Indexed Rotation Limiter for Single-Motor Mirror Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjusting instruments for exterior vision units in motor vehicles require multiple electric motors for adjusting along multiple axes, which are costly and space-consuming, and existing single-motor solutions suffer from inefficiencies such as varying speeds, unwanted adjustments, and noise due to changing rotation directions.
Innovation Solution
A drive component with a first and second rotation part that rotate around a common central axis, featuring a rotation limiter and indexer to allow adjustment in opposite directions with constant speed and equal motor power, eliminating the need for separate electric controls or circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple electric motors are used for adjusting along multiple axes, then adjustment capability and reliability are improved, but device complexity, cost, and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single electric motor is designed to perform multiple adjustment functions by mechanically coupling it to two adjusting shafts through a transmission mechanism. The motor can adjust the carrier both in folding direction (first adjusting shaft) and in standing/lying orientation (second adjusting shaft), making one component serve multiple functions that traditionally required separate motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple driving functions into a single motor unit. The transmission mechanism merges the output of one motor into two separate adjusting shafts, effectively combining what would have been separate motor functions into one integrated system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adjustment capability.
2Device complexity
If a single motor is used for multiple axes, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but speed consistency and control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is segmented into multiple independent driving paths (first and second driving paths) that branch from the single motor. Each path can be independently controlled to adjust different shafts, allowing the system to maintain speed consistency by managing each adjustment axis separately while using one motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different driving paths based on the required adjustment. The single motor can selectively engage the first driving path for folding adjustments or the second driving path for orientation adjustments, maintaining precise speed control for each function while using a unified power source.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motor rotation direction is changed for bidirectional adjustment, then adjustment versatility is improved, but noise and unwanted adjustments increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the motor's rotation direction to achieve bidirectional adjustment, the patent uses a transmission mechanism that converts single-direction motor rotation into bidirectional output. The mechanical linkage inverts the control approach: one motor rotation direction can produce adjustments in both positive and negative directions for the adjusting shafts through the transmission geometry, eliminating the need for motor reversal.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive component comprising a first rotation part and a second rotation part arranged to rotate together around a common central axis with respect to each other around that central axis. The drive component further comprises a rotation limiter operative between the two rotation parts, which limits rotation between them.The rotation limiter is so arranged that when the first rotation part is driven to rotation, the first rotation part after traversing a free angular stroke carries the second rotation part in a mutual angular position determined by the rotation limiter, i.e. the carry-along angle, along in rotation. The rotation limiter comprises an indexer energized by rotation of the first and/or second rotation part, so that in successive driving cycles on the drive component the carry-along angle is indexed and the rotation parts in successive driving cycles differ in mutual angular position at carry-along.