Vehicle Camera Assembly Dynamic Support Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tailgate systems require a large and energy-consuming drive unit to overcome high restoring forces, leading to increased space and energy usage, while also failing to prevent unintentional opening during accidents or exposure to external influences.
Innovation Solution
The support element is made movable relative to the carrier housing, allowing the drive unit to shift the camera unit from the rest to the active position without overcoming the restoring force, and the actuating element can be moved into the open position without additional force, using a mechanical restoring element like an elastic spring for effective biasing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high restoring force is applied to prevent unintentional opening and rattling, then reliability is improved, but the drive unit requires more power and space
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed to change its position dynamically between a first position (when camera is in rest position) and a second position (when camera is in active position). This dynamic repositioning changes the leverage arm of the restoring force, allowing the same restoring force to produce different torques on the actuating element depending on the camera's position, thereby reducing the power needed by the drive unit while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a high restoring force is applied to prevent unintentional opening, then reliability is improved, but the drive unit consumes more energy
Solution Approach 1:
The support element's dynamic repositioning between first and second positions changes the mechanical advantage of the restoring force. When the camera is in the active position, the support element moves to a position that reduces the torque required from the drive unit, thereby lowering energy consumption while the restoring force continues to provide reliable prevention of unintentional opening.
3Reliability
If a high restoring force is applied to prevent rattling, then reliability is improved, but the drive unit requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
By making the support element movable between two positions, the system optimizes the leverage arm of the restoring force dynamically. This allows a smaller drive unit to achieve the same effective torque for preventing rattling, as the support element's repositioning provides mechanical advantage without requiring a larger drive unit.
4Reliability
If the actuating element is held firmly in rest position by restoring force, then reliability is improved, but the drive unit must overcome this force to move camera, increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed to reposition from a first position to a second position when the camera unit moves from rest to active position. This repositioning dynamically adjusts the mechanical advantage, allowing the drive unit to overcome the restoring force more efficiently during camera movement while maintaining reliable holding of the actuating element in the rest position when the camera is retracted.
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 design reduces the need for a powerful drive unit, saving space and energy, while ensuring the camera unit is protected and preventing unintentional opening, even under centrifugal forces, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical return element, which is coupled to the actuating element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
In an arrangement (3) for a vehicle (1) comprising a carrier housing (5), a drive unit (8), a movably mounted camera unit (9) for capturing an area surrounding the vehicle (1), an actuating element (6), a mechanical return element (14) and a support element (16) coupled to the mechanical return element (14), wherein in the rest position of the camera unit (9) the mechanical return element (14) exerts a return force on the actuating element (6) that holds or pushes the actuating element (6) in the rest position and is supported on the support element (16), a solution is to be created which provides a structurally simple arrangement which is characterized by a small installation space and which can be operated in an energy-efficient manner.This is achieved by making the support element (16) movable relative to the carrier housing (5) and by coupling the drive unit (8) to the support element (16).