Importance

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Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle includes a mirror case and a variable reflectance reflective element, which comprises a mirror reflector. Preferably, an information display is positioned in the mirror case to the rear of the variable reflectance element. The information display preferably comprises a light source and a display element. The light source is positioned behind the display element so that light emitted by the light source impinges the display element. The display element comprises one or more indicia established at the display element by at least one of etching, printing, and forming on a surface of the display element. When the light source is illuminated behind the display element, the light emitted by the light source causes the information display to display at least one alphanumeric indicia, graphical indicia, or symbolic indicia. The mirror assembly also preferably includes a control for adjusting the light intensity emitted by the light source. The display element and the light source are commonly supported in the mirror case, wherein the display element is positioned in the mirror case such that the information display is generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of the mirror reflector of the reflective element to define a display area at the reflective element. The assembly further preferably includes at least one light sensor, wherein the control adjusts the light intensity emitted by the light source in accordance with a light level detected by the at least one light sensor. In addition, the control adjusts the light intensity emitted by the light source to provide an indicia for displaying to an occupant of the vehicle at the display area having a luminous intensity of at least about 100 candelas/sq. meter when the light sensor detects an ambient light level characteristic of a daytime condition or having a luminous intensity of no greater than about 50 candelas/sq. meter when the light sensor detects an ambient light level characteristic of a nighttime condition.

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First Claim