A camera module

Abstract

The present invention provides a camera module, comprising: a lens, a nozzle, a front shell and a rear shell; the nozzle is used to spray a fluid onto the object side surface of the lens; a first flow channel is provided on the front shell, the lens and the nozzle are installed on the front shell at intervals, wherein the nozzle is connected to the first flow channel, and the nozzle is arranged toward the lens; a second flow channel is provided on the rear shell, the rear shell is installed at the bottom of the front shell, and the second flow channel is connected to the first flow channel; the fluid passes through the second flow channel, the first flow channel and the nozzle in sequence, and is sprayed onto the object side surface of the lens through the nozzle. The present invention realizes the cleaning of the mirror surface of the camera module by arranging the flow channel and the nozzle on the front shell and the rear shell; the shell structure of the camera module is fully utilized, which can greatly reduce the volume of the overall structure, meet the requirements of miniaturization design, reduce the difficulty of assembling the nozzle, and improve the overall installation accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle-mounted lenses, and in particular to a camera module. Background Art

[0002] At present, with the rapid development of automobile intelligence, more and more camera modules are integrated into automobiles, and the requirements for the imaging quality and stability of camera modules are getting higher and higher. During use, due to environmental reasons, stains will adhere to the mirror surface (object side) of the camera module, which will hinder the camera module from capturing images. In order to prevent the camera module from affecting the imaging quality due to foreign matter sticking to the mirror surface, which will cause the camera module and related systems to fail to function normally. In terms of structural design, it is necessary to add a cleaning device to the camera module so that the mirror surface of the camera module can be automatically cleaned during driving to improve the imaging quality of the camera module.

[0003] In the prior art, in order to realize the cleaning function, a cleaning device is usually directly installed on the outside of the camera module. For example, the existing disclosed patents CN217789750U and CN210647449U both separately install a cleaning device on the outside of the camera module structure. The added cleaning device will increase the volume of the camera module, causing the overall structure of the camera module to be larger, and the position accuracy of the cleaning device and the camera module needs to be strictly controlled during assembly and alignment to ensure that the nozzle of the cleaning device can be aligned with the mirror surface of the camera module. This does not meet the miniaturization requirements of the vehicle-mounted camera module, reduces the yield rate of the camera module, increases the difficulty of assembling the vehicle-mounted camera module, and cannot meet the needs of automated production. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera module to reduce the difficulty of assembly and improve the installation accuracy.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0006] The present invention provides a camera module, comprising:

[0007] Lens;

[0008] A nozzle, used for spraying fluid toward the object side surface of the lens;

[0009] A front shell, comprising a first flow channel opened on the front shell, the lens and the nozzle are installed on the front shell at intervals, wherein the nozzle is communicated with the first flow channel and the nozzle is arranged toward the lens;

[0010] A rear shell, comprising a second flow channel opened on the rear shell, the rear shell is mounted on the bottom of the front shell, and the second flow channel is connected to the first flow channel;

[0011] The fluid passes through the second flow channel, the first flow channel and the nozzle in sequence, and is sprayed toward the object side surface of the lens through the nozzle.

[0012] Further preferably, it also includes an adapter, on which a third flow channel is opened, the adapter is connected to the bottom of the rear shell through threads, and the third flow channel is connected to the second flow channel.

[0013] Further preferably, it also includes a water pipe, which is connected to the bottom of the adapter and communicates with the third flow channel.

[0014] Further preferably, the adapter and the water pipe are an integrally formed structure.

[0015] Further preferably, a plurality of water spray holes are opened on the top of the nozzle, the plurality of water spray holes are all oriented toward the object side surface of the lens, and adjacent water spray holes are arranged at an angle.

[0016] Further preferably, the nozzle is provided with a flange portion near the bottom, and the flange portion is provided with a cut surface.

[0017] Further preferably, the nozzle is installed on the front shell by riveting, and a first sealing ring is provided at the connection between the nozzle and the front shell.

[0018] Further preferably, a limiting ring protrudes from the bottom of the nozzle, a receiving groove is provided between the outer side surface of the limiting ring and the front shell, and the first sealing ring is provided in the receiving groove.

[0019] Further preferably, it also includes a second sealing ring, which is arranged at the connection between the front shell and the rear shell.

[0020] Further preferably, the second sealing ring includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, the first sealing portion is used for sealing the first flow channel and the second flow channel, and the second sealing portion is used for sealing the remaining connecting portions of the front shell and the rear shell.

[0021] Further preferably, an inner groove is provided at the bottom of the front shell near the first flow channel, and a protrusion is provided at the top of the rear shell near the first flow channel, and the protrusion is provided in the inner groove and clamps the first sealing portion located in the inner groove.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] The present invention realizes mirror cleaning of the camera module by arranging flow channels and nozzles on the front shell and the rear shell; the shell structure of the camera module is fully utilized, and there is no need to arrange flow channels on the outside of the camera module, which can greatly reduce the volume of the overall structure, meet the requirements of miniaturized design, reduce the difficulty of assembling the nozzle, improve the overall installation accuracy, and meet the needs of automated production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the nozzle in the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 2 The enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 2 The enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0030] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second sealing ring in the present invention.

[0031] Illustrations: 1-lens, 101-object side surface, 2-nozzle, 201-water spray hole, 202-cut surface, 203-flange, 204-limiting ring, 3-front shell, 301-first flow channel, 302-accommodating groove, 303-inner groove, 4-rear shell, 401-second flow channel, 402-raised portion, 5-adapter, 501-third flow channel, 6-water pipe, 7-first sealing ring, 8-second sealing ring, 801-first sealing portion, 802-second sealing portion.

[0032] The following specific implementation manner will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to better understand the present invention, a more detailed description of various aspects of the present invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these detailed descriptions are only descriptions of embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The expression "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0034] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of the present invention, the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0035] It should also be understood that the terms "comprises", "including", "having", "includes" and / or "comprising", when used in this specification, indicate the presence of the stated features, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. In addition, when expressions such as "at least one of..." appear after a list of listed features, they modify the entire listed features rather than modifying the individual elements in the list. In addition, when describing embodiments of the present invention, "may" is used to mean "one or more embodiments of the present invention". And, the term "exemplary" is intended to refer to an example or illustration.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this article.

[0037] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 6As shown, the present invention provides a camera module, including a lens 1, a nozzle 2, a front shell 3 and a rear shell 4. The nozzle 2 is used to spray fluid onto the object side surface 101 of the lens 1 to clean stains attached to the mirror surface. A first flow channel 301 is provided on the front shell 3, and the lens 1 and the nozzle 2 are installed on the front shell 3 at intervals, wherein the nozzle 2 is connected to the first flow channel 301, and the nozzle 2 is arranged toward the lens 1. A second flow channel 401 is provided on the rear shell 4, and the rear shell 4 is installed at the bottom of the front shell 3, and the second flow channel 401 is connected to the first flow channel 301. The fluid passes through the second flow channel 401, the first flow channel 301 and the nozzle 2 in sequence, and is sprayed onto the object side surface 101 of the lens 1 through the nozzle 2. It can be understood that the first flow channel 301 is a through hole formed on the front shell 3, and the second flow channel 401 is a through hole formed on the rear shell 4, that is, the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401 are directly formed on the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4.

[0039] The present application forms the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401 on the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4, respectively, making full use of the shell structure, and there is no need to set the flow channel of the fluid outside the camera module, which can greatly reduce the volume of the overall structure, meet the requirements of miniaturization design, and reduce the design difficulty of the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401. In addition, since the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4 respectively define the structural positions of the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401, the nozzle 2 is directly installed on the front shell 3 on the basis of ensuring conduction with the first flow channel 301, which reduces the assembly difficulty of the nozzle 2, improves the installation accuracy of the nozzle 2, and can meet the needs of automated production.

[0040] More specifically, the camera module further includes an adapter 5, on which a third flow channel 501 is provided, and the adapter 5 is connected to the bottom of the rear housing 4 by threads, and the third flow channel 501 is connected to the second flow channel 401. The setting of the adapter 5 facilitates the connection of the camera module to an external device that provides fluid, and better matches and connects with the external device to realize the delivery of fluid to the second flow channel 401. At the same time, the adapter 5 is connected to the rear housing 4 by a threaded structure, which reduces the difficulty of assembling the two.

[0041] The bottom of the adapter 5 is connected with a water pipe 6, and the water pipe 6 is in communication with the third flow channel 501. By arranging the water pipe 6 at the bottom of the adapter 5, it is convenient to connect with an external device that provides fluid on the car, reducing the complexity of assembly. In order to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of the camera module, the adapter 5 and the water pipe 6 are an integrated structure, which is convenient for mass production.

[0042] In order to facilitate the cleaning of the mirror surface, a plurality of water spray holes 201 are provided on the top of the nozzle 2, and the plurality of water spray holes 201 are all oriented toward the object side surface 101 of the lens 1, and adjacent water spray holes 201 are arranged at an angle. The plurality of water spray holes 201 at an angle are arranged to ensure that the fluid is sprayed at a large angle range at the top of the nozzle 2, thereby achieving full cleaning of the object side surface 101 of the lens 1 and improving the cleaning effect.

[0043] In order to facilitate the installation and positioning of the nozzle 2, the nozzle 2 is provided with a flange portion 203 near the bottom, and a cut surface 202 is provided on the flange portion 203. The flange portion 203 and the cut surface 202 are provided near the bottom of the nozzle, which play a foolproof role in assembly and facilitate the assembly of the nozzle and the front shell 3; and because the cut surface 202 and the water spray hole 201 are in a positional relationship, the water spray hole 201 can be quickly determined to face the object side surface 101 of the lens 1 during assembly, thereby realizing the orientation positioning of the water spray hole 201.

[0044] In the present application, the nozzle 2 is installed on the front shell 3 by riveting. Riveting uses external pressure to cause plastic deformation of the material, thereby realizing a method of reliable connection between the two parts. The nozzle 2 and the front shell 3 are riveted to improve the assembly efficiency. At the same time, considering that the position of the water spray hole 201 of the nozzle 2 toward the lens 1 needs to be fixed, riveting can determine the position of the nozzle 2 and the water spray hole 201 and the lens 1 at the beginning, and then directly assemble by pressure, avoiding changes in the position relationship between the water spray hole 201 and the lens 1 during the assembly process, which affects the yield of the product. In order to ensure the sealing performance, a first sealing ring 7 is provided at the connection between the nozzle 2 and the front shell 3. The first sealing ring 7 can ensure that the nozzle 2 and the first flow channel 301 of the front shell 3 are sealed to prevent fluid leakage and affect the cleaning effect of the lens 1.

[0045] More specifically, a limiting ring 204 protrudes from the bottom of the nozzle 2, and a receiving groove 302 is provided between the outer side of the limiting ring 204 and the front shell 3, and the first sealing ring 7 is provided in the receiving groove 302. Through the provision of the receiving groove 302, the first sealing ring 7 can be placed quickly and accurately; and the limiting ring 204 can also ensure that after the nozzle 2 and the front shell 3 are assembled by riveting, the first sealing ring 7 will not be squeezed into the first flow channel 301, affecting the cleaning effect of the camera module.

[0046] In order to further ensure the sealing performance, the camera module also includes a second sealing ring 8, which is arranged at the connection between the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4 to ensure the sealing of the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4, the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401.

[0047] Specifically, the second sealing ring 8 includes a first sealing portion 801 and a second sealing portion 802. The first sealing portion 801 is used to seal the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401, and the second sealing portion 802 is used to seal the remaining connecting parts of the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4. Under the premise of ensuring the sealing between the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4, and ensuring that the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401 can also achieve good sealing, the second sealing ring 8 is divided into two parts to improve the sealing effect. It can be understood that the first sealing portion 801 can be a circular ring structure, and the second sealing portion 802 can be a square ring structure, which can better adapt to the shape of the contact surface of the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401, and the shape of the contact surface of the front shell 3 and the rear shell 4.

[0048] More specifically, an inner groove 303 is provided at the bottom of the front shell 3 near the first flow channel 301, and a protrusion 402 is provided at the top of the rear shell 4 near the first flow channel 301. The protrusion 402 is provided in the inner groove 303 and clamps the first sealing part 801 located in the inner groove 303. The provision of the inner groove 303 and the protrusion 402 facilitates the assembly and placement of the first sealing part 801, thereby ensuring the sealing between the first flow channel 301 and the second flow channel 401.

[0049] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A camera module, characterized in that: include: Lens (1); A nozzle (2) for spraying fluid onto the object side surface (101) of the lens (1); A front shell (3) comprising a first flow channel (301) opened on the front shell (3), wherein the lens (1) and the nozzle (2) are installed on the front shell (3) at intervals, wherein the nozzle (2) is connected to the first flow channel (301), and the nozzle (2) is arranged toward the lens (1); A rear shell (4), comprising a second flow channel (401) opened on the rear shell (4), the rear shell (4) being mounted on the bottom of the front shell (3), and the second flow channel (401) being connected to the first flow channel (301); The fluid passes through the second flow channel (401), the first flow channel (301) and the nozzle (2) in sequence, and is sprayed toward the object side surface (101) of the lens (1) through the nozzle (2).

2. A camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises an adapter (5), on which a third flow channel (501) is provided, and the adapter (5) is connected to the bottom of the rear shell (4) via threads, and the third flow channel (501) is connected to the second flow channel (401).

3. A camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also comprises a water pipe (6), wherein the water pipe (6) is connected to the bottom of the adapter (5) and is in communication with the third flow channel (501).

4. A camera module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The adapter (5) and the water pipe (6) are an integrally formed structure.

5. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of water spray holes (201) are provided on the top of the spray pipe (2), the plurality of water spray holes (201) are all oriented toward the object side surface (101) of the lens (1), and adjacent water spray holes (201) are arranged at an angle.

6. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nozzle (2) is provided with a flange portion (203) near the bottom, and a cut surface (202) is provided on the flange portion (203).

7. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nozzle (2) is mounted on the front shell (3) by means of riveting, and a first sealing ring (7) is provided at the connection between the nozzle (2) and the front shell (3).

8. A camera module according to claim 7, characterized in that: A limiting ring (204) protrudes from the bottom of the nozzle (2), a receiving groove (302) is provided between the outer side surface of the limiting ring (204) and the front shell (3), and the first sealing ring (7) is arranged in the receiving groove (302).

9. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a second sealing ring (8), which is arranged at the connection between the front shell (3) and the rear shell (4).

10. A camera module according to claim 9, characterized in that: The second sealing ring (8) comprises a first sealing portion (801) and a second sealing portion (802), wherein the first sealing portion (801) is used for sealing the first flow channel (301) and the second flow channel (401), and the second sealing portion (802) is used for sealing the remaining connection parts of the front shell (3) and the rear shell (4).

11. A camera module according to claim 10, characterized in that: An inner groove (303) is provided at the bottom of the front shell (3) near the first flow channel (301), and a protrusion (402) is provided at the top of the rear shell (4) near the first flow channel (301); the protrusion (402) is arranged in the inner groove (303) and clamps the first sealing portion (801) located in the inner groove (303).

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