Vehicle Imaging Unit Notch Design for Reflection Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle imaging units that integrate an imaging apparatus for the side rear direction with a lamp body unit face challenges in minimizing vehicle body reflection and preventing protrusion when attached to a vehicle's side door, as they often require a larger housing that increases the risk of damage during vehicle maneuvers and affects design aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle imaging unit design that includes a housing with a notch for the lamp body unit on its outer wall, allowing the imaging lens to be positioned further outward without increasing the unit's protrusion, and a lens hood with varying inclination angles to enhance visibility and ease of cleaning, while ensuring the lamp body unit is positioned to avoid contact during vehicle maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the imaging lens is positioned further outward to reduce vehicle body reflection, then the reflection amount is reduced, but the housing width increases causing protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the lamp body unit from a side-by-side arrangement to an upper-lower arrangement relative to the imaging apparatus. This dimensional change allows the imaging lens to be positioned further outward without increasing housing width, as the lamp body unit occupies vertical space rather than horizontal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp body unit is integrated into the housing structure by providing a dedicated mounting position within the housing, effectively nesting the lamp body unit inside the housing volume. This allows compact integration of multiple functions without increasing external dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing width is increased to accommodate both imaging apparatus and lamp body unit, then both components can be integrated, but the unit protrudes more in the vehicle width direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension (vehicle height direction) to arrange the lamp body unit above or below the imaging apparatus, rather than expanding horizontally. This allows both components to be integrated without increasing the housing width or protrusion amount in the vehicle width direction.
3Illumination intensity
If the lamp body unit is positioned at the maximum protrusion part, then visibility is maximized, but the lamp body unit is vulnerable to damage during vehicle maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the lamp body unit in the vertical direction (above or below the maximum protrusion part) rather than at the maximum protrusion part itself. This maintains visibility while protecting against damage during vehicle maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle imaging unit includes an imaging apparatus, a housing, and a lamp body unit. The imaging apparatus images a side rear direction of a vehicle. The housing houses the imaging apparatus and is attached to a side part of a vehicle body. The lamp body unit is attached to an outer part in a vehicle width direction of the housing and emits light to the outside. A lens arrangement part that exposes an imaging lens of the imaging apparatus to the outside is provided at an outer part in the vehicle width direction of a rear surface of the housing. A notch part at which the lamp body unit is arranged is provided on an outer wall in the vehicle width direction of the housing.