Rearview Mirror with Curved Sections for Wide Viewing Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rearview mirror devices with wide viewing angles suffer from image misjudgment due to partial obstruction and discontinuities between mirror surfaces, leading to potential accidents, and are prone to mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
An elongated mirror body with a first curved section and two integrally extending curved sections, each with varying radii of curvature, is mounted within a housing frame to provide a continuous, smooth viewing surface, minimizing driver misjudgment and ensuring secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smaller auxiliary mirror body is mounted on the primary mirror body to achieve a wider viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the image continuity deteriorates due to partial obstruction and discontinuities between mirror surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror body is divided into multiple curved sections (first curved section, second curved section, third curved section) with different radii of curvature. Each section is independently formed with specific curvature characteristics to achieve both wide viewing angle and continuous image display, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary mirrors that cause obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the mirror body have different local optical properties - the first curved section has a larger radius of curvature while the second and third curved sections have smaller radii of curvature. This local variation in curvature allows each region to optimize for its specific viewing function while maintaining overall image continuity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate mirror bodies are used to achieve wide viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to auxiliary mirrors being prone to fall off
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple curved mirror sections that were previously separate components (primary mirror body and auxiliary mirror body) are merged into a single integrally formed mirror body. This eliminates the attachment interface between separate components, removing the reliability issue of auxiliary mirrors falling off while maintaining the wide viewing angle functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flat main mirror surface and curved mirror surface are used to achieve wide viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the image continuity deteriorates due to apparent discontinuity at the junction
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror body employs multiple curved surfaces with specifically controlled radii of curvature instead of flat surfaces. The first curved section has a larger radius of curvature while the second and third curved sections have smaller radii, creating a smooth transitional curvature that eliminates apparent discontinuities at junctions and maintains image continuity across the entire mirror surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A rearview mirror device includes an elongated mirror body and a housing. The mirror body is formed with a first curved section having two opposite ends, and second and third curved sections extending integrally and respectively from the opposite ends of the first curved section. The first curved section has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the second curved section and a radius of curvature of the third curved section. A ratio of the radius of curvature of the first curved section to the radius of curvature of either one of the second and third curved sections is not greater than 1.65. The housing includes a frame body with first and second mounting portions. Each of the second and third curved sections is mounted on a respective one of the first and second mounting portions of the frame body.