Frameless Vehicle Door Mirror Assembly Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle door mirror assemblies with rotating glass components often require larger housings to accommodate rotational movement, leading to degraded aerodynamics and aesthetics due to their frame-based design.
Innovation Solution
A frameless door mirror assembly design featuring a housing with a peripheral edge that forms an aperture, a bezel with a mounting surface and an opposed surface, and an actuator to rotate the mirror body, allowing for a flush integration with the mirror and improved aerodynamics and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the housing size is increased to accommodate rotational movement of the glass, then the mirror assembly can rotate to adjust driver's view, but the aerodynamics and appearance are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The glass is nested within the housing in such a way that it can rotate about a pivot point while remaining contained within the housing boundaries. The housing has a cavity that accommodates the glass's rotational arc, allowing the glass to swing between positions without requiring the housing itself to be larger.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism utilizes a pivot point that allows the glass to move in an arc within the existing housing footprint. By rotating about a point rather than requiring linear clearance, the system achieves rotational adjustment capability without increasing the housing's external dimensions, thereby maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing size is increased to accommodate rotational movement of the glass, then the mirror assembly can rotate to adjust driver's view, but the appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The glass is nested within the housing such that its rotational movement occurs within the housing's internal cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the glass to rotate while the housing maintains a sleek, frameless external appearance without protruding edges or enlarged dimensions that would compromise aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with a frameless appearance at its external surfaces while containing the rotational mechanism internally. The external housing surface is smooth and flush, providing aesthetic appeal, while the internal cavity accommodates the glass's rotational arc, separating the functional requirements from the aesthetic requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a frame-based design is used to accommodate glass rotation, then the mirror assembly can rotate, but the housing size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass is nested within the housing's internal cavity, allowing it to rotate about a pivot point while remaining contained within the housing boundaries. This nesting eliminates the need for a protruding frame structure, as the housing's internal geometry accommodates the rotational arc without increasing external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional frame structure that would surround and support the rotating glass is extracted and replaced by an internal pivot mechanism. The housing itself provides the structural support, and the glass rotates within the housing's cavity rather than being mounted on an external frame, thereby reducing overall housing volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A door mirror assembly is configured to be mounted on a support arm and a bracket, the door mirror assembly being moveable about the support arm and bracket via an actuator. The door mirror assembly includes a housing having a peripheral edge that defines an aperture. The door mirror assembly also includes a bezel having a mounting surface and an opposed surface, the opposed surface having a projecting edge extending therefrom by which the bezel is connected to the peripheral edge of the housing. The door mirror assembly further includes a mirror connected to the mounting surface of the bezel.