when powered, passes through the respective at least partially light transmissive portions to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element.