Steering Column Camera Mounting Structure with Lens Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera mounting structures for vehicle steering columns externally attached to the upper surface increase component count and raise visibility issues for dashboard meters, with a risk of camera lens damage during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A camera mounting structure that assembles the camera inside the steering column using an upper column cover with a top wall, suspended wall, final positioning parts, and guide parts to regulate the lens's movement, eliminating the need for a separate camera case and reducing the raised portion, thus preventing lens damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the camera assembly is externally attached to the upper surface of the steering column, then the camera can be mounted, but the number of components increases and visibility of meters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly is merged with the steering column cover by integrating the camera case into the cover structure. The cover itself serves as the mounting structure, eliminating the need for separate external attachment components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera assembly is nested within the steering column cover structure. The camera case is positioned inside the cover, with the lens extending through an opening in the cover, creating a nested configuration that reduces component count while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If the camera assembly is externally attached to the upper surface of the steering column, then the camera can be mounted, but a raised portion is created that deteriorates meter visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly is merged with the steering column cover by integrating the camera case into the cover structure. The cover itself serves as the mounting structure, eliminating the need for separate external attachment components and reducing overall device complexity.
3Device complexity
If the camera is assembled to the steering column cover with lens exposed through opening, then component count is reduced, but lens may come into contact with opening causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide part is designed to preliminarily guide the camera assembly during installation, ensuring the lens approaches the opening in a controlled manner. This preliminary guidance action prevents the lens from making unintended contact with the opening edges during the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide part acts as an intermediary element between the camera lens and the opening in the cover. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled path for the lens to approach the opening, preventing direct contact that could cause damage while still allowing the lens to be properly positioned.
Data Source
AI summary
An upper column cover includes a final positioning part, an initial positioning part, and a guide part. The final positioning part positions a camera in a state where the camera is arranged at a final assembly position at which a lens of the camera is arranged in an opening. The initial positioning part positions the camera in a state where the camera is arranged at an initial assembly position at which the lens of the camera is separated from a top wall portion and a suspended wall portion. The guide part guides the camera in a process in which the camera is moved from the initial assembly position to the final assembly position while regulating a movement of the lens of the camera in upward, downward, rightward, and leftward directions with respect to the upper column cover.