INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20110084198A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid, Varaprasad, Desaraju V., McCabe, Ian A., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/214.AL
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0858 the reflecting layers comprising a single metallic layer with one or more dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including an electrochromic reflective element. A display device is disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element and includes a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes supported by a circuit board disposed rearward of the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The light emitting diodes of the circuit board are disposed to the rear of the display screen to provide backlighting of the display screen when activated. Information displayed by the display device is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. When the plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and the display device is displaying information, light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes passes through the display screen and through the transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface'"'"' urface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

a circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

2. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen.

3. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes.

4. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function.

5. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 4, wherein said driver assist function comprises at least one of (a) a door ajar status, (b) a seat belt status, (c) a lane change assist, (d) a blind spot detection and (e) a backup assist.

6. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein circuitry supported at least in part by said printed circuit board is operable to operate at least one other electrical accessory disposed in or at said interior rearview mirror assembly.

7. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear substrate.

8. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 7, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector.

9. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 8, wherein said display screen is disposed at said reflective element to generally coincide with said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector.

10. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 9, wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector.

11. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 10, wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

12. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 10, wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is at least about 10 percent, and wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is less than about 10 percent.

13. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 8, wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector is established at said third surface so that the reflectivity of visible light at said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is greater than the reflectivity of visible light at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector.

14. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 8, wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises a substantially neutral spectral reflectance when no voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium.

15. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 8, wherein at least one metallic reflective layer of said multi-zone mirror reflector is established during vacuum deposition utilizing a mask.

16. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least three layers, and wherein said at least three layers comprise a metallic layer and a metal oxide layer.

17. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 16, wherein two of said at least three layers comprise transparent metal oxide layers.

18. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 17, wherein said metallic layer comprises one of a silver layer and a silver alloy layer.

19. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 18, wherein said transparent metal oxide layers comprise at least one of a semiconducting metal oxide layer, an indium tin oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer, a silicon oxide layer and a tin oxide layer.

20. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 18, wherein said metallic layer comprises a specific resistivity of less than approximately 5×

10<sup>−

5</sup> ohm.cm.

21. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 16, wherein said at least three layers comprise said metallic layer and two metal oxide layers.

22. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 21, wherein said metal oxide layers are disposed between said metallic layer and said third surface of said rear substrate.

23. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 22, wherein one of said metal oxide layers comprises a titanium oxide layer and the other of said metal oxide layers comprises an indium tin oxide layer.

24. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 23, wherein said indium tin oxide layer is disposed between said titanium oxide layer and said third surface of said rear substrate.

25. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 16, wherein said at least three layers of said mirror reflector are established at said third surface of said rear substrate by vacuum deposition comprising sputtering from multiple sputtering targets in a single vacuum deposition chamber.

26. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 25, wherein at least one of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a silver alloy metal target.

27. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 26, wherein at least another of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a metal oxide target.

28. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 27, wherein said metal oxide target comprises an indium tin oxide target.

29. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 25, wherein, during sputtering of said metallic layer of said mirror reflector, a perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is masked so that said metallic layer does not encompass the masked perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

30. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 29, wherein a portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is not masked so that said metallic layer comprises a tab out portion that encompasses the unmasked portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

31. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 16, wherein said metallic layer has a thickness of at least about 60 nm.

32. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board.

33. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said circuit board is attached at said fourth surface of said rear substrate.

34. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 33, wherein said circuit board is adhesively attached at said fourth surface of said rear substrate.

35. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 33, wherein said circuit board is attached to a backing plate that is adhesively attached at said fourth surface of said rear substrate.

36. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 1, wherein said circuit board includes at least one photosensor disposed thereon, and wherein said circuitry is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light level detected by said at least one photosensor.

37. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 36, wherein said at least one photosensor comprises a glare sensing photosensor.

38. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 37, wherein said at least one photosensor comprises an ambient light sensing photosensor.

39. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview minor information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen, and wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

a circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function; and

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

40. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 39, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective minor reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone minor reflector, and wherein said display screen is disposed at said reflective element to generally coincide with said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective minor reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone minor reflector.

41. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 40, wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

42. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 40, wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is at least about 10 percent, and wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is less than about 10 percent.

43. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 40, wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises a substantially neutral spectral reflectance when no voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium.

44. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 40, wherein at least one metallic reflective layer of said multi-zone mirror reflector is established during vacuum deposition utilizing a mask.

45. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 39, wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least three layers, and wherein said at least three layers comprise a metallic layer and a metal oxide layer.

46. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 45, wherein two of said at least three layers comprise transparent metal oxide layers.

47. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 46, wherein said metallic layer comprises one of a silver layer and a silver alloy layer, and wherein said transparent metal oxide layers comprise at least one of a semiconducting metal oxide layer, an indium tin oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer, a silicon oxide layer and a tin oxide layer.

48. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 45, wherein said at least three layers comprise said metallic layer and two metal oxide layers, and wherein said metal oxide layers are disposed between said metallic layer and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein one of said metal oxide layers comprises a titanium oxide layer and the other of said metal oxide layers comprises an indium tin oxide layer, and wherein said indium tin oxide layer is disposed between said titanium oxide layer and said third surface of said rear substrate.

49. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 45, wherein said at least three layers of said mirror reflector are established at said third surface of said rear substrate by vacuum deposition comprising sputtering from multiple sputtering targets in a single vacuum deposition chamber, and wherein at least one of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a silver alloy metal target, and wherein at least another of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a metal oxide target.

50. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 49, wherein, during sputtering of said metallic layer of said mirror reflector, a perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is masked so that said metallic layer does not encompass the masked perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

51. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 50, wherein a portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is not masked so that said metallic layer comprises a tab out portion that encompasses the unmasked portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

52. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 39, wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board.

53. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

wherein said mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen, and wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

a circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

54. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector.

55. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function, and wherein said driver assist function comprises at least one of (a) a lane change assist, (b) a blind spot detection and (c) a backup assist.

56. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

57. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is at least about 10 percent, and wherein the transmissivity of visible light at said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is less than about 10 percent.

58. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises a substantially neutral spectral reflectance when no voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium.

59. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein at least one metallic reflective layer of said multi-zone mirror reflector is established during vacuum deposition utilizing a mask.

60. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least three layers, and wherein said at least three layers comprise a metallic layer and a metal oxide layer.

61. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 60, wherein two of said at least three layers comprise transparent metal oxide layers.

62. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 61, wherein said metallic layer comprises one of a silver layer and a silver alloy layer, and wherein said transparent metal oxide layers comprise at least one of a semiconducting metal oxide layer, an indium tin oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer, a silicon oxide layer and a tin oxide layer.

63. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 60, wherein said at least three layers comprise said metallic layer and two metal oxide layers, and wherein said metal oxide layers are disposed between said metallic layer and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein one of said metal oxide layers comprises a titanium oxide layer and the other of said metal oxide layers comprises an indium tin oxide layer, and wherein said indium tin oxide layer is disposed between said titanium oxide layer and said third surface of said rear substrate.

64. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 60, wherein said at least three layers of said mirror reflector are established at said third surface of said rear substrate by vacuum deposition comprising sputtering from multiple sputtering targets in a single vacuum deposition chamber, and wherein at least one of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a silver alloy metal target, and wherein at least another of said multiple sputtering targets comprises a metal oxide target.

65. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 64, wherein, during sputtering of said metallic layer of said mirror reflector, a perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is masked so that said metallic layer does not encompass the masked perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

66. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 65, wherein a portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate is not masked so that said metallic layer comprises a tab out portion that encompasses the unmasked portion of the perimeter region of said third surface of said rear substrate.

67. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 53, wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board and wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen.

68. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises one of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen and wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

a printed circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said printed circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said printed circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said printed circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said printed circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

69. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 68, wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function.

70. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 69, wherein said driver assist function comprises at least one of (a) a lane change assist, (b) a blind spot detection and (c) a backup assist.

71. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 68, wherein circuitry supported at least in part by said printed circuit board is operable to operate at least one other electrical accessory disposed in or at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear substrate.

72. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 71, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen is disposed at said reflective element to generally coincide with said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

73. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises a metallic layer established at said third surface of said rear substrate;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen and wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

a printed circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said printed circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said printed circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said printed circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function.

74. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 73, wherein said driver assist function comprises at least one of (a) a lane change assist, (b) a blind spot detection and (c) a backup assist.

75. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 74, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen is disposed at said reflective element to generally coincide with said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

76. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 75, wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises a silver metallic layer.

77. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 75, wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises a silver alloy metallic layer.

78. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 73, wherein said printed circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system.

79. An interior rearview mirror information display system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having first and second surfaces and said rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate are arranged so that said second surface of said front substrate opposes said third surface of said rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;

wherein a mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least partially transmissive to visible light and partially reflective of visible light incident thereat;

a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen and wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

a printed circuit board for mounting electrical components, wherein said printed circuit board is disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said printed circuit board supports said plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said printed circuit board is disposed to the rear of said display screen to provide backlighting of said display screen when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated;

wherein information displayed by said display device when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is activated and said display device is displaying information, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said display screen and through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said mirror reflector comprises a multi-zone mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector comprises said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector has a degree of transmissivity of visible light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of visible light through said first zone of said multi-zone minor reflector, and wherein said display screen is disposed at said reflective element to generally coincide with said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said display screen, when operating to display information, is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector and, when not operating to display information, is rendered substantially covert by said transflective mirror reflector at said second zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector, and wherein said first zone of said multi-zone mirror reflector is substantially non-transmissive to visible light.

80. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 79, wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises a silver metallic layer.

81. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 79, wherein said transflective mirror reflector comprises a silver alloy metallic layer.

82. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 79, wherein said displayed information comprises information related to a driver assist function.

83. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 82, wherein said driver assist function comprises at least one of (a) a lane change assist, (b) a blind spot detection and (c) a backup assist.

84. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 79, wherein said printed circuit board supports, at least in part, circuitry that is operable to vary the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light condition detected by a photosensor during nighttime driving of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror information display system.

85. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 84, wherein circuitry supported at least in part by said printed circuit board is operable to operate at least one other electrical accessory disposed in or at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear substrate.

86. The interior rearview mirror information display system of claim 84, wherein said display screen comprises an active matrix liquid crystal display screen.