Side-View Mirror Shutter Wiping for Unobstructed Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side-view mirror wipers obstruct the driver's view during operation, are prone to misalignment and wear, and fail to provide a clear mirror surface, leading to visibility issues and safety concerns in rainy or dusty conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle mirror wiping unit with a hidden design, featuring a mirror shutter assembly, motor, and cleaning elastomer that moves from one end of the mirror to the other, allowing for unobstructed visibility and using a linear and rotary actuation mechanism to wipe the mirror without rolling elements, ensuring the wiper remains concealed when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional wiper is attached to the side view mirror, then the mirror can be cleaned, but the driver's view is obstructed during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper mechanism is extracted from the visible mirror surface and relocated to the rear of the mirror housing. The mirror is pulled back during cleaning operation, removing the wiper from the driver's field of view while maintaining the cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the wiper moving across the front surface of the mirror, the mirror itself is pulled back to expose the wiper mechanism at the rear. This inverted approach reverses the traditional cleaning motion direction while achieving the same cleaning effect without obstruction.
2Reliability
If a visible wiper is mounted on the mirror, then cleaning can be performed, but wear and tear is high
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper element is extracted from the high-stress visible position and placed in a protected rear position. This location reduces exposure to environmental factors and mechanical stress, thereby extending the wiper's operational life.
3Reliability
If the wiper is mounted visibly on the mirror, then cleaning is effective, but the wiper structure is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex visible wiper structure with multiple components is replaced by a simplified rear-mounted linear actuation system. The motor pulls the mirror back in a straight line, eliminating the need for complex linkages, pivots, and guidance mechanisms required by traditional front-mounted wipers.
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 unobstructed driver visibility during cleaning, reduces wear and tear, and eliminates misalignment issues, enhancing safety by hiding the wiper mechanism when not in operation, thus preventing distractions and accidents.
Implementation Method 1
The mirror spring is compressed, and the pin is fastened on to the mirror shaft from inside of a vertical slot of the mirror spring holder
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning elastomer in the mirror shutter wipes the mirror
Data Source
AI summary
Wiper is utilized to clean side-view mirror of a vehicle. Existing wiper attached with the side-view mirror obstructs visibility of a driver while cleaning the side-view mirror in a rainy season or in a dusty environment, which leads to an accident. A vehicle mirror wiping unit is provided. The vehicle mirror wiping unit includes a mirror; a mirror shutter assembly; a mirror casing; a mirror mounting unit, consisting of: the mirror, a mirror spring, a spring retaining cap, and a mirror spring holder; a pin pass through a cut-out of the spring retaining cap, and a cut-out in the mirror spring holder; and a cleaning elastomer is triggered by the mirror shutter motor, and the mirror shutter moves from the first end of the mirror to the second end of the mirror. A frontal surface of the mirror shutter is a reflective surface functioning as a mirror.