Rearview mirror and vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a rearview mirror and a vehicle. The rearview mirror comprises a first carrier, a first driving mechanism and a lens module. Wherein the first carrier is provided with a blowdown channel; the first driving mechanism is arranged on the first carrier; the lens module is connected with the first driving mechanism, and the first driving mechanism is configured to drive the lens module to move so that the lens module can open or close the drainage channel; the lens module comprises a second driving mechanism and a lens, the lens is connected with the second driving mechanism, and the second driving mechanism is configured to drive the lens to move so as to throw pollutants attached to the lens into the drainage channel. According to the technical scheme, the rearview mirror can achieve self-cleaning of pollutants such as water drops attached to the lens of the rearview mirror, so that the imaging effect of the rearview mirror is improved, and a clear rear view is given.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of transportation technology, and in particular to a rearview mirror and a vehicle using the rearview mirror. Background Technology

[0002] When vehicles in the relevant technology are used in weather conditions such as fog, rain, or snow, the rearview mirrors are easily covered and contaminated by water droplets and other deposits, which affects the imaging effect of the rearview mirrors. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main purpose of this application is to provide a rearview mirror that can self-clean water droplets and other contaminants adhering to the mirror lens, thereby improving the imaging effect of the rearview mirror and providing a clear rear view.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the rearview mirror proposed in this application includes:

[0005] The first carrier is equipped with a sewage discharge channel; A first driving mechanism, the first driving mechanism being disposed on a first carrier; and A lens module is connected to a first drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the lens module to move so that the lens module opens or closes the sewage discharge channel. The lens module includes a second drive mechanism and a lens. The lens is connected to the second drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the lens to move so as to throw off contaminants attached to the lens into the sewage discharge channel.

[0006] In some embodiments, the lens has a reflective surface on one side in a first direction, and the first driving mechanism is configured to drive the lens module to slide along the first direction.

[0007] In some embodiments, the drainage channel is located beside the lens module in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction.

[0008] In some embodiments, when the lens module is in the state of having its drain channel open, the projection of the reflective surface onto the projection surface perpendicular to the second direction is located inside the projection of the drain channel. When the lens module is in the closed drain channel state, the projection of the reflective surface onto the projection plane perpendicular to the second direction is located outside the projection of the drain channel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first carrier has a contact wall surface, and the contact wall surface is provided with a sewage discharge channel; When the lens module is in the closed drain channel state, the lens module abuts against the contact wall and covers the drain channel.

[0010] In some embodiments, the contact wall is ring-shaped and surrounds the lens module; The sewage discharge channel includes a connected sludge collection tank and a sewage discharge hole, with the sludge collection tank arranged circumferentially around the contact wall surface; When the lens module is in the closed drain channel state, the lens module covers the opening of the sludge collection tank.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first direction is horizontal, and there is one drain hole located at the lowest point of the wall of the sludge collection tank.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first carrier is provided with a first mounting cavity and an exposure port communicating with the first mounting cavity, the exposure port being located on one side of the first carrier in a first direction; The lens module is located in the first mounting cavity, and the lens is exposed through the display port; The first mounting cavity includes a surrounding cavity wall that extends circumferentially along the exposure opening and surrounds the lens module. The inner side of the surrounding cavity wall is provided with a contact wall surface.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes a second carrier, which is connected to the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism is disposed on the second carrier; With the lens module in the closed drain channel state, the second carrier abuts against the contact wall and covers the drain channel.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first driving mechanism includes an electromagnet disposed on a first carrier, and the rearview mirror further includes a magnetizing element disposed on a lens module and disposed opposite to the electromagnet in a first direction. The first drive mechanism also includes an elastic element, which is located between the first carrier and the lens module.

[0015] In some embodiments, the second drive mechanism is configured to drive the lens to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction.

[0016] In some embodiments, the lens module further includes a second carrier, and the second driving mechanism is disposed on the second carrier; The second carrier is connected to the first drive mechanism, and the second carrier is configured to open or close the sewage discharge channel. The lens is rotatably mounted on the second carrier. The second driving mechanism includes a driving member and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly drives the driving member and the lens so that the driving member drives the lens to rotate through the transmission assembly.

[0017] In some embodiments, a rotating shaft is provided on the side of the lens facing away from the reflective surface, and the rotating shaft is rotatably inserted through the second carrier; The transmission assembly includes a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is connected to the driving component, and the second gear is connected to the rotating shaft and meshes with the first gear.

[0018] In some embodiments, the second carrier is provided with a second mounting cavity, the lens is located outside the second mounting cavity, and a rotating shaft is provided on the side opposite to the reflective surface; The rotating shaft is rotatably inserted through the second carrier and partially located within the second mounting cavity. The second drive mechanism is located within the second mounting cavity and is connected to the rotating shaft via a transmission.

[0019] In some embodiments, the second drive mechanism is configured to drive the lens to vibrate in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction.

[0020] In some embodiments, the rearview mirror further includes a sensing module, which is disposed on a first carrier and electrically connected to a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism. The sensing module is configured to detect whether the lens is attached to contaminants. And / or, the rearview mirror also includes a control switch electrically connected to a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism, the control switch being configured to control the start and stop of the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism.

[0021] In some embodiments, the rearview mirror further includes a one-way valve disposed within a drain channel.

[0022] In some embodiments, the rearview mirror further includes a hydrophilic coating disposed on the inner wall surface of the drainage channel; And / or, the rearview mirror also includes an airflow generator having a nozzle located within a drain passage to eject airflow that drives pollutants out of the drain passage.

[0023] This application also proposes a vehicle that includes the rearview mirror in any of the above embodiments.

[0024] When used in foggy, rainy, or snowy weather, the rearview mirror of this application can move the lens module via a first drive mechanism to open the drainage channel. Then, a second drive mechanism within the lens module can move the lens, causing contaminants adhering to the lens to be thrown off by inertial force and collected in the drainage channel. Therefore, the optimized structural design of the rearview mirror in this solution enables self-cleaning of water droplets and other contaminants adhering to the rearview mirror, improving its imaging effect and providing a clear rear view.

[0025] Furthermore, after completing the self-cleaning process for water droplets and other contaminants adhering to the lens, the first drive mechanism can also reset the lens module to close the drainage channel again. This allows the rearview mirror to only open the drainage channel for collection when contaminants are present on the lens and require cleaning; the drainage channel can be closed by moving the lens module after cleaning and under normal circumstances. In other words, it achieves targeted collection of contaminants through the drainage channel and daily sealing of the drainage channel, thereby reducing the possibility of contaminants polluting the rearview mirror and other objects entering and damaging it, thus improving the protective effect of the rearview mirror. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the sewage channel of a rearview mirror according to an embodiment of the present application in a closed state; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the sewage channel of a rearview mirror according to an embodiment of the present application in an open state.

[0028] Explanation of icon numbers: 100. Rearview mirror; 10. First carrier; 11. Drainage channel; 111. Sewage collection tank; 113. Drainage hole; 13. Contact wall surface; 15. First mounting cavity; 151. Surrounding cavity wall; 17. Exposed opening; 30. First drive mechanism; 31. Electromagnet; 33. Elastic element; 50. Lens module; 51. Second drive mechanism; 511. Drive element; 513. Transmission assembly; 5131. First gear; 5133. Second gear; 53. Lens; 531. Reflective surface; 533. Rotating shaft; 55. Second carrier; 551. Second mounting cavity; 70. Magnetizing element.

[0029] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0032] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the word "and / or" throughout the text means including three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that simultaneously satisfies A and B. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of a person skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0034] This application proposes a rearview mirror that can be applied to vehicles to observe the rear view by reflecting images of the rear scene while driving. The vehicle can be a car, or an electric vehicle; this application does not limit the type of vehicle.

[0035] Please refer to the reference. Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 proposed in this application includes a first carrier 10, a first drive mechanism 30, and a lens module 50; the first carrier 10 is provided with a sewage discharge channel 11; the first drive mechanism 30 is disposed on the first carrier 10; the lens module 50 is connected to the first drive mechanism 30, and the first drive mechanism 30 is configured to drive the lens module 50 to move, so that the lens module 50 opens or closes the sewage discharge channel 11; the lens module 50 includes a second drive mechanism 51 and a lens 53, the lens 53 is connected to the second drive mechanism 51, and the second drive mechanism 51 is configured to drive the lens 53 to move, so as to throw the pollutants attached to the lens 53 into the sewage discharge channel 11.

[0036] The first carrier 10 can provide a mounting position for installing the first drive mechanism 30 and the lens module 50, thereby facilitating the assembly of the various mechanisms in the rearview mirror 100 into a whole. Simultaneously, the first carrier 10 can also be used to connect to the tool body of a vehicle to enable the rearview mirror 100 to be installed on the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle is a car, the first carrier 10 can also be used to connect to the vehicle body. The connection method between the first carrier 10 and the tool body of the vehicle can be a threaded connection, or it can be a snap-fit ​​connection or an adhesive connection, etc., which is not limited in this application. Furthermore, the first carrier 10 can also be used to form a drainage channel 11 to collect contaminants cleaned by the lens module 50 during self-cleaning. The drainage channel 11 can include a collection tank 111 and a drainage hole 113 as described below, or it can only include a drainage hole 113; the structural type of the drainage channel 11 is not limited in this application. In addition, the first carrier 10 can be a shell structure with a first mounting cavity 15 as described below, or it can be a plate structure or a base structure, etc. This application does not limit the structure and shape type of the first carrier 10.

[0037] The first drive mechanism 30 can provide driving force to move the lens module 50, thereby opening or closing the drain channel 11. The first drive mechanism 30 can drive the lens module 50 to slide along a first direction, as described below; alternatively, it can drive the lens module 50 to slide along a second direction intersecting the first direction. For example, when the drain channel 11 is located on one side of the lens module 50 in the second direction, the lens module 50 can slide along the other side of the second direction to open the drain channel 11. Alternatively, it can drive the lens module 50 to rotate, for example, by eccentrically rotating the lens module 50 around an axis parallel to the first direction to open the drain channel 11. Furthermore, when the first drive mechanism 30 drives the lens module 50 to slide, it can include an electromagnet 31 and an elastic element 33, as described below; it can also be a cylinder or a shape memory alloy actuator. When the first drive mechanism 30 drives the lens module 50 to rotate, it can include a motor, or further include a gear set or a pulley structure. That is, this application does not limit the structural type of the first drive mechanism 30.

[0038] The lens module 50, through the lens 53, can be used to reflect the rear view, while the second drive mechanism 51 can provide driving force to drive the lens 53 to move, thereby dislodging contaminants adhering to the lens 53 into the sewage channel 11. The second drive mechanism 51 can, as described below, drive the lens 53 to rotate around an axis parallel to the first direction; it can be eccentric or non-eccentric rotation. Alternatively, the second drive mechanism 51 can also drive the lens 53 to vibrate in the second direction. Furthermore, when the second drive mechanism 51 drives the lens 53 to rotate, it can include a drive element 511 and a transmission assembly 513, as described below; or it can include only the drive element 511, which can be a motor. When the second drive mechanism 51 drives the lens 53 to vibrate, it can be a motor with an eccentric structure. That is, this application does not limit the structural type of the second drive mechanism 51. In addition, the contaminants adhering to the lens 53 can be water droplets, snow, or mud, etc., and this application does not limit their types. In addition, the lens module 50 can open or close the sewage channel 11 by means of the second carrier 55 in the lens module 50 as described below, or by means of the second drive mechanism 51 or the lens 53 in the lens module 50. This application does not limit this.

[0039] When the rearview mirror 100 of this application is used in weather conditions such as fog, rain, or snow, the lens module 50 can be moved by the first drive mechanism 30 to open the sewage discharge channel 11. Then, the lens 53 can be moved by the second drive mechanism 51 in the lens module 50, so that contaminants attached to the lens 53 are subjected to inertial force during the movement of the lens 53 and are thus thrown off into the sewage discharge channel 11 for collection. Therefore, the optimized structural design of the rearview mirror 100 in this application enables self-cleaning of water droplets and other contaminants attached to the rearview mirror 100, thereby improving the imaging effect of the rearview mirror 100 and providing a clear rear view.

[0040] Furthermore, after completing the self-cleaning process for water droplets and other contaminants adhering to the lens 53, the first drive mechanism 30 can also drive the lens module 50 to reset, thereby closing the drainage channel 11 again. This allows the rearview mirror 100 to only open the drainage channel 11 for collection when contaminants are attached to the lens 53 and require cleaning; after cleaning and under normal circumstances, the drainage channel 11 can be closed via the lens module 50. In other words, it achieves targeted collection of contaminants through the drainage channel 11 and daily sealing of the drainage channel 11, thereby reducing the possibility of contaminants polluting the rearview mirror and other objects entering and damaging it, thus improving the protective effect of the rearview mirror 100.

[0041] In one embodiment of this application, the lens 53 has a reflective surface 531 on one side in a first direction, and the first driving mechanism 30 is configured to drive the lens module 50 to slide along the first direction.

[0042] The reflecting surface 531, i.e., the wall surface facing rearward, is used for reflecting imaging. Since the reflecting mirror is usually placed horizontally, this first direction can also be considered a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the drainage channel 11 can be located beside the lens module 50 in the second direction, as described below, or it can be located on one side of the lens module 50 in the first direction. This ensures that as the lens module 50 slides along the first direction, it can move away from the drainage channel 11 to open it, or move closer to it to close it. It should be noted that since the sliding stroke of the lens module 50 driven by the first driving mechanism 30 in the first direction is relatively small, it will not have a significant impact on the reflective imaging effect of the rear field of view.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first drive mechanism 30 is configured to drive the lens module 50 to slide along the first direction to open or close the sewage channel 11. On the one hand, this allows the lens 53 to maintain a rearward orientation so as to have a better imaging effect on the rear. On the other hand, it also makes the movement of the lens module 50 simpler, thereby simplifying the structural settings of the first drive mechanism 30 and improving the ease of manufacturing the rearview mirror 100.

[0044] In one embodiment of this application, the sewage channel 11 is located beside the lens module 50 in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction.

[0045] The side in the second direction includes the case where the drain channel 11 is located on one side, adjacent sides, or each side of the lens module 50 in the second direction.

[0046] In this embodiment, the sewage discharge channel 11 is arranged on the side of the lens module 50 in the second direction, so that when the lens module 50 moves to open the sewage discharge channel 11, the lens 53 can move to a state that corresponds to the sewage discharge channel 11, so that when the lens 53 is driven by the second driving mechanism 51, the attached pollutants are thrown into the sewage discharge channel 11, thereby improving the convenience and effectiveness of pollutant collection.

[0047] In one embodiment of this application, when the lens module 50 is in the state of having the drain channel 11 open, the projection of the reflective surface 531 onto the projection surface perpendicular to the second direction is located inside the projection of the drain channel 11; when the lens module 50 is in the state of having the drain channel 11 closed, the projection of the reflective surface 531 onto the projection surface perpendicular to the second direction is located outside the projection of the drain channel 11.

[0048] In this embodiment, when the lens module 50 is driven to open the drain channel 11, the projection of the reflective surface 531 is located inside the projection of the drain channel 11. This allows the contaminants on the reflective surface 531 to fall into the corresponding drain channel 11 when the reflector is driven to throw off the contaminants, thus improving the convenience and effectiveness of contaminant collection. When the lens module 50 is driven to close the drain channel 11, the projection of the reflective surface 531 is located outside the projection of the drain channel 11. This allows the lens module 50 to close the drain channel 11, improving the sealing effect. Of course, this application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, when the driving force of the second driving mechanism 51 on the lens 53 is large, so that the contaminants attached to the lens 53 can be subjected to a large inertial force, the projection of the reflective surface 531 can also be located outside the projection of the drain channel 11 when the lens module 50 is driven to open the drain channel 11, ensuring that the contaminants attached to the lens 53 are thrown off into the drain channel 11.

[0049] In one embodiment of this application, the first carrier 10 has a contact wall 13, and the contact wall 13 is provided with a sewage discharge channel 11; when the lens module 50 is in the state of closing the sewage discharge channel 11, the lens module 50 abuts against the contact wall 13 and covers the sewage discharge channel 11.

[0050] The contact wall 13 can be a plane or a ring-shaped surface. The lens module 50 can abut against the contact wall 13 only when the drain channel 11 is closed, or it can abut against the contact wall 13 when the drain channel 11 is open, as long as it does not cover the closed drain channel 11.

[0051] In this embodiment, the lens module 50 is configured to abut against the contact wall surface 13 to cover and close the sewage channel 11. This simplifies the closing method of the lens module 50 over the sewage channel 11, thereby simplifying the structural design. The lens module 50 abuts against the contact wall surface 13 via the lens 53 or the second drive mechanism 51 within the lens module 50, or via the second carrier 55 within the lens module 50 as described below, to achieve the covering and closing of the sewage channel 11.

[0052] Additionally, it should be noted that in other embodiments, a movable cover plate may be fitted at the inlet of the sewage channel 11, and the rearview mirror 100 may be equipped with a detection switch for detecting the movement of the lens module 50, such as a touch switch or a photoelectric sensor. When the detection switch detects that the lens module 50 has been driven to a certain position, it drives the cover plate to move and close the sewage channel 11; when the detection switch detects that the lens module 50 has been driven to another position, it drives the cover plate to move and open the sewage channel 11.

[0053] In one embodiment of this application, the contact wall 13 is ring-shaped and surrounds the lens module 50; the sewage channel 11 includes a connected sewage collection tank 111 and a sewage discharge hole 113, and the sewage collection tank 111 is arranged around the contact wall 13 in a circumferential direction; when the lens module 50 is in the state of closing the sewage channel 11, the lens module 50 covers the opening of the sewage collection tank 111.

[0054] In this embodiment, the sewage discharge channel 11 is configured to include a ring-shaped sewage collection trough 111 and a sewage discharge hole 113. The sewage collection trough 111 can surround the lens module 50, facilitating the collection of pollutants on each side of the lens module 50 in the second direction, thus improving the collection effect. The sewage discharge hole 113 facilitates the further discharge of pollutants collected in the sewage collection trough 111 to the outside of the rearview mirror 100. On the projection plane perpendicular to the first direction, the projection of the contact wall surface 13 and the sewage collection trough 111 can be circular, square, or rectangular; this application does not limit this. Furthermore, the number of sewage discharge holes 113 can be one, two, or more; this application does not limit this. In addition, to simplify the structural configuration, one end of the sewage discharge hole 113 can penetrate the wall of the sewage collection trough 111 corresponding to its opening, and the other end can penetrate the side of the first carrier 10 opposite to the contact wall surface 13.

[0055] In one embodiment of this application, the first direction is horizontal, the number of drain holes 113 is one, and it is located at the lowest point of the wall of the sludge collection tank 111.

[0056] In this embodiment, the number of drain holes 113 is set to one, which facilitates the centralized discharge of pollutants in the collection tank 111. Furthermore, the drain hole is located at the lowest point of the tank wall of the collection tank 111, which facilitates the smooth and sufficient flow of pollutants in the collection tank 111 to the drain hole 113.

[0057] In one embodiment of this application, the first carrier 10 is provided with a first mounting cavity 15 and an exposure port 17 communicating with the first mounting cavity 15. The exposure port 17 is located on one side of the first carrier 10 in a first direction. The lens module 50 is disposed in the first mounting cavity 15, and the lens 53 is exposed through the exposure port 17. The cavity wall of the first mounting cavity 15 includes a surrounding cavity wall 151, which extends circumferentially along the exposure port 17 and surrounds the lens module 50. The inner side of the surrounding cavity wall 151 is provided with a contact wall surface 13.

[0058] In this embodiment, the lens module 50 is disposed within the first mounting cavity 15, allowing the first carrier 10 to protect the lens module 50 and reduce the possibility of damage to the lens module 50 from foreign objects. Simultaneously, the contact surface 13 formed between the lens module 50 and the inner side of the cavity wall improves the sealing effect between the lens module 50 and the second carrier 55, reducing the possibility of damage to the reflector from foreign objects and enhancing the protection of the rearview mirror 100. The inner side of the cavity wall 151 can be partially formed as the contact surface 13, or it can be entirely formed as the contact surface 13. Furthermore, the exposure opening 17 can be directly formed by surrounding the cavity wall 151. Alternatively, the cavity wall 151 can have an end cavity connected to the side near the exposure opening 17, with the exposure opening 17 formed through the end cavity wall. Moreover, the exposure opening 17 can be circular, square, or rectangular, etc., and this application does not limit its shape.

[0059] In one embodiment of this application, the lens module 50 further includes a second carrier 55, which is connected to the first driving mechanism 30, and the second driving mechanism 51 is disposed on the second carrier 55. When the lens module 50 is in the state of closing the sewage channel 11, the second carrier 55 abuts against the contact wall 13 and covers the sewage channel 11.

[0060] The second carrier 55 can be used to install a mounting position for mounting the second drive mechanism 51, or it can be used to further mount the lens 53, as described below. Simultaneously, the second carrier 55 can also be used to connect with the first drive mechanism 30 to receive the driving force provided by the first drive mechanism 30, thereby driving the lens module 50. The second carrier 55 can be a shell structure with a second mounting cavity 551, as described below, or it can be a plate structure. This application does not limit the structure and shape of the second carrier 55.

[0061] In this embodiment, the lens module 50 is slidably abutted against the contact wall 13 via the second carrier 55. The wall surface that the second carrier 55 abuts against the contact wall 13 can be set according to the shape of the contact wall 13, thereby facilitating the adaptation and fitting of the second carrier 55 and the contact wall 13 and improving the sealing effect between the lens module 50 and the first carrier 10.

[0062] In addition, when the lens module 50 slides against the contact wall 13 via the second drive mechanism 51 or the second carrier 55, the lens 53 may be spaced apart from the contact wall 13, or it may be set to abut against the contact wall 13.

[0063] In one embodiment of this application, the first driving mechanism 30 includes an electromagnet 31 disposed on the first carrier 10, and the rearview mirror 100 further includes a magnetizing element 70 disposed on the lens module 50 and disposed opposite to the electromagnet 31 in a first direction; the first driving mechanism 30 also includes an elastic element 33 disposed between the first carrier 10 and the lens module 50.

[0064] Electromagnet 31 generates magnetic force when energized. Magnetizing element 70 can be any magnetizable object, such as iron, nickel, or cobalt. Therefore, when electromagnet 31 is energized, the generated magnetic force magnetizes and attracts magnetizing element 70, thereby moving magnetizing element 70. Elastic element 33 provides elastic force to drive lens module 50 to move and reset after electromagnet 31 is de-energized. Elastic element 33 can be a spring or a sheet. Alternatively, electromagnet 31 can drive lens module 50 to move and open drainage channel 11, while elastic element 33 can drive lens module 50 to move and close drainage channel 11. Conversely, elastic element 33 can also drive lens module 50 to move and open drainage channel 11, while electromagnet 31 can drive lens module 50 to move and close drainage channel 11. Furthermore, when the lens module 50 includes a second carrier 55 as described above, the magnetizing element 70 may be disposed on the second carrier 55, and the elastic element 33 may be disposed between the first carrier 10 and the second carrier 55. When the first carrier 10 is provided with a first mounting cavity 15 as described above, the electromagnet 31 and the elastic element 33 may also be disposed within the first mounting cavity 15. The electromagnet 31 may be located on the corresponding exposed cavity wall of the first mounting cavity 15, and the elastic element 33 may be disposed between the corresponding exposed cavity wall of the first mounting cavity 15 and the second carrier 55.

[0065] In this embodiment, the first driving mechanism 30 includes an electromagnet 31 and an elastic element 33, which makes the structure of the first driving mechanism 30 simple and compact, and convenient for installation and arrangement within the limited space on the first carrier 10. Moreover, when the lens module 50 is moved and reset to close the sewage channel 11 by driving the elastic element 33, a stable seal between the lens module 50 and the first carrier 10 can be maintained under the elastic force of the elastic element 33.

[0066] In one embodiment of this application, the second drive mechanism 51 is configured to drive the lens 53 to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction.

[0067] In this embodiment, the second drive mechanism 51 is configured to drive the lens 53 to rotate around an axis parallel to the first direction. This facilitates the generation of centrifugal force during the rotation of the lens 53, which in turn effectively removes contaminants adhering to the lens 53, ensuring that the contaminants are fully ejected into the collection tank 111 of the drainage channel 11, thus improving the cleaning effect on the lens 53. The center of the lens 53 can be located on the rotation axis 533 to simplify the structure of the second drive mechanism 51 and make the movement trajectory of the lens 53 more regular, improving the ease with which the first carrier 10 can avoid its rotation, and thus facilitating the arrangement of the collection tank 111 surrounding the lens module 50. Alternatively, the center of the lens 53 can be offset from the rotation axis 533 to achieve eccentric rotation as described above. Furthermore, it should be noted that because the lens 53 rotates at a relatively high speed when driven, its rotation is difficult for the human eye to perceive, thus not affecting the observation of the rear field of view reflected from the lens 53.

[0068] In one embodiment of this application, the lens 53 is rotatably disposed on the second carrier 55, and the second driving mechanism 51 includes a driving member 511 and a transmission assembly 513. The transmission assembly 513 drives the driving member 511 and the lens 53 so that the driving member 511 drives the lens 53 to rotate through the transmission assembly 513.

[0069] The transmission assembly 513 can be used to transmit the driving force of the drive member 511 to the lens 53. The transmission assembly 513 can be a gear set including a first gear 5131 and a second gear 5133 as described below, or it can be a pulley set including a driving gear, a driven gear and a belt, or it can include a worm gear and a worm. This application does not limit the structural type of the transmission assembly 513.

[0070] In this embodiment, the lens 53 is rotatably mounted on the second carrier 55, which helps to improve the stability of the lens 53 installation. The second drive mechanism 51 is configured to include a drive member 511 and a transmission assembly 513, so that the transmission ratio can be adjusted through the transmission assembly 513 to generate a larger torque to drive the lens 53 to rotate at high speed.

[0071] In one embodiment of this application, a rotating shaft 533 is provided on the side of the lens 53 facing away from the reflective surface 531. The rotating shaft 533 is rotatably inserted through the second carrier 55. The transmission assembly 513 includes a first gear 5131 and a second gear 5133. The first gear 5131 is connected to the driving member 511, and the second gear 5133 is connected to the rotating shaft 533 and meshes with the first gear 5131.

[0072] In this embodiment, the transmission assembly 513 is configured to include a first gear 5131 and a second gear 5133. Gear transmission offers the advantages of accurate and stable transmission ratios, which in turn contributes to the stable and reliable rotation of the lens 53 to remove contaminants. Furthermore, gear transmission has the advantage of a compact structure, facilitating installation within the limited space of the first carrier 10. The diameter of the first gear 5131 can be smaller than the diameter of the second gear 5133 to increase the transmitted torque.

[0073] In one embodiment of this application, the second carrier 55 is provided with a second mounting cavity 551, and the lens 53 is provided on the outside of the second mounting cavity 551; the rotating shaft 533 is rotatably inserted through the second carrier 55 and partially located in the second mounting cavity 551, and the second driving mechanism 51 is provided in the second mounting cavity 551 and is connected to the rotating shaft 533 in a transmission connection.

[0074] In this embodiment, by placing the second drive mechanism 51 within the second mounting cavity 551 of the second carrier 55, the second carrier 55 can easily adapt and abut against the contact wall 13 of the first carrier 10 on its outer side, i.e., the inner side of the surrounding cavity wall 151 in the first mounting cavity 15, so as to open or close the opening of the sludge collection tank 111 in the sewage discharge channel 11 during sliding. Furthermore, the cavity wall of the second mounting cavity 551 also provides protection for the second drive mechanism 51.

[0075] In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 further includes a sensing module, which is disposed on the first carrier 10 and electrically connected to the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51. The sensing module is configured to detect whether the lens 53 is attached with contaminants.

[0076] The sensing module can be used to detect whether contaminants are attached to the lens 53. The sensing module can be an optical rain sensor, which determines the contaminant adhesion status on the reflective surface 531 of the lens 53 by analyzing the light intensity attenuation characteristics of emitted and received reflected light at a specific angle. Alternatively, the sensing module can be a capacitive humidity sensor, which determines the contaminant adhesion status by detecting changes in the dielectric constant of the reflective surface 531 of the lens 53. Or, the sensing module can be an image sensor, which can capture images of the reflective surface 531 of the lens 53 to analyze the contaminant adhesion status. That is, this application does not limit the type of sensing module. Furthermore, the sensing module can be disposed on the first carrier 10, either directly on the first carrier 10 or indirectly on the first carrier 10 by being disposed on the second carrier 55. Furthermore, the electrical connection between the sensing module and the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51 can be achieved by the rearview mirror 100 also including a control unit. After detecting contaminants adhering to the lens 53, the sensing module can transmit a contamination signal to the control unit. The control unit then controls the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51 to start operation based on this contamination signal, thus achieving an indirect electrical connection between the sensing module and the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51. Alternatively, the controller can be directly integrated into the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51 to directly receive the contamination signal transmitted by the sensing module, achieving a direct electrical connection between the sensing module and the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51.

[0077] In this embodiment, by setting a sensing module, it is possible to automatically detect whether there are contaminants on the lens 53. Then, based on the situation detected by the sensing module, the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51 are automatically started, further improving the intelligence level of the rearview mirror 100's self-cleaning function.

[0078] In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 further includes a control switch, which is electrically connected to the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51. The control switch is configured to control the start and stop of the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51.

[0079] A control switch can be used to control the starting and stopping of the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51. The control switch can be located inside the vehicle's body. For example, when the vehicle is a vehicle body, the control switch can be located inside the vehicle body. Furthermore, the number of control switches can be set to one, with two positions. When slid, pressed, or rotated to the open position, a start signal is transmitted to the control unit, which then controls the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51 to start operating based on the start signal. Alternatively, the number of control switches can be set to two, to control the opening and closing respectively.

[0080] In this embodiment, by setting a control switch that can control the start and stop of the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 51, manual control of the self-cleaning of the rearview mirror 100 is realized, improving human controllability.

[0081] The rearview mirror 100 can be one of the sensing module and the control switch, or it can include both the sensing module and the control switch, so as to realize automatic and manual dual control of the self-cleaning of the rearview mirror 100.

[0082] In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 further includes a one-way valve, which is disposed in the sewage channel 11.

[0083] In this embodiment, the one-way valve can be installed near the outlet of the drain channel 11. For example, when the drain channel 11 includes a sludge collection tank 111 and a drain hole 113 as described above, the one-way valve can be installed inside the drain hole 113. In this case, by installing the one-way valve, liquid can be allowed to be discharged unidirectionally to the outside of the rearview mirror 100 under the action of gravity, while also effectively preventing the backflow of external pollutants.

[0084] In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 further includes a hydrophilic coating, which is disposed on the inner wall surface of the sewage channel 11.

[0085] In this embodiment, a hydrophilic coating is provided on the inner side of the sewage discharge channel 11, which can accelerate liquid flow through capillary effect and improve sewage discharge efficiency. When the sewage discharge channel 11 includes a collection tank 111 and a discharge hole 113 as described above, the hydrophilic coating can be provided on one of the tank wall of the collection tank 111 or the hole wall of the discharge hole 113, or both can be provided with a hydrophilic coating.

[0086] In one embodiment of this application, the rearview mirror 100 further includes an airflow generator having a nozzle disposed in the drain channel 11 to eject airflow to drive pollutants out of the drain channel 11.

[0087] In this embodiment, the nozzle can be positioned near the outlet of the sewage discharge channel 11. For example, when the sewage discharge channel 11 includes a collection tank 111 and a discharge hole 113 as described above, the nozzle can be positioned inside the discharge hole 113, forming an angle with the center line of the discharge hole 113, and spraying air towards the outlet side of the discharge hole 113. In this case, the airflow from the nozzle can help to peel off and discharge residual droplets, improving the sewage discharge effect.

[0088] The hydrophilic coating and the airflow generator can be either one or both. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the hydrophilic coating and the one-way valve can be provided simultaneously. Or, in another embodiment, when there is sufficient installation space in the drain hole, the one-way valve and the nozzle can be provided simultaneously, arranged along the centerline of the drain hole 113. Even in some embodiments, the hydrophilic coating, the one-way valve, and the nozzle can be provided simultaneously.

[0089] In one embodiment of this application, the self-cleaning process of the rearview mirror 100 can be as follows: when the sensing module detects that the lens 53 is attached to contaminants and triggers a contamination signal; or when the start signal is manually triggered by the control switch; after receiving the contamination signal or the start signal, the control unit can control the first drive mechanism 30 to start, so as to drive the lens module 50 to slide along the first direction away from the reflective surface 531 of the lens 53, so as to realize the misalignment of the second carrier 55 in the lens module 50 with the groove of the dirt collection tank 111 of the drain channel 11 and open the drain channel 11, while the reflective surface 531 of the lens 53 in the lens module 50 can correspond to the dirt collection tank 111; then the control unit can also control the second drive mechanism 51 to drive the lens 53 to rotate, so as to throw the contaminants attached to the lens 53 into the dirt collection tank 111; after cleaning is completed, the control unit can control the second drive mechanism 51 to stop driving the lens 53, and control the first drive mechanism 30 to drive the lens module 50 to slide and reset, and close the drain channel 11 again.

[0090] This application also proposes a means of transportation including a rearview mirror. The specific structure of the rearview mirror is as described in the above embodiments. Since this rearview mirror adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here. The means of transportation can be a vehicle, or of course, an electric vehicle; this application does not limit the type of means of transportation.

[0091] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the inventive concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror, characterized in that, include: The first carrier is equipped with a sewage discharge channel; A first driving mechanism is disposed on the first carrier; as well as A lens module is connected to the first drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the lens module to move so that the lens module opens or closes the sewage discharge channel. The lens module includes a second drive mechanism and a lens. The lens is connected to the second drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the lens to move so as to fling the contaminants attached to the lens into the sewage discharge channel.

2. The rearview mirror as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lens has a reflective surface on one side in a first direction, and the first driving mechanism is configured to drive the lens module to slide along the first direction.

3. The rearview mirror as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The drainage channel is located beside the lens module in a second direction, which intersects with the first direction.

4. The rearview mirror as described in claim 3, characterized in that, When the lens module is in the state of having the drainage channel open, the projection of the reflective surface onto the projection plane perpendicular to the second direction is located inside the projection of the drainage channel. When the lens module is in the state of closing the drain channel, the projection of the reflective surface onto the projection plane perpendicular to the second direction is located outside the projection of the drain channel.

5. The rearview mirror as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first carrier has a contact wall surface, and the contact wall surface is provided with the sewage discharge channel; When the lens module is in the closed state of the drainage channel, the lens module abuts against the contact wall and covers the drainage channel.

6. The rearview mirror as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The contact wall is ring-shaped and surrounds the lens module; The sewage discharge channel includes a connected sewage collection tank and a sewage discharge hole, and the sewage collection tank is arranged circumferentially around the contact wall surface. When the lens module is in the state of closing the sewage discharge channel, the lens module covers the opening of the sewage collection tank.

7. The rearview mirror as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first direction is horizontal, and there is one drain hole, which is located at the lowest point of the wall of the sludge collection tank.

8. The rearview mirror as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first carrier is provided with a first mounting cavity and an exposure port communicating with the first mounting cavity, the exposure port being located on one side of the first carrier in the first direction; The lens module is disposed in the first mounting cavity, and the lens is exposed through the exposure port; The first mounting cavity includes a surrounding cavity wall that extends circumferentially along the exposed opening and surrounds the lens module. The contact wall surface is provided on the inner side of the surrounding cavity wall.

9. The rearview mirror as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The lens module further includes a second carrier, which is connected to the first driving mechanism, and the second driving mechanism is disposed on the second carrier; When the lens module is in the state of closing the drain channel, the second carrier abuts against the contact wall and covers the drain channel.

10. A means of transportation, characterized in that, Includes the rearview mirror as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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