Driver Monitoring Camera Mount With Spherical Optical Axis Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver monitoring systems in vehicles require different housing and cover parts for various car lines due to varying ECU positions, leading to high development, validation, and manufacturing costs, and lack of shared components across car lines.

Innovation Solution

A driver monitoring system with a camera sub-assembly housed in an outer housing, featuring a spherical outer topology and a retainer ring with a spheroidal inner topology for angular adjustment of the optical axis, allowing for secure orientation and reduced part diversity across different car lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If diverse housing and cover parts are used for different car lines, then the driver monitoring system can accommodate various installation positions, but the development, validation, and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different car linesVSAvoidvariety of housing parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with a universal spherical mounting structure that can accommodate multiple installation positions and orientations through angular adjustment, eliminating the need for diverse housing variants for different car lines while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If the optical axis position is fixed during manufacturing, then the assembly process is simplified, but the system cannot be adjusted for different car lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidadjustability for different car lines
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure incorporates dynamic angular adjustment capability, allowing the optical axis orientation to be modified after assembly according to different car line requirements, combining manufacturing simplicity with operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple fixation elements are used to maintain optical axis orientation, then the positioning stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidnumber of fixation elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical mounting structure enables self-alignment and self-positioning of the camera sub-assembly, maintaining optical axis orientation through the geometric constraints of the spherical interface without requiring additional fixation elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3984826B1Driver monitoring system and method for manufacturing a driver monitoring system
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MAGNA ELECTRONICS SWEDEN AB
  • EP3984826B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3984826B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3984826B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a driver monitoring system (1) and a method for manufacturing a driver monitoring system (1). The driver monitoring system (1) has at least a camera sub-assembly (10) positioned in an outer housing (7). The outer housing (7) is defined by a housing cover (8) and a housing base (9). A housing part (20) for the camera sub-assembly (10) has a spherical outer topology (21). A mounting structure (30) is positioned at least in relation to a receptacle (16) of the housing base (9), wherein the mounting structure (30) allows and angular adjustment of the optical axis (11) of the camera sub-assembly (10).