Blind Spot Indicator Inboard Placement for Driver Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind spot detection systems for vehicles often struggle to provide a blind spot indicator that is readily viewable by the driver while being substantially non-visible to other drivers, due to their location behind the reflective mirror element and the need for optimal directional alignment, which can lead to confusion and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
The blind spot indicator is fixedly located at the inboard wall of the exterior rearview mirror assembly, angled outwardly to face the driver and be non-visible to other vehicles, using a light source and optic elements to direct illumination towards the driver without protruding excessively, thus enhancing visibility and reducing aerodynamic drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blind spot indicator is located behind the reflective mirror element, then the indicator can be viewable by the driver, but the indicator becomes visible to other drivers causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is relocated from the traditional position behind the mirror element to the inboard portion of the mirror assembly, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This repositioning allows the indicator to face the driver through the inboard wall while being obscured from other drivers by the mirror assembly structure itself, resolving the visibility conflict.
2Ease of operation
If the blind spot indicator is located at the outboard edge of the mirror element, then the indicator can be positioned externally, but the driver must look across to view it and it may be visible to other vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the indicator at the outboard edge facing outward, the invention inverts the approach by placing the indicator at the inboard portion facing inward toward the driver. The inboard wall is angled to direct the indicator toward the driver's position, ensuring optimal visibility while preventing external visibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mirror assembly is made adjustable, then the field of view can be optimized, but the indicator alignment becomes variable and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is integrated into the inboard portion of the mirror assembly structure itself, merging the indicator mounting with the mirror housing. This integration ensures that when the mirror assembly is adjusted, the indicator moves with it, maintaining proper alignment without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures the blind spot indicator is easily viewable by the driver without being visible to other road users, maintaining the vehicle's appearance and reducing confusion, while allowing for a larger and more effective indicator size.
Implementation Method 1
using a light source and optic elements to direct illumination towards the driver
Implementation Method 2
The blind spot indicator is fixedly located at the inboard wall of the exterior rearview mirror assembly, angled outwardly to face the driver
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly (10) that is mountable at an exterior side (16a) of a vehicle (16) and has an inboard portion (20) that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator (18) is disposed at the inboard portion (20) of the mirror casing (14) of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises at least one illumination source for indicating to the driver a detected presence of an object alongside of and/or rearward of the vehicle. The indicator may comprise a unitary indicator module (518) that is mountable at the inboard portion of the mirror assembly. The indicator module includes an illumination source (546c, 546d) and circuitry (546) and is connectable to an electrical connector (548).