Powerfold Rearview Mirror Position Feedback for Single-Button Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current powerfold rearview mirror systems are confusing for users, requiring multiple button presses to adjust the mirror head to the desired position and lack positional feedback, leading to potential misalignment and warranty returns due to poor vibration performance.
Innovation Solution
The integration of sensors such as detent sensors, friction devices, and rearward range sensors into the powerfold actuator system allows for single-button operation and provides positional feedback, ensuring the mirror head is correctly adjusted with minimal user input, and includes a built-in shut-off device for monitoring voltage and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple button presses are required to adjust the mirror head, then the mirror can reach the desired position, but the operation becomes confusing and complex for users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors (detent sensors, friction devices, rearward range sensors) that provide positional feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to know the mirror head's current position and automatically adjust it to the desired position with a single button press, eliminating the need for multiple manual adjustments while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The powerfold actuator system with integrated sensors and control logic performs self-adjustment of the mirror head position. When the user presses the button, the system autonomously determines the correct position based on sensor feedback and actuates the mirror head accordingly, reducing user input from multiple presses to a single action.
2Reliability
If positional feedback is not provided, then the system structure remains simple, but the mirror head may become misaligned and cause warranty returns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates detent sensors, friction devices, and rearward range sensors that continuously monitor the mirror head position and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback ensures the mirror head is correctly aligned with the vehicle body, preventing misalignment issues that would lead to warranty returns, while the added sensor complexity is justified by the significant improvement in reliability.
3Reliability
If vibration performance is not monitored, then the system remains simple, but poor vibration performance leads to warranty returns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that monitor various parameters including vibration performance of the mirror head. The control system uses this feedback to detect poor vibration performance and can take corrective actions or alert the user, thereby improving reliability and reducing warranty returns related to vibration issues.
4Ease of operation
If single-button operation is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but the system requires sensors and positional feedback which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses detent sensors, friction devices, and rearward range sensors to provide positional feedback to the control system. This feedback enables the system to automatically determine when the mirror head has reached the correct position, allowing single-button operation without requiring complex manual adjustment sequences, thus improving ease of operation while managing system complexity through intelligent sensor integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator. The turn signal indicator, with the mounting base of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, and responsive to actuation by a driver of the vehicle of a turn signal of the vehicle, projects a turn signal icon onto the ground proximate the side of the vehicle. The turn signal indicator may be disposed at a lower region of the mirror casing and may intermittently project a direction-indicating icon or shape onto the ground, with the direction-indicating shape indicating a direction away from the side of the vehicle.