REARVIEW MIRROR WITH SELECTIVE REFELCTION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

1 . An automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a housing;

a mirror mounted within the housing; and

an optic assembly mounted behind the mirror for lighting an illuminated feature, the optic assembly comprising:

a light source within the assembly; and

a reflector, the reflector having an interior surface comprising a plurality of facets for managing the direction of light; and

a reflective layer selectively applied to the interior surface of the reflector.

2 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer selectively applied to the interior surface of the reflector comprises metallized areas and non-metallized areas.

3 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein the reflective layer is applied by selective metallization.

4 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the illuminated feature is a lighted turn signal.

5 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the illuminated feature is a blind spot detection display.

6 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is less than 10 mm deep.

7 . The automotive rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is less than 7 mm deep.

8 . An optic assembly for lighting an illuminated feature in an automotive rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a reflector, the reflector having an interior surface;

a light source emitting light into the interior surface of the reflector;

the interior surface of the reflector including means for managing light rays emitted into the reflector to minimize stray light; and

wherein the interior surface is selectively reflective to provide desired light control, resulting in desired dim zones and bright zones for viewing the illuminated feature.

9 . The optic assembly of claim 8 , wherein the interior surface includes a reflective layer selectively applied and comprising metallized areas and non-metallized areas.

10 . The optic assembly of claim 9 wherein the reflective layer is applied by selective metallization.

11 . The optic assembly of claim 8 wherein the illuminated feature is a lighted turn signal.

12 . The optic assembly of claim 8 wherein the illuminated feature is a blind spot detection display.

13 . The optic assembly of claim 8 wherein the reflector is less than 10 mm deep.

14 . The optic assembly of claim 8 wherein the reflector is less than 7 mm deep.

15 . The optic assembly of claim 12 wherein the reflector is less than 7 mm deep.

16 . A method of manufacturing an optic assembly for an automotive rearview mirror assembly including a reflector with a plurality of facets, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a light source and reflector shape to provide desired luminescence for an illuminated feature in an automotive rearview mirror assembly;

identify the facets of the reflector to apply a reflective layer to provide the desired luminescence of the illuminated feature in dim zones and in bright zones;

prepare a mask assembly to selectively cover facets and expose other facets that will receive the reflective layer;

apply a reflective layer using a metallizing process;

wherein the method results in metallized areas and non-metallized areas of the reflector to provide desired luminescence without the use of other light control elements.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a pair of reflectors supported on a runner to receive the reflective layer.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the mask is secured to the pair of reflectors.

19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the reflector is less than 10 mm deep.

20 . The method of claim 16 wherein the reflector is less than 7 mm deep.