Exterior Rearview Mirror Assembly with Extracted Actuator
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exterior rearview mirror assemblies face challenges in providing optimal adjustment and aerodynamic design while concealing internal components, which affects the driver's rearward field of view and the overall vehicle's aerodynamics.
Innovation Solution
The exterior rearview mirror assembly incorporates dual actuators and a shroud or inner casing that pivotally adjusts the mirror head relative to the vehicle, concealing internal components and allowing for a reduced mirror casing size while maintaining effective rearward field adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional actuators are used to adjust the mirror reflective element, then the driver's rearward field of view can be adjusted, but the mirror casing size increases and aerodynamics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is extracted from the mirror casing and mounted separately on the vehicle door or pillar. This removes the bulky actuator mechanism from the mirror head, allowing for a compact mirror casing that maintains excellent aerodynamic properties while the actuator adjusts the mirror reflective element to provide full rearward field of view adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror reflective element is disposed outboard of the mirror head, with the shroud extending to span the gap between them. This nested arrangement allows the mirror assembly to maintain a compact profile while preserving full adjustment range, effectively nesting the adjustment function outside the main mirror casing volume
2Ease of operation
If conventional actuators are disposed in the mirror casing, then the mirror can be adjusted, but internal components cannot be effectively concealed
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is extracted from the mirror casing and mounted externally on the vehicle body. This extraction allows the mirror casing to be designed as a clean, streamlined housing that conceals all internal adjustment mechanisms, presenting a simple aesthetic appearance while maintaining full adjustment functionality through the externally mounted actuator
Solution Approach 2:
A linkage mechanism serves as an intermediary between the externally mounted actuator and the mirror reflective element. This intermediary transmission system allows the actuator to be positioned outside the mirror casing while still effectively controlling the mirror adjustment, enabling clean concealment of internal components while preserving operational complexity
3Volume of moving object
If the mirror reflective element is disposed inboard of the mirror head, then the mirror casing can be compact, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror reflective element is positioned in a different spatial dimension - outboard of the mirror head rather than inboard. This dimensional repositioning allows the element to be located in a region that maintains both compact overall assembly size and excellent aerodynamic flow characteristics, avoiding the drag penalties associated with inboard positioning while preserving compact dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm, a mirror head attached at the mounting arm, an attaching element attached at a mirror reflective element, a shroud and a mirror actuator. The mounting arm is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle. The shroud extends from the attaching element and is partially received in the mirror head. The mirror actuator is operable to adjust the attaching element and the mirror reflective element relative to the mirror head. The mirror reflective element is disposed outside of the mirror head and the shroud spans a gap between the mirror reflective element and the mirror head to substantially encase the attaching element.