Moveable Rearview Head Assembly With Sealed Integrated Blind-Spot Mirror
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rearview devices for motor vehicles are complex and costly to manufacture, with components prone to dirt and debris entry when exposed to the outside environment, and often fail to provide a full and expansive field of view, particularly for the driver's blind spot.
Innovation Solution
A rearview device with a moveable head assembly featuring a compact, easy-to-assemble design where the second rearview means is integrated into a single-piece component on the lid section, using a polymeric substrate coated with a chromium-based reflective coating, and the housing and lid sections tightly seal the electronic unit from the outside environment, allowing for a simplified and protected electronic unit placement without additional housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If rearview means are exposed to the outside environment to provide a wide angle view, then the field of view is improved, but dirt or debris can enter within the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror assembly is divided into a head section and a base assembly that can be separately assembled. The head section contains the rearview means and can be detached from the base, allowing the rearview means to be protected from environmental factors while maintaining wide angle viewing capability through proper sealing of the head section.
Solution Approach 2:
The rearview means is integrated into the head section structure, with the reflective surface formed as part of the lid section. This nested integration protects the rearview means within the sealed head section while maintaining its optical function for wide angle viewing.
2Reliability
If multiple assembly parts are used to protect rearview means, then protection from environment is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lid section is designed as a single-piece component that integrates multiple functions: it forms the protective cover of the head section, provides the reflective surface for the second rearview means, and creates the hollow area for housing electronic units. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate assembly parts while maintaining environmental protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid section serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a protective enclosure, a reflective mirror surface, and a structural component defining the head section. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective housings and mirror mounts, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Device complexity
If electronic unit is placed without additional housing, then device complexity is reduced, but protection from environment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic unit is housed within the hollow area created by the housing section and lid section assembly. The lid section itself forms part of the protective enclosure for the electronic unit, eliminating the need for a separate electronic unit housing while maintaining environmental protection through the sealed head section design.
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 reduces the number of components, enhances protection against environmental factors, and provides a wider field of view, including improved blind spot coverage, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
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 rearview means
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a rearview device for a vehicle which includes a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly (914) comprising a fixed part and a moveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly, and a motor cradle (912) configured to attach the actuator assembly (914) to the moveable head assembly, wherein the moveable head assembly includes a lower case (910) and the actuator assembly (914) is attached to the lower case (910) of the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle (912), the lower case (910) includes one or more vertical fixation lugs (910a), the motor cradle (912) includes one or more cradle projections (912a), and the one or more vertical fixation lugs (910a) are configured to engage the one or more cradle projections (912a) in response to the motor cradle (912) being attached to the lower case (910).