An ultrasonic self-cleaning camera
By introducing a metal ring and a U-shaped seal into the camera, the problems of poor sealing and small lens vibration amplitude are solved, achieving a highly efficient lens cleaning effect and ensuring clear imaging of the camera in harsh environments.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- UNIV OF SCI & TECH BEIJING
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the camera is not properly sealed, allowing contaminants such as water and oil to enter the lens. Furthermore, the front lens vibrates only slightly, resulting in poor cleaning performance.
A metal ring is placed in the camera to serve as a vibration transmission medium, preventing compressive stress from acting directly on the front lens. Combined with a U-shaped seal, this improves the sealing performance and enhances the lens vibration amplitude.
It significantly improves the camera's sealing and lens vibration amplitude, ensuring that the lens cleanliness reaches over 95%, effectively preventing contaminants from entering and improving the cleaning effect.
Smart Images
Figure CN122160610A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of camera technology, and more particularly to an ultrasonic self-cleaning camera. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of automotive intelligence and the Internet of Things, the importance of in-vehicle cameras in new energy vehicles, outdoor cameras, and drones—core carriers of the low-altitude economy—is becoming increasingly prominent. In-vehicle cameras, serving as the "eyes" of the autonomous driving system in new energy vehicles, directly impact driving safety and the performance of assistance systems through their image clarity. Outdoor cameras also undertake crucial data collection tasks in fields such as security monitoring and intelligent transportation; maintaining lens cleanliness in harsh environments is essential to ensuring image quality. Drones are core tools in low-altitude operations such as agricultural plant protection and power line inspection; all three rely on clean lenses to ensure perception accuracy.
[0003] Existing self-cleaning lenses incorporate vibratory piezoelectric ceramics for cleaning. The high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations generated by the piezoelectric ceramics under an electric field ensure the cleanliness of the outer surface of the camera's first lens. However, during use, the vibration and contraction of the piezoelectric ceramics inevitably allow external moisture and liquids to penetrate the lens, potentially contaminating the module or causing short circuits and damage. Therefore, extremely high internal sealing is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of the self-cleaning lens.
[0004] For example, Chinese patent CN120618952A discloses a dual waterproof self-cleaning lens and its application in a camera module. This technology uses a dual waterproof method to improve sealing. The technical drawback of this prior art is:
[0005] 1. The seal is not tight.
[0006] During the up-and-down vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic, the glass will also vibrate up and down, which will cause contaminants such as water and oil to enter through the gap between the first seal and the second seal during the vibration, resulting in a poor seal.
[0007] 2. The amplitude of the front lens is small, resulting in poor cleaning effect.
[0008] To ensure the sealing ring functions effectively, the first seal must be under compression. This subjects the front lens to pre-stress. During vibration, the front lens must overcome compressive stress, resulting in suppressed amplitude and poor cleaning performance. Summary of the Invention
[0009] The technical problems to be solved by this invention are: 1. the problem of poor sealing; 2. the problem of poor cleaning effect due to small vibration amplitude of the front lens. The purpose of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic self-cleaning camera.
[0010] This invention provides the following technical solution:
[0011] An ultrasonic self-cleaning camera includes a lens barrel (1), a front lens (2), a cover (3), a metal ring (4), a piezoelectric ceramic (5), and a conductive element (6). The lens barrel (1) has a U-shaped groove (101) at its front end, and a mounting cavity (102) is provided inside the U-shaped groove (101) for mounting the piezoelectric ceramic (5). The front lens (2) is fixed to the front end of the lens barrel (1) by the cover (3), and the lower side of the front lens (1) has an L-shaped cross-section. A metal ring (4) is inserted into the U-shaped groove (101) with its outer end facing downwards. The bottom surface of the metal ring (4) is in close contact with the piezoelectric ceramic (5). One end of the conductive element (6) is electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic (5), and the other end extends to the rear side of the lens barrel (1). A circular first sealing element (7) is provided between the metal ring (4) and the pressure cap (3). A U-shaped second sealing element (8) is provided between the lower end of the metal ring (4) and the U-shaped groove (101).
[0012] Preferably, the top surface of the metal ring (4) is stepped.
[0013] In the above embodiment, the top surface of the metal ring is stepped, and the upper cover simultaneously fixes the front lens and the metal ring together.
[0014] Preferably, the metal ring (4) is made of an alloy selected from any one or any combination of aluminum, copper, iron and titanium.
[0015] Preferably, the cross-section of the two ends of the U-shape of the second seal (8) is circular.
[0016] Preferably, there is a gap between the bottom and the periphery of the piezoelectric ceramic (5) and the mounting cavity (102).
[0017] Preferably, the metal ring (4) and the piezoelectric ceramic (5) are bonded together with epoxy resin.
[0018] Preferably, the metal ring (4) and the front lens (2) are bonded together with epoxy resin.
[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0020] 1. This invention largely solves the problem of the relationship between sealing and lens vibration amplitude by placing a metal ring between the front lens and the piezoelectric ceramic. This design is because the compressive stress required for sealing is not applied directly to the front lens, but rather to the metal ring. This solves the problem of compressive stress suppressing the vibration and amplitude of the front lens.
[0021] 2. The vibration of the metal ring caused by the piezoelectric ceramic mainly occurs in the part in contact with the piezoelectric ceramic, while the vibration of the outer metal ring away from the piezoelectric ceramic is very weak or even non-existent. This prevents water and oil from entering the interior through the first and second seals due to vibration.
[0022] 3. The U-shaped second seal provides a better sealing effect. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the ultrasonic self-cleaning camera provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a metal ring and a piezoelectric ceramic provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Figure 3 This is a contour diagram of the second seal provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of the left side of the front end of the middle tube.
[0027] In the picture:
[0028] Lens barrel 1; front lens 2; pressure cap 3; metal ring 4; piezoelectric ceramic 5; conductive element 6; first seal 7; second seal 8; lens assembly 9; U-shaped groove 101; mounting cavity 102; lens groove 103. Detailed Implementation
[0029] This invention utilizes the vibration of piezoelectric ceramics at high frequencies (10~40 kHz) to remove water droplets, mud, dust and other dirt from camera lenses; it also utilizes the heating characteristic of piezoelectric ceramics at anti-resonant frequencies (30~100kHz) to raise the temperature on the lens, thereby melting the frost on the camera lens.
[0030] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the embodiments and drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. All reasonable modifications and combinations included within the inventive spirit of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0031] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] like Figure 1 This embodiment provides an ultrasonic self-cleaning camera, which includes a lens barrel 1, a front lens 2, a pressure cap 3, a metal block 4, a piezoelectric ceramic 5, and a conductive element 6. The front end of the lens barrel 1 has a U-shaped groove 101, and the inner side of the U-shaped groove 101 on the front side of the lens barrel 1 has a mounting cavity 102 for mounting the piezoelectric ceramic 5. The bottom of the front lens 2 is connected to a metal ring 4; the metal ring 4 has an L-shaped cross-section, such as... Figure 2 The lower end of the lens is inserted into the U-shaped groove 101, and the top surface is stepped. The arc-shaped pressure cap 3 cooperates with the front end of the lens barrel 1 to lock the metal ring 4 onto the lens barrel 1. The piezoelectric ceramic 4 is disposed in the mounting cavity 102 and fixed to the bottom inner side of the metal ring 4. One end of the conductive element 5 is electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic 4, and the other end extends to the rear side of the lens barrel 1. A circular first sealing element 7 is provided between the top of the metal ring 4 and the pressure cap 3. A U-shaped second sealing element 8 is provided between the metal ring 4 and the U-shaped groove 101. The front lens 2 is fixedly mounted with a lens assembly 9 through the lens groove 103.
[0033] There is a gap between the bottom and periphery of the piezoelectric ceramic 5 and the mounting cavity 102;
[0034] like Figures 3-4 The two ends of the U-shape of the second seal 8 are circular, and the outer bottom of the metal ring 4 is locked between the two circles.
[0035] The inner bottom of the metal ring 4 is provided with a piezoelectric ceramic 5, and its outer end is embedded downward into the U-shaped groove 101. It is waterproofed by two layers of first and second sealing elements. The metal ring 4 is made of metal materials such as aluminum, copper, iron, titanium or alloys. It plays the following role in operation:
[0036] 1. The L-shaped metal ring 4 is used to prevent water from entering the piezoelectric ceramic 5 and forming a short circuit.
[0037] 2. The L-shaped metal ring 4 serves to transmit vibrations. When the piezoelectric ceramic 5 vibrates at a high frequency, it drives the L-shaped metal ring 4 to vibrate, which in turn causes the front lens 2 to vibrate.
[0038] 3. The presence of the L-shaped metal ring allows the pressure on the cap 3 to be applied directly to the L-shaped metal ring 4; without the L-shaped metal ring (corresponding to patent CN120618952A), the force on the cap would be applied directly to the front lens 2. In this case, the front lens 2 would need to overcome the pressure on the cap 3 during vibration, resulting in a significant decrease in the amplitude of the front lens 2.
[0039] Comparative experiments were conducted, and the camera technology solution provided in this application was compared with that provided in patent CN 120618952 A in terms of implementation as follows:
[0040] Regarding waterproof performance:
[0041] Without a metal ring, water seeps into the inner cavity when the vibration time exceeds 3 minutes.
[0042] There is a metal ring, and the inner cavity remains very dry even when the vibration time is greater than 30 minutes.
[0043] Regarding vibration effects:
[0044] Without a metal ring, the vibration amplitude is 5-8 micrometers.
[0045] It has a metal ring and a vibration amplitude of 12-15 micrometers.
[0046] In this embodiment, the metal ring 4 and the first and second seals work together to achieve a high degree of waterproofing; at the same time, the vibration amplitude is significantly increased, and the cleaning effect on the mirror surface is very significant. It can clean water droplets, dust and mud in 1 second, and the mirror surface cleanliness is greater than 95%.
[0047] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. An ultrasonic self-cleaning camera, comprising a lens barrel (1), a front lens (2), a cover (3), a metal ring (4), a piezoelectric ceramic (5), and a conductive element (6), characterized in that: The lens barrel (1) has a U-shaped groove (101) at its front end and an mounting cavity (102) inside the U-shaped groove (101) for mounting the piezoelectric ceramic (5). The front lens (2) is fixed to the front end of the lens barrel (1) by a pressure cap (3). The front lens (1) has an L-shaped metal ring (4) on its lower side. The outer end of the metal ring (4) is inserted into the U-shaped groove (101) with its outer end facing down. The bottom surface of the inner side of the metal ring (4) is in close contact with the piezoelectric ceramic (5). One end of the conductive element (6) is electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic (5), and the other end extends to the rear side of the lens barrel (1). A circular first sealing element (7) is provided between the metal ring (4) and the pressure cap (3). A U-shaped second sealing element (8) is provided between the lower end of the metal ring (4) and the U-shaped groove (101).
2. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top surface of the metal ring (4) is stepped.
3. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 2, characterized in that: The metal ring (4) is made of an alloy of any one or any combination of aluminum, copper, iron and titanium.
4. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the two ends of the U-shape of the second seal (8) is circular.
5. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom and periphery of the piezoelectric ceramic (5) are spaced from the mounting cavity (102).
6. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal ring (4) and the piezoelectric ceramic (5) are bonded together with epoxy resin.
7. The ultrasonic self-cleaning camera according to claim 6, characterized in that: The metal ring (4) and the front lens (2) are bonded together with epoxy resin.