Abstract: A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and in contact with a transparent conductive coating and a third surface reflector. A metallic electrical connector is provided that includes an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion. An electrical wire is inserted in the wire receiving portion such that at least one tang of the wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in the wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire. The attachment portion is attached at the front or rear substrate to attach the electrical connector at the mirror reflective element such that the attachment portion electrically conductively connects to the transparent conductive coating or the third surface reflector.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera located behind and viewing through a vehicle windshield, a rear camera located at a rear of the vehicle, and a common image processor operable for processing captured image data. A video display screen is located within the interior cabin of the vehicle viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The common image processor utilizes object detection software at least during processing of first image data captured by the forward-viewing camera to detect at least one vehicle present exterior the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear and while the driver is executing a reversing maneuver, video images derived from image data captured by at least the rear camera are displayed on the video display screen.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element assembly for a vehicle includes an electrically variable reflectance mirror reflective element that includes front and rear substrates with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate that conceals the perimeter seal from view by a driver of a vehicle. No part of the rear substrate extends beyond any part of the front substrate. At least a portion of the mirror reflector disposed at at least a portion of the third surface of the rear substrate extends from under the perimeter seal outward towards at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the rear substrate. The mirror reflector includes a stack of thin films that includes at least a first metal thin film and a second metal thin film.

Abstract: An electro-optic mirror reflective element for a rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. A surface of the front substrate and a surface of the rear substrate oppose each other and are spaced apart by a perimeter seal, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the surfaces and bounded by the perimeter seal. A transparent electrically conductive coating is established at the surface of the front substrate, and a specularly reflective mirror reflector is established at the surface of the rear substrate. The specularly reflective mirror reflector includes a stack of thin film layers having (i) an environmentally stable electrically conductive metallic reflecting thin film layer, (ii) an environmentally vulnerable electrically conductive metallic reflecting thin film layer and (iii) a transparent electrically conductive thin film layer. The transparent electrically conductive thin film layer includes aluminum doped zinc oxide.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera located behind and viewing through the vehicle windshield, a rear backup camera located at the rear of the vehicle, and a common image processor operable for processing captured image data. A video display screen is located within the interior cabin of the vehicle viewable by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear and while the driver is executing a reversing maneuver, video images derived from image data captured by at least the rear backup camera are displayed on the video display screen. When the vehicle is travelling forward, the common image processor processes image data captured by the forward-viewing camera for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and for a headlamp control system of the vehicle and/or a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element assembly for a vehicle includes an electrically variable reflectance mirror reflective element that includes front and rear substrates with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate that conceals the perimeter seal from view by a driver of a vehicle. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends from under the perimeter seal outward towards at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the rear substrate. The mirror reflective element includes a more curved outboard region and a less curved inboard region. A laser-etched demarcation may demarcate the more curved outboard region of the mirror reflective element from the less curved inboard region of the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A method of making a mirror reflective element suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing front and rear substrates, and disposing an electrically conductive layer and a metallic reflector at respective surfaces thereof. With the substrates joined and with an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity, light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate is non-spectrally selective when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends under the perimeter seal and towards a perimeter edge of the rear substrate. A display is disposed to the rear of the rear substrate of the mirror reflective element at a light-transmitting window. The display is operable responsive to a blind spot detector of a vehicle equipped with an exterior rearview mirror assembly that incorporates the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera located behind and viewing through the vehicle windshield, a rear backup camera located at the rear of the vehicle, and a common image processor operable for processing captured image data. A video display screen is located within the interior cabin of the vehicle viewable by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear and while the driver is executing a reversing maneuver, video images derived from image data captured by at least the rear backup camera are displayed on the video display screen. When the vehicle is travelling forward, the common image processor processes image data captured by the forward-viewing camera for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and for a headlamp control system of the vehicle and/or a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A variable reflectance exterior mirror reflective element suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. A mirror reflector is disposed at a third surface of the rear substrate. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge and generally conceals the perimeter seal from view by a person viewing through the front substrate. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. A display is disposed proximate a fourth surface of the rear at a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector established by laser ablation. The display is configured to be operated responsive to a blind spot detector of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a first imager located at a front portion of the vehicle, a second imager located at the rear of the vehicle, a third imager located in a first exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and a fourth imager located in a second exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear, (a) video images derived from image data captured by the second imager are displayed on a video display screen and (b) responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by a common image processor, the driver of the vehicle is alerted to the presence of an object exterior the equipped vehicle. When the vehicle travels forward, the common image processor processes first image data captured by the first imager for at least a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element assembly for a vehicle includes an electrically variable reflectance mirror reflective element that includes front and rear substrates with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate that conceals the perimeter seal from view by a driver of a vehicle. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends from under the perimeter seal outward towards at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the rear substrate. The mirror reflective element includes a more curved outboard region and a less curved inboard region. A laser-etched demarcation may demarcate the more curved outboard region of the mirror reflective element from the less curved inboard region of the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: An electro-optic mirror reflective element for a rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. A surface of the front substrate and a surface of the rear substrate oppose each other and are spaced apart by a perimeter seal, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the surfaces and bounded by the perimeter seal. A transparent electrically conductive coating is established at the surface of the front substrate, and a specularly reflective mirror reflector is established at the surface of the rear substrate. The specularly reflective mirror reflector includes a stack of thin film layers having (i) an environmentally stable electrically conductive metallic reflecting thin film layer, (ii) an environmentally vulnerable electrically conductive metallic reflecting thin film layer and (iii) a transparent electrically conductive thin film layer. The transparent electrically conductive thin film layer includes aluminum doped zinc oxide.

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly suitable for a vehicle includes an attachment portion and a casing portion having a variable reflectance mirror reflective element. A mirror reflector is disposed at at least a portion of a surface of a rear substrate of the reflective element. The mirror reflector includes a stack of thin films having at least a first metal thin film and a second metal thin film. The first metal thin film is formed of a metal material that has a specific resistivity of less than about 1×10?3 ohm·cm and the second metal thin film is formed of a metal material that has a specific resistivity of less than about 1×10?3 ohm·cm. No part of the rear substrate extends beyond any part of a front substrate of the reflective element. An indicator is disposed rearward of the reflective element and, when actuated, illuminates through the reflective element.

Abstract: A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and in contact with a transparent conductive coating and a third surface reflector. A metallic electrical connector is provided that includes an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion. An electrical wire is inserted in the wire receiving portion such that at least one tang of the wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in the wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire. The attachment portion is attached at the front or rear substrate to attach the electrical connector at the mirror reflective element such that the attachment portion electrically conductively connects to the transparent conductive coating or the third surface reflector.

Abstract: A method of sputter coating a glass substrate includes providing a glass substrate and providing a sputtering assembly for sputtering a coating onto the glass substrate in a vacuum deposition chamber. The sputtering assembly includes a backing plate and a separating element disposed on the backing plate. At least one target element is provided and disposed at and in contact with a surface of the separating element. The target element is not bonded the separating element when disposed at and in contact with the surface of the separating element. An expansion gap is provided at or adjacent to the target element to allow for expansion of the target element during the sputtering process. Material from the target element is sputtered and the target element is heated to a substantially elevated temperature during the sputtering process. The sputtering process coats a surface of the glass substrate with the target element material.

Abstract: A mirror element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and an indicator. The front side of the mirror back plate includes a reflective element attaching portion and the rear side of the mirror back plate includes (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion, all of which are integrally formed during injection molding of the mirror back plate. The indicator attaching portion includes structure extending from the rear side of the mirror back plate and having a passageway therethrough. The indicator is attached at the structure, and light emitted by the indicator passes through the passageway and through an opening of the mirror back plate and through the mirror reflective element so as to exit from the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the reflective element attaching portion.

Abstract: A reflective element assembly for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes front and rear substrates with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween. An electrical connector has an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein. A flange of the attachment portion is configured to be disposed at a fourth surface of the rear substrate and a tab is configured to extend at least partially across a perimeter edge of the rear substrate. An electrically conductive material is disposed in an uncured state and uncured electrically conductive material flows at least partially through the aperture and is cured to secure the electrical connector at the rear substrate. The wire receiving portion of the electrical connector is configured to receive the electrical wire therein and includes at least one tang that engages the electrical wire when the electrical wire is inserted into the wire receiving portion.

Abstract: A variable reflectance exterior mirror reflective element suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. A mirror reflector is disposed at a third surface of the rear substrate. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge and generally conceals the perimeter seal from view by a person viewing through the front substrate. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. A display is disposed proximate a fourth surface of the rear at a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector established by laser ablation. The display is configured to be operated responsive to a blind spot detector of the vehicle.

Abstract: A variable reflectance mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a front substrate and a rear substrate, with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. A mirror reflector is disposed at a third surface of the rear substrate and includes a stack of thin films and has a sheet resistance of less than about 5 ohms per square. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic to a person viewing the exterior mirror reflective element when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends out under the seal towards a perimeter edge of the rear substrate. An electrical connection, which may include a conductive epoxy, is made to the portion of the mirror reflector outboard of the perimeter seal.

Abstract: A variable reflectance vehicular electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element assembly includes a front substrate and a rear substrate with a perimeter seal disposed therebetween. The front substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the second surface having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat. The rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, with the third surface having a conductive reflector coating disposed thereat. The reflector coating may include a plurality of layers having first and second layers of nickel chromium. The front substrate may have a perimeter band disposed along a perimeter region of the second surface. The perimeter band may include a plurality of layers having first and second layers of nickel chromium.