A rearview device for use with a vehicle includes a primary reflective element backing plate, a primary reflective element positioned on the primary reflective element backing plate, a secondary reflective element backing plate, a secondary reflective element positioned on the secondary reflective element backing plate, and an attachment mechanism including at least one clip or projection to attached the secondary reflective element to the primary reflective element backing plate. The attachment mechanism aligns a primary central axis of the primary reflective element to a secondary central axis of the secondary reflective element to be substantially parallel.

A vehicle display mirror system is disclosed. The system comprises a display device and a reflecting polarizer. The display device is operable to display image data on a display surface as display light. The reflecting polarizer comprises a light receiving surface proximate the display surface and configured to output the display light in a first polarization from an emitting surface. The system further comprises a liquid crystal element, a polarizing element, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the liquid crystal element and configured to selectively align a liquid crystal material to pass the display light through the liquid crystal element and deactivate the liquid crystal element to adjust a received light from the first polarization to a second polarization and reflect the second polarization from the emitting surface.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element having a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate with an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. The first glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and the second glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface. The second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating that opposes and contacts the electro-optic medium and the third surface has an electrically conductive coating that opposes and contacts the electro-optic medium. A front substrate has a rounded perimeter edge region that has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm and that spans between a front side and a rear side of the front substrate. The rear side of the front substrate is adhesively attached at the first surface of the first glass substrate of the mirror reflective element.

A display mirror assembly having a housing. An electro-optic element is disposed within the housing. A light gathering structure is operably coupled with a first side of the electro-optic element and is configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing. A display module is disposed within the housing and is operable between an on state and an off state. A light relaying structure is operably coupled with a second side of the electro-optic element and is configured to relay light from the electro-optic element to a first edge of the display module. A backlit module is disposed at a second edge of the display module.

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic cell, a switchable reflective element, a display module, an ambient light sensor, and a controller. The controller automatically selects a display mode or a mirror mode in response to a detected ambient light level. In a display mode, the controller activates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a low reflection mode, and sets the electrochromic cell to a clear state with minimum attenuation. In a mirror mode, the controller deactivates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a high reflection mode, and varies attenuation by the electrochromic cell.

A vehicle display system is disclosed. The system comprises an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a light-transmissive state. The electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate forming a cavity. The cavity is configured to retain an electro-optic medium that is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. The system further comprises a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device. The electro-optic device is converted to the darkened state when the substantially transparent display is emitting light.

An adjustable rearview mirror that is designed to quickly transition between transparent and reflective states. The apparatus is configured to resemble traditional rearview mirrors used in vehicles. The apparatus includes a window mount, a pivoting connection arm, and a user controlled mirror panel. The window mount connects the rearview mirror to the windshield of a vehicle. The pivoting connection arm enables a user to reposition the rearview mirror at will. The user controlled panel can be placed into a reflective or a transparent state based on user input. A user is able to gain a relatively unhindered view of traffic through a vehicle windshield.

An electronic mirror comprises a liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and an AC voltage source configured to apply an alternating voltage across the liquid crystal layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, wherein, when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer change their orientation, and the electronic mirror is configured to apply a varying voltage across the liquid crystal layer which gradually decreases from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer such that the refraction index of the liquid crystal layer gradually varies from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer.

Comparing to conventional electrochromic material showing a primary drawback of high manufacturing cost due to low synthetic yield, the inventors of the present invention modulate the chemical structure of a traditional viologen compounds so as to develop a novel electrochromic material performing an excellent advantage of low manufacturing cost resulted from high recovery rate. Moreover, differing from conventional electrochromic devices (ECD) installed with the conventional electrochromic material, the inventors of the present invention also propose an anti-dazzle mirror having the novel electrochromic material, wherein the proposed anti-dazzle mirror shows an outstanding reflectivity performance.

A vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a first indicator light associated with a first function or a first state of the vehicle (e.g., a brake light), and circuitry coupled to the first indicator light. The circuitry is configured to cause the first indicator light to emit light when the vehicle is performing the first function or is operating in the first state, and detect an amount of light incident on the first indicator light. Thus, the indicator light can be used to detect incoming light to perform various vehicle functions (e.g., automatically dimming mirrors based on the incoming light) without the need for a dedicated light sensor.