Rearview Device Moveable Head Assembly Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear view devices for motor vehicles are complex, expensive to manufacture, and fail to provide a full and expansive field of view, especially when exposed to the outside environment, leading to issues with dirt and debris entry and limited blind spot visibility.
Innovation Solution
A compact head section for rear view devices featuring a combined, single-piece lid section with a polymeric substrate coated with a chromium-based reflective coating, providing a reflective element and sealing the hollow area from the outside environment, allowing for a compact design without separate housing for electronic units and enhancing blind spot detection with a transition surface indicator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rear view devices are exposed to the outside environment, then they provide external viewing capability, but dirt and debris enter the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealed housing structure with gaskets and sealing elements that create a protective barrier between the electronic components and the external environment. This allows the device to maintain external viewing capability while preventing dirt and debris from contaminating the internal electronics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in rear view devices, then they provide specialized functions, but manufacturing becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple previously separate components into a unified housing structure. The housing simultaneously serves as structural support, environmental seal, and mounting framework for electronic components, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining specialized functions through internal component arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to perform multiple functions: providing structural integrity, sealing against environmental contaminants, supporting electronic components, and enabling heat dissipation. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of parts needed while maintaining all necessary specialized functions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protection from outside environment is improved, then dirt and debris entry is reduced, but field of view becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the camera sensor at an elevated position on the housing, allowing it to peer over obstructions and achieve a wider field of view without compromising the sealed protection of electronic components. This spatial arrangement in a third dimension enables both protection and expanded viewing capability.
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 results in a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture rear view device with improved visibility and reduced complexity, providing a wider field of view and enhanced protection against environmental factors, while enabling compact design and efficient electronic unit placement.
Implementation Method 1
The lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined, single-piece component for providing the second rear view means
Data Source
AI summary
A rearview device for a motor vehicle includes a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly having a fixed part and a moveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly, a motor cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly. A method of assembling a rearview device comprises providing the rearview device and attaching the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.