AUTOMOTIVE REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20100110523A1
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Allemand, Pierr-Marc, Varaprasad, Desaraju V., Dornan, Craig A., Zhao, Mingtang, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/089 using a liquid filtering layer of variable thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1518 Ferrocene compounds

Abstract

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

Claims

1. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

a plurality of features included in said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said plurality of features comprising at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a video camera, (ii) a headlamp controller, (iii) a garage door opener, (iv) a component of an intelligent highway system, (v) a component of a toll transaction system, (vi) an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information, (vii) an array of light-emitting diodes, (viii) a loudspeaker and (ix) an antenna;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein at least one of said plurality of features at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry; and

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film.

2. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of features shares a microprocessor with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

3. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of features comprises a video camera and a headlamp controller.

4. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip.

5. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of features comprising a component of a toll transaction system

6. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein said component of a toll transaction system comprises an on-demand toll transaction display.

7. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, gold, chromium, silver and steel.

8. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

9. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer comprises chromium.

10. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.

11. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 20 microns to about 200 microns.

12. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer is undercoated by an undercoating layer.

13. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said undercoating layer comprises a transparent undercoating layer.

14. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein said transparent undercoating layer comprises a transparent electrically conducting material.

15. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

16. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said undercoating layer comprises another metal layer.

17. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light is less than the reflectivity of said metal layer.

18. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer is overcoated by an overcoating layer.

19. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 18, wherein said overcoating layer comprises a transparent overcoating layer.

20. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein said transparent overcoating layer comprises a transparent electrical conducting material.

21. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 20, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

22. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 18, wherein said overcoating layer comprises another metal layer.

23. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 22 wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light exceeds the reflectivity of said metal layer.

24. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 23, wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive exterior rearview mirror assembly.

25. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive interior rearview mirror assembly.

26. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of features comprises an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information.

27. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 26, wherein said on-demand display comprises a multi-pixel display.

28. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 27, including backlighting.

29. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

30. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm and wherein said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

31. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer.

32. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a member selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, benzylacetone, 3-hydroxypropionitrile, methoxypropionitrile, 3-ethoxypropionitrile, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, glycerine carbonate, 2-acetylbutyrolactone, cyanoethyl sucrose, gamma-butyrolactone, 2-methylglutaronitrile, N,N′

-dimethylformamide, 3-methylsulfolane, methylethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, acetophenone, glutaronitrile, 3,3′

-oxydipropionitrile, 2-methoxyethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether and combinations thereof.

33. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer formed by curing within a cavity between said first and second substrates an electrochromic monomer composition that includes at least one of (a) a monofunctional monomer and a cross-linking agent and (b) a polyfunctional monomer capable of cross-linking.

34. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises (i) at least one anodic electrochromic compound and (ii) at least one cathodic electrochromic compound.

35. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer formed by curing within a cavity between said first and second substrates a monomer composition comprising at least one monomer component selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, dipropylene glycol monomethacrylate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, i-propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, s-butyl acrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, i-propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, s-butyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate, s-pentyl methacrylate, methoxyethyl acrylate, methoxyethyl methacrylate, triethylene glycol monoacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate, benzyl acrylate, caprolactone acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-ethylacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, n-hexyl methacrylate, isobornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, i-decyl acrylate, i-decyl methacrylate, i-octyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, tridecyl methacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, ethoxylated pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-isocyanurate triacrylate, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-isocyanurate trimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol monoacrylate, polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate, polypropylene glycol monoacrylate, polypropylene glycol monomethacrylate, hydroxyethyl cellulose acrylate, hydroxyethyl cellulose methacrylate, methoxy poly(ethyleneoxy) ethylacrylate, methoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethylmethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,2-butylene dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene dimethacrylate, 1,4-butylene dimethacrylate, propylene glycol diacrylate, propylene glycol dimethacrylate, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, divinyl benzene, divinyl toluene, diallyl tartrate, allyl maleate, divinyl tartrate, triallyl melamine, glycerine trimethacrylate, diallyl maleate, divinyl ether, diallyl monomethylene glycol citrate, ethylene glycol vinyl allyl citrate, allyl vinyl maleate, diallyl itaconate, ethylene glycol diester of itaconic acid, polyester of maleic anhydride with triethylene glycol, polyallyl glucoses, polyallyl sucroses, glucose dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, sorbitol dimethacrylate, diallyl aconitate, divinyl citrasonate, diallyl fumarate, allyl methacrylate, 1,3-bis-(4-benzoyl-3-hydroxyphenoxy)-2-propylacrylate, 2-hydroxy-4-acryloxyethoxybenzophenone, 4-methacryloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, cyclohexene oxide, cyclopentene oxide, glycidyl i-propyl ether, glycidyl acrylate, furfuryl glycidyl ether, styrene oxide, ethyl-3-phenyl glycidate, 1,4-butanediol glycidyl ether, 2,3-epoxypropyl-4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)benzoate, 4,4′

-bis-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)biphenyl and combinations thereof.

36. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer formed by curing within a cavity between said first and second substrates a monomer composition comprising at least one polyol.

37. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises a cross-linked polymer and wherein said cross-linked polymer comprises one of a urethane and an acrylate.

38. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium comprises propylene carbonate, a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound.

39. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate selected comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium tin oxide full wave, indium tin oxide half wave, indium tin oxide half wave green, tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony-doped zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide.

40. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information;

display control circuitry for controlling said on-demand display;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein said display control circuitry at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic minor dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry; and

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film.

41. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said display control circuitry shares a microprocessor with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

42. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, further comprising a video camera and a headlamp controller.

43. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 42, wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip.

44. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said metal layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, gold, chromium, silver and steel.

45. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

46. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said metal layer comprises chromium.

47. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.

48. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 20 microns to about 200 microns.

49. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said metal layer is undercoated by an undercoating layer.

50. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 49, wherein said undercoating layer comprises a transparent undercoating layer.

51. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 50, wherein said transparent undercoating layer comprises a transparent electrically conducting material.

52. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 51, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

53. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 49, wherein said undercoating layer comprises another metal layer.

54. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 53, wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light is less than the reflectivity of said metal layer.

55. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said metal layer is overcoated by an overcoating layer.

56. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 55, wherein said overcoating layer comprises a transparent overcoating layer.

57. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 56, wherein said transparent overcoating layer comprises a transparent electrical conducting material.

58. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 57, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

59. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 55, wherein said overcoating layer comprises another metal layer.

60. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 59, wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light exceeds the reflectivity of said metal layer.

61. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive interior rearview mirror assembly.

62. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 61, wherein said on-demand display comprises a multi-pixel display.

63. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 62, further comprising a map light.

64. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 63, wherein said map light comprises at least one light emitting diode.

65. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 64, wherein said map light comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

66. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

67. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, wherein said first substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm and wherein said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

68. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

a video camera and a headlamp controller;

wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein said at least one of said video camera and said headlamp controller at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry; and

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film.

69. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said video camera and said headlamp controller shares a microprocessor with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

70. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, including an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information, and wherein said on-demand display comprises a multi-pixel display.

71. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said metal layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, gold, chromium, silver and steel.

72. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

73. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns.

74. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein an interpane distance between said first and second substrates is from about 20 microns to about 200 microns.

75. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said metal layer is undercoated by an undercoating layer.

76. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 75, wherein said undercoating layer comprises a transparent undercoating layer.

77. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 76, wherein said transparent undercoating layer comprises a transparent electrically conducting material.

78. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 77, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

79. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 75, wherein said undercoating layer comprises another metal layer.

80. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 79, wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light is less than the reflectivity of said metal layer.

81. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said metal layer is overcoated by an overcoating layer.

82. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 81, wherein said overcoating layer comprises a transparent overcoating layer.

83. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 82, wherein said transparent overcoating layer comprises a transparent electrical conducting material.

84. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 83, wherein said transparent electrically conducting material comprises indium tin oxide.

85. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 81, wherein said overcoating layer comprises another metal layer.

86. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 85, wherein the reflectivity of said another metal layer to incident visible light exceeds the reflectivity of said metal layer.

87. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive interior rearview mirror assembly.

88. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 87, further comprising a map light.

89. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 88, wherein said map light comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

90. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

91. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 68, wherein said first substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm and wherein said second substrate comprises a glass substrate having a thickness in the range of from about 1 mm to about 1.8 mm.

92. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

a plurality of features included in said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said plurality of features comprising at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a video camera, (ii) a headlamp controller, (iii) a garage door opener, (iv) a component of an intelligent highway system, (v) a component of a toll transaction system, (vi) an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information, (vii) an array of light-emitting diodes, (viii) a loudspeaker and (ix) an antenna;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film.

93. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 92, wherein said plurality of features comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a video camera, (ii) a headlamp controller, (iii) a garage door opener and (iii) an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information.

94. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 93, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

95. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 94, wherein at least one of said plurality of features at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

96. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 93, wherein said plurality of features comprises an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and wherein said metal layer of said mirror reflector is at least one of (i) undercoated by another layer and (ii) overcoated by another layer.

97. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 96, wherein said plurality of features comprising a component of a toll transaction system, and wherein said component of a toll transaction system comprises an on-demand toll transaction display.

98. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 96, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

99. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 93, wherein said plurality of features comprises a video camera and wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip.

100. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

a video camera included in said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprises an automotive interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film.

101. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 100, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information.

102. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 101, wherein said metal layer comprises silver.

103. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 100, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a headlamp controller.

104. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 103, wherein at least one of said video camera and said headlamp controller at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

105. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 104, wherein said metal layer of said mirror reflector is at least one of (i) undercoated by another layer and (ii) overcoated by another layer.

106. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 104, wherein said metal layer of said mirror reflector is undercoated by a transparent electrically conductive layer.

107. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 106, wherein said transparent electrically conductive layer comprises indium tin oxide.

108. An automotive rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides a rearward field of view to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said automotive rearview mirror assembly;

said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first substrate is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second substrate when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first substrate has a first surface and a second surface;

wherein said first surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said second surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;

wherein said third surface is closer to the driver of the equipped vehicle than said fourth surface when said automotive rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;

a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;

a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;

said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer;

wherein said metal layer is undercoated by a transparent undercoating layer;

electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry for controlling dimming of said electrochromic medium;

wherein said electrochromic medium comprises at least one of (i) a viologen, (ii) a phenazine, (iii) 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine, (iv) a heptyl viologen, (v) a distryrylmethyl viologen, (vi) an ethylhydroxypropyl viologen, (vii) propylene carbonate, (viii) an ultraviolet stabilizer, (ix) a phenothiazine, (x) a metallocene, (xi) a cross-linked polymer, (xii) a plasticizer, (xiii) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xiv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecylphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate, diphenylpropyl viologen diperchlorate and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in propylene carbonate in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xv) a polychromic solid film formed from curing an electrochromic monomer composition comprising hydroxyundecyl viologen perchlorate, ethyl viologen perchlorate, a ferrocene-polyol, ferrocene and 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine dispersed in a mixture of tertraethyleneglycol dimethylether and tetramethylenesulfone in combination with an isocyanate, a polyol, a tin catalyst and a UV stabilizer, (xvi) a cathodic electrochromic compound, (xvii) an anodic electrochromic compound, (xviii) a cathodic electrochromic compound and an anodic electrochromic compound and (xix) an electrochromic cross-linked polymer solid film; and

an on-demand display that is viewable through said mirror reflector by the driver of the equipped vehicle when displaying information and that is substantially non-viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying information, and wherein said on-demand display comprises a multi-pixel display.

109. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 108, wherein said transparent undercoating layer comprises a transparent electrically conducting material.

110. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 108, further comprising a video camera and a headlamp controller, and wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS video microchip, and wherein said at least one of said video camera and said headlamp controller at least one of (a) shares a component with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry and (b) shares circuitry with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.

111. The automotive rearview mirror assembly according to claim 110, wherein at least one of said video camera and said headlamp controller shares a microprocessor with said electrochromic mirror dimming circuitry.