Exterior Rearview Mirror Assembly With Modular Aerodynamic Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior rear-view mirror assemblies for vehicles are not aerodynamically efficient and have bulky components, leading to increased manufacturing costs and aesthetic inconsistencies between driver and passenger side mirrors.
Innovation Solution
A modular exterior rear-view mirror assembly design featuring a movable part and a mirror head that can rotate and tilt about multiple axes, with a gap between the movable part and the mirror head to reduce size and enhance aerodynamics, incorporating independent actuators for precise adjustment and integration of electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the mirror assembly uses a traditional bulky design to ensure structural strength and stability, then the strength and stability are improved, but the aerodynamic efficiency deteriorates and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror assembly is divided into separate functional components: a mirror head, a movable part with first actuator, and a fixed part with second actuator. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the mirror head can be made compact for aerodynamics while the actuator housing provides structural strength, resolving the contradiction between bulky design for strength and compact design for aerodynamics.
2Strength
If the mirror assembly uses a traditional bulky design to ensure structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the assembly into modular components (mirror head, movable part, fixed part), each can be manufactured separately using standardized processes and then assembled. This reduces tooling costs and allows for more efficient manufacturing of each sub-component, lowering overall manufacturing cost while maintaining structural integrity through proper design of connection interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the driver and passenger side mirrors use different designs to accommodate different viewing angles, then the adaptability is improved, but the aesthetic consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry in the orientation and positioning of actuators and mounting structures rather than in the overall mirror head shape. Both driver and passenger side mirrors use the same symmetric mirror head design for aesthetic consistency, while the internal actuator configuration and mounting angles are asymmetrically adapted to provide optimal viewing angles for each side, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and aesthetic consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for vehicles includes a fixed part configured to be attached to an exterior part of a vehicle, a movable part mounted at the fixed part and rotatable relative to the fixed part about a first axis X1, and a mirror head including a mirror housing and a mirror reflective surface. The mirror head is mounted at the movable part, such that the mirror head and the movable part are jointly rotatable about the first axis X1. The mirror head can tilt or rotate relative to the movable part, about a tilting point or second axis X2 to adjust a rear field of view when the assembly is operatively attached to a vehicle.