Windshield Camera Mount With Sliding Housing and Locking Knob
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle devices with camera attachments that attach to windshields block the occupant's view due to the long vertical distance from the attachment position to the main body, and the optical axis direction is not easily adjustable.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle device with a slide structure allowing two housings to expand and contract, featuring a knob mechanism to prevent unintended rotation of the attachment portion, enabling the optical axis to be adjusted in the vertical direction with minimal obstruction to the occupant's view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the main body portion is attached to the windshield through a support portion extending in the vertical direction, then the device can be securely mounted and the optical axis can be adjusted vertically, but the distance in the vertical direction from the attachment position to the lower end of the main body portion becomes long, significantly blocking the occupant's view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical extension support structure to a horizontal extension support structure. The support portion now extends in the crosswise direction (left-right) rather than the vertical direction (up-down), allowing the main body to be positioned further from the windshield while minimizing vertical space occupation and view obstruction.
2Ease of operation
If the attachment portion is made rotatable for optical axis adjustment, then the optical axis direction can be adjusted, but the attachment portion may rotate unintentionally, changing the optical axis direction inadvertently
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing rotation when needed and fixed when not needed. The rotatable connection between the support portion and the first housing enables the user to adjust the optical axis direction by rotating the support portion, and then maintain the adjusted position stably.
3Ease of operation
If the support portion extends in the vertical direction to allow optical axis adjustment, then the device can be mounted securely, but the overall crosswise length becomes long, affecting design aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extension direction of the support portion from vertical to horizontal (crosswise). This allows the support structure to provide adequate length for stable mounting and adjustment functionality while keeping the vertical profile compact and the crosswise length optimized for aesthetic design.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle device includes an attachment portion, a first housing, a knob, and a second housing. The attachment portion has an attachment plate. The first housing rotatably supports the attachment portion around a single axis. The knob sandwiches the attachment portion between the knob and the first housing and prevents the attachment portion from rotating with respect to the first housing. The second housing moves with respect to the first housing between a first position at which the knob is covered and a second position at which the knob is exposed.