Vehicle Rear-View Device Knob Decoupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inner rear-view devices for vehicles face issues with adjusting the angles of the screen and half mirror surfaces due to increased pivot torque caused by larger masses, leading to potential movement of the operation lever and unintended switching of the display or mirror modes.
Innovation Solution
An inner rear-view device with a stay, pivot, bracket, housing, knob, and switching mechanism that includes a fixed engagement section, elastically-engaged section, and suppressing section to prevent knob movement during angle adjustments, allowing for adjustable angles of the screen and half mirror surfaces while maintaining stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display, half mirror, and power switch are attached to the mirror housing instead of the mirror body, then the angles of the screen and half mirror surface can be adjusted, but the masses of the mirror housing and components are increased causing oscillation and requiring increased pivot torque
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the mirror system into two functional parts: the mirror body (with original lightweight components) and the display assembly (with display, half mirror, and power switch). By attaching only the display assembly to the mirror housing rather than the entire mirror system, the patent reduces the effective mass that requires angle adjustment while maintaining the desired adjustability of the display and half mirror angles.
2Reliability
If the pivot torque is increased to prevent oscillation of the heavier mirror housing, then the holding force is sufficient, but the operation lever may move during angle adjustment due to the larger force required to tilt the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational components by placing the power switch on the operation lever itself rather than on the mirror housing. This allows the operation lever to be optimized for lightweight operation independent of the heavier mirror housing, resolving the conflict between stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a decoupling mechanism where the operation lever operates independently from the mirror housing tilt mechanism. The operation lever controls the power switch through a direct connection, while the mirror housing angle is adjusted separately, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the operation lever moves during angle adjustment due to increased pivot torque, then the housing tilts correctly, but the power switch is inadvertently operated causing unintended switching of display ON/OFF or screen/half mirror display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that decouples the operation lever from the mirror housing tilt function. The operation lever now serves exclusively as a switch actuator, while the housing tilt is controlled separately. This intermediary arrangement prevents the operation lever from moving during angle adjustment, eliminating unintended switching while preserving both angle adjustment capability and switch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power switch function from the mirror housing and relocates it to the operation lever. This separation removes the harmful coupling between housing tilt and switch operation, allowing the operation lever to remain stationary during angle adjustment while still enabling reliable power switching when intentionally actuated.
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
Enables adjustment of the screen and half mirror angles according to the driver's field of view without moving the knob, preventing unintended switching and ensuring stable operation even with increased pivot torque.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically-engaged section provided on the knob and elastically engaged with the fixed engagement section
Implementation Method 2
an elastically-deformed section elastically deformed when the knob is switched
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
The present invention provides an inner rear-view device for a vehicle that includes a stay, a pivot, a bracket, a housing, a knob, a rear-view unit, a switching mechanism, a fixed engagement section, an elastically-engaged section, an elastically-deformed section, and a suppressing section. The inner rear-view device for the vehicle can adjust angles of a screen and the like and prevent movement of a knob at the time of angle adjustment of the screen and the like even when pivot torque is increased by a magnitude that corresponds to an increase in masses of the housing and the like.