Camera integrated with TOF sensor
By integrating TOF sensors in industrial cameras, the distance information between the target object and the camera is obtained in real time, the problem of slow focus speed of traditional zoom lenses in high-speed production lines is solved, fast and accurate automatic focus is achieved, and the risk of missed detection is reduced.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421901959.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-29
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-08-06
AI Technical Summary
Traditional zoom lenses have slow automatic focus speed in high-speed production lines, which is difficult to adapt to the transmission speed requirements of the production line, which may lead to the risk of product missed inspection.
Integrated time of flight sensor (TOF) is used to combine it with the lens module to obtain the distance information between the target object and the camera in real time, and quickly assist in focusing.
It significantly improves focus speed and accuracy, reduces operating time, improves the adaptability of industrial cameras in fast response and precise imaging, and reduces the risk of missed detection.
Smart Images
Figure CN223285874U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of industrial cameras, and in particular to a camera with a time of flight (TOF) sensor. Background Art
[0002] With the increasing degree of industrial automation and the rapid expansion of the industrial inspection market, industrial cameras have been widely used in factories, laboratories, and other fields. Industrial cameras can detect packaging errors and omissions, inspect materials, and inspect appearance and labeling of products, effectively replacing the human eye in inspections and improving production efficiency and accuracy.
[0003] Traditional zoom lenses typically utilize only an image processor to analyze current image parameters and gradually determine the clearest image position, thereby achieving autofocus. However, on high-speed production lines with relatively fast transmission speeds (0-1 m / s), the autofocus speed achieved by this traditional zoom lens structure is slow, making it difficult to adapt to production line transmission speeds and potentially leading to the risk of missed product inspections. Utility Model Content
[0004] In view of this, an embodiment of the present invention provides a camera with an integrated TOF sensor to assist in improving focusing speed.
[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:
[0006] A camera comprises: a shell, the shell having a barrel cavity, a partition plate with an annular structure provided on the inner wall of the barrel cavity, the space surrounded by the partition plate forming a lens avoidance hole, the partition plate dividing the interior of the barrel cavity into a front barrel cavity and a rear barrel cavity, a lens module provided in the rear barrel cavity, the lens of the lens module being arranged toward the lens avoidance hole, a time-of-flight sensor provided in the front barrel cavity and on the partition plate, the time-of-flight sensor being connected to the lens module via a cable passing through the partition plate.
[0007] Optionally, a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity is provided on the surface of the partition plate located on the front barrel cavity, and the time-of-flight sensor is located in the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity.
[0008] Optionally, when the time-of-flight sensor is installed in the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity, the optical axis of the time-of-flight sensor is arranged parallel to the optical axis of the lens module.
[0009] Optionally, a first light-blocking baffle and a second light-blocking baffle are spaced apart on the partition plate and located on the surface of the front barrel cavity, and the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle divide the front barrel cavity into a light source accommodating cavity and a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity on the partition plate.
[0010] Optionally, one end of the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle abuts against the inner wall of the front barrel cavity, and the other end of the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle terminates at the edge of the lens avoidance hole.
[0011] Optionally, the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle are spaced apart on the partition plate and are located below the horizontal axis section of the front barrel cavity.
[0012] Optionally, an annular light-blocking rib extending in the front barrel cavity is provided on the inner edge of the partition plate, and the light-blocking rib separates the light source accommodating cavity and the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity from the lens avoidance hole respectively.
[0013] Optionally, a filter cover is provided at the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity, and the filter cover is connected to the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity by adhesive bonding.
[0014] Optionally, a light source module is provided in the light source accommodating cavity, and a transparent light source cover is provided at the opening of the light source accommodating cavity. When the transparent light source cover is installed to the opening, the distance from the transparent light source cover to the lamp beads of the light source module is at least 1.3 times the spacing between adjacent lamp beads.
[0015] Optionally, the back of the rear barrel cavity is open, and the shell further includes: a bottom mounting cavity located below the barrel cavity, a group of first mounting holes are respectively provided on the two side walls of the bottom mounting cavity, the bottom mounting cavity is a cavity structure with an open back, the interior of the bottom mounting cavity accommodates a partial structure of a main control circuit module, the external surface of the bottom mounting cavity is provided with a heat dissipation structure, a rear cover is provided on the back of the shell, a group of second mounting holes are provided on the rear cover, and the rear cover is buckled on the openings of the rear barrel cavity and the bottom mounting cavity.
[0016] The camera provided by the embodiment of the present invention improves its structure itself and integrates a TOF sensor in the barrel cavity. Compared with the traditional zoom lens, the addition of the TOF sensor facilitates auxiliary rapid focusing, thereby improving the focusing speed, thereby accelerating the lens magnification rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.
[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the overall structure of an embodiment of the camera of the present utility model;
[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a camera housing according to the present invention;
[0020] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the partial structure of an embodiment of the camera of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 4 This is a front view of the structure of an embodiment of the camera housing of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The middle AA shows a cross-sectional view;
[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged schematic diagram of point B in the middle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] It should be understood that the embodiments described are only a portion of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0026] The various embodiments of the present invention described below may be various examples when applied to a camera or an electronic device with a camera function. For ease of description, they are collectively referred to as cameras herein and described using cameras as an example.
[0027] refer to Figures 1 to 3 The present invention discloses a camera suitable for use in industrial scenarios such as automated production line monitoring, security monitoring, and logistics warehousing. The camera includes a housing 100 , a partition plate 200 , a lens module 300 , and a Time of Flight (TOF) sensor 400 .
[0028] Among them, the shell 100 has a cylindrical cavity, and a partition plate 200 with a ring structure is provided on the inner wall of the cylindrical cavity. The space surrounded by the partition plate 200 forms a lens avoidance hole 210, which is used to avoid the imaging field of view of the lens module 300; the partition plate 200 divides the interior of the cylindrical cavity into a front cylindrical cavity 110 and a rear cylindrical cavity 120, and the lens module 300 is provided in the rear cylindrical cavity 120, and the lens of the lens module 300 is set toward the lens avoidance hole 210, and a main control circuit module 131 electrically connected to the lens module 300 is provided behind the lens module 300; a time-of-flight sensor 400 is provided in the front cylindrical cavity 110 and on the partition plate 200, and the time-of-flight sensor 400 is connected to the main control circuit module 131 through a cable passing through the partition plate 200.
[0029] See Figure 2 Specifically, the partition plate 200 is provided with a light source lead hole 201 and a time of flight sensor lead hole 202.
[0030] The camera provided by the embodiment of the present invention improves its structure itself and integrates a TOF sensor in the barrel cavity. Compared with the traditional zoom lens, the addition of the TOF sensor facilitates auxiliary rapid focusing, thereby improving the focusing speed, thereby accelerating the lens magnification rate.
[0031] Specifically, in this embodiment, a TOF sensor is added to be combined with the lens to achieve fast auxiliary focusing. The TOF sensor built into the camera is used to obtain the distance information between the target object and the camera. The lens module derives the focal length value based on the known object distance and magnification according to the relevant formula, so that the focusing lens can be quickly pulled to the corresponding position, thereby significantly improving the focusing speed and accuracy, reducing the operation time, improving work efficiency, and enhancing the camera's adaptability to fast response and precise imaging in industrial applications.
[0032] In the design of industrial cameras, flexible installation methods and space utilization are important factors to consider in industrial applications. In order to meet the needs of different installation scenarios, in some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 or Figure 3 The rear barrel cavity 120 is open at the back. The housing 100 further includes a bottom mounting cavity 130 located below the barrel cavity. A set of first mounting holes 140 are defined on each of the two sidewalls of the bottom mounting cavity 130. The bottom mounting cavity 130 is a hollow structure with an open back. A partial structure 1311 of the main control circuit module 131 is located within the bottom mounting cavity 130. A rear cover plate 150 is provided on the back of the housing 100. A set of second mounting holes 160 are defined on the rear cover plate 150. The rear cover plate 150 is buckled onto the openings of the rear barrel cavity 120 and the bottom mounting cavity 130. Specifically, the main control circuit module 131 further includes another component structure 1312 located between the lens module 300 and the rear cover plate 150.
[0033] In this embodiment, by setting the first mounting hole 140 or the second mounting hole 160 on multiple sides of the shell, the camera can be adapted to different installation scenarios. This installation flexibility is conducive to saving installation space and is convenient for users to adjust and configure according to actual needs.
[0034] Specifically, the rear cover is embedded and buckled into the openings of the rear barrel cavity 120 and the bottom mounting cavity 130 to make the back of the camera flat, thereby facilitating installation and fixation.
[0035] Continue to read Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, an external interface 132 is provided on the surface of the bottom mounting cavity 130 for realizing internal and external electrical connections of the camera. The external interface 132 adopts an aviation head connector, which has a detachable pin portion, which can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board of the main control circuit module in the camera, and electrically connected to the external circuit of the camera. Specifically, the pin portion is integrated on the printed circuit board. In this way, by integrating the pin portion into the printed circuit board, the testing efficiency and production efficiency of the printed circuit board can be improved. In addition, since the pin portion is mechanically fixedly connected to the housing, the complexity of the installation process of the aviation head connector can be reduced.
[0036] It is understandable that the main control module 131 inside the housing generates heat during operation. In order to achieve effective heat dissipation, see Figures 4 to 6 In some embodiments, a heat dissipation structure is provided on the outer surface of the bottom mounting cavity 130 .
[0037] The main control module 131 inside the housing generates a certain amount of heat during operation. To effectively dissipate heat, a heat dissipation structure is provided on the outer surface of the bottom mounting cavity 130 to ensure that the main control module 131 operates within a normal operating temperature range, thereby improving the stability and service life of the camera.
[0038] See Figure 2 、 Figures 4 to 6 Specifically, a plurality of parallel raised heat dissipation ribs 133 are arranged at intervals on the outer surface of the bottom mounting cavity 130, and the plurality of parallel raised heat dissipation ribs 133 form the heat dissipation structure.
[0039] The raised heat dissipation ribs 133 may be fin-shaped to increase the contact area with the air, thereby effectively improving the heat dissipation efficiency. The number and size of the raised heat dissipation ribs 133 may be adjusted according to the power consumption of the main control module 131 to ensure optimal heat dissipation.
[0040] Of course, the form of the heat dissipation structure is not limited to the above-mentioned fin-shaped raised heat dissipation rib structure. Multiple ventilation holes can also be opened on the outer surface of the bottom mounting cavity to promote air circulation and help take away the heat generated by the main control module 131, thereby achieving the purpose of heat dissipation.
[0041] Furthermore, a thermal conductive paste layer may be provided on the outer surface of the bottom mounting cavity 130 to improve heat conduction efficiency.
[0042] In the embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned heat dissipation structure design can effectively reduce the operating temperature of the main control module 131, ensuring that the camera maintains stable performance during long-term operation, which not only improves the reliability of the camera, but also extends its service life, and is suitable for various industrial application scenarios.
[0043] In the camera improvement solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the TOF sensor is an important component for achieving high-precision ranging and fast focusing. In order to ensure the stability and reliability of the TOF sensor, reasonable installation and protection measures are particularly important. Therefore, please refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112 is provided on the partition plate 200 and on the surface of the front barrel cavity 110, and the time-of-flight sensor 400 is located in the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112. By providing the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112, not only can the position of the time-of-flight sensor 400 be effectively fixed to avoid displacement caused by vibration or external force, but it can also provide additional protection to prevent dust and impurities from entering, thereby improving the ranging accuracy and the overall performance of the camera.
[0044] Specifically, the TOF sensor 400 can be screwed into the TOF sensor cavity 112, or fixed to the TOF sensor cavity 112 via a snap-fit connection or magnetic attraction. When the TOF sensor 400 is installed in the TOF sensor cavity 112, the optical axis of the TOF sensor 400 is parallel to the optical axis of the lens module 300, thereby ensuring that the camera can achieve higher ranging accuracy and image quality when shooting.
[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 A first light-blocking baffle 500 and a second light-blocking baffle 600 are disposed on the partition plate 200 and on the surface of the front barrel cavity 110. The first light-blocking baffle 500 and the second light-blocking baffle 600 divide the front barrel cavity 110 into a light source accommodating cavity 111 and a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112 on the partition plate 200.
[0046] It is understandable that interference from the light source may negatively impact the ranging accuracy of the TOF sensor 400. To effectively reduce this interference, in some embodiments, a first light-blocking baffle 500 and a second light-blocking baffle 600 are provided to physically isolate and block the light path between the light source cavity 111 and the TOF sensor cavity 112. This prevents light from the fill light source from entering the TOF sensor cavity, thereby affecting the ranging accuracy and image quality of the TOF sensor and, in turn, the focusing effect of the lens.
[0047] Furthermore, one end of the first light-blocking baffle 500 and the second light-blocking baffle 600 abuts against the inner wall of the front barrel cavity 110, and the other end of the first light-blocking baffle 500 and the second light-blocking baffle 600 terminates at the edge of the lens avoidance hole 210, ensuring that an effective physical barrier is formed between the light source accommodating cavity and the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112, further reducing unnecessary light interference, thereby improving the overall performance of the camera.
[0048] The first light-blocking baffle 500 and the second light-blocking baffle 600 are spaced apart on the partition plate 200 and are positioned below the horizontal axial cross-section of the front barrel cavity 110. Thus, the first light-blocking baffle 500 and the second light-blocking baffle 600 are spaced apart on the partition plate 200, forming a large arc-shaped light source accommodating cavity 111. This facilitates the installation of a light source module with a large illumination area and a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity, which is approximately a rectangular accommodating cavity, thus effectively utilizing the internal space of the front barrel cavity.
[0049] Furthermore, an annular light-blocking rib 800 is provided on the inner edge of the partition plate 200, extending within the front barrel cavity 110. This light-blocking rib 800 separates the light source accommodating cavity and the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112 from the lens avoidance aperture 210, respectively. The provision of annular light-blocking rib 800 creates a closed, surrounding light path between the light source accommodating cavity and the lens avoidance aperture 210, further enhancing the blocking effect of unwanted light, effectively preventing interference with imaging caused by external light entering the camera lens, and thereby improving overall image capture performance.
[0050] Please refer to Figure 3 A filter cover plate 900 is provided at the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112 , and the filter cover plate 900 is connected to the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity 112 by adhesive bonding.
[0051] The filter cover 900 is primarily used to block visible light from the TOF sensor while allowing infrared light to pass through. The filter cover 900 can be made of a filter or coated glass with selective transmittance to effectively block visible light while allowing infrared light to pass through. This prevents visible light from interfering with the TOF sensor 400, thereby improving ranging accuracy. Furthermore, the filter cover 900 utilizes a snap-on connection, allowing for easy removal and replacement, facilitating maintenance and cleaning.
[0052] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 A light source module 1000 is disposed in the light source accommodating cavity 111, and a transparent light source cover 1100 is disposed at the opening of the light source accommodating cavity 111. When the transparent light source cover 1100 is installed at the opening, the distance between the transparent light source cover 1100 and the lamp beads of the light source module 1000 is at least 1.3 times the spacing between adjacent lamp beads. The light source module 1000 can be secured to the light source accommodating cavity 111 by screws, magnetic attraction, or adhesive bonding.
[0053] In a specific implementation, the light source module 1000 can use LED lamp beads as light-emitting elements to provide a high-brightness and low-power lighting effect. In order to ensure a uniform lighting effect, the transparent light source cover 1100 and the lamp beads maintain a distance of at least 1.3 times the distance between adjacent lamp beads. This design can effectively reduce the heat accumulation and light spot overlap caused by the lamp beads being too close. In addition, the above-mentioned appropriate spacing allows the light emitted by each lamp bead to be evenly distributed throughout the entire area, thereby forming a more continuous and uniform lighting effect, so that the light from the lamp beads presents a continuous regional fill light effect on the transparent light source cover, which can eliminate the visual granularity formed by the lamp beads, and the light output is soft, which can eliminate the reflection of the object being measured, thereby improving the imaging quality.
[0054] The transparent light source cover 1100 is made of a transparent material, such as polycarbonate or acrylic, to ensure that light emitted by the light source module 1000 can pass through smoothly. Furthermore, to further even out the light distribution, the surface of the transparent light source cover 1100 can be specially treated, such as frosted or coated, to achieve a diffusion effect. By using a transparent and diffusion-treated material, the transparent light source cover 1100 can maintain high light transmittance while ensuring that light is evenly distributed across the shooting area. This effectively reduces glare caused by a concentrated light source, thereby improving image quality.
[0055] The camera provided by the embodiment of the present invention, through the built-in TOF sensor, can provide real-time feedback on the distance between the object and the camera based on the distance detection function of the TOF sensor, so that the lens can adjust the focal length in advance before the object enters the shooting range, thereby realizing fast automatic focus, avoiding the delay caused by the focusing process, and effectively reducing the risk of missed detection of material inspection equipment during the rapid material inspection process. At the same time, it reduces unnecessary computing loss caused by complex focusing algorithms, and improves the detection efficiency and overall performance of the system.
[0056] Furthermore, the barrel cavity of the camera housing (also known as the front cover in the industry) is separated into a light source accommodating cavity and a TOF sensor cavity in the front barrel cavity by a partition plate, a first light-blocking baffle, a second light-blocking baffle and an annular light-blocking rib. Such a structure can ensure a fully enclosed optical path surround between the light source module, the TOF sensor and the lens module, effectively blocking the direct penetration of light into the imaging field of the lens module, and simultaneously reducing the scattering of light from the light source module to the TOF sensor, reducing the accumulation of bottom noise of the TOF sensor, thereby improving the detection performance of the TOF sensor and preventing the decline in detection accuracy due to light leakage or scattering.
[0057] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply the existence of any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article, or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or device. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or device comprising the element.
[0058] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.
Claims
1. A camera, characterized in that: include: A shell having a barrel cavity, an inner wall of the barrel cavity is provided with a partition plate with an annular structure, the space surrounded by the partition plate forms a lens avoidance hole, the partition plate divides the interior of the barrel cavity into a front barrel cavity and a rear barrel cavity, a lens module is provided in the rear barrel cavity, the lens of the lens module is arranged toward the lens avoidance hole, a main control circuit module electrically connected to the lens module is provided at the rear of the lens module, a time-of-flight sensor is provided in the front barrel cavity and on the partition plate, and the time-of-flight sensor is connected to the main control circuit module through a cable passing through the partition plate.
2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein A time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity is provided on the partition plate and on the surface of the front barrel cavity. The time-of-flight sensor is located in the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity.
3. The camera according to claim 2, characterized in that When the time-of-flight sensor is installed in the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity, the optical axis of the time-of-flight sensor is arranged parallel to the optical axis of the lens module.
4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein A first light-blocking baffle and a second light-blocking baffle are arranged on the partition plate and on the surface of the front barrel cavity. The first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle divide the front barrel cavity into a light source accommodating cavity and a time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity on the partition plate.
5. The camera according to claim 4, characterized in that One end of the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle abuts against the inner wall of the front barrel cavity, and the other end of the first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle terminates at the edge of the lens avoidance hole.
6. The camera according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The first light-blocking baffle and the second light-blocking baffle are spaced apart and arranged on the partition plate, and are located below the horizontal axis section of the front barrel cavity.
7. The camera according to claim 4, characterized in that An annular light-blocking rib extending in the front barrel cavity is provided on the inner edge of the partition plate, and the light-blocking rib blocks the light source accommodating cavity and the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity from the lens avoidance hole respectively.
8. The camera according to claim 2, wherein: A filter cover is provided at the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity, and the filter cover is connected to the opening of the time-of-flight sensor accommodating cavity by adhesive bonding.
9. The camera according to claim 4, wherein: A light source module is provided in the light source accommodating cavity, and a transparent light source cover is provided at the opening of the light source accommodating cavity. When the transparent light source cover is installed at the opening, the distance between the transparent light source cover and the lamp beads of the light source module is at least 1.3 times the spacing between adjacent lamp beads.
10. The camera according to claim 1, wherein The back of the rear barrel cavity is open, and the shell further includes: a bottom mounting cavity located below the barrel cavity, a group of first mounting holes are respectively provided on the two side walls of the bottom mounting cavity, the bottom mounting cavity is a cavity structure with an open back, a partial structure of a main control circuit module is provided inside the bottom mounting cavity, a heat dissipation structure is provided on the external surface of the bottom mounting cavity, a rear cover is provided on the back of the shell, a group of second mounting holes are provided on the rear cover, and the rear cover is buckled on the openings of the rear barrel cavity and the bottom mounting cavity.