Mirrors: Description and Operation

Automatic Dimming Interior Rearview Mirror

• The automatically dimming interior rearview mirror dims progressively when the driver is blinded from the rear.

• It consists of a mirror element and an electrical element with two photo sensors.

• The electronic element registers light incidence from the front and rear through the photo sensors.

• If the incident light from the rear is greater than that from the front, a current flows through the electronic element to a conductive coating.

• The applied current changes the color of the electrolytes. The electrolyte becomes darker, the greater the current is. The incident light will be reflected to a lesser degree.

• The dimming function switches off when reverse gear is engaged. The interior rearview mirror can be used, for example, to back out of a dark garage.