Vehicle Conversation Mirror Assembly with Pivotable Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing a compact vehicle conversation mirror assembly that provides a desirable field of view while minimizing image distortion, as existing solutions often compromise on size and curvature, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A conversation mirror assembly comprising a first and second housing pivotably connected via a shaft, with a lock device and damping device positioned at the middle portion of the mirror, allowing the mirror to pivot from a stowed to a use position, and featuring a damping mechanism that restricts rotating speed and a lock mechanism for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a smaller mirror with greater curvature is used to meet packaging requirements, then the packaging dimension is reduced, but the image distortion increases affecting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror assembly is divided into two housing components (first housing and second housing) that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the mirror to be positioned in different configurations, enabling a larger mirror surface area to be achieved within compact packaging by utilizing the relative movement between housing segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror assembly incorporates a pivotable connection between the first and second housings, allowing dynamic adjustment of the mirror's position and orientation. This dynamic mechanism enables the mirror to achieve an optimal viewing position with reduced curvature when deployed, while maintaining compact packaging when stowed, thereby reducing image distortion without compromising packaging size.
2Volume of moving object
If the mirror assembly is made compact for efficient packaging, then the package size is reduced, but the field of view may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable connection between housings introduces an additional degree of freedom in spatial arrangement. This allows the mirror surface to be positioned optimally for field of view when deployed, while the overall assembly maintains compact packaging dimensions when stowed, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space to resolve the contradiction between compact size and field of view.
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 solution enables efficient use of space, reduces package size, and provides a stable, distortion-free field of view, enhancing user experience and operational robustness.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second damping members are toothed parts configured to be engaged with each other... At the unlocked state, the first damping member may rotate relative to the second damping member to restrict a rotating speed of the second housing about the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A conversation mirror assembly comprises a first housing, a second housing pivotably connected to the first housing via a shaft, a conversation mirror connected to the second housing, a lock device, and a damping device. The conversation mirror is received in a space defined by the first housing and second housing at a stowed position; and is pivotable to a use position with the second housing. The lock device includes a first lock member connected to the first housing and a second lock member connected to the second housing, and is substantially located at a middle portion of the conversation mirror along a lengthwise direction. The damping device is located at the middle portion of the conversation mirror at the lengthwise direction, spaced apart from the lock device along the lengthwise direction and offset from the shaft.