Rearview Mirror Mounting Structure for Low-Vibration Lightweight Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rear-view mirror arrangements for vehicles face issues with weight and vibration, where heavy solid support plates cause driving instability and lightweight designs with elastic bonding lead to unintentional mirror glass vibrations, especially at natural frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A rear-view mirror arrangement with a mirror element connected to fastening extensions on the housing and supported by a plate-shaped support means that provides positive connection and additional support to prevent relative movements, eliminating the need for a separate solid glass support plate and reducing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a solid self-supporting support plate is used to hold the mirror glass, then the mirror glass is firmly secured to the housing, but the weight of the mirror assembly increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirmness of mirror glass connectionVSAvoidweight of mirror assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is divided between the adhesive bonding (for securing the mirror glass) and the dome-shaped support extensions (for providing mechanical support and preventing relative movements). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the need for a heavy solid support plate while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Weight of moving object

If the mirror glass is bonded directly to the housing using hot-melt adhesive, then the mirror assembly weight is reduced, but vibrations during vehicle operation cause unintentional vibrations of the mirror glass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of mirror assemblyVSAvoidvibration stability of mirror glass
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dome-shaped support extensions are pre-formed as integral parts of the housing, positioned in advance to provide mechanical support. When the mirror glass is bonded to the housing, these extensions are already in place to prevent relative movements and vibrations, eliminating the need for additional vibration damping components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If elastic bonding is used to attach the mirror glass to the housing, then the mirror assembly is lightweight and easy to manufacture, but resonances occur at the natural frequency of the mirror glass during vehicle operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of mirror assembly constructionVSAvoidvibrations and resonances of mirror glass
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dome-shaped support extensions act as intermediary elements between the mirror glass and the housing. These extensions provide a rigid mechanical support structure that mediates the connection, preventing the mirror glass from vibrating or resonating while maintaining the simplicity of adhesive bonding. The extensions serve as a mediator that eliminates harmful vibrations without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4157674B1Rear view mirror arrangement for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4157674B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4157674B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a rear view mirror arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a mirror element and a housing that accommodates the mirror element, wherein the housing has an inner surface, on which at least one fastening extension is formed, and the mirror element is connected with a rear side facing the inner surface to the at least one fastening extension, wherein the mirror element is connected to a supporting means which is formed on the housing for supporting it at least in some sections.