Automatic Day/Night Mirror - Operation

OPERATION

The automatic day/night mirror switch allows the driver a manual control of whether the automatic dimming feature is operational. This switch is a momentary rocker-type switch located on the lower rear-facing surface of the mirror housing. When Auto is selected, a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) on the mirror housing just to the right of the switch illuminates to indicate that automatic day/night mirror is turned on. When Off is selected, the LED is turned off. The mirror also senses the backup lamp circuit, and will automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever the transmission gear selector is in the Reverse position.

A thin layer of electrochromatic material between two pieces of conductive glass make up the face of the mirror. Two photocell sensors are used to monitor light levels and adjust the reflectance of the mirror. The ambient photocell sensor faces forward, to detect the outside light levels. The headlamp sensor is located on the mirror housing just to the left of the switch and facing rearward, to detect the light level received at the rear window side of the mirror. When the difference between the two light levels becomes too great (the light level received at the rear of the mirror is much higher than that at the front of the mirror), the mirror begins to darken.