최소 단어 이상 선택하여야 합니다.
최대 10 단어까지만 선택 가능합니다.
다음과 같은 기능을 한번의 로그인으로 사용 할 수 있습니다.
NTIS 바로가기다음과 같은 기능을 한번의 로그인으로 사용 할 수 있습니다.
DataON 바로가기다음과 같은 기능을 한번의 로그인으로 사용 할 수 있습니다.
Edison 바로가기다음과 같은 기능을 한번의 로그인으로 사용 할 수 있습니다.
Kafe 바로가기국가/구분 | United States(US) Patent 등록 |
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 | UP-0091525 (2006-10-31) |
등록번호 | US-7855755 (2011-02-14) |
국제출원번호 | PCT/US2006/042718 (2006-10-31) |
§371/§102 date | 20080715 (20080715) |
국제공개번호 | WO07/053710 (2007-05-10) |
발명자 / 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 | 피인용 횟수 : 271 인용 특허 : 779 |
A video mirror system for a vehicle comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly having a transflective electro-optic reflective element that transmits at least about ten percent of visible light incident thereon and reflects at least about sixty percent of visible light incident thereon. A displ
A video mirror system for a vehicle comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly having a transflective electro-optic reflective element that transmits at least about ten percent of visible light incident thereon and reflects at least about sixty percent of visible light incident thereon. A display module is disposed at a rear of the transflective electro-optic reflective element and comprises a plurality of individual light sources. A thermally conductive element may be in substantial thermal contact with the display module and is exposed at a rear casing portion of the mirror assembly so as to draw heat generated by the display module away from the display module and to the exterior of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The exposure of the thermally conductive element at the rear casing portion may be substantially not discernible to a viewer viewing the rear casing portion of the interior rearview mirror assembly.
The invention claimed is: 1. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electr
The invention claimed is: 1. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state and reflecting at least about sixty percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources; a thermally conductive element in substantial thermal contact with said display module; said thermally conductive element being exposed at a rear casing portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly so as to draw heat generated by said display module during operation of said display module and to draw the heat away from said display module and to the exterior of said interior rearview mirror assembly; and wherein the exposure of said thermally conductive element at said rear casing portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly is substantially not discernible to a viewer viewing said rear casing portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly from outside of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle. 2. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive element draws heat from said display module and from a circuit board of said interior rearview mirror assembly and dissipates the heat out of said interior rearview mirror assembly. 3. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive element is formed so as to be at least partially hidden from view at said rear casing portion, said thermally conductive element being at least one of molded, contoured, painted and coated to reduce the discernibility of said thermally conductive element at said rear casing portion. 4. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said rear casing portion comprises a plurality of ribs at said thermally conductive element to limit access to said thermally conductive element from outside said casing. 5. The video mirror system of claim 4, wherein said ribs are configured to shade said thermally conductive element to reduce solar loading of said thermally conductive element. 6. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sources is electrically operated as at least two banks of light sources, with each of said at least two banks of light sources comprising a plurality of light sources. 7. The video mirror system of claim 6, wherein each of said at least two banks of light sources comprise multiple pairs of light sources, with said pairs of light sources being powered in electrical series. 8. The video mirror system of claim 6, wherein said light sources are operated via a current that is applied via a pulse width modulation (PWM). 9. The video mirror system of claim 8, wherein the peak currents of each bank of said light sources is staggered so that the currents are applied at different times. 10. The video mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a transflective polarizing element disposed at said rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element and between said display module and said transflective electro-optic reflective element. 11. The video mirror system of claim 10, wherein illumination emitted by said plurality of light sources is substantially polarized as it is transmitted through said light transmissive polarizing display element, said transflective polarizing element being arranged so that said polarized light from said display element passes through said transflective polarizing element for viewing by a person viewing a front of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said transflective polarizing element reflecting other light incident thereon via passage through said transflective electro-optic reflective element. 12. The video mirror system of claim 10, wherein said transflective polarizing element is disposed over substantially all of said rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element. 13. The video mirror system of claim 10, wherein said transflective polarizing element is disposed only at a display area in front of said display module, a surrounding non-display area of said rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element having a reflective layer disposed thereat. 14. The video mirror system of claim 13, wherein a reflectance of light incident on said display area is substantially reflectance matching with a reflectance of light incident on said reflective layer at said non-display area. 15. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said display module comprises a back lit liquid crystal display element that is backlit by said plurality of light sources. 16. The video mirror system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 17. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video mirror system is operated as part of a voice interaction system of the vehicle, said voice interaction system including an artificially generated human voice for providing information to the driver of the vehicle, said artificially generated human voice being selectively generated with a regional accent that is determined by the actual geographic location of the vehicle as determined by a vehicle-based navigational system. 18. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a thin film transistor liquid crystal video screen and a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein said display module is stood-off the rear surface of said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video screen has a diagonal dimension in the range from about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a metallic reflector and wherein said metallic reflector is at least one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen; wherein said metallic reflector comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is arranged in at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each bank of said at least two banks comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series and wherein electrical current passing through said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is maintained substantially constant by a current regulator; wherein, when said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered to emit light, said current regulator is operable to maintain a substantially constant electrical current through said series connection of said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein said display module comprises a thermally conductive element to reduce heat build-up within said interior rearview mirror assembly when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered; wherein said thermally conductive element comprises a thermally conductive plastic; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein control of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 19. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said display module is stood-off the rear surface of said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element by a shim. 20. The video mirror system of claim 19, wherein said shim comprises a metallic shim. 21. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein each bank of said at least two banks comprises at least thirty-two white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each bank comprises at least sixteen serially-connected pairs of white light emitting light emitting diodes that are connected and operated electrically in series. 22. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is adapted to receive a voltage feed from the equipped vehicle, and wherein said voltage feed is reduced by a voltage regulator of said interior rearview mirror assembly to a lower voltage to be applied to said white light emitting light emitting diodes. 23. The video mirror system of claim 22, wherein said voltage feed from the equipped vehicle comprises a twelve volt feed. 24. The video mirror system of claim 22, wherein said lower voltage comprises a voltage equal to or less than about 8 volts. 25. The video mirror system of claim 22, wherein said lower voltage comprises a voltage equal to or less than about 6 volts. 26. The video mirror system of claim 22, wherein said lower voltage is achieved at least partially via a DC to DC conversion. 27. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises control circuitry. 28. The video mirror system of claim 27, wherein said control circuitry comprises a microprocessor. 29. The video mirror system of claim 28, wherein said control circuit is operable to increase the output intensity of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes for a period of time. 30. The video mirror system of claim 28, wherein said control circuitry is operable to operate said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes with an increased light intensity for a first period of time, said first period of time followed by a second period of time during which said control circuitry operates said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes with a light intensity that is less than said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes with said increased light intensity. 31. The video mirror system of claim 30, wherein said first period of time commences when a control of said interior rearview mirror assembly receives a signal indicative of a transmission of the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear. 32. The video mirror system of claim 31, wherein said first period of time is up to about one minute in time duration. 33. The video mirror system of claim 27, wherein said control circuitry is operable to operate said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes with an increased light intensity by at least one of (a) passing an increased current through said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) providing a parallel drive that drives said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes of said display module at a higher current during said first period of time than during said second period of time and then switching to another drive with reduced current drive for operation of said display module during said second period of time. 34. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein a photosensor of said interior rearview mirror assembly detects an ambient light level indicative of a daytime condition in the equipped vehicle. 35. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said thermally conductive element comprises a thermally conductive polyphenylene sulfide. 36. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said thermally conductive element comprises a layer to enhance the reduction of heat build-up within said interior rearview mirror assembly when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered. 37. The video mirror system of claim 36, wherein said layer of said thermally conductive element comprises at least one of (a) a coated layer, (b) a painted layer and (c) a skin layer. 38. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein peak currents of each of said at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes are staggered so that the peak currents are applied to each of said at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes at different times. 39. The video mirror system of claim 38, wherein a staggered pulse width modulation is respectively applied to each of said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes responsive to detection of light by said at least one photosensor. 40. The video mirror system of claim 39, wherein application of said staggered pulse width modulation comprises a current regulator. 41. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said metallic reflector reflects light toward said video screen to enhance backlighting of said video screen when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered. 42. The video mirror system of claim 41, wherein said metallic reflector has a specular reflectivity of at least about 50 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 43. The video mirror system of claim 41, wherein said metallic reflector has a specular reflectivity of at least about 70 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 44. The video mirror system of claim 41, wherein said metallic reflector has a specular reflectivity of at least about 90 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 45. The video mirror system of claim 41, wherein said metallic reflector comprises a metallic sheet with said apertures established therethrough. 46. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said metallic reflector comprises a substrate coated with metal. 47. The video mirror system of claim 46, wherein said metal-coated substrate has a specular reflectivity of at least about 50 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 48. The video mirror system of claim 46, wherein said metal-coated substrate has a specular reflectivity of at least about 70 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 49. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate at least about six watts of heat. 50. The video mirror system of claim 49, wherein said metallic reflector functions as a heat sink to reduce heat build-up at said video screen when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered. 51. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said video mirror system comprises at least two brightness enhancement films. 52. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said display module and said electro-optic reflective element share a control. 53. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said video screen has a contrast ratio of at least 180:1. 54. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate. 55. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an image processor and a video camera, said video camera having a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of at least one of (a) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (c) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 56. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an image processor and a video camera, said video camera having a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of at least two of (a) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (c) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 57. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an image processor and a video camera, said video camera having a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 58. The video mirror system of claim 18, wherein said video screen is operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and wherein, at a time when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said video screen is operable to display information. 59. The video mirror system of claim 58, wherein said information comprises at least one of (i) compass information, (ii) navigation information and (iii) map information. 60. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a metallic reflector, said metallic reflector comprising a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series and wherein electrical current passing through said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is maintained substantially constant by a current regulator; wherein, when said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered to emit light, said current regulator is operable to maintain a substantially constant electrical current through said series connection of said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein said control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (b) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 61. The video mirror system of claim 60, wherein said display module is stood-off the rear surface of said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element. 62. The video mirror system of claim 60, wherein said display module is stood-off the rear surface of said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element via a shim. 63. The video mirror system of claim 60, wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is arranged in at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each bank of said at least two banks comprises at least two serially-connected pairs of white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series. 64. The video mirror system of claim 60, wherein said display module comprises a thermally conductive element to reduce heat build-up within said interior rearview mirror assembly when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered. 65. The video mirror system of claim 64, wherein said thermally conductive element comprises a thermally conductive plastic. 66. The video mirror system of claim 64, wherein said thermally conductive element comprises metal. 67. The video mirror system of claim 60, wherein said metallic reflector is one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen. 68. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least two brightness enhancement films; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a metallic reflector and wherein said metallic reflector is at least one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen; wherein said metallic reflector comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series and wherein electrical current passing through said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is maintained substantially constant by a current regulator; wherein, when said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered to emit light, said current regulator is operable to maintain a substantially constant electrical current through said series connection of said at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein said control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is adapted to receive a voltage feed from the equipped vehicle, and wherein said voltage feed is reduced by a voltage regulator of said interior rearview mirror assembly to a lower voltage to be applied to said white light emitting light emitting diodes; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 69. The video mirror system of claim 68, wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of pairs of serially-connected white light emitting light emitting diodes. 70. The video mirror system of claim 69, wherein current passing through said pairs of serially-connected white light emitting light emitting diodes is regulated to a substantially constant current level. 71. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said plurality of pairs of serially-connected white light emitting light emitting diode is arranged in banks of light emitting diodes comprising at least a first bank of serially-connected white light emitting light emitting diodes and a second bank of serially-connected white light emitting light emitting diodes. 72. The video mirror system of claim 71, wherein light emitting diodes of said first bank are operable separate from operation of light emitting diodes of said second bank. 73. The video mirror system of claim 72, wherein said first bank comprises two to thirty-two white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein said second bank comprises two to thirty-two white light emitting light emitting diodes. 74. The video mirror system of claim 69, wherein said display module comprises a metal casing that houses at least said video screen and said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen. 75. The video mirror system of claim 74, wherein said casing houses circuitry associated with operation of at least one of (i) said video screen and (ii) said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen. 76. The video mirror system of claim 75, wherein said casing comprises aluminum. 77. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least two brightness enhancement films; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein said control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an image processor and a video camera, said video camera having a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of at least one of (a) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (c) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (b) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 78. The video mirror system of claim 77, wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of at least two of (a) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (c) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 79. The video mirror system of claim 77, wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 80. The video mirror system of claim 77, wherein said video screen is operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle. 81. The video mirror system of claim 77, wherein said display module comprises a metallic reflector. 82. The video mirror system of claim 81, wherein said metallic reflector comprises a substrate coated with metal. 83. The video mirror system of claim 82, wherein said metal-coated substrate has a specular reflectivity of at least about 50 percent reflectance of light incident thereon. 84. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least two brightness enhancement films; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein said control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said display module comprises a metallic reflector and wherein said metallic reflector comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said metallic reflector has a specular reflectivity of at least about 50 percent reflectance of light incident thereon; wherein said display module comprises a metal casing that houses at least said video screen and said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen and wherein said casing houses circuitry associated with operation of at least one of (i) said video screen and (ii) said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (b) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 85. The video mirror system of claim 84, wherein said metallic reflector is at least one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen. 86. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least two brightness enhancement films; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein the intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is controlled via pulse width modulation; wherein said control via pulse width modulation of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said display module comprises a metal casing that houses at least said video screen and said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen and wherein said casing houses circuitry associated with operation of at least one of (i) said video screen and (ii) said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; and wherein light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 87. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium, said transflective electro-optic reflective element transmitting at least about fifteen percent of visible light incident thereon when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein control of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said display module comprises a metal casing that houses at least said video screen and said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen and wherein said casing houses circuitry associated with operation of at least one of (i) said video screen and (ii) said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 88. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; wherein, when said electro-optic medium is in its bleached state, said transflective electro-optic reflective element reflects at least about forty percent of visible light incident on said front substrate; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein said display module comprises a reflector and wherein said reflector of said display module comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said display module comprises a metal casing that houses at least said video screen and said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen and wherein said casing houses circuitry associated with operation of at least one of (i) said video screen and (ii) said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 89. The video mirror system of claim 88, wherein at least one of (i) said reflector of said display module comprises a metallic reflector and wherein said metallic reflector is at least one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen and (ii) said reflector of said display module comprises a substrate coated with metal. 90. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a thin film transistor liquid crystal video screen and a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a reflector and wherein said reflector of said display module comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein control of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each of said sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diode is operable by said control to pass a forward current of up to about 50 milliamps; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 91. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said display module is stood-off the rear surface of said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element. 92. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least thirty-two serially-connected pairs of white light emitting light emitting diodes. 93. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said reflector of said display module reflects light toward said video screen to enhance backlighting of said video screen when said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is powered. 94. The video mirror system of claim 93, wherein said reflector of said display module comprises at least one of (a) metallic sheet with said apertures established therethrough and (b) a substrate coated with metal. 95. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said display module and said electro-optic reflective element share circuitry. 96. The video mirror system of claim 95, wherein said video screen has a contrast ratio of at least 180:1. 97. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an image processor and a video camera, said video camera having a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data from said forward-facing video camera is processed by said image processor as part of at least two of (a) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (c) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle. 98. The video mirror system of claim 90, wherein said video screen is operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle. 99. The video mirror system of claim 98, wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is arranged in at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each bank of said at least two banks comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series. 100. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a thin film transistor liquid crystal video screen and a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one brightness enhancement film; wherein said video mirror system comprises at least one light diffuser; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a reflector and wherein said reflector of said display module is at least one of (a) generally disposed at said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) generally disposed between said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and said video screen; wherein said reflector of said display module comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein control of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each of said sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diode is operable by said control to pass a forward current of up to about 50 milliamps; wherein said video screen is operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle; wherein said display module and said electro-optic reflective element share circuitry; wherein said video screen has a contrast ratio of at least 180:1; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. 101. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a transflective electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates, said rear substrate having a transflective reflector disposed at a front surface of said rear substrate that opposes said electro-optic medium; wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium; a display module at a rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element, said display module comprising a thin film transistor liquid crystal video screen and a plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly and when said plurality of individual light sources operable for backlighting said video screen is not emitting visible light, the presence of said display module at the rear of said transflective electro-optic reflective element is substantially covert to the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally viewing said transflective electro-optic reflective element during normal operation of the equipped vehicle; wherein said plurality of individual light sources comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; wherein said display module comprises a reflector and wherein said reflector of said display module comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes coincide with respective individual apertures of said plurality of apertures; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is operable to generate a backlighting intensity of at least about 30,000 candelas per square meter; wherein control of said intensity of light emitted by said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each of said sixty-four white light emitting light emitting diode is operable by said control to pass a forward current of up to about 50 milliamps; wherein said video screen is operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle; wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes is arranged in at least two banks of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein each bank of said at least two banks comprises at least two white light emitting light emitting diodes connected and operated electrically in series; and wherein at least one of (a) light emanating from said display module comprises linearly polarized light, said linearly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as linearly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as linearly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, (b) light emanating from said display module comprises circularly polarized light, said circularly polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as circularly polarized light and exiting said front substrate as circularly polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (c) light emanating from said display module comprises elliptically polarized light, said elliptically polarized light entering said rear substrate of said transflective electro-optic reflective element as elliptically polarized light and exiting said front substrate as elliptically polarized light to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle.
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