Vanity Mirror Assembly with Refractive Lens for Slim Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive sun visor vanity mirror assemblies have a bulky design, lacking a thin and modular configuration that efficiently utilizes space and light distribution for improved visibility.
Innovation Solution
A modular vanity mirror assembly with a housing, support structure, and a mirror connected to a light source, featuring a transparent optical element with series of prisms on the lens to refract visible light outward, accommodating either an LED or lightbulb as the light source, integrated into a common body with the mirror for a slim profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional vanity mirror assemblies are used, then the mirror provides adequate lighting, but the assembly has a bulky design that consumes excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mirror, lenses, and light source into a single integrated housing structure. The mirror is positioned directly adjacent to the light source with lenses between them, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets and structural components that would increase thickness. This consolidation achieves the desired thin profile while maintaining proper optical alignment and light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges components in a compact three-dimensional configuration where the light source, lenses, and mirror are positioned in close proximity within a thin housing. The optical elements are oriented to maximize light utilization in the limited space, with lenses positioned to refract light efficiently toward the mirror surface, achieving effective illumination within a minimal thickness dimension.
2Volume of moving object
If the vanity mirror assembly is made thinner, then space is saved, but light distribution and visibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lenses with specific optical properties positioned at strategic locations between the light source and mirror. These lenses have varying refractive characteristics that are optimized for their specific positions, ensuring that light is properly directed and distributed across the mirror surface despite the thin overall assembly thickness, thereby maintaining good visibility and usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lenses serve as intermediary optical elements that mediate between the light source and the mirror. They refract and redirect light rays to ensure proper illumination of the mirror surface, enabling effective light distribution within the constrained thin profile of the assembly without compromising visibility or usability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular design is implemented to accommodate different light sources, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a universal mounting structure that can accommodate different types of light sources (such as LEDs or traditional bulbs) without requiring different housing configurations. The standardized mounting interface and optical element positioning allow the same housing design to work with multiple light source technologies, achieving versatility without increasing structural complexity.
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 provides a thin, efficient, and modular vanity mirror assembly that enhances light distribution and visibility with a low profile thickness, allowing for improved usability in vehicle sun visors while accommodating different light sources.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one lens comprising a transparent optical element configured to refract the visible light outward from a front side of the at least one lens
Data Source
AI summary
A vanity mirror assembly for a vehicle visor includes a housing having a support structure and a channel on a top side, a mirror connected to the support structure, and a light source disposed proximate the channel and operative to illuminate visible light. The vanity mirror assembly also includes at least one lens provided on the housing on at least one side of the mirror and operatively coupled to the light source, the at least one lens comprising a transparent optical element configured to refract the visible light from a front face of the at least one lens.