BMW serie 7 1999 Manual Do Utilizador

188

Rearview mirror with automatic dimmer

The interior rearview mirror with auto-
matic dimming feature reduces glare
from following traffic by adapting the in-
tensity of the reflected images to corre-
spond to levels of light registered by the
unit's sensors. The mirror reverts to its
undimmed setting as soon as the light
source disappears. One of these sen-
sors is mounted on the front of the mir-
ror housing and is designed to monitor
light levels in the area immediately for-
ward of the vehicle. The second sensor
is integrated within the mirror's glass.
The electronic control system operates
by comparing the respective levels of
luminous intensity in front of and behind
the car. The difference provides the ba-
sic parameter used to modulate an
electrical current and induce chemical
changes in a semisolid layer incorpo-
rated in the lens.

390de113

The semisolid reacts chemically to this
electrical current, thus providing infi-
nitely-variable dimming of the mirror
(electrochromic technology).

As a result, it is no longer necessary to
dim the mirror manually, and the driver
can maintain full concentration on traf-
fic.