MXPA01003932A

MXPA01003932A - Electrochromic mirror incorporating a third surface reflector

Info

Publication number: MXPA01003932A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/003932A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Jon H Bechtel; Joseph S Stam; John K Roberts; Frederick T Bauer; John S Anderson; William L Tonar; John W Carter; David J Cammenga; Zwaag Scott W Vander; Jeffrey A Forgette
Original assignee: Gentex Corporation
Priority date: 1998-10-20
Filing date: 2001-04-19
Publication date: 2002-02-26

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror is disclosed for use in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly (110) having an electronic device (160, 170, 220, 725) positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting and/or receiving light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes an electrode (120) that includes a layer of reflective material (121) and a coating of electrically conductive material (172) that is at least partially transmissive. The second electrode further includes a region (146) in front of the electronic device that is least partially transmissive. The electrically conductive coating may include a single transparent layer or a plurality of partially reflective and transmissive layers, or an electrically conductive dichroic coating. The electronic device may be a light sensor (160) or a light source such as an information display (170) or a signal light (220).

Description

ELECTROCROMIC MIRROR THAT INCORPORATES A REFLECTOR OF THE THIRD SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to rear-view mirrors, electrochromic for motor vehicles, and more particularly, to improved, electrochromic rear-view mirrors incorporating a reflector / electrode of the third surface in contact with at least one electrochromic material of solution phase. Up to now, various rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles have been proposed which change from the full reflectance mode (day) to the partial reflectance mode (s) (night) for purposes of protection against glare from the light coming from the vehicle. of the headlights of vehicles approaching from the rear. Among such devices are those in which the transmittance is varied by a thermochromic, photochromic or electro-optical medium (for example, liquid crystal, dipolar suspension, an electrophoretic medium, an electrochromic medium, etc.) and where the characteristic of variable transmittance affects the electromagnetic radiation that is at least partially in the visible spectrum (wavelengths from about 3800 Á to 7800 Á). The REF: 128421 Reversibly variable transmittance devices to electromagnetic radiation have been proposed as the variable transmittance element in variable transmittance light filters, variable reflectance mirrors, and visual display devices, which employ such light filters or mirrors in transmitting information. These variable transmittance light filters have included windows. Reversible variable transmittance devices for electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transmittance is altered by the electrochromic means, are well known in the art. Such electrochromic devices can be used in a completely integrated indoor / outdoor rear view mirror system or as separate interior or exterior mirror systems. Figure 1 shows a typical electrochromic mirror device 10, having front and rear planar elements 12 and 16, respectively. A conductive, transparent coating 14 is placed on the rear face of the front element 12, and another transparent, conductive coating 18 is placed on the front face of the rear element 16. A reflector (20a, 20b and 20c), typically comprising a layer of silver metal 20a covered by a layer of copper metal, protective 20b, and one or more layers of protective paint 20c, are placed on the rear face of the back element 16. For clarity of description of such structure, the front surface of the The glass front element is sometimes referred to as the first surface, and the interior surface of the glass front element is sometimes referred to as the second surface. The inner surface of the glass front element is sometimes referred to as the second surface. The inner surface of the rear glass element is sometimes referred to as the third surface and the rear surface of the rear glass element is sometimes referred to as the fourth surface. The front and back elements are maintained in a parallel and separated relationship by the seal 22, to create a chamber 26 accordingly. The electrochromic means 24 is contained in the space 26. The electrochromic means 24 is in direct contact with the electrode layers. , transparent 14 and 18, through which passes the electromagnetic radiation whose intensity is reversibly modulated in the device by a voltage or variable potential applied to the electrode layers 14 and 18 through the jaw or fastener contacts and an electronic circuit (not shown). The electrochromic means 24 placed in the space 26 may include electrochromic materials of the electrode position type or the solution phase type, confined on the surface and combinations thereof. In a complete solution phase medium, the electrochemical properties of the solvent, the optional inert electrolyte, the anodic materials, the cathode materials and any other component that could be present in the solution are preferably such that no significant electrochemical change or other changes occur. changes in the potential difference that oxidizes the anodic material and reduces the cathodic material different from the electrochemical oxidation of the anodic material, the alectrochemical reduction of the cathodic material, and the self-eliminating reaction between the oxidized form of the anodic material and the reduced form of the material cathode In most cases, when there is no electrical potential difference between the transparent conductors 14 and 18, the electrochromic means 24 in the space 26 is essentially colorless or almost colorless, and the incoming light (I0) enters through the front element. 12, passes through the transparent coating 14, the chamber containing an electrochromic means 26, the transparent coating 18, the rear element 16, and the layer 20a is completely reflected and travels back through the device and out of the front element 12 Typically, the magnitude of the reflected image (IR) without electrical potential difference is approximately 45 percent to approximately 85 percent of the incident light intensity (I0). • The exact value depends on many variables summarized later, such as, for example, the residual reflection (I'R) of the frontal face of the frontal element, as well as the secondary reflections of the interfacial areas between e: the front element 12 and the transparent, front electrode 14, the transparent, front electrode 14 and the electrochromic means 24, the electrochromic means 24 and the second transparent electrode 18 and the second transparent electrode 18 and the rear element 16. These reflections they are well known in the art and are due to the difference in the refractive indexes between one material and another when the light crosses the interfacial zone between the two. If the front element and the rear element are not parallel, then the residual reflectance (I'R) or other secondary reflections do not overlap with the reflected image (Ig) of the surface of the mirror 20a, and a double image will appear (where a Observer could see what appears to be the double (or triple) number of objects actually present in the reflected image). There is a minimum requirement for the magnitude of the reflected image depending on whether the electrochromic mirrors are placed inside or outside the vehicle. For example, according to the current requirements of most automobile manufacturers, the interior mirrors preferably have a high reflectivity or reflectance, at least 70 percent, the exterior mirrors must have a high, at least 35 end reflectivity. percent. The electrode layers 14 and 18 are connected to the electronic circuit which is effective to electrically energize the electrochromic medium, such that when a potential is applied through the transparent conductors 14 and 18, the electrochromic medium in the space 26 is obscured, such that the incident light (Is) is attenuated when the light passes to the reflector 20a and when it passes back through after being reflected. By adjusting the potential difference between the transparent electrodes, such a device can function as a "grayscale" device, with continuously variable transmission over a wide range. For the solution phase electrochromic systems, when the potential between the electrodes is eliminated or returned to zero, the device returns spontaneously to the same color and equilibrium transmission, of zero potential that the device had before the potential was applied. Other electrochromic materials are available to make the electrochromic devices. For example, the electrochromic medium can include electrochromic materials which are solid metal oxides, redox active polymers and hybrid solution phase combinations and solid metal oxides or redox active polymers; however, the solution phase design described above is typical of most electrochromic devices currently in use. U.S. Patent No. 5,818,625 discloses an electrochromic mirror having a reflector of the third surface. Such a design has advantages in that it is easier to manufacture because there are some layers to build in a device, that is, the transparent electrode of the third surface is not necessary when there is a reflector / electrode of the third surface. In the past, the information, images or symbols of the visual representation devices, such as fluorescence visual representation devices in the vacuum, have been visualized in the rear view mirrors, electrochromic for the motor vehicles with the reflective layers in the fourth surface of the mirror. The visual representation device is visible to the occupant of the vehicle by removing the entire reflective layer in a portion of the fourth surface and placing the visual representation device in that area. Although this design works properly due to the transparent conductors in the second and third surfaces for imparting current to the electrochromic medium, a design is currently not commercially available which allows a visual representation device to be incorporated in a mirror having a reflective layer. on the third surface. Removing the entire reflective layer on the third surface in the area aligned with the visual representation area or the glare sensor area causes serious residual color problems when the electrochromic medium becomes darkened and lightened because, even though colorization occurs in the transparent electrode on the second surface, there is no corresponding electrode on the third surface in that corresponding area to balance the load. As a result, the color generated on the second surface (through the visual area or the glare sensor area) will not darken or lighten at the same rate as other areas with balanced electrodes. This variation in color is significant and is not very attractive aesthetically for the occupants of the vehicle. There are similar problems for rearview mirror, exterior mountings that include light signals, such as directional light signals, behind the back surface of the mirror. Examples of such signal mirrors are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,207,492, 5,361,190 and 5,788,357. By providing a directional light signal in an exterior mirror assembly, a vehicle, or other vehicles traveling in the blind spot of the subject vehicle, will be more likely to be aware when the driver has activated the vehicle direction light signal and because of that he will try to avoid an accident. Such mirror assemblies typically employ a dichroic mirror and a plurality of red LEDs mounted behind the mirror as the signal light source. The dichroic mirror includes a glass substrate and a reflective, dichroic coating provided on the back surface of the glass plate that transmits the red light generated by the LEDs as well as the infrared radiation while reflecting all the light and radiation it has wavelengths less than those of red light. By using a dichroic mirror, such mirror assemblies hide the LEDs when they are not in use to provide the general appearance of a typical rear-view mirror and allow the red light of such LEDs to pass through the dichroic mirror and be visible to drivers. of vehicles behind and to the side of the vehicle in which such a mirror assembly is mounted. Examples of such signal mirrors are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,361,190 and 5,788,357. In daylight, the intensity of the LEDs should be relatively high to make it possible for those in other vehicles to easily observe the light signals.

Because the image reflected to the driver is also relatively high in daylight, the brightness of the LEDs is not too disturbing. However, at night the same intensity of the LED could be very disturbing, and therefore, potentially dangerous. To avoid this problem, a day / night sensor circuit is mounted in the sub-assembly of the light signals behind the dichroic mirror to detect whether it is day or night and to tilt the intensity of the LEDs between two different intensity levels. The sensor used in the day / night sensor circuit is more sensitive to red and infrared light to distinguish more easily between daylight conditions and glare by the brightness of the headlights of a vehicle approaching from the later. Therefore, the sensor can be mounted behind the dichroic coating on the dichroic mirror. The dichroic mirrors used in the exterior mirror assemblies, described above suffer from the same problems of many exterior mirror assemblies in that their reflectance can not be varied dynamically to reduce the glare at night of the headlights of other vehicles. Although there are exterior mirror assemblies that include light signals and there are other exterior mirror assemblies that include electrochromic mirrors, no light signals have been provided in mirror assemblies that have an electrochromic mirror because the dichroic coating necessary to hide the LEDs of the luminous signal typically can not be applied to an electrochromic mirror, particularly those mirrors that employ a reflector / electrode of the third surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to solve the above problems by providing an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly that includes a reflector formed as a continuous layer across the visible, complete surface of the rear element of the mirror , even those regions that are located in front of a light source, such as a light signal, a device for visual representation of information, or an illuminator, or a sensor or light collector, which is placed behind the electrochromic mirror. Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic mirror having a reflector that is at least partially transmissive at least in regions in front of a light source, such as a visual display device, illuminator, or light signal. Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic mirror having a partially transmissive, partially reflecting reflector that does not have a shade too yellow and has relative color neutrality. According to a first embodiment, it is an additional aspect to provide the reflector as a reflector of the third surface. In order to achieve these and other aspects and advantages, the electrochromic mirror according to the present invention comprises a partially reflective, partially transmissive electrode placed on substantially the entire front surface of the rear element. The rear view mirror, electrochromic in this constructed manner, has a reflectance of at least about 35% and a transmittance of at least about 5% in at least the portions of the visible spectrum. The mirror also preferably exhibits relative color neutrality with a C * value of less than about 20. In addition, the mirror preferably has no perceptible yellow hue and thus has a b * value of less than about 15. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a rearview mirror assembly having a light emitting display presentation assembly mounted behind the mirror within the mirror housing by means of which spurious reflections and phantom images are substantially reduced or eliminated. To achieve this and other aspects and advantages, a rearview mirror assembly according to the present invention comprises either a reflector of the third surface, electrically conductive or a reflector of the fourth surface, the reflective / reflector electrode that is at least partially transmissive in at least one location in front of the visual representation device. The visualization device has a front surface and is preferably mounted behind the rear surface of the rear element, such that the front surface of the visualization device is not parallel with the front surface of the mirror. Alternatively, the visualization device may have a non-specular front surface or the front surface could be laminated directly to the rear of the mirror. As yet another alternative, an anti-reflection coating can be applied to the reflective surface (s) of the visualization device and the front surface of the mirror. Still another alternative to achieve the above aspects and advantages is to provide at least one filtering component that minimizes the light that is emitted from the visualization device of the complete reflection of the reflector back to the visualization device and then the reflection back to the front surface of the visualization device towards the front surface of the front element then for the observer. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an exterior rear view mirror assembly that incorporates a light source to illuminate a portion of the exterior of the vehicle, such as the area of the door handle and the immobilization mechanism of a vehicle door. In order to achieve these and other aspects and advantages, an exterior rear view mirror assembly of the present invention comprises a light source behind the rear surface of a first element, the light source which is positioned to emit light through the first element and through of a region of a reflector that is at least partially transmissive to one side of a vehicle. In this way, this rearview mirror assembly conveniently illuminates the areas on the outside of the vehicle such as the door handles and the locking mechanisms. According to another embodiment, the electrochromic mirror of the present invention comprises a second electrode superimposed on the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a coating of the electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive and is disposed over substantially the entire front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of an electronic device that is disposed behind the electrochromic mirror that is at least partially transmissive. A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a reflector / electrode of the third surface (ie, a second electrode) that is at least partially reflective in those regions in front of the light source to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. To achieve this and other aspects and advantages, either a thin layer of the reflective material can be applied to those regions on the front of the electronic device or the electrically conductive coating underlying the reflective layer can be made of materials that are not only electrically conductive, but also partially reflective and partially transmissive. To achieve the foregoing and other aspects and advantages, the rearview mirror of the present invention alternatively comprises a mirror that includes a transparent substrate, a reflective coating formed on a surface of the substrate, and a partially transmissive / reflective area placed within the reflective coating, the partially transmissive / reflective area having regions containing a reflective material and regions substantially free of reflective material, and a light source mounted behind the partially transmissive / reflective area of the mirror to selectively project light through the mirror, wherein the material reflective is effective to reflect light through the substrate when light reaches the reflective material after passing through the substrate. These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional, elongated view of an electrochromic mirror assembly of the prior art; Figure 2 is a front elevation view schematically illustrating a rear view, electrochromic, interior / exterior mirror system for motor vehicles, where the interior and exterior mirrors inorate the mirror assembly of the present invention; Figures 3A-3G are sectional, partial views of alternative constructions of the electrochromic mirror acing to the present invention taken along line 3-30 shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional, partial view of the electrochromic mirror acing to the present invention taken along the line 3-3 'shown in Figure 2; Figures 5A-5E are sectional, partial views of alternative, additional constructions of the electrochromic mirror acing to the present invention taken along lines 3-3 'shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a front elevational view schematically illustrating an interior, electrochromic rear view mirror inorating the mirror assembly of the present invention; Figure 7 is a sectional, partial view of the electrochromic mirror shown in Figure 6 taken along line 7-7 '; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an exterior, automatic, rear view mirror including a light signal and a block-shaped electrical circuit diagram of an exterior rear view mirror assembly constructed in acance with the present invention; Figure 9 is a front elevational view of a sub-assembly of the light signals that can be used in the exterior mirror assembly of the present invention; Figure 10A is a partial sectional view taken along line 10-10 'of Figure 8 illustrating a construction of the exterior rear view mirror of the present invention; Figure 10B is a partial sectional view taken along line 10-10 'of Figure 8 illustrating a second alternative arrangement of the exterior rear view mirror constructed in acance with the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10C is a sectional, partial view taken along the lines 10-10 'of Figure 8 illustrating a third alternative ordering of the exterior rear view mirror constructed in acance with the second embodiment of the present invention.; Figure 10D is a sectional, partial view taken along lines 10-10 'of Figure 8 illustrating a fourth alternative rear view mirror arrangement constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a graphic representation of two vehicles, one of which includes the signal mirror of the present invention; Figure 12 is a front elevational view of an automatic rearview mirror incorporating the information display area of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is an elongated sectional view, with portions separated by clarity of illustration, of the automatic rearview mirror illustrated in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the information display area, with portions separated by clarity of illustration, of the automatic rear view mirror illustrated in Figure 12; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a luminous signal assembly for use with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 16 is a front elevational view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17 is a partial sectional view of the rearview mirror assembly shown in Figure 16 taken along the line 17-17 '; Figure 18 is a perspective view of an exterior portion of an exemplary vehicle incorporating the exterior rear view mirror of the present invention as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17; Figure 19A is a front, perspective view of a filter or mask that bears signs according to another aspect of the present invention; Figure 19B is a front perspective view of a rearview mirror constructed in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; Figure 20 is a front perspective view of a circuit board containing a plurality of light sources arranged in a configuration useful as a visual display device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and Figure 21 is a sectional view of a visual display device and a mirror constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 2 shows a front elevational view schematically illustrating an interior mirror assembly 110 and two exterior rear view mirror assemblies Illa and lllb for the driver's side and the passenger's side, respectively, all the which are adapted to be installed in a motor vehicle in a conventional manner and where the mirrors are facing the rear of the vehicle and can be observed by the driver of the vehicle to provide a rearward view. The interior mirror assembly 110 and the exterior rearview mirror assemblies Illa and IIIb may incorporate the electronic light-sensing circuit of the type illustrated and described in the aforementioned Canadian patent No. 1,300,945, US patent No. 5,204,778 or the patent. No. 5,451,822 and other circuits capable of detecting dazzling and ambient light and supplying an excitation voltage to the electrochromic element. The mirror assemblies 110, Illa, and IIIb are essentially identical in that similar numbers identify the components of the interior and exterior mirrors. These components could be slightly different in the configuration, but they work substantially in the same way and obtain substantially the same results as the components numbered similarly. For example, the shape of the glass front element of the inner mirror 110 is generally longer and narrower than the outer mirrors Illa and lllb. There are also some different performance standards placed in the interior mirror 110 compared to the exterior mirrors Illa and lllb. For example, the interior mirror 110 generally, when fully rinsed, should have a reflectance value of about 70 percent to about 85 percent or greater, while the outside mirrors often have a reflectance of about 50 percent to about 65. percent. Also, in the United States (as supplied by automobile manufacturers), the passenger side mirror lllb typically has a spherically bent or convex shape, while the driver side mirror Illa and the interior mirror 110 must now be blueprints. In Europe, the driver's side mirror Illa is commonly flat or aspherical, while the passenger side mirror lllb has a convex shape. In Japan, both exterior mirrors have a convex shape. Figures 3A-3G illustrate various alternative constructions for a electrochromic rear view mirror of the present invention, particularly when a light source 170, such as a visual information display device (i.e., compass / temperature display) or A luminous signal is placed inside the mirror assembly behind the electrochromic mirror. Figure 3A shows a sectional view of the mirror assembly having a front, transparent element 112 having a front surface 112a and a rear surface 112b, and a rear element 114 having a front surface 114a and a rear surface 114b. For clarity of description of such structure, the following designations will be used later. The front surface 112a of the glass front element will be referred to as the first surface and the rear surface 112b of the glass front element as the second surface. The front surface 114a of the glass back element will be referred to as the third surface, and the rear surface 114b of the glass backing element as the fourth surface. A chamber 125 is defined by a transparent conductor layer 128 - (carried on the second surface 112b), a reflector / electrode 120 (disposed on the third surface 114a), and an inner, circumferential wall 132 of the sealing or sealing member 116. An electrochromic means 126 is contained within the chamber 125. As widely used and described herein, reference to an electrode or layer as being "carried" on a surface of an element, refers to both electrodes or electrodes. layers that are arranged directly on the surface of an element or are arranged on another coating, layer or layers that are arranged directly on the surface of the element. The transparent, front element 112 can be any material which is transparent and has sufficient strength to be able to operate under conditions, for example, varying temperatures and pressures, commonly found in the automotive environment. The front element 112 can comprise any type of borosilicate glass, soda and lime glass, glass passed through a liquid metal bath, or any other material, such as, for example, a polymer or plastic, which is transparent in the region visible of the electromagnetic spectrum. The front element 112 is preferably a sheet of glass. The back element must comply with the operational conditions outlined above, except that it does not need to be transparent in all applications, and therefore may comprise polymers, metals, glass, ceramics and preferably is a sheet of glass. The coatings of the third surface 114a are sealingly joined to the coatings on the second surface 112b in a separate and parallel relationship by a sealing member 116 disposed near the outer perimeter of both the second surface 112b and the third surface 114a. The sealing member 116 can be any material that is capable of adhesively bonding the coatings on the second surface 112b over the coatings on the third surface 114a to seal the perimeter such that the electrochromic material 126 does not leak from the chamber 125. Optionally, the transparent conductive coating layer 128 and the reflector / electrode layer 120 can be removed over a portion where the sealing member is disposed (not the entire portion, otherwise the excitation potential could not be applied to the two coatings ). In such a case, the sealing member 116 should bond well to the glass. The performance requirements for a perimeter sealing member 116 used in an electrochromic device are similar to those for a perimeter seal used in a liquid crystal device (LCD), which are well known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 5,818,625 describes these properties and sealing materials and suitable constructions. The layer of an electrically conductive, transparent material 128 is deposited on the second surface 112b to act as an electrode. The conductive, transparent material 128 can be any material which either unites with the front element 112, is corrosion resistant to any material within the electrochromic device, resists corrosion by the atmosphere, has minimal diffuse or specular reflectance, high transmission of light, almost neutral coloration and good electrical conductance. The conductive, transparent material 128 may be any of the materials described in U.S. Patent No. 5,818,625, and have the thickness described therein. If desired, an optional layer or layers of a color suppression material 130 can be deposited between the conductive, transparent material 128 and the second surface 112b to suppress reflection of any of the undesired portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In accordance with the present invention, a combination reflector / electrode 120 is preferably disposed on the third surface 114a. The reflector / electrode 120 comprises at least one layer of a reflective material 121 which serves as a reflectance layer of the mirror and also forms an integral electrode in contact with and in a chemically and electrochemically stable relationship with any constituent in an electrochromic medium. By combining the "reflector" and the "electrode" and placing both on the third surface, various unexpected advantages arise which not only make the device less complex, but also allow the device to operate at a higher performance. The following will be a summary of the exemplary advantages of the combined reflector / electrode of the present invention. First, the combined reflector / electrode 120 on the third surface generally has higher conductance than a conventional, transparent electrode and the reflectors / electrodes previously used, which will allow greater design flexibility. One can either change the composition of the conductive electrode, transparent on the second surface to one that has lower conductance (which is cheaper and easier to produce and manufacture) while maintaining coloring speeds similar to those obtainable with a device reflector of the fourth surface, while at the same time substantially decreasing the total cost and time to produce the electrochromic device. However, if the performance of a particular design is of paramount importance, a transparent electrode of moderate to high conductance can be used on the second surface, such as, for example, ITO, IMI, and so on. The combination of a high conductance reflector / electrode (ie, less than 250 O / D, preferably less than 15 O / D) on the third surface and a high conductance transparent electrode on the second surface will not only produce an electrochromic device with even more total coloration, but also allow the increased speed of coloration and clearance. In addition, in reflector mirror assemblies of the fourth surface there are two transparent electrodes with relatively low conductance and in the reflecting mirrors of the third surface, previously used there is a transparent electrode and a reflector / electrode with relatively low conductance and, as such, is a large bus or busbar is needed in the front and rear element that will introduce and output current to ensure adequate color velocity. The reflector / electrode of the third surface of the present invention has a higher conductance and therefore has a very uniform voltage or potential distribution across the conductive surface, even with a small or irregular contact area. In this way, the present invention provides greater design flexibility by allowing the electrical contact for the electrode of the third surface to be very small while still maintaining a suitable color velocity. Second, a reflector / electrode of the third surface helps to improve the image that is observed through the mirror. Figure 1 shows how light travels through a conventional fourth reflector device. In the reflector of the fourth surface, the light travels through: the first glass element, the conductive electrode, transparent on the second surface, the electrochromic means, the conductive electrode, transparent on the third surface, and the second element of glass, before being reflected by the reflector in the fourth surface. Both conductive, transparent electrodes exhibit highly specular transmittance but also possess diffuse and reflective transmittance elements, while the reflective layer used in any electrochromic mirror is selected primarily by its specular reflectance. For the diffuse and reflective transmittance component, it is implied a material which reflects or transmits a portion of all the light that collides on it according to Lambert's law with which the rays of light are diffused or scattered. By the component of reflectance or specular transmittance, it is meant a material which reflects or transmits the light that strikes it according to the Snell laws of reflection or refraction. In practical terms, diffuse reflectors and transmitters tend to blur the images slightly, so that the specular reflectors show a clear, bright image. Therefore, the light that travels through a mirror that has a device with a reflector of the fourth surface has two diffuse, partial reflectors (on the second and third surfaces) which tend to blur the image, and a device with a reflector / electrode in the third surface of the present invention only has a diffuse reflector (in the second surface). Additionally, because the transparent electrodes act as diffuse, partial transmitters, and the farther away the diffuse transmitter from the reflective surface, the more severe the smearing becomes, a mirror with a reflector of the fourth surface seems significantly more hazy than a mirror with reflector of the third surface. For example, in the reflector of the fourth surface shown in Figure 1, the diffuse transmitter on the second surface is separated from the reflector by the electrochromic material, the second conductive electrode, and the second glass element. The diffuse transmitter on the third surface is separated from the reflector by the second glass element. By incorporating a combined reflector / electrode in the third surface according to the present invention, one of the diffuse transmitters is eliminated, and the distance between the reflector and the diffuse, remaining transmitter is closer by the thickness of the rear glass element. Therefore, the metal reflector / electrode of the third surface of the present invention provides an electrochromic mirror with a superior view of the image. Finally, a reflector / metal electrode of the third surface improves the ability to reduce double imaging in an electrochromic mirror. As stated above, there are several interfacial areas where reflections can occur. Some of these reflections can be significantly reduced with color suppression or anti-reflective coatings; however, the more significant "double imaging" reflections are caused by the misalignment of the first surface and the surface that contains the reflector, and the most reproducible way to minimize the impact of this reflection is to ensure that both elements of glass are parallel. Currently, convex glass is frequently used by the exterior mirror on the passenger side and aspherical glass is sometimes used for the exterior mirror on the driver's side to increase the field of vision and reduce potential blind spots. However, it is difficult to reproducibly bend the successive glass elements having identical radii of curvature. Therefore, when an electrochromic mirror is constructed, the glass front element and the glass back element can not be perfectly parallel (they do not have identical radii of curvature), and therefore, the otherwise controlled dual imaging problems become much more pronounced. By incorporating a combined electrode reflector in the third surface of the device according to the present invention, the light does not have to travel through the rear glass element before being reflected, and any double imaging that occurred from the elements that do not they are parallel will be significantly reduced. It is desirable in the construction of the exterior mirrors, incorporate a thinner glass in order to reduce the total weight of the mirror so that the mechanisms used to manipulate the orientation of the mirror are not overloaded. Decreasing the weight of the device also improves the dynamic stability of the mirror assembly when exposed to vibrations. Therefore, electrochromic mirrors that incorporate a solution phase electrochromic medium and two thin glass elements have not been commercially available, because thin glass suffers from being flexible and prone to distortion or breakage, especially when exposed to extreme environments. This problem is substantially improved by using an electrochromic device, enhanced by incorporating two thin glass elements having an improved gel material. This improved device is described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,940,201. The addition of the combined reflector / electrode on the third surface of the device further aids in removing any residual, double image formation resulting from two non-parallel glass elements. The most important factors for obtaining an electrochromic, reliable mirror having a reflector / electrode of the third surface 120 are that the reflector / electrode has sufficient reflectance and that the mirror incorporating the reflector / electrode has adequate operational life. Considering reflectance, automotive manufacturers prefer a reflective mirror for the interior mirror that has a reflectivity of at least 60 percent, while the reflectivity requirements for an exterior mirror are less stringent and should generally be at least 35 percent . To produce an electrochromic mirror with 70 percent reflectance, the reflector must have a reflectance higher than 70 percent because the electrochromic medium in front of the reflector reduces the reflectance of the reflective interface compared to having the reflector in the air because the medium has a higher refractive index compared to air. Also, the glass, the transparent electrode and the electrochromic medium, even in their clear state, are slightly absorbent of light. Typically, if a total reflectance of 65 percent is desired, the reflector should have a reflectance of approximately 75 percent. Considering the operational life, the layer or layers comprising the reflector / electrode 120 should have adequate bond strength to the peripheral seal, the outermost layer should have good shelf life between the time it is coated and the time the mirror is Assembled, the layer or layers must be resistant to atmospheric and electrical contact corrosion, and should be attached either to the glass surface or to the other layers disposed below it, eg, the base or intermediate layer (172). The total resistance of the sheet for the reflector / electrode 120 can vary from about 0.01 O / D to about 100 O / D and preferably ranges from about 0.2 O / D to about 25O / D. As will be discussed in more detail below, the improved electrical interconnections using a portion of the reflector / electrode of the third surface as a high conductance contact or a busbar or bus so that the conductive, transparent electrode of the second surface can be used when the reflector / electrode conductance of the third surface is below approximately 2 O / D. With reference to Figure 3A for one embodiment of the present invention, a reflector / electrode that is made of a single layer of reflective silver or a silver alloy 121 is provided to be in contact with at least one electrochromic material of solution phase. The silver layer or a silver alloy covers the third complete surface 114a of the second element 114 with the exception of a window area 146 in front of the light source 170. The reflective silver alloy means a homogeneous or non-homogeneous mixture of silver and one or more metals, or an unsaturated, saturated or supersaturated solid solution of silver and one or more metals. U.S. Patent No. 5,818,625 describes the pertinent properties for a number of different materials suitable for the reflector / electrode 120 of the present invention. The only materials that have reflectance properties suitable for use as a reflector / electrode of the third surface in contact with at least one electrochromic material of solution phase for an electrochromic mirror, interior for a motor vehicle are aluminum, silver and alloys silver. Aluminum meets very poorly when in contact with the solution phase material (s) in the electrochromic medium because the aluminum reacts with or is corroded by these materials. Reacted or corroded aluminum is non-reflective and non-conductive and typically will dissolve, separate, or delaminate from the glass surface. Silver is more stable than aluminum but can fail when it is deposited on the entrance of the third surface because it does not have long shelf life and is not resistant to corrosion of the electrical contact when exposed to the environmental extremes found in the environment of the motor vehicle. These environmental extremes include temperatures ranging from about -40 ° C to about 85 ° C and humidities ranging from about 0 percent to about 100 percent. In addition, the mirrors must survive from these temperatures and humidity so that the coloring cycle lasts up to 100,000 cycles.

When the silver is alloyed with certain materials to produce a reflector / electrode of the third surface, the deficiencies associated with the silver metal and the aluminum metal can be overcome. Suitable materials for the reflective layer are silver / palladium alloys, silver / gold, silver / platinum, silver / rhodium, silver / titanium, and so on. The amount of the solute material, ie, palladium, gold, etc., may vary. Silver alloys surprisingly retain the properties of high reflectance and low strength of the silver sheet, while simultaneously improving their contact stability, shelf life and also increase their window of potential stability when used as electrodes in carbonate. propylene containing 0.2 molar tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate. Currently preferred materials for reflective layer 121 are silver / gold, silver / platinum, and silver / palladium. The electrode 120 further includes a coating 172 of electrically conductive material that is applied over substantially all of the front surface 114a of the rear element 114. The liner 172 is preferably at least partially transmissive to enable the light emitted from the light source 170 to be transmitted through the electrochromic mirror by means of the window 146. By providing the electrically conductive coating 172 throughout the entire area of the window 146, the electrochromic means 125 in the region of the window 146 will respond to the voltage applied to the fasteners as if the window 146 was not even present. The coating 172 can be a single layer of a conductive, transparent material. Such an individual layer can be made of the same materials as that of the first electrode 128 (i.e., indium tin oxide (ITO), etc.). Transparent electrodes made of ITO or other transparent conductors have been optimized to thicknesses to maximize the transcription of visible light (typically centered around 550 nm). These optimized thicknesses for transmission are either very thin layers (<300A) or optimized layers in what are commonly called wavelengths, full wave, 1 wave, and so on. For the ITO, the wavelength is approximately 1400 Á and the full wavelength is around 2800 Á. Surprisingly, these thicknesses are not optimal for transflective (ie partially transmissive, partially reflective) electrodes with an individual substrate of a transparent conductor under a metal reflector such as silver or silver alloys. The optimum thicknesses to achieve the relative color neutrality of reflected light are centered around optical wavelength H, wave H, m wavelength, and so on, for light of 500 mm wavelength. In other words, the optical thickness, unbeatable for this layer when it is underlying a metal reflector such as silver or a silver alloy is m? / 4, where? is the wavelength of the light in which the layer is optimized (for example, 500 nm) and m is an odd integer. These optimum thicknesses are wave different from the optimal transmission for the same wavelength. This individual layer may have a thickness between 100 Á and 3500 A and more preferably between 200 Á and 250 Á and a sheet resistivity of between about 3 O / D and 300 O / D and preferably less than about 100 O / D. . The layer 121 is preferably made of silver or a silver alloy. The thickness of the reflective layer 121 in the array shown in Figure 3A is preferably between 30 A and 800 A. The thickness of the layer 121 will depend on the desired properties of reflectance and transmittance. For an interior rearview mirror, layer 121 preferably has a reflectance of at least 60 percent and a transmittance through window 146 of 10 to 50 percent. For an outer mirror, the reflectance is preferably above 35 percent and the transmittance is preferably about 10 to 50 percent and more preferably at least 20 percent for those regions that are in front of one of the lights of a light signal (as described in more detail later). The various layers of reflector / electrode 120 can be deposited by a variety of deposition procedures, such as the electronic deposition of RF and DC, the evaporation of bundles e, the deposition of chemical vapors, the position of electrodes, etc., which will be known to those skilled in the art. Preferred alloys are preferably deposited by electron deposition (RF or DC) of a target of the desired alloy or by electronically depositing the separate targets of the individual metals that form the desired alloy, such that the metals are mixed during the process of deposition and the desired alloy occurs when the mixed metals are deposited and solidified on the surface of the substrate. The window 146 in the layer 121 can be formed by hiding the area of the window 146 during the application of the reflective material. At the same time, the peripheral region of the third surface can also be hidden to prevent materials such as silver or silver alloy (when used as the reflective material) from being deposited in areas to which seal 116 is due. adhere, to create a stronger bond between the seal 116 and the liner 172. Additionally, an area may also be occluding to the front of the sensor 160 (Figure 2). Alternatively, an adhesion promoter material may be added to the seal to increase the adhesion between the seal and the silver / silver alloy layer as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 158,423 entitled "IMPROVED SEAL FOR ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES. " Sometimes it is desirable to provide a protective, glossy, optional coating layer (not shown) on the reflective layer 121, such that it (and not the reflective layer 121) makes contact with the electrochromic medium. This protective, bright coating layer should have a stable behavior as an electrode, should have good shelf life, should be well bonded to the reflective layer 121, and maintain this bond when the sealing member 116 is attached thereto. This should be sufficiently thin, such that it does not completely block the reflectivity of the reflective layer 121. When a protective, glossy coating layer is placed on the highly reflective layer, then the reflective layer 121 can be of silver metal or an alloy of silver because the glossy layer protects the reflective layer while still allowing the highly reflective layer 121 to contribute to the reflectivity of the mirror. In such cases, a thin layer (between about 25 Á and about 300 Á) of rhodium, platinum or molybdenum is deposited on the reflective layer 121. When the reflective layer 121 is silver, the glossy layer can also be a silver alloy. Referring again to Figure 3A, the chamber 125, defined by the transparent conductor 128 (disposed on the rear surface of the front element 112b), the reflector / electrode 120 (disposed on the front surface of the rear element 114a), and a wall circumferential, inner 132 of sealing member 116, contains an electrochromic means 126. Electrochromic means 126 is capable of attenuating the light traveling therethrough and has at least one solution phase electrochromic material in intimate contact with the reflector. electrode 120 and at least one additional electroactive material that may be of solution phase, confined to the surface, or one that is electronically deposited on a surface. However, the currently preferred means are the solution phase redox electrochromic means, such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,902,108, 5,128,799, 5,278,693, 5,280,380, 5,282,077, 5,294,376 and 5,336,448 referred to above. U.S. Patent No. 6,020,987, entitled "ELECTROCHROMIC MÉDIUM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A PRE-SELECTED COLOR" describes the electrochromic means that are perceived to be gray throughout its normal range of operation. If an electrochromic means of solution phase is used, this can be inserted into the chamber 125 through a sealable filler hole through well known techniques, such as vacuum filling and the like. Referring again to Figure 2, the rear view mirrors incorporating the present invention preferably include a frame 144, which extends around the entire periphery of each individual assembly 110, Illa and / or lllb. The frame 144 hides and protects the spring clips, and the portions of the peripheral edge of the sealing member and the front and rear glass elements (112 and 114, respectively). A wide variety of frame designs are well known in the art, such as, for example, the framework taught and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 5,448,397 referred to above. There is also a wide variety of housings well known in the art for attaching the mirror assembly 110 to the front windshield, interior of an automobile, or for attaching the mirror assemblies Illa and lllb to the exterior of an automobile. A preferred mounting clamp is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,337,948 referred to above. The electrical circuit preferably incorporates an ambient light sensor (not shown) and a dazzling light sensor 160, the glare sensor which is placed either behind the mirror glass and which is transparent through a section of the mirror with the reflector material completely or partially removed, or the dazzling light sensor can be placed outside the reflecting surfaces, for example, in the frame 144 or as described below, the sensor can be placed behind a transflective liner uniformly deposited. Additionally, an area or areas of the electrode and the reflector, such as 146, can be completely or partially removed as described below to allow a fluorescence visual representation device in a vacuum, such as a compass, a clock or other signs. , whether shown through the vehicle driver or also as described below, this mounting of the light emitting visual display device can be shown through a uniformly deposited transflective coating. The present invention is also applicable to a mirror which uses only a video chip light sensor for measuring both glare and ambient light and which is capable of further determining the direction of glare. An automatic mirror inside the vehicle, constructed in accordance with this invention, can also control one or both exterior mirrors as slaves or subordinates in an automatic mirror system.

It is preferred but not essential that the reflector / electrode of the third surface 120 be maintained as the cathode in the circuitry because this eliminates the possibility of anodic dissolution or anodic corrosion that could occur if the reflector / electrode were used as the anode. If certain silver alloys are used, the positive potential stability limit extends sufficiently outside, eg, 1.2 V, that the silver alloy reflector / electrode could be used safely as the anode in contact with at least one electrochromic material of solution phase. An alternative construction to that shown in Figure 3A is shown in Figure 3B, where the electrically conductive coating 172 is formed of a plurality of layers 174 and 176. For example, the coating 172 may include a first base layer 174 applied directly to the front surface 114a of the rear element 114 and a second intermediate layer 176 disposed in the first layer 174. The first layer 174 and the second layer 176 are preferably made of materials having relatively low sheet resistivity and which are at least partially Transmissive The materials forming the layers 174 and 176 may also be partially reflective. If the light-emitting display device behind the partially transmissive window area 146 is to be frequently observed under bright environmental conditions or direct sunlight, it may be desirable to maintain the reflectivity of the window area to a minimum when using metals with low reflectivity or other dark, black or transparent coatings that are electrically conductive. The material forming the layer 174 must exhibit suitable bonding characteristics to the glass or other materials from which the rear element 114 may be formed, while the material forming the layer 176 must exhibit suitable properties for bonding to the material of the layer 174. and providing a good bond between the applied layer 121 and the seal 116. In this manner, the material used for the layer 174 is preferably a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: chromium, chromium-molybdenum-nickel alloys, alloys of nickel-iron-chromium, silicon, tantalum, stainless steel and titanium. In the most preferred embodiment, layer 174 is made of chromium. The material used to form the second layer 176 is preferably a material selected from the group consisting essentially of, but not limited to: molybdenum, rhodium, nickel, tungsten, tantalum, stainless steel, gold, titanium, and alloys thereof. In the most preferred embodiment, the second layer 176 is formed of nickel, rhodium or molybdenum. If the first layer 174 is formed of chromium, the layer 174 preferably has a thickness of between 5 Á and 50 Á. If the chromium layer is much thicker, it will not exhibit sufficient transmittance to allow light from a light source 170, such as a visual display device or light signal, to be transmitted through the window 146. The thickness of the layer 176 is selected based on the material used to allow between 10 to 50 percent light transmittance through both layers 174 and 176. In this way, for a second layer 176 formed of either rhodium, nickel or molybdenum, the layer 176 is preferably between 50 Á and 150 Á. While the thickness of the layers 174 and 176 are preferably selected to be sufficiently thin to provide adequate transmittance, they must also be thick enough to provide adequate electrical conductivity to sufficiently lighten or darken the electrochromic means 125 in the region of the window 146 In this way, the coating 172 should have a sheet resistivity of less than 100 O / D and preferably less than 50 O / D to 60 O / D. The arrangement shown in Figure 3B provides various advantages over the construction shown and described with respect to Figure 3A. Specifically, the metals used in the formation of the coating 172 contribute to the total reflectance of the reflector / electrode 120. Accordingly, the layer of the reflective material 121 needs not to be made thick. If, for example, silver or a silver alloy is used to form the layer 121, the thickness layer is between 50 Á and 150 Á, thereby eliminating some of the material costs in providing the reflective layer. In addition, the use of reflective metals in the formation of the coating 172 provides a degree of reflectance within the window 146, to thereby provide a much more aesthetically pleasing appearance than if the window 146 were free of some reflective material of any kind. Ideally, the sheath 172 provides between 30 and 40 percent reflectivity in the window 146. If the reflectance in the window 146 is too high, the bright light will tend to suspend the visualization device in the sense that it eliminates the contrast between the light of the visualization device and the light reflecting away from the lining 172. Another benefit of using metals to form the conductive coating 172 is that such metals are much easier and less expensive to process the metal oxides, such as tin indium oxide. Such metal oxides require application in oxygen-rich chambers at very high temperatures, while metal layers can be deposited without special oxygen chambers and at much lower temperatures. In this way, the process to apply the multiple layers of metal consumes much less energy and is much less expensive than the processes to form the metal oxide layers. A third alternative arrangement for the electrochromic mirror of the present invention is shown in Figure 3C. The construction shown in Figure 3C is essentially the same as that shown in Figure 3B except that a thin layer of silver or a silver alloy 178 is formed on the conductive coating 172 within the window 146. By providing only a thin layer 178 of the reflective material in window 146, adequate transmittance can still be provided through window 146 while the reflectivity and electrical conductivity in that area is increased. The layer 178 may have a thickness between 40 Á and 150 Á, while the layer of reflective material 121 in the other areas has a thickness in the order of 200 Á and 1000 Á. The thin layer 178 of the reflective material can be formed by initially hiding the area of the window 178 while applying a portion of the reflective layer 121 and then removing the mask or filter during the deposition of the remainder of the layer 121. In reverse , a thin layer of reflective material can be deposited first and then a mask or filter can be applied on the window 146 while the rest of the reflective layer 121. is deposited. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the thin layer 178 it can also be formed without masking or hiding by depositing the reflective layer 121 at its full thickness and the subsequent removal of a portion of the layer 121 in the region of the window 146. A modification of the configuration shown in Figure 3C is illustrated in Figure 3D. As will be apparent from a comparison of the drawings, the construction of Figure 3D only differs from that shown in Figure 3C in that the layers 174 and 176 which constitute the conductive coating 172 become thinner (designated as thin layers 180). and 181) in the region of the reflector / electrode 120 that is in front of the light source 170. As such, the thin layer 180 can have a thickness of between 5 A and 50 A, while the layer 174 can have thicknesses in all of them. parts between 100 Á and 1000 Á. Also, the thin layer 181 can be made of the same material as the layer 176 but would have a thickness of between 50 Á and 150 Á, while the layer 176 may have thicknesses in the order of 100 Á to 1000 Á. In this way, with the construction shown in Figure 3D, the electrical conductivity, reflectivity and transmittance within the region 146 can be optimized within the region while making it possible for the reflectance and electrical conductivity in the other regions to be optimized without import the transmittance in those areas. Figure 3E shows yet another alternative construction for the second electrode 120. In the construction shown in Figure 3E, the second electrode 120 includes an electrically conductive coating 172 and a reflective coating 178 formed on the third complete surface 114a of the mirror. By making the reflective liner 178 uniform and partially transmissive, a light source, such as a visual display device or a light signal, can be mounted at any location behind the mirror and is not limited to placement behind any particular window formed in the mirror. the second electrode 120. Again, for a rearview mirror, the second electrode 120 preferably has a reflectance of at least 35 percent of an exterior mirror and at least 60 percent for an interior mirror and a transmittance of preferably at least 10 percent . The conductive coating 172 is preferably a single layer of ITO or other conductive, transparent materials, but may consist of one or more layers of the electrically conductive, partially reflective / partially transmissive materials discussed above.

The reflective liner 178 can be constructed using a relatively thin, individual layer of an electrically conductive, reflective material such as silver, a silver alloy or other reflective materials, discussed above. If the reflective material is silver or a silver alloy, the thickness of such a thin layer should be limited to about 500 A or less, and a conductive, transparent material, such as ITO or the like, should be used as the electrically conductive layer 172, such that the second electrode 120 may have sufficient transmittance to allow a visual display device or a light signal to be observed from behind the mirror. On the other hand, the thickness of the individual layer of the reflective material should be approximately 10 A or more depending on the material used to ensure sufficient reflectivity. To illustrate the features and advantages of an electrochromic mirror constructed in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, ten examples are provided below. In these examples, reference is made to the spectral properties of electrochromic mirror models constructed in accordance with the parameters specified in each example. When discussing colors, it is useful to refer to the Commission Inernationale de I'Eclairage's (CIÉ) 1976 CIELAB Chromaticity diagram (commonly referred to as the L * a * b * diagram). Color technology is relatively complex, but a clearly comprehensive discussion is given by F.W. Billmeyer and M. Slatzman in Principies of Color Thechnology, 2nd Edition, J. Wiley and Sons Inc. (1981), and the present description, as it relates to color technology and terminology, generally follows that discussion. In the diagram L * a * b *, L * defines clarity, a * represents the red / green value, and b * represents the yellow / blue value. Each of the electrochromic media has an absorption spectrum in each particular voltage that can be converted to a three-number designation, its values L * a * b *. To calculate a set of chromatic coordinates, such as the L * a * b * values, of the spectral transmission or reflectance, two additional elements are required. One is the spectral power distribution of the source or illuminant. The present description uses the Normalized Illuminant A of the ICE to simulate the headlight of an automobile and uses the Normalized Illuminant Des of the ICE to simulate daylight. The second necessary element is the spectral response of the observer. The present description uses a standard 2 degree CIE observer. The light source / observer combination generally used for mirrors is then represented as grade A / 2 and the combination generally used for windows is represented as grade D6s / 2. Many of the later examples refer to a Y value of the ICE Standard of 1931 since it corresponds more closely to the spectral reflectance than L *. The value C *, which is also described later, is equal to the square root of (a *) 2+ (b *) 2, and therefore, provides a measure to quantify the neutrality of the color. It should be noted that the optical constants of the materials vary somewhat with the method of deposition and the conditions employed. These differences can have a substantial effect on the optical, real values and optimum thicknesses used to achieve a value for a given coating stock solution. According to a first example, a model of an electrochromic mirror was made having a back plate 114 (Figure 3E) of glass, an ITO layer 172 of about 2000 Á, a layer 178 of a silver alloy containing 6 per 100 percent gold (hereinafter referred to as 6Au94Ag) of about 350A, an electrochromic layer of fluid / gel 125 having a thickness of about 140 microns, a layer 128 of about 1400A of ITO, and a 2.1 mm glass plate 112. Using a D56 illuminant at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, the outputs of the model were Y = 70.7, a * = +1, and b * = +9.5. This model also indicated a spectrally dependent transmittance that was 15 percent on the blue-green region decreasing in the red region of the spectrum of approximately 17 percent in the blue-green region of the spectrum. The elements were constructed using the values and the model as objective parameters for the thickness, and the actual color, and the reflection values corresponded closely to those models with transmission values of approximately 15 percent in the blue and green regions. In this example, the ITO of 1400 Á (1/2 wave) would produce a much more yellow element (b * of approximately 18). Typically, thin layers of silver or a silver alloy are higher in the blue-green transmission and lower in the blue-green light reflection that gives a yellow hue to the reflected image. The ITO substrate of 2000 A of approximately 3/4 wave thickness complements the reflection of the blue-green light that results in a more neutral shade in the reflection. Other odd multiples of quarter waves (ie, 1/4, 5/4, 7/4, etc.) are also effective in reducing the hue of the reflected color. It should be noted that other transparent coatings, such as (F) SnO or (AL) ZnO, or a combination of dielectric, semiconductor, or conductive coatings can be used to complement the blue-green reflection and produce a more neutral reflected hue in the same way. According to a second example of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear plate 114 of glass, a layer 172 that included a titanium dioxide substrate of approximately 441 A and a substrate was made. of ITO of 200 A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of about 337A, an electrochromic fluid / gel 125 having a thickness of about 140 microns, a layer 128 of about 1400 A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1mm . In the air, the model of the thin, conductive film 120 on the glass 114 for this example, using the illuminant D65 at the angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 82.3, a * = 9.3, and b * = 4.11. This model also indicated a relatively broad and uniform transmittance of 10-15 percent across most of the visible spectrum, making it an advantageous design for a rear view mirror, interior with a multi-color visualization device or a display device visual or white light illuminator. When this system of the back plate 114, 120 is incorporated in an electrochromic mirror, the predicted total reflectance decreases and the transmittance increases.

According to a third example of an electrochromic mirror constructed as shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear glass plate 114, a layer 172 including a titanium dioxide substrate of about 407 was made Á and an ITO substrate of 200A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of approximately 237A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of approximately 140 microns, a layer 128 of approximately 1400A of ITO, and a plate of glass 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, the model of the thin, conductive film 120 on the glass 114, for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 68.9, a * = 0.03, and b * = 1.9. This model also indicated a relatively broad and uniform transmittance of approximately 25 to 28 percent across most of the visible spectrum, making it an advantageous design for a rear view mirror, exterior with a multi-color visualization device or a visual representation of white light or an illuminator. When this back plate system 114, 120 is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the predicted total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. According to the fourth example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear plate 114 of glass, a layer 172 that included a substrate of titanium dioxide of about 450 A and a substrate was made. ITO of 1600 A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of approximately 340A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of approximately 140 microns, a layer 128 of approximately 1400A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm In the air, the pattern of the thin, conductive film 120 on the glass 114, for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 80.3, a * = -3.45 and b * = 5.27. This model also indicated a relative transmittance peak at approximately 600 nm of approximately 17 percent. When this back plate system 114, 120 is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the predicted total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. When one compares this accumulation to the second example, a principle of the optimum degree of repetition in the primarily transmissive layer or layers (e.g., layer 172) of these designs is illustrated in part as one increases its thickness or thicknesses. The optimum degree will be determined by various factors which will include good color neutrality, reflection, and transmission. According to a fifth example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear glass plate 114 was made; a layer 172 that included a titanium dioxide substrate of approximately 450 A, an ITO substrate of 800 Á, a silica substrate of 50 Á, and an additional ITO substrate of 800 Á; a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of about 340A; an electrochromic fluid / gel layer 125 having a thickness of approximately 140 microns, a layer 128 of approximately 1400 A ITO; and a 2.1 mm glass plate 112. In the air, the model of the thin, conductive film 120 on the glass 114, for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 80.63, a * = -4.31, and b * = 6.44. This model also indicated a relative transmittance peak at approximately 600 nm of approximately 17 percent. When this back plate system is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total, predicted reflectance decreases and the transmittance increases. This accumulation also demonstrates, in part, a principle of incorporating a glossy layer in these designs. In this particular case, the 50A silica layer does not substantially contribute to the design compared to the fourth example, nor does it depart from it greatly. The insertion of such layers would not circumvent, in the opinion of the inventors, any claim that could depend on the number of layers or the relative refractive indices of the sets of layers. Ser has shown that glossy layers give substantial advantages when used on layer 178 and are discussed above. It is also believed that such glossy layers could have advantages of adhesion promotion or corrosion resistance when placed between the layers 172 and 178 as well as between the glass 114 and the layer (s) 120, especially when they are comprised of metal / alloys mentioned above as having such functions in the thicker layers. According to a sixth example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear plate 114 of glass, a layer 172 that included a substrate of titanium dioxide of about 450 A and a substrate was made. of ITO of 1600 A, a 178 silver layer 178A and a bright layer of 6Au94Ag of about 50A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of about 140 microns, a layer 128 of about 1400A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, on the glass 114, the model of the thin, conductive film 120 for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 81.3, a * = -3.26, and b * = 4.16. This model also indicated a relative transmittance peak at approximately 600 nm of approximately 17 percent. When this back plate system 114, 120 is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the predicted total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. When one compares this accumulation to the fourth example, the principle of using a shiny layer of a silver-on-silver alloy is illustrated in part. The potential advantages of such a system for layer 178, as opposed to an individual alloy layer for the fourth example, include, but are not limited to, reduced cost, increased reflectivity in the same transmission or increased transmissivity in the same reflectance, the sheet decreased, and the possibility of using a higher percentage of alloy material in the protective coating layer, bright to maintain the increased properties of the electrode surface that the silver alloy exhibits on pure silver. The similar, potential advantages apply to the cases of alloys of different percentages or an alloy of graduated percentage in layer 178. According to a seventh example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror was made that had a glass rear plate 114, a silicon layer 172 of approximately 180 A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of approximately 410A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of approximately 140 microns, a layer 128 of approximately 1400 Á of ITO, a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, on the glass 114, the pattern of the thin, conductive film 120 for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of Y = 80.4, a * = 0-9, and b * = -3.39. In contrast, a thin layer of 6Au94Ag on glass with similar reflectivity exhibits a yellow hue in the reflection. The model also indicated a spectrally dependent transmittance that reached a peak of about 18 percent at 580 nm. When this back plate system 114, 120 is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total, predicted reflectance and transmittance are increased. In this case, the values would be appropriate for a transflective, interior mirror for the automobile. This system would be especially useful if silicon were deposited as a semiconductor material, to allow due to that the masking or concealment of the silver alloy layer so that the silver alloy would be deposited mainly in the observation area while maintaining the conductivity for the area to be obscured. According to an eighth example of the modality shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic rearview mirror having a rear plate 114 of glass, a layer 172 including a silicon substrate of approximately 111A and an ITO substrate of approximately 200A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of approximately 340A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of approximately 140 microns, a layer 128 of approximately 1400 A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, on the glass 114, the pattern of the thin, conductive film 120 for this example using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees exhibited the values of approximately Y = 80.7, a * = 0.1, and b * = -1.7. The model also indicated a spectrally dependent transmittance that reached a peak at approximately 18 percent at 600 nm. When this back plate system 114, 120 is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the predicted total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. In this case, the values would be appropriate for a transflective mirror for automobiles. Also in this case, the masking of the silver alloy layer could take place in the area of the seal, and the conductivity of the system's back electrode would be maintained by the ITO layer whether the silicon is semi-conductive or not. This example is advantageous in that it uses thin layers, which are easier to form during mass production.

According to a ninth example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a rear plate 114 of glass, a layer 172 that included a silicon substrate of approximately 77 Á and an ITO substrate was made. of about 200A, a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of about 181A, an electrochromic layer of fluid / gel 125 having a thickness of about 140 microns, a layer 128 of about 1400A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, on the glass, the pattern of the thin film, conductive 120 for this example, using the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited the values of approximately Y = 64.98, a * = 1.73, and b * = -2.69. The model also indicated a spectrally dependent transmittance that reached a peak of about 35 percent at 650 nm. When this back plate system is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total, predicted reflectance decreases and the transmittance increases. In this case, the values would be appropriate for a transflective, exterior mirror for automobiles. According to a tenth example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a glass rear plate 114, a layer 172 of tin oxide doped with fluorine of about 1957A (optimum thickness of 3/4 wave), a layer 178 of 6Au94Ag of about 350A, a fluid / gel electrochromic layer 125 having a thickness of about 140 microns, a layer 128 of about 1400A of ITO, and a glass plate 112 of 2.1 mm. In the air, on the glass 114, the model of the thin, conductive film 120, for this example, which uses the illuminant D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees, exhibited results of approximately Y = 80.38, a * = 1.04, and b * = 5.6. The model also indicated a spectrally dependent transmittance that generally decreased when the wavelength was increased in the visible range. The transmittance at 630 nm was predicted to be approximately 10 percent. When this back plate system is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total, predicted reflectance decreases and the transmittance increases. In this case, the values would be appropriate for a transflective, interior mirror for automobiles. In a mirror construction, such as that shown in Figure 3E, the mirror preferably exhibits a reflectivity of at least 35 percent, more preferably at least 50 percent, and more preferably at least 65 percent for an exterior mirror and, for an interior mirror, the mirror preferably exhibits a reflectance of at least 70 percent and more preferably at least 80 percent. To obtain such reflectance levels, the second reflective electrode 120 must have a slightly higher reflectance. The mirror preferably exhibits a transmittance of at least about 5 percent, more preferably at least about 10 percent, and more - preferably at least about 15 percent. To obtain these transmittance levels, the second electrode 120 may have a slightly lower transmittance. Because electrochromic mirrors having a value b * greater than +15 have an objectionable yellowish hue, it is preferable that the mirror exhibits a value b * of less than about 15, and more preferably less than about 10. Thus, the second electrode 120 preferably exhibits similar properties. To obtain an electrochromic mirror having relative color neutrality, the C * value of the mirror should be less than 20. Preferably, the C * value is less than 15, and more preferably is less than about 10. The second electrode 120 preferably exhibits C * similar values. The inventors have recognized that when a thin layer of silver or a silver alloy is used in a rearview mirror such as those described above, the thin layer could give a light yellow hue (b * greater than +15) to the observed objectives in the reflection particularly when the thin layer of silver or a silver alloy becomes thin enough to impart sufficient transmittance of 5 percent or plus. This causes the mirror to look no more neutral (C * greater than 20). Conversely, the transmission through the film is higher for blue light than for red light. The above ten examples compensate for this disadvantage by selecting the appropriate thicknesses of various substrate films. Another approach to minimize the yellow hue of the reflected images is to reflect the blue light transmitted again through the mirror. Typically, in the signal mirrors or prior art display devices a black paint coating is applied to the fourth mirror surface in all areas except where a visual display device is mounted (if one is used). Such a black coating was designed to absorb any light that was transmitted through the mirror and its reflective layer (s). To minimize the yellow hue of the reflected image that appears when using a thin silver / silver alloy material, the black coating can be replaced with a coating 182 that reflects the blue light back through the mirror preferably absorbing this light blue. Preferably, blue paint is used instead of black paint since the blue backlight reflects blue light. Alternatively, the coating 182 may be white, gray, or a reflective coating such as chromium, since these would also reflect blue light back through the reflective layer (s) and the remainder of the mirror. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the blue coating 182 on the fourth surface 114b of a mirror, an electrochromic mirror with a thin layer of silver 178 was constructed on an ITO layer 172 of 100 O / D as the reflector / electrode of the third surface 120 The white light reflectivity of the mirror was about 52 percent, and the transmission of white light was about 30 percent. The mirror had a noticeably yellow hue in the reflection and a blue tinge in the transmission. The mirror was placed on a black background and the color was measured using a SP-68 Spectrophotometer from C-Rite, Inc. of Grandville, Michigan. The b * value measured was +18.72. The same mirror was then placed on a blue background and the color was measured again. With the blue background, the measured b * value fell to +7.55. In this way, the mirror exhibited a noticeably less yellow hue in the reflection on the blue background compared to a black background. Still another variation of the reflector / electrode 120 is illustrated in Figure 3F. As illustrated, the reflector / electrode 120 is constructed through substantially the entire front surface 114a of the rear element 114 with an electrically conductive, multilayer, interefential thin film coating 190. The thin film coating, conductor 190 is it preferably adapts to maximize the transmittance to light having wavelengths within a narrow band corresponding to the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source 170. In this way, if the light source 170 were a luminous signal including LEDs of AlGaAs or AlInGaP color red, red-orange, or amber, the light emitted from such LEDs would have wavelengths in the range of 585 nm to 660 nm, and the thin film, conductive coating 190 would be adapted to maximize transmittance spectral in those wavelengths. By increasing the transmittance preferably within this relatively narrow band of wavelengths, the average luminous reflectance for white light remains relatively high. As will be apparent from the four examples provided below of the electrodes constructed using such thin film coatings, conductors, the thin film coating, conductor in this constructed manner includes a first layer 184 of a first material having a relatively high refractive index, a second layer 186 of a second material formed in the first layer 184 where the second material has a relatively low refractive index, and a third layer 187 formed in the second layer 186 and made of a material having a relatively high refractive index. The thin film coating, conductor 190 may also include a fourth thin layer 188 of an electrically conductive material formed in a third layer 187. If the third layer 187 is not electrically conductive, the fourth layer 188 of an electrically conductive material must be disposed on the third layer 187. If the first, second and third layers provide sufficient reflectivity, this fourth layer 188 can be made of a conductive, transparent material. Otherwise, the fourth layer 188 can be made of a reflective material. The thin film coating, conductor 190 preferably exhibits: a light reflectance of 35 to 95 percent, a reflected C * value of 20 or less, a luminous transmittance of the light signal / display device of 10 percent or more, and a sheet strength of less than 100 O / D. More preferably, C * is less than 15 and more preferably less than 10, and the value of a * is negative. As a comparison measure, one could measure the reflected light and the reflected C * for this coating using one or more of the ICD illuminants A, B, C or D55, D65, a constant source of white energy or another source of energy. wide band that meets the definition of the SAE target. The luminous reflectance and the C * reflected for this coating can be measured at one or more angles of incidence between 10 ° and 45 ° of the normal surface. The luminous transmittance of the light signal / visualization device for this coating can be measured using one or more sources of signals or visual devices such as the amber, orange, red-orange, red or deep red LEDs, the devices of visual representation of fluorescence in vacuum (VFDs), or other lamps or devices of visual representation, and at one or more angles of incidence between 20 ° and 55 ° on the normal surface. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, "Luminous Reflectance" and "Luminous Transmittance of the Luminous Signal / Visual Representation Device" involve the use of either or both of the grade 2 observer of the ICE 1931 Vx or VY as the weight functions of the eye. By configuring the thin film coating, conductor 190 to have a reflectance, transmittance, electrical conductivity, and a C * value reflected within the above parameters, an electrode can be constructed so that it has a medium to high reflectance, a reflectance substantially neutral for accurate conversion or interpretation, medium to high transmittance of the light signal / visual display device within the band for efficiency and brightness, and low blade strength for good electrochromic functionality. In the specific examples of such conductive thin film coating, the first and third materials forming the first and third layers 184 and 187, respectively, may be the same or a different material selected from the group consisting essentially of tin indium, tin oxide doped with fluorine, titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide, silicon or any other material having a relatively high refractive index. The second layer 186 can be made of silicon dioxide, niobium oxide, magnesium fluoride, aluminum oxide or any other material having a low refractive index. The first layer 184 may have a thickness of between about 200 A to 800 Á, the second layer 186 can have a thickness of between about 400A to 1200A, the third layer 187 can have a thickness between about 600A to 1400A and the layer 188 can have a thickness of about 150A to 300A. Other optimum thicknesses outside these ranges can also be obtained by the above description. The insertion of additional layer sets of low and high index materials can raise the reflectance further. Preferably, the electrically conductive material forming the fourth layer 188 is made of a reflective material such as silver or a silver alloy, or a conductive, transparent material such as ITO. According to a first example of the thin film coating, conductor 190, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a front element 112 having a thickness of 2.2 mm, a first electrode 128 made of ITO and having a thickness of about 1400 A, an electrochromic fluid / gel having a thickness of about 137"to 190 microns, and a thin film coating, conductor 190 provided on a glass substrate 114. The thin film coating, conductor 190 in this first example included a first layer 184 made of ITO and having a thickness of approximately 750A, a second layer 186 made of Si02 and having a thickness of approximately 940A, a third layer187 made of ITO and having a thickness of approximately 845A and a fourth layer 188 made of silver and having a thickness of 275 A. In the air, the thin film coating, conductor 190 molded in this first example exhibited a at luminous reflectance of approximately 80.2 percent for white light and a spectral transmittance of approximately 22.5 percent on average light having wavelengths between 620 nm and 650 nm. Such characteristics make the thin-film coating, conductor 190, suitable according to this first example for use in a rear-view mirror either inside or outside. When this thin film, conductive coating is applied to the front surface of the glass backing and is incorporated in an electrochromic mirror, the total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. According to a second example, a model of another electrochromic mirror having the same characteristics as discussed above was made with the exception that the thin film coating, conductor 190 included a first layer 184 made of ITO and having a thickness of about 525 A, a second layer of Si02 having a thickness of about 890 A, a third layer 187 made of ITO and having a thickness of about 944 A, and a fourth layer 188 made of silver and having a thickness of about 168 Á. In air, the thin film coating, conductor constructed in the second example has a luminous reflectance of approximately 63 percent for the white light incident therein at an angle of incidence of 20 °, and a spectral transmittance of approximately 41%. average for light having wavelengths in a wavelength range from 620 nm to 650 nm at an angle of incidence of 20 °. Such thin film coating, conductor 190 is particularly suitable for an exterior, rear view mirror. When this thin film coating, conductor is applied to the front surface of the glass backing and is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. A pattern of a thin film, conductive coating was made according to a third example which was made of the same materials as described for the first two thin-film coatings, conductors except that the first layer 184 had a thickness of about 525 Á, a second layer 186 had a thickness of approximately 890 Á, a third layer 187 had a thickness of approximately 945 Á and a fourth layer 188 had a thickness of approximately 170 Á. In the air, the thin film coating, conductive in this modeled manner had a luminous reflectance of 63 percent at an angle of incidence of 20 ° for illumination with white light, and an average spectral transmittance of approximately 41 percent for light that has wavelengths between the wavelength range of 620 nm and 650 nm at an angle of incidence of 20 °. When this thin film coating, conductor is applied to the front surface of the glass backing and is incorporated into an electrochromic mirror, the total reflectance decreases and the transmittance is increased. According to a fourth example, a three-layer, non-conductive interference coating available from Libbey Owens Ford (LOF) of Toledo, Ohio, is used in combination with a fourth conductive layer 188 of ITO or the like. The thin film stack available from LOF has a first layer 184 of Si, a second layer 186 of Si02, and a third layer 187 of Sn02. This coating has a reflectance of about 80 percent and a transmittance of about 4 percent for white light, and transmittance of 7 to 10 percent for light having wavelengths in the range of 650 to 700 nm. The transmittance in the range of 650 to 700 nm makes this stacking of thin films particularly suitable for a signal mirror that uses a red light source. While Sn02, Si02 and Si used in the stacking of thin films of LOF are not highly reflective materials per se (particularly when applied as a thin layer), alternative layers of such materials that have high and low refractive indexes produce the high necessary level of reflectivity. The poor electrical conductivity of this stack of thin films requires that it be implemented with an electrically conductive layer having good electrical conductivity, such as an ITO layer or the like. The stacking of thin films of LOF coated with an ITO layer having a half wave thickness exhibited a sheet strength of 12 O / D. When the stacking of thin ITO / LOF films was used as a second electrode for an electrochromic mirror, the mirror had a reflectance of 65 percent. Various different visualization devices were placed behind the mounted mirror and all were easily observed. Figure 3G shows yet another alternative construction that is very similar to that shown in Figure 3F, with the exception that only three layers are used for the multilayer, electrically conductive thin film coating 190. According to the construction shown in FIG. Figure 3C, the thin film coating 190 includes a first layer 184 made of a material having a high refractive index such as the materials previously observed in connection with Figure 3F, a second layer made of a material having a refractive index low such as those materials also discussed above for layer 186 in Figure 3F, and a third layer 188 of an electrically conductive material. The layer 188 need not be made of a material having a high refractive index, but preferably it can be made of any electrically conductive material suitable for use in an electrochromic mirror. For example, layer 188 can be a highly reflective metal, such as silver or a silver alloy, or it can be a metal oxide, such as ITO. To illustrate the viability of such a coating, two examples are described below. In a first example, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a first layer 184 of ITO deposited on a front surface of the rear glass substrate 114 at a thickness of 590 A, a second layer 186 of silicon dioxide applied over a a thickness of 324 Á on the first layer 184, and a third layer 188 of silver having a thickness of 160 Á applied on the second layer 186. The electrochromic mirror was then illuminated with a white light source of the D65 illuminant of the CIÉ at an angle of incidence of 20 °. When it was illuminated with such white light, the mirror exhibited a luminance reflectance of 52 percent and the values a * and b * of approximately 1.0 and 5.0, respectively. When illuminated with a red LED source at an angle of incidence of 35 °, the mirror exhibited a luminous transmittance of 40 percent.

According to a second example of the structure shown in Figure 3G, a model of an electrochromic mirror having a first silicon layer 184 deposited at a thickness of 184 Á on the front surface of the glass substrate 114 was made, a second layer 186 deposited on the first layer 184 and formed of silicon dioxide at a thickness of 1147 Á and a third layer 188 of ITO of a thickness of 1076 Á applied on the second layer 186. The electrochromic mirror having such a coating was illuminated with a white light source of the DCE illuminator D65 at an angle of incidence of 20 °. When a model illuminated with such white light was made, the modeled mirror exhibited a luminous reflectance of 54 percent and values a * and b * of -2.5 and 3.0, respectively. When an illuminated model with a red LED source was made at an angle of incidence of 35 °, the modeled mirror exhibited a luminous transmittance of approximately 40 percent. Whereas the two examples of three previous layers exhibited luminous reflectance greater than 50 percent and transmittance of approximately 40 percent, a mirror constructed as shown in Figure 3G complies with the specific objectives observed above with respect to Figure 3 2F and therefore is suitable for use in a rear view mirror, electrochromic, exterior that incorporates the light signal.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the multilayer, electrically conductive thin film coating described above may be implemented as a reflector of a third surface for an electrochromic mirror without considering whether the electrochromic medium is a solution phase, gel phase, or hybrid (solid state / solution or solid state / gel). Although the above, alternative constructions shown and described with respect to Figures 3A-3G do not include a glossy layer, those skilled in the art will understand that such a glossy layer can be applied over any of the various reflector / electrode constructions 120 shown in the drawings. Figures 3A-3G. Figure 4 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the present invention as illustrated similarly in Figure 3E above. Specifically, when mounting a light emitting display device assembly, an indicator, a declaring device, or other graphics 170 behind a reflective layer such as layer 178, spurious reflections occur at various interfacial areas within the electrochromic mirror. which results in one or more ghost images that are easily observable by the occupants of the vehicle. The perceived separation between those images increases when the reflective surfaces are further separated. In general, the thinner the glass used in the construction of the mirror, the less the images become objectionable. However, the elimination or reduction of the intensity of the spurious reflections increases the overall clarity of the visual representation device. As shown in Figure 4, a lighting point of the display 170 emits light through the element 114 as illustrated by the light rays A and B, which are only two of an infinite number of light rays. that could be followed from any one source. The light rays A and B are then transmitted through the transparent, conductive layer 172 with little or no reflections at the interface between the electrode 172 and the element 114 due to the proximity of the refractive indices of these two components . The light then reaches the interface between the transparent layer 172 and the reflective layer 178, where between 10 and 20 percent of the light is transmitted through the reflective layer 178 in an electrochromic medium 125. A large percentage of the intensity of the light hitting the reflective layer 178 is thus reflected back as illustrated by the light rays C and D. While the reflected light which is incident on a layer of paint 182 on the rear surface 114b of the element 114 ( ray C) can be absorbed substantially in its entirety, the light that is reflected back to the visual representation device 170 (ray D) is not absorbed by the absorbent paint layer 182. Because many visual emitting devices emit light, such as a fluorescence visualization device in vacuum with a glass top plate, an LCD, or any other mounted display assembly such that there is an air gap between the surface 114b and the front surface of the display 170, typically includes at least one specular surface 171, the light reflected back to the specular surface (s) 171 of the visual display device 170 (ray D) is completely reflected to the surface 171 back through the element 114, the reflective electrode 120 , the electrochromic means 125, the layers 128 and 130, and the element 112. This spurious, complete reflection of the specular surface 171 of the device represents visual ation 170 thus creates a ghost image that is visible to the occupants of the vehicle. Additional spurious reflections occur on the outer surface 112a of the element 112 due to differences in the refractive indices of the element 112 and the air surrounding the electrochromic mirror. In this way, the light represented by the ray F is reflected back into the mirror of the surface 112a and subsequently is reflected completely from the reflective layer 178 back through the medium 125, the layers 128 and 130, and the element 112 Therefore, it is desirable to implement various measures that eliminate or reduce the intensity of these spurious reflections and to limit due to that the annoying or inconvenient phantom images that are visible to the occupants of the vehicle. Figures 5A-5D, which are described below, illustrate various fications that can be made to reduce these spurious reflections. It should be noted that these spurious reflections are always lower in brightness than the non-reflected image. One approach to improving the clarity of the visual display device without eliminating spurious reflections is to control the brightness of the visual display device such that the intensity of the secondary images is below the threshold of visual perception. This level of brightness will vary with the levels of ambient light. The levels of ambient light can be determined accurately by the photosensors in the mirror. This feedback can be used to adjust the brightness of the visualization device so that the secondary images are not bright enough to be objectionable. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, means 192 and 194 are provided to reduce or prevent reflections of the specular surface 171 and the front surface 112a of the element 112, respectively. The anti-reflective means 192 may include an anti-reflective film applied to the back surface 114b of the element 114 or any and all specularly reflective surfaces of the display device assembly 170. The anti-reflective means 192 may also include a filter or mask that absorbs light applied to the back surface 114b or the specular surface 171 of the display device assembly 170. This masking layer 192 can be made to substantially cover the entirety on the specular surface 171, with the exception of those regions which are directly on a light-emitting segment of the visual display device 170. The filter or mask can be made with any light absorbing material, such as black paint, black ribbon, black foam backing or the like. It should be noted that the fluorescence visual representation devices in vacuum are available with a black filter or mask, internal in all areas around the light emitting elements, individual. If the anti-reflective means 192 is formed as an anti-reflective layer, substantially any known anti-reflective film can be used for this purpose. The anti-reflective film only needs to be constructed to prevent reflections at the particular wavelength of the light emitted from the visual display device 170. By providing an anti-reflective means 192 as described above, any light that is reflected from return of the reflective layer 178 towards the specular surface 171 of the visual display device 170 is either absorbed or transmitted in the visual display device 170, such that it can not be reflected from the surface 171 through the device towards the eyes of the occupants of the vehicle. It should be noted that the anti-reflective means 192 may also include any other structure capable of reducing or preventing reflection of light from the specular surface 171. In addition, the anti-reflective means 192 may include a combination of an anti-reflective film and a layer masking and the layer 192 can be incorporated into any specularly reflective surface that could reflect light reflected completely from the reflector 178, for example, either the rear surface of the glass element 114, the front surface of the visualization device 170, or any surface internal to the visual representation device 170. To reduce spurious reflections of the air interface with the surface 112a of the element 112, an anti-reflective film 194 may be reproduced on the surface 112a. The anti-reflective film 194 can be formed of any conventional structure. A circular polarizer inserted between the transflective coating and the visual representation device is also useful in reducing spurious reflections. Figure 5B shows an alternative solution to the problems in relation to the light reflection of the visualization device 170 completely from the reflective layer 178 and the specular surface of the visual representation device. Specifically, the display device 170 is preferably selected from those visual display devices that do not include any shape on the specular surface. Examples of such display devices are available from Hewlett Packard and are referred to as the HDSP Series. Such visual display devices generally have a front surface that is substantially light absorbent, such that little light, if any, would be reflected completely from the forwardly facing surface of the visual display device. Another example of a construction of the visualization device that would not have a specularly reflective surface (such as between glass and air) would be a liquid crystal display device with the illuminated background (LCD) that is laminated directly on the surface rear of the mirror 114b to eliminate the air opening or the air interface between the display and the mirror. The elimination of the air opening is an effective means to minimize reflection of the first surface of all visual representation devices. If the type of LCD used was normally opaque or dark such as with a pneumatic LCD, twisted with parallel polarizers or a phase-shifting LCD or host host with a black tint, the reflected light would be absorbed by the display device and not it would reflect back to the observer. Another approach would be to use a pneumatic LCD, twisted, transmissive, with the background illuminated with crossed polarizers. The entire area of the visual representation device would then be illuminated and contrasted with black digits. Alternatively, an electrochromic visual representation device, of positive or negative contrast could be used in place of the LCD, or an organic LED could be laminated or fixed to the back surface 114b. An alternative solution is shown in Figure 5C, because of this the display device 170 is mounted at the rear on the rear surface 114b of the rear element 114, such a mirror surface 171 is inclined at an angle to the rear surface 114b. As apparent from the light path in Figure 5C, any light emitted from the display 170 which is completely reflected from the reflective layer 178 back to the specular surface 171 of the display 170 is fully reflected of the specular surface 171 at an angle which could direct the light beam away from the observer towards, for example, the roof of the vehicle or, if the angle of the visualization device is sufficiently large, the beam could be directed towards a surface absorbent such as a filter or black mask applied to the back of the mirror on the surface 114b. It should be noted that, preferably to angle the visualization device, the reflected beam could be reflected by some other means such as by laminating a transparent edge shape to the front of the visualization device, the objective is to redirect the light reflected out of the viewing cone of the visualization device or to an absorbent medium or surface. As shown in Figure 5E, another useful technique for reducing spurious reflections is to fully reflect the image of the visual representation device of a mirror surface 197 (preferably a mirror of the first surface) at an angle of approximately 45 ° and then through the transflective layer 120. The image completely reflected from the transflexive layer 120 can then be redirected away from the specular surfaces in the visualization device by slightly angling the ratio of the visualization device to the transflexive layer . Figure 5D shows another approach to overcome the problems noted above. Specifically, the embodiment shown in Figure 5D overcomes the problem by actually mounting the visual display device to the front of the reflective layer 178. In order to enable the visual display device to be mounted in front of the reflected layer, a substantially transparent visual display device, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 196. OLEDs are available from Universal Display Corporation. Such OLEDs can be constructed such that these are transparent, thin visual display devices that can be mounted within the chamber in which the electrochromic medium is maintained. Because the OLED 196 can be transparent, it would not interfere with the image observed by the driver of the vehicle. Additionally, by providing the OLED 196 within the chamber between the substrates, the visual display device 196 is protected from any adverse environmental effects. In this way, such an arrangement is particularly desirable when mounting a visual display device in an exterior rear view mirror of the automobile. OLED 196 could be mounted on layer 178, layer 128, between layers 128 and 130, between layer 139 and element 112, between layers 172 and 178, between layer 172 and element 114, to the surface rear 114b of the element 114, or to the surface 112a of the element 112. Preferably, the OLED display device 196 is mounted to the front of the reflective layer 178 in the chamber between the elements 112 and 114. To take advantage of the fact that the reflective layer in an electrochromic mirror may be partially transmissive over its entire surface area, a light collector can be used behind the reflective layer to collect the light that hits the mirror over a much larger area than previously possible and to amplify the light when it is directed inside a photosensor. As will be described in more detail below, the use of such a light collector does more than compensate for the lack of provision of an aperture in the reflective layer and may actually increase the sensitivity of the glare sensor in an electrochromic mirror.

Figure 6 is a front view of an interior rear view mirror constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane 7-7 'of Figure 6. According to this construction, the light collector can be constructed as a plano-convex lens 609 mounted behind a reflective surface, partially transmissive 607 and a variable attenuating layer 608. As shown in Figure 7, the lens 609 protects the light from the source 601 at the focal point 604 and the light from the source 601a at the .focal point 604a. A small area sensor, for example, the individual pixel sensor of U.S. Patent Application No. 009 / 237,107, filed January 25, 1999, is provided to detect the glare of the back portion observed through the lens 609, the partially transmissive layer 607, and optionally through the attenuating, variable layer 608. This construction takes advantage of the fact that the active detection area of the sensor 605 is small, for example, 100 microns on one side, and that a relatively large light collector, lens 609 in this example, can be substantially hidden behind the partially transmissive mirror and configured so that relatively high optical gain can be provided by the sensor while still providing a relatively large and characterized field on which glare is detected. In the example shown in Figure 7, the light source 601a is approximately 20 degrees off the central axis and is close to the edge of the amplified observation field. Note that the unamplified light, from which it can not pass through the lens, can be used to maintain some sensitivity to glare over a larger field of observation. When designing a construction such as that shown in Figures 6 and 7, there are various design considerations. Because the sources of light that collides with the mirror and creates glare are the automobile headlights on the back of the vehicle, and such sources of light are at a greater distance away from the mirror relative to the size of the lens , the spokes of a light source of the headlights of the automobile are substantially parallel. With a good lens, most of the rays striking the lens of a source are projected to an intense, relatively small bright spot at the focal point 604. For a detection position different from the focal point, as a first approximation, the Optical gain is the ratio of the area of the lens through which light enters that of the cross section of the cone focused on the plane where the light is detected. In Figure 7, with a spherical or aspherical lens 609, this would be the square of the ratio in the diameter of the lens 609 to the le of the line 610. This is approximately 10 as depicted. If the sensor 605 were to be placed in the focal point 604 as it would be if it were a pixel in an array of imaging, almost all the light passing through the lens of the light source 601 would hit the sensor 605, making the Very high optical gain. However, light from a light source 601a would not fully find the sensor and the field of view would be extremely small. In Figure 7, the sensor 605 is placed at a highly defocused point, which is common for the light cones of the light sources having positions for which the optical gain must be maintained. Note that the plane can optionally be selected beyond the focal point or other diffusion methods can be used alone or in combination with extending and characterizing the field of view. For a substantially larger off-axis angle, the sensor will be outside the projected cone of light and an optical gain will not be provided. Observe that to provide a relatively high optical gain over a substantial field of vision, the collection area should be very large compared to the sensor. The area of the opening must exceed the area of the sensor first by approximately the ratio of the optical gain, and this ratio must be multiplied by another large factor to provide a field of view that has a solid angle that is much larger than that of the which would be formed in image on the sensor outside this to be placed in the focal plane of the lens. While this particular mirror construction has been described above as including a spherical lens or an aspherical lens 609, a Fresnel lens can replace the plano-convex lens depicted. Additionally, since for large fields of vision the light rays must be directed back through even larger angles, fully and internally reflective (TIR) lenses or reflectors can be used and provide additional advantages. If, for example, a partially transmissive reflective layer 607 with 20 percent transmission is selected and an optical gain of 10 is used, the higher optical gain recovers the loss incurred by passing through the partially transmissive reflector 607. Furthermore, it is not it needs to provide an opening window of unpleasant or expensive appearance to produce for the sensor and also benefits of vision control can be obtained through the layer. In configurations where the viewing angle needs to be large in one direction but relatively small in another, a cylindrical lens can be used. For example, to detect vehicle lights in adjacent lanes, the viewing angle must be relatively large in the horizontal direction and the field of view may be relatively narrow in the vertical direction. In this case, the lens 609 can be replaced by a cylindrical lens with a horizontal axis. A swath of light is preferably projected as a circle, and since the photocaptation takes place in a preferably two-way direction, the benefit of the quadrature effect for the relative areas of the lens aperture in the pattern area of the lens is lost. light projected on the plane of the sensor. However, the optical gains of 5, for example, are still feasible. Composite lenses containing a mixture or salad of different elements including, for example, the sections of spherical lenses with different central positions and / or focal lengths, or even combinations of different kinds of elements such as spherical and cylindrical lenses are they can be used to retain reasonable optical gain and characterize the field of vision. A row of lens sections with center, focal, stepped points can serve well to extend the field of view in the selected directions while maintaining good, full optical gain. Some diffusion amount is preferable in all designs to prevent severe irregularity in the level of detected light due to localized, severe irregularities in the projected light pattern that are frequently present. The sensor of the extremely small area will not average these irregularities to any useful degree. Some lens designs can be optionally attached to the back of the mirror element. In each of the constructions described above with respect to Figures 6 and 7, any of the mirror constructions described above with respect to Figures 3A-3G may be employed for use as the electrochromic mirror (depicted as layers 607 and 608 in Figure 7). Figure 8 shows an exterior rearview mirror assembly 200 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The exterior rearview mirror assembly 200 includes a mirror 210, which is preferably an electrochromic mirror, an outer mirror housing 212 having a mounting portion 214 for mounting the mirror assembly 200 to the outside of the vehicle, and a light signal 220 mounted behind the mirror 210. To enable the light of the light signal 220 to be projected through the electrochromic mirror 210, a plurality of areas of the light signals 222 are formed in the mirror electrode / reflector. 210 which includes window regions containing electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive similar to the visual information display device and window areas of the glare sensor described above with respect to the other embodiments of the present invention. The electrochromic mirror 210 may further include an area of the sensor 224 disposed within the reflective coating in the electrochromic mirror 210 and similarly includes window regions containing electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive to allow some of the incident light reach a sensor mounted behind the area of the sensor 224. Alternatively, the sensor 224 could be used to detect glare under night driving conditions and control the darkening of the external mirror independently or verify that the mirrors are being sufficiently obscured by the control circuit in the inner mirror. In such a case, a more sensitive photosensor, such as a CdS sensor, may be required. The light signal 220 is preferably provided to serve as a direction change light signal and is thus selectively operated in response to a control signal generated by an actuator of the direction change section 226.

Therefore, the control signal is applied to the light signal 220 as an intermittent voltage to energize the light signal 220 when a driver has operated the lever of the direction change signal. As shown in Figure 11, when vehicle B is in the blind spot of vehicle A where the driver of vehicle A can not observe vehicle B, the driver of vehicle B can not observe the change of direction signal on the side rear of vehicle A. In this way, if the driver of vehicle A activates the direction change signal and attempts to change lanes while vehicle B is in a blind spot, the driver of vehicle B can not receive any notice of the advance of impending lane change, and therefore, may not be able to avoid an accident. By providing a change-of-direction light signal in a rearview mirror assembly, exterior 200 of vehicle A, the driver of a vehicle approaching B will be able to observe that the driver of vehicle A is about to change lanes and of this way you can take the appropriate action more quickly to avoid an accident. As illustrated in Figure 15 and described in more detail below, the light signal is preferably mounted within the mirror assembly at an angle to the surface of the mirror to project the light of the light signal outward into the adjacent rails in the blind spot areas near the vehicle. Referring again to Figure 8, the electrochromic mirror 220 can be controlled in a conventional manner by a control circuit of the mirror 230 provided in the interior rearview mirror assembly. The interior mirror control circuit 230 receives the signals from an ambient light sensor 232, which is typically mounted in a forward facing position in the interior rear view mirror housing. The control circuit 230 also receives a signal from a glare sensor 234 mounted in a backward facing position of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The control circuit of the interior mirror 230 applies a control voltage on a pair of lines 236 in a conventional manner, such that a variable voltage is applied essentially across the entire surface of the electrochromic mirror 210. In this way, by varying the voltage applied to the lines 236, the control circuit 230 can vary the transmittance of the electrochromic medium in the mirror 210 in response to the light levels detected by the ambient sensor 232 and in the dazzle sensor 234. As will be explained further below, a third, optional control line 238 may be connected between the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 and a variable attenuator 260 provided in the exterior mirror assembly 200, to selectively attenuate the energizing signal applied to the lines 228 of the signal actuator of change of direction 226 to the light signal 220 in response to the control signal sent on line 238. Of this ma nera, the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 can selectively and remotely control the intensity of the light signal 220 based on the information obtained from the sensors 232 and 234 and due to that eliminate the need for a sensor to be mounted in each assembly The mirror assembly as well as the associated sensor area 224. The mirror assembly 200 may further include an electric heater (not shown) provided behind the mirror 210 which is selectively actuated by a control circuit of the heater 240 via lines 242 It is known in the art that such heaters are effective for defrosting and removing fog from such external, mirrored mirrors. The mirror assembly 200 may optionally include a mirror position servo motor (not shown) which is driven by a mirror position controller 244 via lines 246. Such mirror position servo motors and controls are also known in the art. The technique. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the mirror assembly 200 may include additional features and elements as are now known in the art or may become known in the future without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A sub-assembly of the exemplary luminous signal 220 is shown in Figure 9. Such a luminous signal 220 is described in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,361,190 and 5,788,357, which describe the light signal in combination with exterior, dichroic rear-view mirrors that are not electrochromic However, as explained below, the same sub-assembly of the light signal can be used in connection with an electrochromic mirror as can the modified versions of the sub-assembly of the light signal shown in Figure 13. As shown in Figure 9, the luminous signal 220 includes a printed circuit board 250 which, in turn, is mounted within a housing 252 having a peripheral edge that serves as a cover to block any diffuse light from leaving the luminous signal assembly. The light signal 220 preferably includes a plurality of LEDs 254 that are mounted to the circuit board 250. The LEDs 254 can be mounted in any pattern, but are preferably mounted in a pattern suitable for suggesting to other operators of the vehicle that the vehicle having These signal mirrors are about to turn. The LEDs 254 can be LEDs emitting red or amber light or any other color of light that can be proven to be desirable. The LEDs 254 are also preferably mounted to the circuit board 250 at an angle away from the direction of the conductor. By angleing the LEDs relative to the mirror 210, the light projected from the LEDs 254 can be projected away from the driver to the area C in which the driver of another vehicle would be more likely to observe the light signal, as shown in Figure 11. Therefore, the potential glare of the light signal observed by the driver can be effectively reduced. The light signal 220 may optionally include the day / night sensor 256 also mounted to the circuit board 250. If the sensor 256 is mounted on the circuit board 250, a coating 257 is also preferably mounted to protect the sensor 256 from light. generated by the LEDs 254. Also, if the sensor 256 is provided in the light signal 220, a day / night sensor circuit 258 may also be mounted on the circuit board 250 to vary the intensity of the LEDs 254 in response to the direction of the presence or absence in the daylight by the sensor 256. In this way, if the sensor 256 detects daylight, the circuit 258 increases the intensity of the light emitted from the LEDs 254 to its highest level and the intensity of the light emitted decreases when the sensor 256 detects that it is night. The light signal observed above, described in US Patent Nos. 5,361,190 and 5,788,357 includes such day / night sensor 256 and the associated control circuit 258, and therefore, no further description of the operation of the light signal will be provided. in this respect. As an alternative to providing a day / night sensor 356 in each of the exterior mirrors of the vehicle, a variable attenuator 260 or other similar circuit may be provided to vary the applied driving voltage of the actuator of the shift signal. address 226 on line 228 in response to a control signal supplied from the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 on a dedicated line 238. In this way, the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 can use the information provided from the ambient light sensor 232 as well as the information of the glare sensor 234 for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from the LEDs 254 and the light signal 220. Since the ambient and glare sensors 232 and 234 are already provided in a rear-view mirror, electrochromic, internal, the provision of such remote control by the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 eliminates the need to provide expensive, additional sensors 256 in the light signal 220 of each exterior mirror assembly. As an alternative to laying a separate wire 258 for each of the exterior rearview mirrors, the variable attenuator 260 can be provided on the dashboard near the driver of the directional change signal or otherwise built into the actuator of the direction change signal, such that an individual control line 238 'can be installed from the control circuit of the interior mirror 230 to the actuator of the direction change signal as shown in Figure 8. In this way, the light intensity emitted from the LEDs can be varied as a function of the light level detected by the ambient sensor 232 or the glare sensor 234, or as a function of the light levels detected by both sensors 232 and 234. Preferably, the LEDs 254 are controlled to be at their highest intensity when the environmental sensor 232 detects daylight and at a lower intensity when the sensor 232 does not detect the light of the day Because the transmittance of the electrochromic medium is decreased when excessive glare is detected using the glare detector 234, the intensity of the LEDs 254 is correspondingly increased correspondingly to maintain a relatively constant intensity at night.

The electrochromic mirror 210 can be constructed in accordance with any of the alternative arrangements described in the above Figures 3A-3F, where the light source 170 represents one of the LEDs 254 of the sub-assembly of the light signal 220. Therefore, each possible combination of the various constructions shown in Figures 3A-3F with the mounting of the light signal 220 is not illustrated or described in further detail. However, only as an example, Figure 14 shows the manner in which a sub-assembly of the light signal 220 could be mounted behind a preferred construction that is otherwise identical to that shown in Figure 3C. As is apparent from a comparison of Figure 3C and Figure 10, each of the area of the light signal 222 corresponds to the window 146 of Figure 3C. As discussed above, for an exterior rearview mirror the reflector / electrode 120 reflectance is preferably at least 35 percent and the transmittance is preferably at least 20 percent to meet the minimum reflectance requirements and still allow sufficient transmittance of so that the light emitted from the light signal 220 can be easily observed by the driver of an approaching vehicle. Figure 12 shows an elevation, front view schematically illustrating an interior mirror assembly 310 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The interior mirror assembly 310 may incorporate electronic light sensing circuitry of the type illustrated and described in Canadian Patent No. 1,300,945, US Patent No. 5,204,778 or US Patent No. 5,451,822 referred to above, and other circuits capable of detecting glare and ambient light and supply a driving voltage to the electrochromic element. The rearview mirrors incorporating the present invention preferably include a frame 344, which hides and protects the spring fasteners (not shown) and the peripheral edge portions of the sealing member and the "front and rear glass elements (described in FIG. detailed below). Wide variety of frame designs are well known in the art, such as, for example, the framework described in U.S. Patent No. 5,448,397 referred to above, there is also a wide variety of known housings for joining the assembly of mirror 310 to the front windshield, interior of an automobile, a preferred housing is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,337,948 referred to above.The electrical circuit preferably incorporates an ambient light sensor (not shown) and a glare sensor 360, the dazzling light sensor that is able to detect glare light and is placed t typically behind the glass elements and looking through a section of the mirror with the reflective material partially removed according to this particular embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively, the glare sensor may be placed outside the reflective surfaces, for example, in the frame 344. Additionally, an area or areas of the reflective electrode of the third surface, such as 346, may be partially removed in accordance with the present invention to allow a visual display device, such as a compass, watch or other signs, to be shown through to the driver of the vehicle. The present invention is also applicable to a mirror which uses only a video chip light sensor to measure both glare and ambient light and which is capable of further determining the direction of glare. An automatic mirror on the underside of a vehicle, constructed in accordance with this invention, can also control one or both exterior mirrors as slaves or subordinates in an automatic mirror system. Figure 13 shows a sectional view of the mirror assembly 310 along the line 13-13 'of Figure 12. Similar to the modalities described above, the mirror 310 has a front, transparent element 112 having a front surface 112a and a rear surface 112b, and a rear element 114 having a front surface 114a and a rear surface 114b. Since some of the layers of the mirror are very thin, the scale has been altered by pictorial clarity. A layer of an electrically conductive, transparent material 128 is deposited on the second surface 112b to act as an electrode. The conductive, transparent material 128 may be any of the materials identified above for the other embodiments. If desired, an optional layer or layers of color suppression material 130 can be deposited between the conductive, transparent material 128 and the back surface of the front glass 112b to suppress reflection of any undesired portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. At least one layer of a material that acts as both a reflector and a conductive electrode 120 is disposed on the third surface 114a of the mirror 310. Any of the multilayer materials / films described above can be similarly used for the reflector / electrode 120 U.S. Patent No. 5,818,625 describes another reflector / electrode 120 in detail. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the conductive reflector / electrode 120 is removed to leave an area for the information visualization device 321 comprised of a non-conductive area 321a (to observe a visual display device) and a conductive area 321b (for coloring and lightening the electrochromic medium), as shown in Figure 13. Although only shown in detail for the area of the display device 321, the same design can be, and preferably is, used to the area of the glare sensor (160 in Figure 12). Figure 14 shows an elevation, front view, illustrating the area of the information visualization device 321. Again, since some of the layers in this area are very thin, the scales of the figures have been altered by pictorial clarity . The portion of the conductive reflector / electrode that is removed 321a is substantially free of conductive material, and the undone portion must be in electrical contact with the remaining area of the reflector / electrode 120. That is, there are few or no areas or islets of reflector / electrode 120 which are not electrically connected to the remaining portions of the reflector / electrode 120. Also, although the recorded areas 321a are shown as U-shape (Figure 13), these may have some form that allows sufficient current flow to through the lines 321b while allowing the driver to observe and read the visual display device 170 through the recorded areas 321a. The reflector / electrode 120 can be removed by varying techniques, such as, for example, by etching (with laser, chemical or otherwise) masking during deposition, mechanical scraping or scraping, sand blasting or otherwise. Laser engraving is the currently preferred method because of its precision, speed and control. The area of the information display 321 is aligned cor. a visual representation device 170 such as a fluorescence visualization device in a vacuum, a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal, a flat panel visualization device and the like, with the fluorescence visualization device in the vacuum that is currently preferred. The display device 170, which has associated electronic control elements, can display some useful information to a vehicle occupant, such as a compass, a clock or other signs, such that the visual display device will be displayed through the portion removed 321a to the occupant of the vehicle. The area that is substantially free of the conductive reflector / electrode 321a and the area having the present conductive reflector / electrode 321b may be in any shape or form as there is sufficient area having conductive material to allow proper coloration and clarification (i.e., reversibly varies the transmittance) of the electrochromic medium, while at the same time having sufficient substantially free area of conductive material to allow proper viewing of the visual display device 170. As a general rule, the area of the information visualization device 321 it must have approximately 70-80 percent of its area substantially free of conductive material 321a and conductive material 321b which fills the remaining 20-30 percent. The areas (321a and 321b) can have a variety of patterns such as, for example, linear, circular, elliptical, and so on. Also, the demarcation between the reflective regions and the free regions of the reflective material may be less pronounced by varying the thickness of the reflective materials or by selecting a pattern having a varying density of the reflective material. It is currently preferred that areas 321a and 321b form alternating and contiguous lines (see Figure 13). By way of example, and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way, lines 321b may be generally approximately 0.00508 centimeters (0.002 inches) wide and spaced approximately 0.01524 centimeters (0.006 inches) apart from each other. yes for the lines substantially free of conductive material. It should be understood that although the figures show that the lines are vertical (when observed by the driver), they can be horizontal or at some angle of the vertical plane. In addition, lines 321a need not be straight, although vertical, straight lines are currently preferred. If all the reflector / electrode of the third surface 120 is removed in the area of the information display device 321 or in the area aligned with the glare sensor 160, there will be significant color variations between those areas and the remaining portion. of the mirror where the reflector / electrode "120 is not removed." This is because for each electrochromic material oxidized in one electrode there is a corresponding electrochromic material reduced in the other electrode Oxidation or reduction (depending on the polarity of the electrodes) ) which occurs on the second surface directly through the area of the information display device 321 will occur uniformly through the area of the information visualization device, however, the corresponding electrochemistry on the third surface will not be uniform. of the species that absorb light will be concentrated in The edges of the area of the information visualization device (which is free of the reflector / electrode). Thus, in the area of the information visualization device 312, the generation of the species that absorb light in the second surface will be uniformly distributed, while the species that absorb the light in the third surface will not be, for create color discrepancies aesthetically unattractive to the vehicle occupant due to that. By providing the lines of the reflector / electrode 120, the areas throughout the area of the information display 321, in accordance with the present invention, the generation of light absorbing species (on the second and third surfaces) in the area of the information visualization device will be much closer to the uniformity observed in other areas of the mirror with fully balanced electrodes. Although those skilled in the art will understand that many modifications can be made, laser engraving can be performed by using a 50-watt Nd: YAG laser beam, such as that made by XCEL Laser Control, located in Orlando, Florida. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that the energy settings, the laser beam aperture, the laser beam mode (continuous wave or pulsed wave), the speed with which the laser beam moves through the surface, and the shape of the laser beam wave can be adjusted to suit a particular need. In commercially available laser beams there are various waveforms that the laser beam follows while eroding the surface coating. These waveforms include straight lines, sine waves at various frequencies and sawtooth-shaped waves at various frequencies, although many others can be used. In the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, the free areas of reflective material 321a are removed by using the laser beam in a pulsed wave mode with a frequency of about 3 kHz, which has a narrow beam width (e.g., around 0.0127 centimeters (0.005 inches)) where the laser beam moves in a straight-line waveform. Figures 10B and 10C show two alternative arrangements for implementing the present invention. Figures 10B and 10C are partial sectional views taken along the lines 10-10 'of Figure 8. Figure 10B shows an arrangement similar to that of the rear view mirror, interior in Figure 13, in which the Parallel lines of the reflective / electrode material 222b are provided through the area of the light signal 222 by either etching or masking the lines 222a in the regions that are free of the reflective / electrode material. Each of the areas of the light signal 222 are provided at a position in the corresponding rearview mirror and overlying one of the LEDs 254 as apparent from a comparison of Figures 8 and 9. The electrochromic mirror 410 can be constructed in the same manner as described above for the rear view mirror, interior 310 of the previous embodiment. Specifically, the mirror 410 includes a front, transparent element 112 having a front surface and a rear surface, and a rear element 114 having a front surface 114 a and a rear surface 114 b. The mirror 410 also includes a layer 128 of a conductive, transparent material deposited on the back surface of the front element 112 or on an optional color suppression material 130 that is deposited on the back surface of the front element 112. Additionally, the mirror 410 it includes at least one layer 120 disposed on the front surface 114a of the rear element 314 which acts as both a reflector and a conductive electrode. An electrochromic means is arranged in a chamber defined between the layers 128 and 120. All component elements of the mirror 410 can be made using the same materials and can be applied using the same techniques described above with respect to the above embodiments. However, preferably, the reflective / electrode material of the layer 120 is made using nickel, chromium, rhodium, stainless steel, silver, silver alloys, platinum, palladium, gold, or combinations thereof. The reflectance of the mirror in the areas of the light signal 222 or the sensor area 224 can also be controlled by varying the percentage of those areas that are free of reflective material or by varying the thickness of the reflective / electrode coating. In addition, the reflective / electrode material used to form the lines 222b in the area of the light signal may be different from the reflective / electrode material used by the remainder of the mirror. For example, a reflective / electrode material having a higher reflectance can be used in the area of the light signal such that the reflectivity in the area of the light signal is the same as that of the rest of the mirror despite the regions in the same that are free of reflective material. Preferably, the region of the area of the light signal that is free of reflective material constitutes between 30 and 50 percent of the area of the light signal and the area occupied by the reflective material is between 50 and 70 percent of the area of the light signal . To achieve these percentages, the reflective / electrode material lines are preferably approximately 0.0254 centimeters (0.010 inches) wide and the spaces between the lines are approximately 0.01524 centimeters (0.006 inches) wide. The arrangement shown in Figure 10C differs from that shown in Figure 10B in that the reflective material is formed on the fourth surface (i.e., the rear surface 114b of the rear element 114). With such ordering, the electrode 340 on the third surface is preferably made of a transparent material similar to that of the electrode 128 formed on the back surface of the front element 112. Similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 10B, the structure shown in Figure 10C it includes an area of the light signal 222 having alternating regions of reflective material 222b and the free regions of such reflective material 222a. In this way, the LEDs 254 can be more discreetly hidden from view by the driver and even the light of the LEDs 254 can be projected through all the layers of the electrochromic mirror 410 to be visible by the drivers of other vehicles. Similarly, if a day / night sensor 256 is provided, a sensor area 224 can be provided in the same manner with alternating regions of reflective material 224b and free regions of reflective material 224a.

A benefit of using the structure described above in connection with a light signal is that the use of a dichroic coating can be avoided. Dichroic coatings are generally monoconductive and therefore can not be used in an electrochromic mirror having a reflector of the third surface. Also, the only current dichroic coatings that are economically feasible are those that transmit red and infrared light and reflect other colors of light. In this way, to build a light signal, practice, only the LEDs that emit red light can be used. Accordingly, there is little flexibility in this respect when a dichroic coating is used. However, with the "structure of the present invention, a light signal of any color can be used." The concept of providing a window region having alternating free areas of reflective material can be applied in a similar manner to a non-reflective mirror. electrochromic, and although other materials may be used, the chromium on the first or second surface of such non-electrochromic mirror is the currently preferred reflective material.Figures 10D and 15 show yet another embodiment of the present invention pertaining to the mirrors of According to this modality, the signal mirror includes an additional structure to make the light signal more disguised with respect to the field of vision of the driver, while each of the modalities related to the signal mirrors discussed above disguisedly conceals the luminous signal behind the mirror when these are not energized and usually hidden When the light signal is activated, the possibility remains that with such modalities that the driver can be distracted during the periods in which the light signal is activated. Specifically, while the LEDs of the light signal are angled outwardly away from the driver's eyes, the driver may still be able to see the LEDs as points of light through portions of the mirror assembly. Accordingly, this embodiment provides a means for reducing the transmission of light from the light signal through the mirror in the direction of the conductor. As explained below, this additional means can take various alternative or additive forms. Referring to Figure 10D, a construction is shown by means of which a deflection assembly or support 500 is placed between the mounting of the light signal 220 and the rear surface of the mirror assembly 510. The particular deflection assembly or support 500 shown in Figure 14D includes an upper, front plate 502 and a lower, rear plate 504 fixed in separate and parallel relationship by a plurality of legs 506. As illustrated in Figures 14D and 19, the lower plate 504 is laterally displaced in relation to the front plate 502 in a position further away from the driver. The lower plate 504 includes a plurality of openings 508 corresponding to the size and position of each of the LEDs 254. The upper plate 502 is disposed relative to the opening 508 and slightly above the LEDs 254 to block the driver's view of the LEDs 254. The upper plate 502 includes an opening 509 through which light can pass to reach the sensor 256. The spaces between the upper plate 502 and the lower plate 504 as well as the openings 508 in the lower plate 504 provide a enough aperture for the projected light of the angled LEDs 254 to be transmitted through the mirror 510 and in the region C shown in Figure 15. The deflection mount or holder 500, as shown, is preferably made of a black plastic or Similary. The functionality of the bias or support assembly 500 can be supplemented or alternatively realized by various other mechanisms generally designated in Figure 14D by the reference number 520. Specifically, the element 520 can be any or a combination of a light control film, a black or dark paint layer, or a heating element. A light control film can be used, such as those available from the 3M Company under the trade designation LCF-P, which is a thin, plastic film that encloses a plurality of closely spaced black micro-blinds. Such a light control film is described for use in a conventional signal mirror in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,361,190 and 5,788,357. As described in these patents, this light control film can have a thickness of 0.0762 centimeters (0.030 inches), with the micropersianas separated by approximately 0.0127 centimeters (0.005 inches). The micro-blinds are typically black and are placed in various angular positions to provide an adequate viewing angle. Such a light control film allows the light of the LEDs 254 to be transmitted at the appropriate viewing angle to reach the C region (Figure 11). The light control film also serves to block the projected light of the LEDs 254 from traveling outside the appropriate viewing angle in the line of sight of the driver. In this way, other than the offset or support assembly 500 shown in Figures 10D and 15, this light control film can be placed completely on and in front of each of the LEDs 254.

In addition, this light control film could also be made using other forms of optical elements, such as holograms and the like. If the element 520 is a coating of an opaque paint, such coating would not extend sufficiently in front of the LEDs to block the light of the LEDs 254 from being transmitted through the mirror 510 in the area of the blind spot C (Figure 11) . Alternatively, such a paint coating could be completely extended to the front of the LEDs 254, provided that it was configured to have some form of shutter or an equivalent structure formed on its surface in the areas of the proposed transmission path of the LEDs 254. For example, the thickness of such a paint coating could be controlled to create effective blinds using stamping, molding, stamping or laser beam wear. Further, if the reflector / electrode 120 is configured in the manner described above with respect to Figures 10B and 10C, the element 520 could be a black paint coating having similar bars or stripes in the areas overlying the LEDs 254 while have spatial relationships relative to the bars 222b of the reflector / electrode 120, to provide a transmission path at the appropriate angle for vehicles to observe the lights when they are in the blind spots of the vehicle, while blocking the light from the observation field of the vehicle. driver. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10D, the bars 222b of the reflector / electrode 120 can be configured to have varying widths that decrease with increasing distance from the driver, to reduce the peripheral transmittance through the area 222 in the direction of the conductor, or may have a less pronounced edge definition, as discussed above. If the element 520 is provided using a mirror heating element, the heating element could be provided to extend through the entire fourth surface of the mirror and have openings formed in appropriate locations to allow the light emitted from the LEDs 254 to be transmitted at the appropriate angle. Another mechanism to protect the conductor from the light emitted from the LEDs 254 is to increase the thickness of the reflector / electrode 120 in a region 530 corresponding to that of the upper plate 502 to thereby reduce the transmittance through that portion of the reflector. electrode 120. Currently, such reflectors / electrodes have a transmittance of approximately 1-2 percent. To sufficiently protect the conductor from the transmitted light of the LEDs 254, the reflector / electrode 120 preferably has a thickness in the region 530 that reduces the transmittance therethrough to less than 0.5 percent, and more preferably to less than 0.1 percent. hundred. The element 520 may additionally or alternatively include various optical films, such as a prismatic or Fresnel film or an optical collimator element as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,788,357 for collimating or aligning and directing the light emitted from the LEDs 254 in the appropriate angle without also transmitting the light in the direction of the driver. As yet another possible solution, the side walls 252 of the light assembly 220 can be extended to separate the LEDs 254 further from the rear surface of the mirror assembly 510, such that the side walls 252 effectively block any light from the LEDs 254 of to be transmitted in the direction of the vehicle driver Although the structure shown in Figure 10D shows the mirror assembly 510 as including the reflector / electrode 120 as illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figure 10B above, the mirror assembly 510 it could take any of the other forms discussed above with respect to the embodiment described with respect to Figure 10A or Figures 3A-3G.

Although the present invention has been described as providing a light signal that is used as a direction change signal, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the light signal could function like any other form of indicator or light signal. For example, the light signal could indicate that a door is ajar to warn drivers of approaching vehicles that a vehicle occupant may be about to open a door in oncoming traffic, or the light behind the mirror may be an indicator light to indicate that the mirror heaters have been turned on, that another vehicle is in a blind spot, that the pressure is low, that a signal is on, or that there are freezing / dangerous conditions. While the light signal of the present invention has been described above as being preferably made of a plurality of LEDs, nevertheless, the light signal can be made from one or more incandescent lamps, or any other light source, and a filter appropriately colored without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 16-18. In this embodiment, an exterior rearview mirror assembly 700 is provided having a housing 710 adapted for attachment to the exterior of a vehicle. Such mirrors are frequently mounted to the vehicle door 730 or to the pillar or column A of the vehicle. Within the housing 710 is a mirror structure 720 and a light source 725 mounted behind the mirror structure 720. The mirror 720 can be constructed according to any of the modalities observed above, such that the light emitted from the light source 725 can be projected through the mirror 720. In this way, the mirror 720 can have a reflector having a window portion hidden in front of the light source 725 or it can have a region 726 that is at least partially transmissive provided to the front of the the light source 725. As yet another alternative, the region 726 in front of the light source 725 may have a construction similar to that shown in Figure 10 or the entire reflector in the mirror 720 may be partially transmissive. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the light source 725 is preferably mounted such that it projects light onto a region of the vehicle door 730 in which the vehicle door handle 735 and the closing mechanism are provided. 737. The locking mechanism 737 may be a key hole or contact pad commonly used to enable the doors of the vehicle to be closed or open.

The light source 725 may be any type of light source, and is preferably a white light source. A preferred light source is disclosed in the commonly assigned, provisional US patent application No. 60 / 124,493, entitled "SEMICONDUCTOR RADIATION EMITTER PACKAGE" filed March 15, 1999, by John K. Roberts. The light source 725 can be activated to project the light in response to the same actions at which the interior lights of the vehicle are switched on or off when the illuminated entry in the vehicle is provided. Thus, for example, the light source 725 may illuminate a portion of the door 730 when a person presses the closing key or opening into a key receptacle associated with the vehicle for remote, keyless entry (RKE, for example). its acronym in English), when a person attempts to open the door, or when a person inserts a key into the locking mechanism 737. Alternatively, a motion sensor may be provided to activate the light source 725. Preferably, the light source 725 It is disabled to be unable to project light when the ignition of the vehicle has been turned on. By providing such a light source 725 within the rear view mirror housing, exterior 710, a light source can be set in the vehicle to illuminate the area outside the vehicle where a vehicle occupant must make contact to enter the vehicle. Such a feature is advantageous when the vehicle is parked in particularly dark locations. While the light source 725 has been described as being mounted to project light into the door handle 735, it will be appreciated that the light source 725 could be mounted to project light also in the region of the floor or other areas of the exterior of the vehicle as well as the handle of the door. This could be done by providing appropriate optics between the light source 725 and the mirror structure 720. Additional light sources could also be mounted to project light onto these areas. The rearview mirror, transflexive (ie, partially transmissive, partially reflective) described above allows the device to visualize information for the driver without removing a portion of the reflective liner. This results in an aesthetically pleasing appearance and allows the mirror to appear as an adjoining reflector when the visualization device is turned off. An example of a visual representation device particularly suitable for this application is a compass visual representation device. Many mirrors are sold each year which have the added feature of the visual representation of the orientation of a vehicle using a Visual Fluorescence Representation Device in the Alpha-Numeric Vacuum (VFD) capable of visually representing eight compass directions (N, S, E, 0, NO, SO, NE, SE). These types of visual display devices are used in many other applications in motor vehicles such as radios or watches. These visual representation devices have a glass cover over the segments of the phosphorescent digits. When used with a transflective mirror, most of the light from the VFG is not transmitted through the mirror but is reflected back to the visual representation device. A portion of this reflected light is then reflected completely to the upper and lower surfaces of the VFD cover glass and back through the mirror. The result of multi-bouncing reflections is phantom or double images in the visual representation device which are highly unwanted. As discussed above, a solution to this problem is to provide an anti-reflection coating on the cover glass of the VFD, however, such antireflection coating is added to the cost of the display device. Other disadvantages of CFD displays are that they are expensive and fragile. An alphanumeric visual representation device of LEDs is a variable alternative to a fluorescence visual representation device in vacuum for use in a transflective mirror. As discussed above, the LED display devices do not have a specular cover glass and thus do not suffer from phantom reflection problems. Additionally, the area surrounding the LEDs may be black to further assist in the suppression of spurious reflections. LEDs also have the advantage of having extremely high reliability and a long lifespan. The visual representation devices of segmented alphanumeric LEDs are commercially available but are difficult to manufacture and it is difficult to maintain segment-to-segment brightness and color consistency. Finally, it is also difficult to prevent the light of one segment from running in another segment. The LEDs are also only available in highly monochromic, saturated colors, with the exception of some combinations of phosphorescent LEDs, which are currently very expensive.

Many automobile manufacturers have color schemes of the visual representation device which are of wider spectrum and difficult, if not possible, to match with LED technologies. Most of the cars manufactured in the United States have a color scheme of the blue visual representation device, which could only be matched with the blue LEDs which are currently very expensive. An alternative for a segmented LED or VFD visualization device is described below which overcomes the above problems associated with LEDs and VFDs. While the following description relates to a compass visual representation device, the concepts could easily be extended to a variety of visual information display devices, such as a temperature visualization device and various warning lights. The compass display device is used as an example in the preferred embodiment because it better illustrates the features and advantages of the invention. Also, the following description will focus on the use of LEDs as the preferred light source. However, many other light sources are also applicable, such as incandescent lamps or new emerging technologies such as light-emitting polymers and organic LEDs. The graphic, preferably alphanumeric, nature of this visual representation device clearly distinguishes it from other alphanumeric visual representation devices in a vehicle (such as the watch, etc.). Therefore, it will not seem undesirable if this visual representation device does not match the color scheme of the VFD display devices throughout the vehicle, allowing the use of more efficient and more cost-effective visual representation devices. In fact, the contrast colors of the visual representation device must contribute to the aesthetics of the interior of the vehicle. The visual representation device in the preferred embodiment consists of multiple LEDs, a masking layer of graphic application, and a transflective mirror. A front view of the masking layer is shown in Figures 19A and 19B. The graphical application shows eight points of a compass (801-808). The application in Figure 19A includes all eight directions, however, only one of the eight directions, as shown in Figure 19B, will be illuminated depending on the direction of travel. The region of the mirror that contains the other directions will be reflexive and does not indicate any content. A central graphic (80) can be an emblem, such as the globe in Figures 19A and 19B, can be added for cosmetic attraction. The earth globe can be illuminated by a LED of a color that contrasts with the color of the direction indicators. Various methods are contemplated to control the segments. In the simplest form, only one of the LEDs behind the eight compass direction indicators lights up at a given time, depending on the direction of travel. In another scheme, all eight indicators are dimly illuminated and the indicator corresponding to the current travel direction is illuminated more brightly than the other eight. In yet another scheme, two-color LEDs are used and the indicator LED corresponding to the current travel direction is set to a different color than the other eight. A final alternative would be to have illuminated only the indicator corresponding to the current direction of travel, but gradually move from one indicator to another as the car changes direction. The construction of the visual representation device is described with reference to Figures 20 and 21. Figure 20 shows the arrangement of the LEDs on a circuit board and Figure 21 shows a schematic view of the assembly of the visual representation device. The LEDs (812) are arranged in a circuit board (811) in a pattern corresponding to the locations of the indicators and the central graph. The LEDs (812) may be of the type of the trademark called "Pixar" by Hewlett Packard. Due to the loss of light in the transflective coating, bright LEDs are needed. The LEDs based on AlInGaP are suitable for this application and are available in green, red, amber and several similar colors. The blue and green colors can be achieved by using InGaN LEDs. Although InGaN LEDs are currently expensive, there are very few required LEDs that would be used in a segmented visualization device. As an alternative for the use of packaged LEDs such as the "Pixar" LED, these can be attached to the circuit board directly using a technique commonly known in the industry as a chipboard on board. The circuit board (811) is placed behind the mirror using a separator (813). The separator (813) serves multiple purposes. First, the separator places the circuit board at a distance from the mirror, 0.635 centimeters (1/4 inch) for example, such that the LED light completely covers the indicator. Second, the separator prevents interference between the indicators by preventing light from one cavity from entering another cavity. To achieve this, the separator must be made of a highly reflective, white material. At least, the separator must be opaque. Finally, the separator serves to help reflect the light coming out of the LED at high angles back to the indicator. This improves the efficiency of the system. The separator can still be built with a concave, parabolic diffuser that surrounds the LED to more effectively direct the light forward. The Lambert diffusion surface on the separator will also help diffuse light and improve the uniformity of the indicator illumination. The empty region between the circuit board (811) and the mirror (815) formed by the openings in the separator (813) can be filled with epoxy or silicone containing a diffusing agent. An application (814) is provided in a masking layer made of a thin material which has a matte black filter or mask that covers all areas except the graphic indicators. The regions for the graph are clear or something white or diffuse. The application can be formed by silk stenciling of the filter pattern or black mask on a diffuse plastic film. Preferably, the side of the application facing the LEDs is also stencilled with a white ink. This allows light which does not pass through the letters or the graphic region to be reflected back to the LED and the separator where it can then be partially reflected back to the front. Alternatively, the application can be formed by silk screen directly from the black filter or mask on the rear surface of the mirror (815). The manner in which such an application can be constructed is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 311,029, entitled "REARVIEW MIRROR DISPLAY", filed May 13, 1999, by Wayne J. Rumsey et al. While the invention has been described in detail herein, according to certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes herein may be affected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the purpose is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by means of the details and means describing the embodiments shown herein. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the property claimed in the following claims is claimed to be expensive property: 1. An electrochromic rearview mirror, characterized in that it comprises: front and rear elements each having front and rear surfaces and which are sealably joined together in a separate relation to define a camera; a first transparent electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of the elements; an electrochromic material contained in the camera; and a second partially transmissive, partially reflective electrode disposed on substantially all of the front surface of the rear element, the second electrode including an electrically conductive, transparent coating applied on a surface of the rear element and a thin, reflective layer of metal applied on the coating electrically conductive, transparent, wherein the rear view mirror, electrochromic exhibits a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a C * value of less than about 20 2. An electrochromic mirror for use in a rearview mirror assembly having an electronic device positioned behind the electrochromic mirror to selectively project and / or receive light therethrough, and the electrochromic mirror is characterized in that it comprises: separate elements frontal and further, each having front and rear surfaces and sealingly joined together in a separate relationship to define a camera; a first transparent electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of the elements; an electrochromic material contained within the chamber; and a second electrode superimposed on the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material, the second electrode including a reflective layer of reflective material and a coating of electrically conductive material that is at least partially transmissive and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element, wherein the second electrode includes a region in front of the electronic device that is at least partially transmissive. 3. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic device is a light source. 4. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the light source is an indicator light. 5. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the light source is a light signal. 6. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the light source is a visual representation device. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 6, characterized in that it also includes an electronic compass, electrically coupled to the visual information display device to visually represent the orientation of the vehicle. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the light source is placed behind the mirror to emit light, when activated, through the mirror, and through the region of the reflective coating that is free of reflective material towards one side of the vehicle. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that it also includes a mirror heating element mounted to a rear surface of the rear view mirror in front of the electronic device, the heating element including at least one opening through the which can transmit light. 10. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic device is a light sensor. 11. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, characterized in that the second electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective on substantially the entire front surface of the rear element. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 11, characterized in that the light sensor includes a sensor component and a collector component disposed between the rear surface of the rear element and the sensor component, the collector component serving to collect light on an area greater than a detection area of the sensor component for directing at least a portion of the light collected to the sensor component. 13. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 12, characterized in that the collector component is a lens that condenses the collected light towards a focal plane of the lens. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor component is placed in front of the focal plane of the lens. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 10, characterized in that the second electrode is a partially reflective, partially transmissive electrode that is formed on substantially the entire front surface of the rear element, and includes an electrically conductive, transparent coating, and a layer reflective, thin silver or a silver alloy applied on the electrically conductive, transparent coating. 16. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that it also includes a device for visual representation of organic light-emitting diodes mounted on one of the surfaces of the front or rear elements. 17. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 16, characterized in that the visual representation device of organic light-emitting diodes is mounted in the chamber. 18. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 16, characterized in that the visual representation device of organic light-emitting diodes is mounted at the front of the reflective electrode / reflector. 19. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 16, characterized in that the light-emitting visual representation device is substantially transparent. 20. The rear view mirror, electrochromic according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rear view mirror, electrochromic has a value C * less than about 15. 21. The rear view mirror, electrochromic according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rear view mirror, electrochromic has a value C * of less than about 10. 22. The rear view mirror, electrochromic according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rear view mirror, electrochromic has a value b * less than about 15. The rear view mirror, electrochromic according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rear view mirror, electrochromic has a value b * less than about 10. 24. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 65 percent. 25. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the electrochromic mirror has a reflectance of at least about 70 percent. 26. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the electrochromic mirror has a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum. 27. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reflective layer is made of a silver alloy that includes a combination of silver and an element selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, rhodium and palladium. 28. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reflective layer is made of a silver alloy that includes approximately 94 percent silver and approximately 6 percent gold. 29. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reflective layer has a thickness between approximately 180 and 500 Á. 30. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the transparent, conductive coating includes a layer of tin oxide doped with fluorine. 31. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the transparent, conductive coating includes a layer of indium tin oxide. 32. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to claim 30, characterized in that the transparent, conductive coating includes a second layer of transparent material between the indium tin oxide layer and the rear element. 33. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to claim 32, characterized in that the second layer is made of silicon. 34. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to claim 32, characterized in that the second layer is made of titanium dioxide. 35. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to claim 34, characterized in that the transparent, conductive coating further includes a third layer of silica and a fourth layer of indium tin oxide between the first layer of indium tin oxide and the reflective layer. 36. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reflective layer includes a silver layer and the mirror further includes a shiny layer of a silver alloy disposed on the silver layer. 37. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the transparent, conductive coating includes a layer of silicon. 38. The electrochromic rear view mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first electrode is arranged on the rear surface of the front element. 39. The rear view mirror, electrochromic according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive, transparent coating having an optical thickness of m? / 4, where? is equal to approximately 500 nm and m is an odd, positive number. 40. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the second electrode includes a layer of indium tin oxide and a reflective, thin layer of silver or a silver alloy applied on the indium oxide layer Tin, the indium tin oxide layer that has a thickness of H wave,% wave, wave and 1 wave. 41. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the second electrode having a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the spectrum visible, and a C * value of less than about 20. 42. The electrochromic rearview mirror according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second electrode has a reflectance of at least about 35 percent, a transmittance of at least about 5 percent in at least portions of the visible spectrum, and a b * value of less than about 15. 43. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the region of the second electrode at the front of the electronic device, the layer of reflective material has a thickness less than that in the other regions of the second electrode. 44. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 43, characterized in that the layer of reflective material has a thickness between 40 Á and 150 Á in the region on the front of the electronic device. 45. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 44, characterized in that the layer of reflective material has a thickness of between 100 Á and 1000 Á in the other regions. 46. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the region of the second electrode at the front of the electronic device, the second electrode is completely free of the reflective material. 47. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the layer of reflective material is a thin layer of silver or a silver alloy applied over substantially all of the electrically conductive coating such that substantially the entire region of the second electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective. 48. The electrochromic mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the front and rear elements are made of glass. 49. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive coating includes a first layer of a first conductive, partially reflective material. 50. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 49, characterized in that the first conductive, partially reflective material is selected from the group consisting essentially of: chromium, chromium-molybdenum-nickel alloys, nickel-iron-chromium alloys, stainless steel and titanium. 51. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 49, characterized in that the electrically conductive coating includes a second layer of a conductive material, "partially reflective, disposed between the first layer and the layer of reflective material. with claim 51, characterized in that the second conductive, partially reflective material is selected from the group consisting essentially of: molybdenum, rhodium, nickel, stainless steel, and titanium 53. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 51, characterized in that less one of the first and second layers is thinner in the region of the second electrode in front of the electronic device. 54. The electofromic mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the second electrode further includes at least one glossy overcoat disposed on the reflective layer, wherein the glossy overcoat comprises a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: rhodium, molybdenum and platinum. 55. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode has a transmittance of between 10 and 50 percent in the region at the front of the electronic device. 56. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 55, characterized in that the second electrode has a reflectance of between 50 and 80 percent in the other regions. 57. The electrochromic mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it also includes a housing in which the electrochromic mirror and the electrochromic device are mounted, the housing having a mounting member for mounting the housing to the outside of A vehicle. 58. The electrochromic mirror according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it also includes a housing in which the electrochromic mirror is mounted and the electronic device is mounted, the housing having a mounting member for mounting the housing to the inside of A vehicle. 59. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that it also includes a means arranged in front of the light source to reduce the transmission of light from the light source through the mirror in the direction of the conductor. 60. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 59, characterized in that the means for reducing the transmission includes some or a combination of elements selected from the group consisting of: a light control film, a bypass assembly or support, paint coating, a heating element, a thick reflective layer, a Fresnel lens, a prismatic lens and a collimating lens. 61. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the entire second electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective. 62. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the second electrode is more transmissive in a region of the spectrum corresponding to the light transmitted from the light source than to other regions of the visible spectrum. 63. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 3, characterized in that the second electrode is less reflective in a region of the spectrum corresponding to the light transmitted from the light source than to other regions of the visible spectrum. 64. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode includes an electrically conductive coating comprising: a first layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of indium oxide doped with tin, titanium dioxide and dioxide of tin adjacent to the front surface of the rear element; a second layer of silicon dioxide adjacent to the first layer; and a third layer of the first material adjacent to the second layer. 65. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 64, characterized in that it also includes a layer of a reflective material adjacent to the third layer. 66. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode has a luminous reflectance, averaging at least 60 percent over all visible wavelengths and an average transmittance of at least 10 percent in a range of wavelengths from 585 to 650 nm. 67. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode has a luminous reflectance, averaging at least 35 percent over all visible wavelengths and an average transmittance of at least 10 percent in a range of wavelengths from 585 to 650 nm. 68. The electrochromic mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the electrochromic means includes at least one solution phase electrochromic material contained within the chamber in contact with the second electrode. 69. The electrochromic mirror according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it also includes a coating on the rear surface of the rear element that reflects any blue light transmitted through the second electrode back through the mirror. 70. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 69, characterized in that the coating on the rear surface of the rear element is blue paint. 71. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode comprises: a first layer of a first material having a relatively high refractive index; a second layer of a second material having a relatively low refractive index disposed on the first layer; and a third layer of a third material disposed on the second layer, the third material having a relatively high refractive index. 72. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, characterized in that the third material is the same as the first material. 73. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 72, characterized in that the first and third materials are selected from the group consisting essentially of indium oxide doped with tin, titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc oxide , zirconium oxide, iron oxide and silicon. 74. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, characterized in that the first, second and third materials are electrically conductive. 75. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, characterized in that it also includes a fourth layer of an electrically conductive material disposed on the third layer. 76. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 75, characterized in that the fourth layer is made of a reflective, electrically conductive material. 77. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 75, characterized in that the fourth layer is made of a transparent, electrically conductive material. 78. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, characterized in that the second electrode has a luminous reflectance, averaging at least about 60 percent over all visible wavelengths and an average transmittance of at least 10 percent in a range of wavelengths from 585 to 650 nm. 79. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, characterized in that the second electrode has a luminous reflectance, averaging at least about 35 percent over all visible wavelengths and an average transmittance of at least about 10 percent in one range of wavelengths from 585 to 650 nm. 80. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 71, further comprising a fourth layer of silver / a silver alloy disposed on the third layer, wherein the first material is indium oxide doped with tin, the second material is silicon dioxide and the third material is indium oxide doped with tin. 81. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that the second electrode comprises: a first layer of a first material having a relatively high refractive index; a second layer of a second material having a relatively low refractive index disposed on the first layer; and a third layer of a third electrically conductive material disposed on the second layer. 82. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 81, characterized in that the third electrically conductive material is a reflective material. 83. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 76 or 82, characterized in that the reflective material is silver or a silver alloy. 84. The electrochromic mirror according to claim 83, characterized in that the layer of reflective material has a thickness of approximately 150 Á to 300 Á. 85. The electrode according to claim 83, characterized in that the layer of reflective material has a thickness of approximately 160 Á. 86. The electrode according to claim 81, characterized in that the third electrically conductive material is substantially transparent. 87. The electrode according to claim 77 or 86, characterized in that the transparent, electrically conductive material is indium tin oxide. 88. The electrode according to claim 71 or 81, characterized in that the first material is selected from the group consisting essentially of indium oxide doped with tin, titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, zinc oxide, oxide of zirconium, iron oxide and silicon. 89. The electrode according to claim 88, characterized in that the first layer has a thickness of about 200 Á to 800 Á. 90. The electrode according to claim 71 or 81, characterized in that the second material is selected from the group consisting essentially of silicon dioxide, niobium oxide, magnesium fluoride and aluminum oxide. 91. The electrode according to claim 90, characterized in that the second layer has a thickness of about 400 Á to 1200 Á. 92. The electrode according to claim 71 or 81, characterized in that the third material is selected from the group consisting essentially of indium oxide doped with tin, titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, doped zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide and silicon. 93. The electrode according to claim 92, characterized in that the third layer has a thickness of about 600 Á to 1400 Á. 94. The electrode according to claim 81, characterized in that the second electrode has a luminous reflectance, averaging at least about 50 percent over all visible wavelengths and an average transmittance of at least about 40 percent in a range of wavelengths from 585 to 650 nm. 95. The electrode according to claim 71 or 81, characterized in that the second electrode has a blade strength of less than about 100 O / D. 96. The electrode according to claim 81, characterized in that the first layer is made of indium oxide doped with tin, the second layer is made of silicon dioxide and the third layer is made of silver / a silver alloy. 97. The electrode according to claim 81, characterized in that the first layer is made of silicon, the second layer is made of silicon dioxide and the third layer is made of indium oxide doped with tin. 98. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a housing adapted to be mounted on the vehicle; front and rear elements mounted in the housing, the elements each having front and rear surfaces and sealingly joined together in a separate relationship to define a chamber; an electrochromic material contained in the camera; a first transparent electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of the elements; a second electrode disposed on the front surface of the rear element; a mounting of the light-emitting visual representation device mounted in the housing; a reflector disposed on a surface of the rear element; and a reflection reducer to minimize the light that is emitted from the display assembly from being reflected completely from the reflective electrode / reflector back to the mounting of the visual display device and then from being reflected back completely to the front surface of the assembly of the visual representation device towards the front surface of the front element and an observer, wherein the reflector is partially transmissive and partially reflective in at least one location in front of the mounting of the visual representation device. 99. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the mounting of the visual representation device has a front surface, and the reflection reducer is a structure for mounting the visual representation device assembly behind the rear surface of the rear element such that the front surface of the mounting of the visualization device is not parallel with the rear surface. 100. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the reflection reducer is a non-specular front surface of the mounting of the visual representation device that is mounted adjacent to the rear surface of the rear element. 101. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 300, characterized in that any light emitted from the mounting of the visual representation device that is reflected back through the rear element of the reflector and collides against the non-specular front surface of the device assembly of visual representation is not reflected back through the subsequent element. 102. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the mounting of the visual display device has a front surface that is mounted adjacent to the rear surface of the rear element, and the reflection reducer is an anti-reflection coating applied to the front surface of the mounting of the visual representation device. 103. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the mounting of the visual display device has a front surface that is mounted adjacent to the rear surface of the rear element, the reflection reducer that includes at least one masking component to minimize the light that is emitted from the mounting of the visual display device to be completely reflected from the reflector back towards the mounting of the visual display device and then be reflected back from the front surface of the display assembly to the front surface of the frontal element and an observer. 104. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that it also includes a light absorbing layer provided on the rear surface of the rear element, the light absorbing layer having an aperture window formed therein through wherein the mounting of the visual display device emits light, wherein the mounting of the visual display device is mounted at an angle behind the rear surface of the rear element such that any light emitted from the mounting of the visual display device is reflected from return through the rear element of the reflector collides against and is substantially absorbed by the light absorbing layer. 105. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the second electrode is a reflective electrode serving the reflector, the reflective electrode that is partially transmissive and partially reflective on substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. 106. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 105, characterized in that the reflective electrode includes an electrically conductive, transparent coating, and a thin reflective layer of silver or a silver alloy applied on the transparent electrically conductive coating. 107. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 106, characterized in that the reflective electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective with a reflectance of at least about 50 percent and a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least the portions of the visible spectrum. 108. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the mounting of the visual representation device includes a visual representation device and an optical element placed between the visual representation device and the rear surface of the rear element, wherein The front surface of the mounting of the display device that is not parallel with the rear surface of the rear element is a surface of the optical element. 109. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 108, characterized in that the optical element is a mirror. 110. The rear view mirror assembly according to any of claims 6 and 98, characterized in that the visual representation device is a graphic visual representation device. 111. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 110, characterized in that the graphic display device includes a masking layer provided behind the rear surface of the rear element and having signs formed therein that is at least partially transmissive, the graphic display device further includes at least one light source mounted behind the masking layer to selectively project light through the signs and through the front and back elements, and the electrochromic element, the first and second electrodes and through the partly reflective, partially transmissive region of the reflector. 112. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 110, characterized in that at least one light source is a light emitting diode. 113. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 110, characterized in that the graphic display device is a graphic device for compass visual representation. 114. The fetrovisor mirror assembly according to claim 113, characterized in that the compass visual representation device includes a masking layer provided behind the posterior surface of the posterior element and having signs formed therein which is at least partially transmissive, the signs including at least the letters N, E, S and O arranged in a circle, the graphic display device further includes at least four light sources mounted behind the masking layer each to selectively project light through of the respective letter of the signs and through the front and back elements, the electrochromic material, the first and the second electrodes and through the partially reflective, partially transmissive region of the reflector. 115. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 109, characterized in that the signs also include the letters NE, SE, SO and NO and the graphic device of compass visual representation also includes four additional light sources each associated with one of the letters NE, SE, SO and NO. 116. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 115, characterized in that the light sources are light emitting diodes. 117. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 116, characterized in that the light emitting diodes are mounted on a printed circuit board behind the rear element and the masking layer. 118. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 115, characterized in that it also includes a compass circuit mounted in the housing to selectively activate the light sources of the compass visual representation device to illuminate one of the letters of the signs and visually represent the current orientation of the vehicle. 119. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 114, characterized in that the signs also include an emblem in the center of the circle of the letters and the graphic device of the compass visual representation also includes a light source mounted behind the emblem to project selectively light through it. 120. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 119, characterized in that the second electrode is a reflective electrode serving as the reflector, the reflective electrode is partially reflective and partially transmissive over substantially the entire front surface of the rear element. 121. The retroreflective mirror assembly according to claim 120, characterized in that the reflective electrode includes an electrically conductive, transparent coating, and a thin reflective layer of silver or a silver alloy applied on the electrically conductive coating, transparent . 122. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 120, characterized in that the reflective electrode has a reflectance of at least about 35 percent. 123. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 111, characterized in that the masking layer is substantially a light absorbing material on its entire surface with the exception of those areas of the signs. 124. The rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: an electrochromic mirror including separate front and rear elements sealingly joined together in a separate relation to define a chamber therebetween, a reflective liner that includes at least one layer of a reflective material disposed on a front surface of the rear element, and a reversibly variable, electrochromic transmittance medium contained in the chamber; and a luminous signal mounted behind the electrochromic mirror to selectively project light through the electrochromic mirror. 125. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 124, characterized in that it also includes a variable attenuator coupled to a remote device of the mirror assembly by means of a specialized line, wherein the variable attenuator controls the intensity of the light signal in response to a signal sent from the remote device over the specialized line. 126. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 124, characterized in that it also includes a sensor mounted behind the electrochromic mirror. 127. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 126, characterized in that the electrochromic mirror further includes a sensor area disposed within the reflective liner on the front of the sensor and having regions containing the reflective material and regions substantially free of the reflective material., wherein the reflective material is effective to reflect light through at least the front element and the electrochromic medium when the light reaches the reflective material after passing through at least the front element and the electrochromic medium. 128. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 124, characterized in that the electrochromic mirror further includes an area of the light signal disposed within the reflective coating at the front of the light signal, the area of the light signal having regions containing reflective material and regions substantially free of reflective material, wherein the reflective material is effective to reflect light through the electrochromic means and the front element when the light reaches the reflective material after passing through the front element and the electrochromic medium. 129. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 124, characterized in that the reflective coating is provided on a front surface of the rear element and includes at least one layer of material that is electrically conductive and reflective. 130. A rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: an electrochromic mirror; a luminous signal mounted behind the electrochromic mirror to selectively project light through the electrochromic mirror; and a variable attenuator coupled to a remote device of the mirror assembly, wherein the variable attenuator controls the intensity of the light signal in response to a signal sent from the remote device. 131. The rear view mirror assembly according to any of claims 124 and 130, characterized in that the light signal is selectively operated in response to a direction change indication signal to function as a direction change light signal. 132. The rear view mirror assembly according to any of claims 124 and 130, characterized in that it also includes a day / night sensor circuit that includes a sensor to detect if some daylight is hitting the electrochromic mirror, the day / night sensor circuit controls the intensity of the light signal in response to the detection made by the sensor. 133. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 132, characterized in that the day / night sensor circuit increases the intensity of the light source when daylight is detected and decreases the intensity when daylight is not detected. . 134. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 124 or 130, characterized in that the light signal emits red light. 135. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 124 or 130, characterized in that the light signal emits amber light. 136. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 124 or 130, characterized in that it further includes a housing in which the mirror and the light signal are mounted, the housing having a mounting member for mounting the housing to the exterior of a vehicle. 137. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 124 or 130, characterized in that it also includes a means arranged in front of the light signal to reduce the transmission of the light of the light signal through the mirror in the direction of the driver. 138. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 137, characterized in that the means for reducing the transmission includes any or a combination of elements selected from the group consisting of: a light control film, a deflection assembly or support , a paint coating, a heating element, a thick reflective layer, a Fresnel lens, a prismatic lens, and a collimating lens. 139. The rearview mirror assembly according to any of claims 124 or 130, characterized in that the light signal includes a plurality of LEDs. 140. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a mirror including a transparent substrate, a reflective liner formed of a surface of the substrate and a partially transmissive / reflective area disposed within the reflective liner, the partially transmissive area / reflective that has regions containing the reflective material and regions substantially free of the reflective material; and an electronic device mounted behind the partially transmissive / reflective area of the mirror to receive and / or selectively project light through the mirror, wherein the reflective material is effective to reflect light through the substrate when the light reaches the reflective material after passing through the substrate. 141. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the electronic device is a light source for selectively projecting the light through the mirror. 142. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that the light source is a light signal. 143. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that the light source is a visual information display device. 144. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that the light source is an indicator light. 145. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that the light source is placed behind the mirror to emit light, when activated, through the mirror, and through the region of the reflective coating that is free of the material reflective towards one side of the vehicle. 146. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that the free region of the reflective material allows observation of the light source. 147. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 141, characterized in that it also includes a means arranged in front of the light source to reduce the transmission of light from the light source through the mirror in the direction of the driver. 148. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 147, characterized in that the means for reducing the transmission includes any or a combination of elements selected from the group consisting of: a light control film, a deflection assembly or support , a paint coating, a heating element, a thick reflective layer, a Fresnel lens, a prismatic lens and a collimating lens. 149. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the electronic device is a sensor for detecting the light transmitted through the electrochromic mirror. 150. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the mirror further includes an electrochromic means. 151. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 150, characterized in that the coloration of the electrochromic medium close to the particularly transmissive / reflective area is generally uniform with the coloration of the electrochromic medium in the remaining area of the mirror. 152. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the region containing reflective material comprises approximately 50-70 percent of the area and the region that is free of the reflective material comprises approximately 30-50 percent of the area. 153. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the region containing the reflective material includes a plurality of lines of reflective material that are separated by lines substantially free of reflective material. 154. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 153, characterized in that the lines of reflective material and the free lines of the reflective material are vertical. 155. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 153, characterized in that the lines of reflective material have a width of approximately 0.0254 centimeters (0.010 inches) and the free lines of the reflective material have a width of approximately 0.01524 centimeters (0.006 inches). . 156. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that it also includes a housing in which the electrochromic mirror and the light source are mounted, the housing having a mounting member for mounting the housing to the outside of a vehicle . 157. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that it also includes a housing in which the electrochromic mirror and the light source are mounted, the housing having a mounting member for mounting the housing to the interior of a vehicle . 158. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 140, characterized in that the regions containing reflective material have decreased reflectivity in the areas adjacent to the substantially free region of the reflective material. 159. A rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a housing adapted to be mounted outside the vehicle; a first element mounted in the housing, the first element having a front and rear surface; a reflector disposed on one of the surfaces of the first element; and a light source mounted in the housing behind the rear surface of the first element, the light source which is placed inside the housing to emit the light, when activated, through the first element and through a region of the reflector that is at least partially transmissive towards one side of the vehicle. 160. The outdoor rearview mirror assembly according to claim 159, characterized in that the light source emits the light towards the door handle and / or the closing mechanism of the vehicle. 161. The external rearview mirror assembly according to claim 159, characterized in that it also includes: a second element mounted in the housing in front of the first element, the second element having a front and rear surface and that is joined in a manner Sealable to the first element in a separate relation to define a chamber; an electrochromic material contained in the camera; a first transparent electrode including a layer of conductive material carried on a surface of one of the elements; and a second electrode disposed on the front surface of the first element, wherein the light source is mounted behind the first element to emit light, when the first and second elements are activated, the electrochromic material, the first and the second electrodes and through a region of the reflector that is at least partially transmissive to one side of the vehicle. 162. The outdoor rearview mirror assembly according to claim 161, characterized in that the second electrode is reflective to serve because of that as the reflector and constitutes a reflective electrode. 163. The outdoor rear view mirror assembly according to claim 162, characterized in that the reflective electrode is formed on substantially the entire front surface of the first element, the reflective electrode including an electrically conductive, transparent coating, and a thin reflective layer of silver or a silver alloy applied on the electrically conductive, transparent coating. 164. The outdoor rear view mirror assembly according to claim 163, characterized in that the reflective electrode is partially transmissive and partially reflective with a reflectance of at least about 50 percent and a transmittance of at least about 10 percent in at least the portions of the visible spectrum. 165. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 98, characterized in that the reflector is arranged on substantially the entire rear surface of the rear element. 166. The rearview mirror assembly according to claim 130, characterized in that the variable attenuator is coupled to a remote device of the mirror assembly by means of a specialized line and the variable attenuator "controls the intensity of the light signal in response to a signal sent from the remote device over a specialized line. ELECTROCROMIC MIRROR THAT INCORPORATES A REFLECTOR OF THE THIRD SURFACE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrochromic mirror is described for use in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly (110) having an electronic device (160, 170, 220, 725) positioned behind the electrochromic mirror to selectively project and / or receive light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes an electrode (120) that includes a layer of reflective material (121) and a coating of electrically conductive material (172) that is at least partially transmissive. The second electrode further includes a region (146) in front of the electronic device that is at least partially transmissive. The electrically conductive coating may include a transparent, single layer or a plurality of partially reflective or transmissive layers, or an electrically conductive dichroic coating. The electronic device may be a light sensor (160) or a light source such as a visual information display device (170) or a light signal (220).