Frameless Rearview Mirror Assembly Without Bezel Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interior rearview mirror assemblies with bezels encroaching on the perimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element pose challenges in terms of aesthetics, safety, and regulatory compliance, particularly regarding the radius of curvature of the bezel's edge.
Innovation Solution
The interior rearview mirror assembly features a reflective element with a glass substrate having a beveled front perimeter and a slanted rear perimeter edge, where the mirror holder encloses the reflecting surface without overlapping the front surface of the reflective element, ensuring a flush appearance and compliance with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a bezel portion of the casing overlaps or encompasses the perimeter edge of the reflective element, then the mirror assembly provides structural support and enclosure, but it encroaches on the front surface of the reflective element and creates aesthetic and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the traditional bezel portion that overlapped the reflective element's front surface. The casing is designed to terminate at the perimeter edge of the reflective element without encroaching onto its front surface, creating a frameless appearance and eliminating the head impact hazard associated with protruding bezels.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing is segmented into distinct portions: a rear portion that provides structural support and an front portion that terminates at the reflective element's perimeter edge. This segmentation allows the casing to provide necessary support while avoiding encroachment on the front surface.
2Reliability
If a bezel portion overlaps the perimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element, then the mirror assembly provides structural support, but it fails to meet safety standards such as ECE Regulation No. 46 regarding the radius of curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic bezel portion that caused regulatory compliance issues. By eliminating the overlapping bezel structure, the design automatically meets safety standards like ECE Regulation No. 46 without requiring complex workarounds or modifications to achieve the required radius of curvature.
3Area of stationary object
If a bezel portion encroaches on the front surface of the reflective element, then the mirror assembly provides structural support, but it reduces the effective reflective area and forward vision
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bezel portion that encroached on the front surface, thereby maximizing the effective reflective area. The casing is designed to terminate exactly at the perimeter edge of the reflective element, ensuring that the entire front surface is available for reflection without obstruction.
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 provides a modern, frameless appearance, enhances safety by reducing the risk of head impact, and meets regulatory requirements such as ECE Regulation No. 46, while also potentially offering increased forward vision and reduced weight compared to conventional mirror assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
an automatically dimming electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly, such as an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing behind the mirror reflective element. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver to adjust a rearward view of the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.