Exterior mirror element with wide angle portion

• US 7,887,204 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US12/893,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20110013285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 139 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

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

Claims

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

a front glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a seal;

said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;

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

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

wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

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 electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

3. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 2, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.

4. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 3, 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.

5. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 4, wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

6. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating.

7. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 6, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

8. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 6, further comprising a hiding layer that substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

9. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 8, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

10. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 9, wherein said hiding layer at least in part demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from said principal planar reflector portion when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and is normally viewed by the driver of the vehicle.

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

12. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

13. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 12, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

14. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 13, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

15. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating.

16. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

17. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 16, further comprising a hiding layer that substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

18. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 17, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

19. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

20. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

21. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 20, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

22. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 21, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

23. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 22, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by grinding.

24. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion comprises a transflective principal mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium.

25. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar 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.

26. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

27. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 26, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

28. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.

29. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 28, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters.

30. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 28, 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.

31. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.

32. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 31, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters.

33. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium.

34. The electrochromic minor reflective element of claim 33, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a metallic reflector that is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

35. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 33, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

36. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

37. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 36, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

38. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 37, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

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

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

41. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a seal;

said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;

wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium;

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

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

wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

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

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;

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 said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.

42. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped curved recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D, and wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

43. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

44. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 43, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

45. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein a hiding layer at least in part demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from said principal planar reflector portion when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and is normally viewed by the driver of the vehicle.

46. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 45, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

47. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

48. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 47, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

49. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surface of said front glass substrate by grinding.

50. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 49, wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

51. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.

52. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 51, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters.

53. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 51, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a metallic reflector that is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

54. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

55. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle.

56. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a seal;

said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;

wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium;

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

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

wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

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

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;

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 said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.

57. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped curved recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D, and wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

58. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

59. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 58, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

60. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

61. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

62. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 61, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview minor assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

63. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 62, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

64. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by grinding.

65. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 64, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

66. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

67. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said rear glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.

68. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 67, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters.

69. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 67, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a metallic reflector that is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

70. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

71. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 70, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

72. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 71, wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

73. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 72, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

74. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 73, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

75. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 70, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

76. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 75, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

77. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 56, wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle.

78. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates;

said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;

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

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

wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to 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 1.57 millimeters;

wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle; and

wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters.

79. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 78, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

80. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 78, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped, and wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped curved recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D, and wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

81. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 80, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

82. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 80, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

83. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 82, wherein said hiding layer at least in part demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from said principal planar reflector portion when the exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and is normally viewed by the driver of the vehicle.

84. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 78, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surface of said front glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

85. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 84, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a metallic reflector that is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

86. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 78, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a seal, and wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

87. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 86, wherein said hiding layer at least in part demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from said principal planar reflector portion when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and is normally viewed by the driver of the vehicle.

88. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates;

said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion;

wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;

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

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

wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;

wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters;

wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to 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 1.57 millimeters;

wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle; and

wherein said rear glass substrate has a thickness of no greater than about 2 millimeters.

89. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

90. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped, and wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, and wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped curved recess has a maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension size D, and wherein:

H=R−

(R^2−

(D/2)^2)^0.5.

91. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 90, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a seal, and wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal that circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

92. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 91, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

93. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 90, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

94. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate by grinding.

95. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a metallic reflector that is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

96. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 95, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at said curved recess via sputter deposition.

97. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein said light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

98. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 97, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is devoid of said electrochromic medium at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.

99. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 98, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate.

100. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 97, wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

101. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 100, further comprising a hiding layer that at least partially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

102. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein, when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle, said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at an outboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle.

103. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 88, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium.