Bilateral-Symmetrical BSM Unit for Outer Mirror Visor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blind spot monitor (BSM) units require separate designs and configurations for the left and right sides of a vehicle, leading to increased manufacturing costs and potential assembly errors due to differences in design, connector arrangements, and light distribution patterns.
Innovation Solution
A BSM unit is attached to the side surface of a vehicle's outer mirror visor, featuring a bilateral-symmetrical lens and housing design that allows for shared use on both sides, reducing design and manufacturing costs and assembly errors by positioning the indicator on the visor rather than the mirror, where it is not obscured by scenery or sunlight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate BSM units are manufactured for left and right sides with different configurations, then the indicator can be positioned appropriately for each side, but the design complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the connector arrangement to be asymmetric (different connector positions for left and right sides) while keeping the main housing and lens structures symmetric. This allows proper connector placement for each side without requiring completely different unit designs, resolving the contradiction between appropriate indicator positioning and design complexity.
2Ease of operation
If separate BSM units are manufactured for left and right sides, then the indicator can be positioned appropriately for each side, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BSM unit into modular components: a common symmetric housing and lens assembly that can be mass-produced, and side-specific connector arrangements. This segmentation allows the majority of the unit to be manufactured once and reused, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while still allowing proper indicator positioning for each side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal housing and lens design that can serve both left and right sides of the vehicle. This universal component design eliminates the need to manufacture entirely separate units for each side, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to position indicators appropriately through asymmetric connector arrangements.
3Ease of operation
If separate BSM units are manufactured for left and right sides, then the indicator can be positioned appropriately for each side, but assembly errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric connector arrangements as a form of mechanical keying that prevents incorrect assembly. The left-side connector and right-side connector have different positions and orientations, making it physically impossible to attach the wrong unit to the wrong side, thereby eliminating assembly errors while maintaining proper indicator positioning.
4Device complexity
If the indicator is displayed on the mirror surface, then the BSM unit can be integrated with the outer mirror, but the indicator is obscured by scenery and sunlight making it difficult to see
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the indicator display function from the mirror surface and relocates it to the housing structure surrounding the mirror. This extraction allows the indicator to be positioned in a location that is not subject to the same optical interference as the mirror surface, improving visibility while maintaining integration with the outer mirror assembly through the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the indicator display from the two-dimensional mirror surface to the three-dimensional housing structure, utilizing the lateral space around the mirror. This dimensional transition allows the indicator to be positioned in a location that receives direct illumination and is not obscured by reflected scenery or sunlight, significantly improving visibility.
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
The bilateral-symmetrical design enables cost reduction and improved assembly accuracy by allowing the same BSM unit to be used on both sides of the vehicle, enhancing visibility and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a lens configured to be attached to the housing and emit light from the light source to the outside of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A BSM unit according to an embodiment is attached to a side surface facing the vehicle body of a visor of an outer mirror provided to a vehicle body of a vehicle. The BSM unit includes: a light source; a housing; and a lens configured to be attached to the housing and emit light from the light source to the outside of the housing. The visor has an edge portion which is positioned on a rear side of the vehicle on the side surface and is surrounding a mirror of the outer mirror, at least a portion of the lens is exposed on the side surface of the visor, and a shape of the exposure portion of the lens includes a center of the exposure portion and the edge portion and is bilateral-symmetrical with respect to a cross section orthogonal to the side surface of the visor.