Vehicle Mirror Coupling with Segmented Cam Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjusting instruments for exterior mirror units in vehicles face issues with play susceptibility, high component count, and cost due to cam connections, and manual adjustment resolution is coarse.
Innovation Solution
A breakable rotation-locked coupling unit with multiple parallel couplings, each with two opposing faces having a periodic cam pattern, where only a limited number are engaged at a time, reducing play sensitivity and maintaining consistent distance between housing and support units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cam connection is used for coupling the housing unit to the support unit, then the coupling is breakable to allow overfold position in case of impact, but the distance between housing unit and support unit increases at decoupling and the coupling is susceptible to play
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling unit is divided into multiple parallel cam connections (first, second, and third cam connections) instead of using a single cam connection. This segmentation distributes the coupling function across multiple elements, where each cam connection can engage or disengage independently, maintaining overall coupling stability while allowing controlled decoupling under extreme forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple cam connections are combined in parallel within the same coupling unit, merging their functions to achieve both breakability and stability. The combined system maintains the distance between housing unit and support unit by having multiple cam connections work together, while still allowing decoupling when necessary through any individual cam connection.
2Reliability
If a cam connection is used for coupling, then the coupling can be breakable for impact protection, but the coupling has relatively many components and is costly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cam connections are merged into a single integrated coupling unit, sharing common components such as the housing unit, support unit, and coupling axis. This merging reduces the total number of separate components compared to having multiple independent coupling mechanisms, while still providing the desired breakable coupling functionality for impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling unit is designed to perform multiple functions with a single integrated structure: it provides rotational coupling, maintains distance between components, enables breakable coupling for impact protection, and allows manual adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, simplifying the overall device.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of exterior mirror unit is used, then the adjusting instrument is simple, but the resolution is relatively large (coarse adjustment)
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into multiple discrete positions defined by the cam connections, allowing the housing unit to be positioned at specific angular intervals. This segmentation provides defined stopping positions that improve adjustment precision while maintaining manual operation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam connections create periodic engagement points that provide distinct, repeatable positioning stops during manual adjustment. Each cam connection engages at specific intervals, creating periodic positioning that improves resolution by providing defined angular increments rather than continuous adjustment.
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 cost-effective adjusting instrument with improved accuracy and reduced play sensitivity, allowing for precise manual adjustments while maintaining a consistent distance between components.
Implementation Method 1
two mutually opposed coupling faces, pressed against each other under spring action
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjusting instrument for an exterior mirror unit of a vehicle, including a support unit and a housing unit pivotable in a circumferential direction between a plurality of positions relative to the support unit. Furthermore, the adjusting instrument includes a breakable rotation-locked coupling unit for coupling of the housing unit to the support unit. The coupling unit comprises a plural number N of parallel disposed couplings where each coupling has two mutually opposed coupling faces, pressed against each other under spring action and mutually displaceable in the circumferential direction. The coupling faces have a periodic cam pattern engaging in each other, wherein the two coupling faces are mutually breakably rotation-locked and wherein only a limited number M of couplings is in engagement at the same time, with M being less than N.