Vehicle Mirror Camera Housing Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle mirror assemblies with telescopic and pivoting movements do not allow the camera housing to remain in a fixed position relative to the vehicle, which is crucial for accurate processing of images in video systems that superimpose camera views over a still image of the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle mirror assembly design where the camera housing is integrally formed with the base and remains fixed, while the mirror housing undergoes telescopic movement, ensuring the camera housing is stationary relative to the vehicle even when the mirror is in an extended or folded position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the camera housing is integrated with the mirror housing to allow telescopic movement, then the mirror assembly has compact structure, but the camera position changes during telescopic operation affecting video system accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure integrationVSAvoidcamera position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mirror assembly is divided into two independent housings: the mirror housing that undergoes telescopic movement and the camera housing that remains fixed to the base. This segmentation allows the mirror to move for extended field of view while the camera stays stationary for accurate video capture relative to the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The camera housing is extracted from the mirror housing and mounted separately to the base structure. This extraction ensures that the camera is not affected by the telescopic movement of the mirror housing, maintaining its fixed position for accurate video system operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Area of moving object

If the mirror housing is extended laterally away from the vehicle, then the field of view is increased, but the camera housing would also move affecting video accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidcamera field of view accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the camera housing is fixed to the base, then video system accuracy is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera position stabilityVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base structure serves multiple functions: it mounts the camera housing in a fixed position for accurate video capture and also provides the mounting point for the telescopic mirror housing. This multi-functionality reduces overall structural complexity despite the separate housing arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9057833B2Vehicle mirror assembly

Publication Date: 2015.06.16 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An exterior vehicle mirror assembly includes a base, a mirror housing and a camera housing. The base has a mounting portion configured to attach to an exterior vehicle panel. The mirror housing is coupled to the base and extends from the base. The camera housing is coupled to the base adjacent to the mirror housing and extends from the base such that the mirror housing and the camera housing extend away from the base in respective directions are substantially parallel to one another with the mirror housing in an in-use orientation. A distal end of the camera housing is spaced apart from the mirror housing.