Vehicle Inside Mirror Assembly Tilting Mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inside mirror assemblies for vehicles suffer from image overlap between real and virtual images during day and night reflection modes, causing driver discomfort and inconvenience in recognizing the reflection mode changes, and they often experience play and vibration in the tilting mechanism.
Innovation Solution
An inside mirror assembly with a simplified tilting mechanism using two pivot shafts and a spring coupling unit to adjust the tilting reflective plate, ensuring only a real image is seen in day mode and reducing light reflectivity in night mode to prevent driver blindness, while preventing vibration and play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tilting mechanism with multiple pivot shafts and linkage structures is used to adjust the reflective plate, then the tilting function is achieved, but play and vibration occur in the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism is divided into two independent pivot shafts instead of a complex linkage system. The first pivot shaft tilts the upper end of the reflective plate while the second pivot shaft tilts the lower end, achieving the desired tilting function with simpler, more reliable components that eliminate play and vibration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both first and second reflective surfaces are used in the prism glass, then day and night reflection modes are implemented, but real and virtual images overlap causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface is divided into two separate reflective plates (first reflective plate and second reflective plate) instead of using both surfaces of a single prism glass. This segmentation allows independent control of each reflective surface, enabling day and night modes while preventing image overlap by ensuring only one reflective plate is active at a time.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful virtual image effect is eliminated by extracting the problematic second reflective surface from the prism glass structure and replacing it with a separate second reflective plate that can be independently controlled and positioned to avoid image overlap with the first reflective plate.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing is tilted to adjust reflection angle in night mode, then light reflectivity is reduced, but the driver experiences inconvenience in recognizing the reflection mode
Solution Approach 1:
A trace indicator is provided that changes its visual appearance or position to indicate the current reflection mode (day or night) to the driver. This allows the driver to recognize the active mode without confusion, even when the housing is tilted, by providing clear visual feedback about the system's state.
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
The solution provides a clear rear view without virtual images in day mode and reduces light reflectivity at night, enhancing driver comfort and reducing the complexity and instability of the tilting mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupling unit, configured to elastically couple the second pivot shaft to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An inside mirror assembly of a vehicle, the assembly having an improved structure capable of implementing reflective surfaces of a day mode and a night mode according to light reflectivity. The mirror assembly has a simplified mechanism for operating a tilting reflective plate by adopting two pivot shafts to it. The tilting reflective plate is prevented from vibrating, and play is prevented using the tensile force of a spring.