Exterior mirror element with wide angle portion

• US 8,061,859 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhao, Mingtang
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry; Euncha P
• Application Number:
  US13/191,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 118 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/866, 359/868, 359/869, 359/871, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/868
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/241 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0053 combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping injection-compression moulding B29C45/561
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7465 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00596 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3055 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/09 by deposition from the vapour phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/26 Cr, Mo, W
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/70 Properties of coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/154 by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/31 Pre-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/028 Physical treatment to alter the texture of the substrate surface, e.g. grinding, polishing
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/185 by cathodic sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/34 Sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 : Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/34 : reflector

Abstract

A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate and a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The auxiliary wide angle curved portion has a curved recess established at a region of the rear surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and may have a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and may have a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

Claims

1. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; and

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

2. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element.

3. The mirror reflective element of claim 2, wherein said principal reflector portion of said mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element.

4. The mirror reflective element of claim 2, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped.

5. The mirror reflective element of claim 4, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.

6. The mirror reflective element of claim 5, wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D.

7. The mirror reflective element of claim 6, wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

8. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding.

9. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said front surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element.

10. The mirror reflective element of claim 9, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding.

11. The mirror reflective element of claim 10, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises at least one of aluminum, silver, chromium, an aluminum alloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises at least one of aluminum, silver, chromium, an aluminum alloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy.

12. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises at least one of aluminum, silver, chromium, an aluminum alloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises at least another of aluminum, silver, chromium, an aluminum alloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy.

13. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating.

14. The mirror reflective element of claim 13, wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is established at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

15. The mirror reflective element of claim 14, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

16. The mirror reflective element of claim 13, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

17. The mirror reflective element of claim 16, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

18. The mirror reflective element of claim 16, wherein said same material comprises chromium.

19. The mirror reflective element of claim 16, wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element.

20. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters.

21. The mirror reflective element of claim 20, wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

22. The mirror reflective element of claim 20, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters.

23. The mirror reflective element of claim 22, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth that is a function of its radius of curvature and its cross-dimension size.

24. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters.

25. The mirror reflective element of claim 24, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters.

26. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate via sputter deposition.

27. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a metallic reflector.

28. The mirror reflective element of claim 27, wherein said metallic reflector is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate via sputter deposition.

29. The mirror reflective element of claim 28, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating, and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

30. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating, and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

31. The mirror reflective element of claim 30, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

32. The mirror reflective element of claim 30, wherein said same material comprises chromium.

33. The mirror reflective element of claim 30, wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element.

34. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a generally convex-shaped reflector having a compound curvature convex shape.

35. The mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard region of said mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle.

36. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding;

wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal reflector portion of said mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 70 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 800 millimeters; and

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters.

37. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D.

38. The mirror reflective element of claim 37, wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5

39. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said front surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element.

40. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

41. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is greater than about 0.2 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is greater than 30 millimeters.

42. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters.

43. The mirror reflective element of claim 36, wherein a heater pad is disposed at said rear surface of said glass substrate.

44. The mirror reflective element of claim 43, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

45. The mirror reflective element of claim 44, wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

46. The mirror reflective element of claim 44, wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

47. The minor reflective element of claim 43, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

48. The mirror reflective element of claim 43, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

49. The mirror reflective element of claim 43, wherein electrical power for heating the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, is provided via at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad that generates heat when passing an electrical current, and wherein said electrical power is applied via at least one electrical connector of said heater pad that is adapted for connection to a wiring harness of an exterior minor assembly for powering of said heater pad by a power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior minor assembly.

50. The mirror reflective element of claim 49, wherein said heater pad comprises a flexible heater pad and wherein said at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad traverses a flexible strip of said flexible heater pad.

51. The minor reflective element of claim 40, wherein a heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

52. The mirror reflective element of claim 51, wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

53. The minor reflective element of claim 52, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

54. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 80 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 1,000 millimeters; and

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

55. The mirror reflective element of claim 54, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D.

56. The mirror reflective element of claim 55, wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5

57. The mirror reflective element of claim 54, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 3.09 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 70 millimeters.

58. The mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.

59. The mirror reflective element of claim 54, wherein said metallic reflector of said principal mirror reflector is established at said rear surface of said glass substrate via sputter deposition.

60. The mirror reflective element of claim 59, wherein said curved recess is established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding.

61. The mirror reflective element of claim 60, wherein said principal reflector portion of said mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

62. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said front surface of said glass substrate and wherein said principal mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflector and wherein said principal mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting aperture;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element;

wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 80 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 1,000 millimeters; and

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

63. The mirror reflective element of claim 62, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface and wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 3.09 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 70 millimeters.

64. The mirror reflective element of claim 62, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.

65. The mirror reflective element of claim 62, wherein said curved recess is established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

66. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal reflector portion of said mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 70 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 1,000 millimeters; and

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters.

67. The mirror reflective element of claim 66, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.

68. The mirror reflective element of claim 67, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D.

69. The mirror reflective element of claim 66, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.

70. The mirror reflective element of claim 66, wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

71. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 80 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 1,000 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters;

wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating and wherein said auxiliary minor reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating;

wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate; and

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element.

72. The minor reflective element of claim 71, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

73. The mirror reflective element of claim 71, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters, and wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

74. The mirror reflective element of claim 73, wherein said same material comprises chromium.

75. The mirror reflective element of claim 71, wherein a heater pad is disposed at said rear surface of said glass substrate.

76. The mirror reflective element of claim 75, wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

77. The mirror reflective element of claim 76, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

78. The mirror reflective element of claim 75, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass, and wherein electrical power for heating the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, is provided via at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad that generates heat when passing an electrical current, and wherein said electrical power is applied via at least one electrical connector of said heater pad that is adapted for connection to a wiring harness of an exterior mirror assembly for powering of said heater pad by a power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror assembly.

79. The mirror reflective element of claim 75, wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

80. The mirror reflective element of claim 79, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

81. The mirror reflective element of claim 79, wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

82. The mirror reflective element of claim 75, wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

83. The mirror reflective element of claim 82, wherein electrical power for heating the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, is provided via at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad that generates heat when passing an electrical current, and wherein said electrical power is applied via at least one electrical connector of said heater pad that is adapted for connection to a wiring harness of an exterior mirror assembly for powering of said heater pad by a power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror assembly.

84. The mirror reflective element of claim 83, wherein said heater pad comprises a flexible heater pad and wherein said at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad traverses a flexible strip of said flexible heater pad.

85. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 80 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 1,000 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters; and

wherein a heater pad is disposed at said rear surface of said glass substrate and wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

86. The mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters.

87. The mirror reflective element of claim 86, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

88. The mirror reflective element of claim 87, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface and wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped.

89. The mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

90. The mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

91. The mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element.

92. The mirror reflective element of claim 91, wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard region of said mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle.

93. The mirror reflective element of claim 92, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating, and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material, and wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

94. The mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

95. The mirror reflective element of claim 94, wherein said principal minor reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating, and wherein said auxiliary minor reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating, and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

96. The minor reflective element of claim 95, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

97. The mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said minor reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

98. The mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating, and wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

99. The mirror reflective element of claim 98, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

100. A minor reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said minor reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 60 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 800 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters;

wherein said principal minor reflector of said principal reflector portion comprises a principal reflecting coating and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a wide angle reflector coating; and

wherein said wide angle reflector coating of said auxiliary minor reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and said principal reflecting coating of said principal reflector portion comprise the same material.

101. The mirror reflective element of claim 100, wherein said same material substantially coats the entire rear surface of said glass substrate.

102. The mirror reflective element of claim 100, wherein a heater pad is disposed at said rear surface of said glass substrate and wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

103. The minor reflective element of claim 102, wherein electrical power for heating the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, is provided via at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad that generates heat when passing an electrical current.

104. The mirror reflective element of claim 103, wherein said electrical power is applied via at least one electrical connector of said heater pad that is adapted for connection to a wiring harness of an exterior mirror assembly for powering of said heater pad by a power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror assembly.

105. The mirror reflective element of claim 104, wherein said heater pad comprises a flexible heater pad and wherein said at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad traverses a flexible strip of said flexible heater pad.

106. The mirror reflective element of claim 105, wherein said at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad traverses said flexible strip of said flexible heater pad to connect with said at least one electrical connector.

107. The mirror reflective element of claim 102, wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

108. The mirror reflective element of claim 107, wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters, and wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element, and wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard region of said mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle, and wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped.

109. The mirror reflective element of claim 100, wherein a heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

110. A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element comprising:

a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface;

a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;

wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than about 70 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is less than about 800 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a curved glass substrate;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element; and

wherein a heater pad is disposed at said rear surface of said glass substrate.

111. The mirror reflective element of claim 110, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said rear surface of said glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is less than about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is less than about 60 millimeters, and wherein said glass substrate has a thickness between said front surface and said rear surface of less than 3 millimeters.

112. The mirror reflective element of claim 111, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

113. The minor reflective element of claim 110, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass, and wherein electrical power for heating the reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, is provided via at least one electrically conductive trace of said heater pad that generates heat when passing an electrical current, and wherein said electrical power is applied via at least one electrical connector of said heater pad that is adapted for connection to a wiring harness of an exterior mirror assembly for powering of said heater pad by a power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror assembly.

114. The minor reflective element of claim 113, wherein said heater pad provides heating over substantially the entire reflecting area of said mirror reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

115. The minor reflective element of claim 110, wherein said heater pad heats the reflecting area of said minor reflective element, including said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

116. The mirror reflective element of claim 115, wherein said heater pad conforms to said rear surface of said glass substrate.

117. The minor reflective element of claim 116, wherein said heater pad is fixedly secured by an adhesive at said rear surface of said glass substrate at both of (i) said auxiliary wide angle curved portion and (ii) said principal reflector portion.

118. The mirror reflective element of claim 110, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal reflector portion of said mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped.