Stationary Camera in Telescoping Side Mirror Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with telescoping side view mirrors and cameras struggle to provide adequate visibility around large towed loads, as existing systems do not effectively maintain camera alignment during telescoping movements, limiting the operator's peripheral view.
Innovation Solution
A side view mirror assembly with a camera positioned within the mirror head that remains stationary relative to the vehicle as the mirror head telescopes, featuring a flexible track to maintain a viewing port for the camera lens across all positions, ensuring continuous image capture and improved visibility around towed vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the mirror head telescopes to extend visibility around large towed loads, then the viewing distance is improved, but the camera alignment and image capture capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the camera mounting structure from the telescoping mirror head structure. The camera is mounted on the stationary mirror base assembly while the mirror head can telescope independently, allowing the camera to remain fixed in position while the mirror head extends to provide improved viewing distance around large towed loads.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible track is introduced as an intermediary component to maintain the viewing port alignment with the camera lens during telescoping motion. The flexible track can deform to accommodate the changing distance between the stationary camera and the moving mirror head, ensuring continuous optical access while maintaining camera alignment precision.
2Device complexity
If the camera is integrated into the telescoping mirror head, then the device integration is improved, but the camera stability and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the mirror assembly into two functional segments: a stationary camera mounting portion on the mirror base assembly and a movable telescoping mirror head portion. This segmentation allows the camera to remain stable and fixed while the mirror head provides telescoping functionality, maintaining both integration benefits and image stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the camera on the moving mirror head, the patent inverts the arrangement by mounting the camera on the stationary mirror base assembly. This inverted configuration allows the mirror head to telescope without disturbing camera stability, thereby maintaining reliable image capture while achieving the desired telescoping functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If the mirror head telescopes fully extended, then the peripheral visibility is improved, but the camera viewing port access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible track is used to maintain the viewing port's optical access to the camera lens throughout the telescoping range. The flexible nature of the track allows it to deform and accommodate the changing geometry between the stationary camera and the extended mirror head, ensuring that the viewing port remains properly aligned and accessible to the lens at all extension positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The viewing port structure incorporates dynamic elements that can adapt to the telescoping motion. The flexible track dynamically adjusts its configuration as the mirror head extends or retracts, maintaining continuous optical access between the viewing port and the camera lens throughout the full range of motion, thereby preserving peripheral visibility without compromising lens access.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear-view side mirror assembly includes a base for attachment to a vehicle, one or more support arms extending from the base, and a mirror head attached to the support arm and configured for telescoping movement along the support arm. A camera is fixedly attached to the support arm so as to remain stationary relative to the mirror base and vehicle as the mirror head telescopes inward and outward. An elongated aperture in the mirror head housing ensures that the camera lens is not occluded as the mirror head telescopes between a retracted position and an extended position. A flexible track covers portions of the elongated aperture on alternate sides of the lens as the housing telescopes relative to the lens.