Motor Vehicle Meter Unit with Tiltable Holder and Visor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor-driven vehicles with fixed meter units face challenges in adjusting the inclination angle for optimal visibility, especially under varying sunlight conditions and different driver postures, and lack effective sunlight blocking mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A motor-driven vehicle with a portable terminal meter unit held by a tiltably attached portable terminal holder between left and right handle posts, featuring a visor portion for sunlight blocking and foldable handle posts that accommodate the meter unit for improved visibility and compact storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the meter unit is fixed at a predetermined inclination angle, then the structure is simple and stable, but the visibility is poor under varying sunlight conditions and different driver postures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility adaptabilityVSAvoidholder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a tiltable holder that allows the meter unit to be adjusted to different inclination angles. The holder includes a tilt mechanism with adjustment holes and locking pins, enabling the meter unit to dynamically change its orientation to adapt to varying sunlight conditions and driver postures, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure simplicity and visibility adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holder structure is divided into multiple functional components: a base portion, a tilt mechanism with adjustment holes, a locking mechanism with pins, and a mounting portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity, enabling adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If the meter unit is positioned to be visible to the driver, then visibility is improved, but sunlight directly irradiates the display making it difficult to read

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidsunlight irradiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a visor portion that extends in the vehicle widthwise direction, creating a three-dimensional shading structure. This visor blocks sunlight from reaching the display portion from above and from the sides, while the tilt mechanism allows the display to be positioned at optimal viewing angles. The combination of vertical shading and angular adjustment resolves the contradiction between visibility and sunlight protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the handle posts are made foldable for compact storage, then storage convenience is improved, but the structural stability during operation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage convenienceVSAvoidhandle post stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The handle posts are designed with a foldable mechanism that allows them to transition between an extended stable position during operation and a folded compact position for storage. The mechanism includes hinge joints and locking features that ensure structural stability when extended, while enabling easy folding for compact storage, thus resolving the contradiction between operational stability and storage convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2586691B1Motor driven vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2586691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2586691B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2586691B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is an object to provide a vehicle including a meter unit whose inclination angle can be varied arbitrarily and which is less likely to be influenced by the sunlight. A display portion (64A) of a portable terminal (63) can be set to a swung position so as to oppose to the driver's face. In this example, the sunlight is blocked by a visor portion (109). In addition, swollen portions (115, 115) rearward of the vehicle at an upper portion of the handle posts (16L and 16R) serve as a visor (sun visor) for blocking the sunlight directed to the portable terminal (63). Good visibility of the display portion (64) is assured even when the vehicle runs under the clear sky. The visor portion (109) and the swollen portions (115, 115) serve as a visor for blocking rainwater toward the portable terminal (63).