Image capturing module applied to panoramic system for vehicle

Abstract

An image capturing module includes a main body, an image capturing device, a brush component, a transparent plate and a driving assembly. The image capturing device is disposed on the main body. The brush component is disposed on the main body. The transparent plate is movably disposed on the main body along an axis and has a surface, the surface contacts the brush component, and a normal of the surface is substantially orthogonal to the axis. The driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is configured to drive the transparent plate to move back and forth along the axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an optical module, and more particularly to an image capturing module. Prior Technology

[0002] With the development of automotive technology, more and more new models are equipped with functions that rely on image sensing technology, such as autonomous driving systems. One crucial technology is the 360-degree surround view system, which aims to improve driving safety and convenience by providing the driver with a complete view of the surrounding environment. This 360-degree surround view system requires multiple onboard cameras positioned around the vehicle. The image data captured by each camera is transmitted in real time to the vehicle's computer. The computer uses algorithms to process and synthesize the image data from each camera, generating a 360-degree surround view displayed on a screen in the cockpit, allowing the driver to clearly understand the environment around the vehicle.

[0003] However, during driving, automotive lenses exposed to the vehicle's surroundings are frequently affected by environmental factors such as raindrops, mud, dust, or snow, causing their surfaces to become blurry and damaged. This not only weakens the lens's visual performance and affects image clarity but also seriously impacts the accuracy of driver assistance systems, ultimately threatening driving safety and potentially endangering the lives of drivers or pedestrians. For example, the panoramic view displayed by a 360-degree surround view system may be obscured by raindrops, mud, dust, or other contaminants, as shown in Figure 16. Therefore, maintaining the cleanliness of automotive lenses during driving is a crucial issue. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides an image capturing module that can clean the lens surface in real time to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module.

[0005] The image capturing module of the present invention includes a main body, an image capturing unit, a brush member, a light-transmitting plate, and a driving assembly. The image capturing unit is disposed in the main body. The brush member is disposed in the main body. The light-transmitting plate is movably disposed in the main body along an axis and has a surface that contacts the brush member, the normal of the surface being substantially orthogonal to the axis. The driving assembly is disposed in the main body and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to reciprocate along the axis.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush component is disposed on the first bracket, the image capturing unit and the driving component are disposed on the second bracket, and the light-transmitting plate is movably disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket along the axis.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the driving component includes a motor and a drive wheel. The motor is coupled to the drive wheel, and the drive wheel is rotatably disposed on the main body and in contact with the light-transmitting plate. The motor is used to drive the drive wheel to rotate so as to move the light-transmitting plate along the axis.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned driving component further includes a passive wheel, which is rotatably disposed on the main body and contacts the light-transmitting plate.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing module further includes a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled to the driving component, and the control unit is used to control the driving component to drive the light-transmitting plate to operate along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is used to generate a control signal based on the light-transmitting plate operating along a first direction for a predetermined time length, and the driving component is used to control the light-transmitting plate to operate along a second direction according to the control signal.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing module further includes a sensor, wherein the sensor is coupled to the control unit, the sensor is used to sense the light-transmitting plate moving to a predetermined state along a first direction to generate a sensing signal, the control unit is used to generate a control signal based on the sensing signal, and the driving component is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to move along a second direction based on the control signal.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing module further includes a recording unit, wherein the recording unit is coupled to the driving component and the control unit, the recording unit is used to record an accumulated number of driving cycles of the driving component, and the control unit is used to generate a reminder signal based on the accumulated number of driving cycles reaching a predetermined value.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured to generate a start signal based on an image capture quality of the image capture unit being lower than a predetermined quality, the driving component is configured to drive the light-transmitting plate according to the start signal, and the control unit is configured to generate a stop signal based on an image capture quality of the image capture unit being higher than the predetermined quality, the driving component is configured to stop driving the light-transmitting plate according to the stop signal.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned image capturing module is a panoramic camera for vehicle.

[0015] The image capturing module of the present invention includes a main body, an image capturing unit, a brush member, a frame, a light-transmitting plate, a first driving assembly, and a second driving assembly. The image capturing unit is disposed on the main body. The brush member is disposed on the main body. The frame is movably disposed on the main body along one axis. The light-transmitting plate is movably disposed on the frame along another axis and contacts the brush member. The first driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is used to drive the frame to move along the axis. The second driving assembly is disposed on the frame and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to move along the other axis.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush component and the first driving component are disposed on the first bracket, and the image capturing unit is disposed on the second bracket.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame includes a third support and a fourth support. The third support is movably disposed on the first support along an axis, the fourth support is mounted on the third support, the light-transmitting plate is movably disposed between the third support and the fourth support along another axis, and the second drive assembly is disposed on the third support.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing module further includes another brush component, which is disposed on the third bracket and contacts the light-transmitting plate.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first drive assembly includes a motor and a drive worm gear. The motor is coupled to the drive worm gear, which is rotatably disposed on the main body and in contact with the frame. The motor is used to drive the drive worm gear to rotate so as to move the frame along the axis.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first drive assembly further includes a passive worm gear, which is rotatably disposed on the main body and in contact with the frame.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second driving component includes a motor and a drive wheel. The motor is coupled to the drive wheel, and the drive wheel is rotatably disposed on the frame and in contact with the light-transmitting plate. The motor is used to drive the drive wheel to rotate so as to move the light-transmitting plate along another axis.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second drive assembly further includes a passive wheel, which is rotatably disposed on the frame and in contact with the light-transmitting plate.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned image capturing module is a panoramic camera for vehicle.

[0024] The image capturing module of the present invention includes a main body, an image capturing unit, a brush member, a light-transmitting plate, and a driving assembly. The image capturing unit is disposed on the main body. The brush member is disposed on the main body. The light-transmitting plate is rotatably disposed on the main body along an axis and contacts the brush member. The driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to rotate along the axis.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush component is disposed on the first bracket, the image capturing unit and the driving component are disposed on the second bracket, and the light-transmitting plate is rotatably disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket along the axis.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned driving component includes a motor and a bevel gear set, the bevel gear set being coupled between the motor and the light-transmitting plate, and the motor being used to drive the bevel gear set to rotate so as to drive the light-transmitting plate to rotate along the axis.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned image capturing module is a panoramic camera for vehicle.

[0028] Based on the above, in the image capturing module of the present invention, the light-transmitting plate, which serves as the lens surface, is configured to be driven by a drive component to move along an axis, and the image capturing module is provided with a brush member that contacts the light-transmitting plate. Accordingly, as the light-transmitting plate moves along the axis, dirt on the surface of the light-transmitting plate is scraped off by the brush member, thereby achieving the effect of instantly cleaning the lens surface to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module. Furthermore, since the image capturing module of the present invention is configured such that the light-transmitting plate is movable while the brush member is stationary, the brush member will not move and obstruct the line of sight of the image capturing unit during the cleaning process, allowing the image capturing module to continuously capture images. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates an image capturing module of an embodiment of the present invention mounted on the windshield of a vehicle. Figure 2 is a partial rear view of the windshield and image capturing module in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the windshield and image capturing module in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the windshield and image capturing module in Figure 1. Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the light-transmitting plate in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a block diagram of some components of the image capturing module in Figure 1. Figures 7 and 8 are flowcharts of the operation of the image capturing module in Figure 1. Figure 9 illustrates an image capturing module of another embodiment of the present invention mounted on the rear shell of a vehicle. Figure 10 is an exploded view of the rear body and image capturing module of Figure 9. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the operation of the light-transmitting plate in Figure 9. Figure 13 illustrates some components of the image capturing module in Figure 9. Figure 14 illustrates an image capturing module of another embodiment of the present invention mounted on the rear shell of a vehicle. Figure 15 is an exploded view of the rear body and image capturing module of Figure 14. Figure 16 illustrates the panoramic view displayed by a conventional 360-degree surround view system being affected by dirt. Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates an image capturing module of an embodiment of the present invention mounted on the windshield of a vehicle. Figure 2 is a partial rear view of the windshield and image capturing module of Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the image capturing module 100 of this embodiment is, for example, mounted on the upper edge of the windshield 50 of a vehicle to capture images of the area in front of the vehicle. The image capturing module 100 is, for example, a panoramic camera for a vehicle.

[0031] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the windshield and image capturing module of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the windshield and image capturing module of Figure 1, where the cross-section corresponds to line II in Figure 2. Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the light-transmitting plate in Figure 2. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the image capturing module 100 includes a main body 110, an image capturing unit 120, a brush member 130, a light-transmitting plate 140, and a driving assembly 150. The image capturing unit 120 is disposed on the main body 110. The brush member 130 is, for example, a rubber component and is disposed on the main body 110. The light-transmitting plate 140 is, for example, a glass plate, which is movably disposed on the main body 110 along an axis A1 and has a surface S (indicated in Figure 4), the surface S contacting the brush member 130, and the normal N of the surface S (indicated in Figure 4) is substantially orthogonal to the axis A1 (indicated in Figures 2 and 5). The drive assembly 150 is disposed on the main body 110 and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate 140 to move along axis A1 from the state shown in FIG2 to the state shown in FIG5.

[0032] As described above, in the image capturing module 100 of this embodiment, the light-transmitting plate 140, which serves as the lens surface, is configured to be driven by the drive assembly 150 to move along the axis A1, and the image capturing module 100 is provided with a brush member 130 that orthogonally contacts the surface S of the light-transmitting plate 140. Accordingly, as the light-transmitting plate 140 moves along the axis A1, the brush member 130 continuously contacts the light-transmitting plate 140 during the movement of the light-transmitting plate 140 and generates relative displacement with the light-transmitting plate 140, so that dirt on the surface of the light-transmitting plate 140 is scraped off by the brush member 130, thereby achieving the effect of instantly cleaning the lens surface to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module 100. Furthermore, since the image capturing module 100 of this embodiment is configured such that the light-transmitting plate 140 is movable while the brush member 130 is stationary, the brush member will not move and obstruct the line of sight of the image capturing unit during the cleaning process, allowing the image capturing module 100 to continuously capture images.

[0033] In detail, the main body 110 of this embodiment includes a first bracket 112 and a second bracket 114. The first bracket 112 is integrally connected to the outer frame 52 of the windshield 50, for example. The second bracket 114 is mounted on the first bracket 112 and has an opening 114a (shown in FIG. 4). A brush member 130 is disposed on the first bracket 112. The image capturing unit 120 includes a substrate 122 and an image capturing device 124. The substrate 122 is disposed on the second bracket 114, and the image capturing device 124 is disposed on the substrate 122 and corresponds to the opening 114a. A driving assembly 150 is disposed on the second bracket 114. A light-transmitting plate 140 is movably disposed between the first bracket 112 and the second bracket 114 along axis A1. Axis A1 is perpendicular to an optical axis OA of the image capturing device 124 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4).

[0034] The light-transmitting plate 140 and the brush member 130 are located on opposite sides of the first support 112. The first support 112 has an opening 112a (shown in FIG. 4), which corresponds to a portion of the image capturing device 124 and the light-transmitting plate 140. The brush member 130 has a contact portion 132 that passes through the opening 112a and contacts the light-transmitting plate 140. The brush member 130 has an aperture 130a (shown in FIG. 4), which corresponds to a portion of the image capturing device 124 and the light-transmitting plate 140. External light can pass through the aperture 130a and the light-transmitting plate 140 to reach the image capturing device 124, and dirt scraped off by the brush member 130 can be discharged through the aperture 130a.

[0035] In this embodiment, the width W1 of the light-transmitting plate 140 along axis A1 (shown in Figures 2 and 3) is more than twice the width W2 of the contact portion 132 along axis A1 (shown in Figure 3). Accordingly, it is ensured that the brush member 130 can clean the light-transmitting plate 140 over a wide range as the light-transmitting plate 140 moves along axis A1, so that dirt on the light-transmitting plate 140 is scraped off as much as possible.

[0036] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 150 includes a motor 152 and a drive wheel 154. The motor 152 is coupled to the drive wheel 154, for example, via a bevel gear or other suitable means. The drive wheel 154 is rotatably mounted on the second bracket 114 and contacts the light-transmitting plate 140. The motor 152 drives the drive wheel 154 to rotate, causing the drive wheel 154 to move the light-transmitting plate 140 along axis A1 by means of friction between the drive wheel 154 and the light-transmitting plate 140. The drive assembly 150 further includes two driven wheels 156, which are rotatably mounted on the second bracket 114 and contact the light-transmitting plate 140. As the light-transmitting plate 140 moves along axis A1, the driven wheel 156 rotates due to the friction between itself and the light-transmitting plate 140. The driving wheel 154 and the driven wheel 156 together press the light-transmitting plate 140 firmly against the brush member 130, ensuring stable movement of the light-transmitting plate 140 and preventing it from shaking or loosening during vehicle operation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the friction between the driving wheel 154 and the light-transmitting plate 140, and the friction between the driven wheel 156 and the light-transmitting plate 140, is, for example, greater than the friction between the brush member 130 and the light-transmitting plate 140, allowing the light-transmitting plate 140 to be smoothly driven by the drive assembly 150 and move relative to the brush member 130.

[0037] Figure 6 is a block diagram of some components of the image capturing module of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 6, the image capturing module 100 of this embodiment further includes a control unit 160. The control unit 160 is, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU), which is disposed on the substrate 122 and coupled to the driving component 150. After receiving an activation command from the user interface, the control unit 160 generates an activation signal based on an image capturing quality of the image capturing unit 120 being lower than a predetermined quality. The driving component 150 drives the light-transmitting plate 140 according to this activation signal. The control unit 160 generates a stop signal based on an image capturing quality of the image capturing unit 120 being higher than the predetermined quality. The driving component 150 stops driving the light-transmitting plate 140 according to this stop signal. Accordingly, it can be determined whether to clean the light-transmitting plate 140 using the brush component 130 based on the image capturing quality of the image capturing unit 120.

[0038] Furthermore, the control unit 160 can, for example, control the drive assembly 150 to drive the light-transmitting plate 140 at various speeds to meet various cleaning needs. Also, the control unit 160 can control the drive assembly 150 to drive the light-transmitting plate 140 to operate along a first direction D1 (shown in FIG. 2) parallel to axis A1 and a second direction D2 (shown in FIG. 2) opposite to the first direction D1. That is, the control unit 160 can control the drive assembly 150 to drive the light-transmitting plate 140 to reciprocate along axis A1.

[0039] Furthermore, the control unit 160 can generate a control signal based on the light-transmitting plate 140 operating along the first direction D1 for a predetermined time, and the drive assembly 150 controls the light-transmitting plate 140 to operate along the second direction D2 according to this control signal. Similarly, the control unit 160 can generate a control signal based on the light-transmitting plate 140 operating along the second direction D2 for a predetermined time, and the drive assembly 150 controls the light-transmitting plate 140 to operate along the first direction D1 according to this control signal. Accordingly, by setting an appropriate predetermined time value for the control unit 160 and driving the light-transmitting plate 140 at an appropriate speed, the light-transmitting plate 140 can be made to reciprocate stably.

[0040] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the image capturing module 100 may further include a sensor 170. The sensor 170 is coupled to the control unit 160. The sensor 170 senses when the light-transmitting plate 140 moves to a predetermined state along the first direction D1 (e.g., the light-transmitting plate 140 moves to an extreme position) and generates a sensing signal. The control unit 160 generates a control signal based on this sensing signal, and the drive assembly 150 drives the light-transmitting plate 140 to move along the second direction D2 based on this control signal. Similarly, the sensor 170 senses when the light-transmitting plate 140 moves to a predetermined state along the second direction D2 (e.g., the light-transmitting plate 140 moves to another extreme position) and generates a sensing signal. The control unit 160 generates a control signal based on this sensing signal, and the drive assembly 150 drives the light-transmitting plate 140 to move along the first direction D1 based on this control signal. This allows the light-transmitting plate 140 to reciprocate stably. The sensor 170 may be a contact sensor, an optical sensor, or other suitable type of sensor capable of sensing that the light-transmitting plate 140 has reached a predetermined position; the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image capturing module 100 may further include a recording unit 180, as shown in FIG6. The recording unit 180 is, for example, non-volatile memory (NVM) and coupled to the drive component 150 and the control unit 160. The recording unit 180 is used to record a cumulative number of drives of the drive component 150. The control unit 160 reads and checks the cumulative number of drives each time the device is powered on, and the control unit 160 generates a reminder signal based on the cumulative number of drives reaching a predetermined value. This reminder signal can be displayed on the user interface to remind the user to replace the brush component 130. The cumulative number of drives may be the product of the rotational speed of the motor 152 and the drive time, and the present invention does not limit this. In addition, as shown in FIG4, the brush component 130 in this embodiment is mounted on the outside of the first bracket 112 and partially protrudes into the light-transmitting plate 140 through the opening 112a, that is, the brush component 130 is configured to be assembled from the outside to the inside. Accordingly, the user can easily replace the brush component 130 himself.

[0042] The image capturing module 100 of this embodiment is suitable for application on the windshield of a vehicle due to its small footprint; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the image capturing module 100 can be applied to other parts of the vehicle.

[0043] The following example illustrates the operation flow of the image capturing module 100 in this embodiment.

[0044] Figures 7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the image capturing module of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 7, when the system detects that the image capturing quality of the image capturing unit 120 is lower than a predetermined quality, the control unit 160 generates a start signal (step S11). The drive assembly 150 receives the start signal (step S12). The motor 152 rotates forward to move the light-transmitting plate 140 along the first direction D1 (step S13). The motor 152 rotates in reverse according to a control signal corresponding to a predetermined time length or a control signal corresponding to the sensor 170 to move the light-transmitting plate 140 along the second direction D1 (step S14). The motor 152 continues to alternate between steps S13 and S14 according to a control signal corresponding to a predetermined time length or a control signal corresponding to the sensor 170. As shown in Figure 8, when the system detects that the image capturing quality of the image capturing unit 120 is higher than a predetermined quality, the control unit 160 generates a stop signal (step S21). The drive assembly 150 receives the stop signal (step S22). Motor 152 stops (step S23).

[0045] Figure 9 illustrates an image capturing module of another embodiment of the present invention mounted on the rear body of a vehicle. Figure 10 is an exploded view of the rear body and image capturing module of Figure 9. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the operation of the light-transmitting plate of Figure 9. Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the image capturing module 200 of this embodiment is, for example, mounted on the rear body 60 of a vehicle to capture images of the rear of the vehicle. The image capturing module 200 is, for example, a panoramic camera for vehicle. The image capturing module 200 includes a main body 210A, a frame 210B, an image capturing unit 220, a brush member 230, a light-transmitting plate 240, a first drive assembly 250A, and a second drive assembly 250B. The frame 210B is movably disposed on the main body 210A along an axis A2. The image capturing unit 220 is disposed on the main body 210A. The brush component 230 is, for example, a rubber component and is disposed on the main body 210A. The light-transmitting plate 240 is, for example, a glass plate, which is movably disposed on the frame 210B along an axis A3 perpendicular to axis A2 and contacts the brush component 230. The first drive assembly 250A is disposed on the main body 210A and is used to drive the frame 210B to move along axis A2 as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The second drive assembly 250B is disposed on the frame 210B and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate 240 to move along axis A3 from the position shown in Figure 9 to the position shown in Figure 11. By the cooperation of the first drive assembly 250A and the second drive assembly 250B in the above-described driving method, the light-transmitting plate 240 can be moved in a bow-shaped trajectory, a zigzag trajectory, or a sawtooth trajectory.

[0046] As described above, in the image capturing module 200 of this embodiment, the light-transmitting plate 240, which serves as the lens surface, is configured to be driven by the first driving component 250A and the second driving component 250B to move along axes A2 and A3, and the image capturing module 200 is provided with a brush member 230 that contacts the light-transmitting plate 240. Accordingly, as the light-transmitting plate 240 moves along axes A2 and A3, the brush member 230 continuously contacts the light-transmitting plate 240 during the movement of the light-transmitting plate 240 and generates relative displacement with the light-transmitting plate 240, so that dirt on the surface of the light-transmitting plate 240 is scraped off by the brush member 230, thereby achieving the effect of instantly cleaning the lens surface to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module 200. Furthermore, since the image capturing module 200 in this embodiment is configured such that the light-transmitting plate 240 is movable while the brush component 230 is stationary, the brush component will not move and obstruct the line of sight of the image capturing unit during the cleaning process, so that the image capturing module 200 can continuously capture images.

[0047] In detail, the main body 210A of this embodiment includes a first bracket 212A and a second bracket 214A. The first bracket 212A is used to install on the rear body 60, and the second bracket 214A is mounted on the first bracket 212A. The brush component 230 and the first drive assembly 250A are disposed on the first bracket 212A. The image capturing unit 220 is disposed on the second bracket 214A. The frame 210B includes a third bracket 212B and a fourth bracket 214B. The third bracket 212B is movably disposed on the first bracket 212A along axis A2, and the fourth bracket 214B is mounted on the third bracket 212B. The light-transmitting plate 240 is movably disposed between the third bracket 212B and the fourth bracket 214B along axis A3. The second drive assembly 250B is disposed on the third bracket 214B.

[0048] The rear body 60, the first bracket 212A, and the third bracket 212B are located between the light-transmitting plate 240 and the brush member 230, and the fourth bracket 214B is located between the image capturing device 220 and the light-transmitting plate 240. The rear body 60 has an opening 62 (shown in Figure 10), the first bracket 212A has an opening 212a (shown in Figure 10), the third bracket 212B has an opening 212b (shown in Figure 10), and the fourth bracket 214B has an opening 212c (shown in Figure 10). The brush member 230 has a contact portion 232, which passes through the openings 62, 212a, and 212b to contact the light-transmitting plate 240. The brush member 230 has an opening 230a (shown in Figure 10). External light can reach the image capturing unit 220 through the opening 230a, the light-transmitting plate 240, and the opening 212c, and the dirt scraped off by the brush component 230 can be discharged through the opening 230a.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first drive assembly 250A includes a motor 252A and a driving worm gear 254A. The motor 252A is coupled to the driving worm gear 254A, which is rotatably disposed on the first bracket 212A and engages with the third bracket 212B. The motor 252A drives the driving worm gear 254A to rotate, thereby moving the third bracket 212B along axis A2. The first drive assembly 250A further includes a driven worm gear 256A, which is rotatably disposed on the first bracket 212A and engages with the third bracket 212B. During the movement of the light-transmitting plate 240 along axis A2, the driven worm gear 256A rotates due to its engagement with the light-transmitting plate 240, enabling the light-transmitting plate 240 to move stably.

[0050] In this embodiment, the second drive assembly 250B includes a motor 252B and a drive wheel 254B. The motor 252B is coupled to the drive wheel 254B. The drive wheel 254B is rotatably mounted on the fourth bracket 214B and contacts the light-transmitting plate 240. The motor 252B drives the drive wheel 254B to rotate, causing the drive wheel 254B to move the light-transmitting plate 240 along axis A3 by means of friction between the drive wheel 254B and the light-transmitting plate 240. The second drive assembly 250B further includes two driven wheels 256B, which are rotatably mounted on the fourth bracket 214B and contact the light-transmitting plate 240. As the light-transmitting plate 240 moves along axis A3, the driven wheel 256B rotates due to the friction between itself and the light-transmitting plate 240. The driving wheel 254B and the driven wheel 256B together press the light-transmitting plate 240 firmly against the brush member 230, ensuring stable movement of the light-transmitting plate 240 and preventing it from shaking or loosening during vehicle operation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the friction between the driving wheel 254B and the light-transmitting plate 240, and the friction between the driven wheel 256B and the light-transmitting plate 240, is, for example, greater than the friction between the brush member 230 and the light-transmitting plate 240, allowing the light-transmitting plate 240 to be smoothly driven by the second drive assembly 250B and move relative to the brush member 230.

[0051] Referring to Figure 9, in this embodiment, a signal line L2 connects the substrate 222 of the image capturing unit 220 to the motor 252A, allowing the control unit (e.g., a microcontroller unit (MCU)) on the substrate 222 to transmit control signals to the motor 252A via the signal line L2. Similarly, a signal line L1 connects the substrate 222 of the image capturing unit 220 to the motor 252B, allowing the control unit (e.g., a microcontroller unit (MCU)) on the substrate 222 to transmit control signals to the motor 252B via the signal line L1. Since the motor 252B will experience relative displacement with the substrate 222 as the frame 210B moves along axis A2, the signal line L1 must be of a relatively large length.

[0052] Figure 13 illustrates some components of the image capturing module of Figure 9. Referring to Figure 13, the image capturing module 200 (labeled in Figure 9) further includes two additional brush components 230', which are disposed on the third bracket 212B and used to contact the light-transmitting plate 240 (illustrated in Figure 9). Accordingly, the light-transmitting plate 240 can be cleaned more thoroughly by means of the brush components 230'.

[0053] As described above, the main difference between the embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 12 and the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8 is that the image capturing module 200 shown in Figures 9 to 12 allows the light-transmitting plate 240 to move in two axes. The remaining configurations and modes of operation of the embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 12 are the same as or similar to those of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8, and will not be described again here.

[0054] The image capturing module 200 of this embodiment is applied to the rear body of the vehicle to provide a reversing camera display function; however, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the image capturing module 200 may be applied to other parts of the vehicle.

[0055] Figure 14 illustrates an image capturing module of another embodiment of the present invention mounted on the rear body of a vehicle. Figure 15 is an exploded view of the rear body and image capturing module of Figure 14. Referring to Figures 14 and 15, the image capturing module 300 of this embodiment is mounted, for example, on the rear body 60 of a vehicle to capture images of the rear of the vehicle. The image capturing module 300 is, for example, a panoramic camera for a vehicle. The image capturing module 300 includes a main body 310, an image capturing unit 320, a brush member 330, a light-transmitting plate 340, and a driving assembly 350. The image capturing unit 320 is disposed on the main body 310. The brush member 330 is disposed on the main body 310. The light-transmitting plate 340 is rotatably disposed on the main body 310 along an axis A4 and contacts the brush member 330. The driving assembly 350 is disposed on the main body 310 and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate 340 to rotate along the axis A4.

[0056] As described above, in the image capturing module 300 of this embodiment, the light-transmitting plate 340, which serves as the lens surface, is configured to be driven by the drive assembly 350 to rotate about axis A4, and the image capturing module 300 is provided with a brush member 330 that contacts the light-transmitting plate 340. Accordingly, as the light-transmitting plate 340 rotates along axis A4, the brush member 330 continuously contacts the light-transmitting plate 340 during the rotation of the light-transmitting plate 340 and generates relative displacement with the light-transmitting plate 340, so that dirt on the surface of the light-transmitting plate 340 is scraped off by the brush member 330, thereby achieving the effect of instantly cleaning the lens surface to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module 300. Furthermore, since the image capturing module 300 of this embodiment is configured such that the light-transmitting plate 340 is movable while the brush member 330 is stationary, the brush member will not move and obstruct the line of sight of the image capturing unit during the cleaning process, allowing the image capturing module 300 to continuously capture images.

[0057] In detail, the main body 310 of this embodiment includes a first bracket 312 and a second bracket 314. The first bracket 312 is used, for example, to be mounted on the rear body 60, and the second bracket 314 is mounted on the first bracket 312 and has an opening 314a (shown in FIG. 15). A brush member 330 is disposed on the first bracket 312. The image capturing unit 320 includes a substrate 322 and a plurality of image capturing devices 324. The substrate 322 is disposed on the second bracket 314, and the image capturing devices 324 are disposed on the substrate 322 and correspond to the opening 314a. A driving assembly 350 is disposed on the second bracket 314. A light-transmitting plate 340 is rotatably disposed between the first bracket 312 and the second bracket 314 along axis A4.

[0058] The light-transmitting plate 340 and the brush member 330 are located on opposite sides of the first bracket 312. The first bracket 312 has an opening 312a (shown in FIG. 15), which corresponds to a portion of the image capturing device 324 and the light-transmitting plate 340. The brush member 330 has a contact portion 332, which passes through the opening 62 of the rear frame 60 and the opening 312a of the first bracket 312 to contact the light-transmitting plate 340. The brush member 330 has an opening 330a (shown in FIG. 15), which corresponds to a portion of the image capturing device 324 and the light-transmitting plate 340. External light can pass through the opening 330a and the light-transmitting plate 340 to reach the image capturing device 324, and dirt scraped off by the brush member 330 can be discharged through the opening 330a.

[0059] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 350 includes a motor 352 and a bevel gear set 354, with the bevel gear set 354 coupled between the motor 352 and the light-transmitting plate 340. The motor 352 drives the bevel gear set 354 to rotate, thereby causing the light-transmitting plate 340 to rotate along axis A4. The bevel gear set 354 and a clamping member 356 are located on opposite sides of the light-transmitting plate 340 and fixed to each other. The light-transmitting plate 340 is clamped between the bevel gear set 354 and the clamping member 356 and can reliably rotate with the bevel gear set 354. In other embodiments, the motor 352 may drive the light-transmitting plate 340 to rotate through other types of transmission components, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0060] As described above, the main difference between the embodiments shown in Figures 14 and 15 and the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8 is that the image capturing module 300 shown in Figures 14 and 15 allows the light-transmitting plate 240 to rotate. The remaining configurations and modes of operation of the embodiments shown in Figures 14 and 15 are the same as or similar to those of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8, and will not be described again here.

[0061] The image capturing module 300 of this embodiment is applied to the rear body of the vehicle to provide a reversing camera display function, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the image capturing module 300 may be applied to other parts of the vehicle.

[0062] In summary, in the image capturing module of the present invention, the light-transmitting plate, which serves as the lens surface, is configured to be driven by a drive component to move along an axis, and the image capturing module is provided with a brush member that contacts the light-transmitting plate. Accordingly, as the light-transmitting plate moves along the axis, dirt on the surface of the light-transmitting plate is scraped off by the brush member, thereby achieving the effect of instantly cleaning the lens surface to maintain the clarity of the image captured by the image capturing module. Furthermore, since the image capturing module of the present invention is configured such that the light-transmitting plate is movable while the brush member is stationary, the brush member will not move and obstruct the line of sight of the image capturing unit during the cleaning process, allowing the image capturing module to continuously capture images.

[0063] 100, 200, 300: Image Capture Module 110, 210A, 310: Main body 112, 212A, 312: First support 112a, 114a, 212a, 212b, 212c, 312a, 314a, 62: Opening 114, 214A, 314: Second support 120, 220, 320: Image capturing units 122, 222, 322: substrate 124, 324: Image capturing device 130, 230, 230', 330: Brush components 130a, 230a, 330a: Opening 132, 232, 332: Contact part 140, 240, 340: Light-transmitting panels 150, 350: Driver components 152, 252A, 252B, 352: Motors 154, 254B: Drive wheel 156, 256B: Passive wheel 160: Control Unit 170: Sensor 180: Recording Unit 210B: Frame 212B: Third support 214B: Fourth stent 250A: First drive component 250B: Second drive component 254A: Active worm gear 256A: Passive worm gear 354: Bevel gear set 356: Clamping component 50: Front windshield 52: Outer frame 60: Rear body A1, A2, A3, A4: Axis B: Stains D1: First Direction D2: Second Direction L1, L2: Signal lines N: Normal direction OA: Optical Axis S: Surface W1, W2: Width

Claims

1. An image capturing module, comprising: One main body; An image capturing unit is disposed on the main body; a brush member is disposed on the main body; a light-transmitting plate is movably disposed on the main body along an axis and has a surface, wherein the surface contacts the brush member, and the normal of the surface is substantially orthogonal to the axis; and a driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to reciprocate along the axis, wherein the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush member is disposed on the first bracket, the image capturing unit and the driving assembly are disposed on the second bracket, and the light-transmitting plate is movably disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket along the axis.

2. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving component includes a motor and a drive wheel, the motor being coupled to the drive wheel, the drive wheel being rotatably disposed on the body and in contact with the light-transmitting plate, the motor being used to drive the drive wheel to rotate so as to move the light-transmitting plate along the axis.

3. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving component further includes a passive wheel rotatably disposed on the body and in contact with the light-transmitting plate.

4. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 1 further includes a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled to the driving assembly, and the control unit is used to control the driving assembly to drive the light-transmitting plate to operate in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

5. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit generates a control signal based on the light-transmitting plate operating along the first direction for a predetermined time length, and the driving component controls the light-transmitting plate to operate along the second direction according to the control signal.

6. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 4 further includes a sensor, wherein the sensor is coupled to the control unit, the sensor is used to sense the light-transmitting plate moving to a predetermined state along the first direction to generate a sensing signal, the control unit is used to generate a control signal based on the sensing signal, and the driving component is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to move along the second direction based on the control signal.

7. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 4 further includes a recording unit, wherein the recording unit is coupled to the driving component and the control unit, the recording unit is used to record an accumulated number of drives of the driving component, and the control unit is used to generate a reminder signal based on the accumulated number of drives reaching a predetermined value.

8. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a start signal based on an image capturing quality of the image capturing unit being lower than a predetermined quality, the driving component is configured to drive the light-transmitting plate according to the start signal, and the control unit is configured to generate a stop signal based on an image capturing quality of the image capturing unit being higher than the predetermined quality, the driving component is configured to stop driving the light-transmitting plate according to the stop signal.

9. The image capturing module as described in claim 1, wherein the image capturing module is an automotive surround view camera.

10. An image capturing module, comprising: One main body; An image capturing unit is disposed on the main body; a brush member is disposed on the main body; a frame is movably disposed on the main body along an axis; a light-transmitting plate is movably disposed on the frame along another axis and contacts the brush member; a first driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is used to drive the frame to move along the axis; and a second driving assembly is disposed on the frame and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to move along the other axis, wherein the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush member and the first driving assembly are disposed on the first bracket, and the image capturing unit is disposed on the second bracket.

11. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frame includes a third bracket and a fourth bracket, the third bracket being movably disposed on the first bracket along the axis, the fourth bracket being mounted on the third bracket, the light-transmitting plate being movably disposed between the third bracket and the fourth bracket along the other axis, and the second drive assembly being disposed on the third bracket.

12. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 11 further includes another brush member disposed on the third bracket and in contact with the light-transmitting plate.

13. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first drive assembly includes a motor and a drive worm gear, the motor being coupled to the drive worm gear, the drive worm gear being rotatably disposed on the main body and in contact with the frame, the motor being used to drive the drive worm gear to rotate so as to move the frame along the axis.

14. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first drive assembly further includes a passive worm gear rotatably disposed on the body and in contact with the frame.

15. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second drive assembly includes a motor and a drive wheel, the motor being coupled to the drive wheel, the drive wheel being rotatably disposed on the frame and in contact with the light-transmitting plate, the motor being used to drive the drive wheel to rotate so as to move the light-transmitting plate along the other axis.

16. The image capturing module as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second drive assembly further includes a passive wheel rotatably disposed on the frame and in contact with the light-transmitting plate.

17. The image capturing module as described in claim 10, wherein the image capturing module is an automotive surround view camera.

18. An image capturing module, comprising: One main body; An image capturing unit is disposed on the main body; a brush member is disposed on the main body; a light-transmitting plate is rotatably disposed on the main body along an axis and contacts the brush member; and a driving assembly is disposed on the main body and is used to drive the light-transmitting plate to rotate along the axis, wherein the main body includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket is mounted on the first bracket, the brush member is disposed on the first bracket, the image capturing unit and the driving assembly are disposed on the second bracket, and the light-transmitting plate is rotatably disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket along the axis.

19. The image capturing module of claim 18, wherein the driving assembly includes a motor and a bevel gear set coupled between the motor and the light-transmitting plate, the motor driving the bevel gear set to rotate so as to drive the light-transmitting plate to rotate along the axis.

20. The image capturing module as described in claim 18, wherein the image capturing module is an automotive surround view camera.

Images