Motor Vehicle Interior Mirror Rear Housing Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior mirrors for vehicles have aesthetically unpleasing and visually obstructive rocker arms that protrude into the driver's field of vision, making it difficult to actuate the tilting device without disturbing the view and compromising aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The tilting device is designed with a gripping area for the actuating element located within the housing, away from the driver's view, allowing easy operation without visible levers, and the actuating element is arranged to be flush with the housing or recessed, ensuring a continuous outer contour and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rocker arm is arranged below the interior mirror to enable tilting operation, then the tilting function is achieved, but the rocker arm disturbs the driver's view and appears aesthetically disadvantageous
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is extracted from the visible area below the mirror and relocated to the housing structure itself. The housing is designed with an integrated actuating element that can be operated from the rear/side of the housing, removing the visual obstruction while maintaining the tilting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating mechanism is nested within the housing structure. The housing serves multiple functions: it protects the mirror assembly and simultaneously houses the actuating elements. This nesting eliminates the need for separate external rocker arms that would protrude into the driver's field of vision.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating element is guided out through an opening in the housing to enable driver actuation, then the tilting function is accessible, but the area outside the housing forms a visible region that disturbs the driver's view
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of guiding the actuating element outward in the horizontal plane (which would create visible protrusions), the actuation interface is moved to a different dimension - the rear or side surface of the housing. This allows the driver to actuate the mechanism without any elements protruding into the forward field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than having the actuating element protrude outward from the front or side where it would be visible, the design inverts the approach by allowing actuation from the rear of the housing. The force application point is inverted to the opposite side of where traditional designs place the rocker arm.
3Ease of operation
If the rocker arm is positioned to allow gripping and actuation, then the tilting mechanism can be operated, but it projects into the driver's field of vision and obstructs the view
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating function is extracted from the lower region where it would obstruct the view and relocated to the housing structure. The driver can grip and operate the actuating element on the housing without any components projecting into the field of vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves as an intermediary structure that transmits the actuating force from the driver to the tilting mechanism. Instead of the driver directly manipulating a rocker arm that would be visible, the housing acts as a mediator that conceals the mechanical components while still allowing effective actuation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to interior mirrors, in particular interior mirrors for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing which is preferably pivotably mountable on a mirror base, and a tilting device for tilting at least one mirror surface of the interior mirror between at least a first tilting position and a second tilting position, wherein the tilting device has at least one actuating element for tilting the at least one mirror surface, wherein the housing at least partially defines an engagement area for a user to actuate the actuating element, wherein the engagement area, when the interior mirror is mounted for intended use, is arranged in an area of the housing facing away from the driver of the motor vehicle.