A camera module and a camera device

Abstract

The application discloses a camera module and a camera device, which comprise a lens, the lens comprising a lens barrel and a lens group arranged in the lens barrel; the lens group comprising a first lens, the first lens being the first lens on the object side of the lens; a circuit board, the lens being arranged on the circuit board; a thermoelectric cooler, the thermoelectric cooler being arranged in the lens barrel and below the first lens; the thermoelectric cooler comprising a hot end and a cold end, the hot end facing the first lens, and the cold end facing the inner side of the lens barrel. The application aims to improve the high-quality imaging of the camera module in a harsh environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of camera module technology, and in particular to a camera module and camera equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the daily driving environment of a vehicle, due to drastic fluctuations in external temperature and humidity, visible fogging or frost often appears in the optical cavity inside the vehicle camera. Typical scenarios include: a vehicle rapidly moving from a hot, dry road surface into a cold, damp underground parking area, or suddenly entering a hot, humid outdoor environment from a cold tunnel, or encountering sudden rain or fog. These transient conditions cause a sharp drop in the temperature of the air inside the camera and the surface of the lens, causing the water vapor in the air to quickly reach a supersaturated state, which in turn forms tiny droplets or ice crystals on the inner side of the lens or the cavity wall.

[0003] The aforementioned phenomena immediately reduce the light transmittance and contrast of the optical system, causing blurred images, glare, or partial obstruction, severely impacting the reliability and safety of driver assistance systems. Therefore, a new type of defogging and defrosting device is needed to solve these problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] One objective of this application is to improve the high-quality imaging of camera modules in harsh environments (such as high humidity and large temperature differences).

[0005] Another objective of this application is to improve the efficiency of defogging, defrosting, and dehumidification of the camera module.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: a camera module, comprising: The lens includes a lens barrel and a lens assembly disposed within the lens barrel; the lens assembly includes a first lens, which is the first lens on the object side of the lens. A circuit board, on which the lens is mounted; A thermoelectric cooler is disposed inside the lens barrel and located below the first lens; the thermoelectric cooler includes a hot end and a cold end, the hot end facing the first lens and the cold end facing the inside of the lens barrel.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment, the lens assembly further includes a second lens adjacent to the first lens, the lens barrel includes a stepped portion located between the first lens and the second lens, the thermoelectric cooler is disposed on the stepped portion, and the stepped portion is adapted to separate the thermoelectric cooler from the second lens.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment, a heat-conducting element is included, which is disposed between the first lens and the thermoelectric cooler to transfer heat to the first lens.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment, the heat-conducting component is one or two of copper sheets, graphene sheets, and aluminum sheets.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment, the lens barrel includes a platform portion disposed on the periphery of the stepped portion and located below the thermoelectric cooler. The platform portion, the stepped portion, and the inner wall of the lens barrel define an annular cavity, and a moisture-absorbing material for adsorbing condensate is disposed within the annular cavity.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the moisture-absorbing material is moisture-absorbing cotton, moisture-absorbing sheet, calcium chloride granules, activated carbon, molecular sieve, or fiber drying sheet.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler is annular or semi-annular, and the stepped portion is an annular spacer or step disposed below the thermoelectric cooler to support the thermoelectric cooler.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler described above is electrically connected to the circuit board via a flexible circuit board, one end of which is bent and electrically connected to the thermoelectric cooler, and the other end of which extends to the circuit board and is electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment, the flexible circuit board extends from one end of the thermoelectric cooler into the mirror barrel to the circuit board. The flexible circuit board is molded inside the mirror barrel, or it is attached to the side wall of the mirror barrel, or a channel for mounting the flexible circuit board is formed in the side wall of the mirror barrel.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, a camera device includes a camera module as described in any of the above descriptions.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: (1) This application uses a thermoelectric cooler to actively reduce the humidity of the camera module cavity to prevent condensation, and the hot end directly heats the lens to quickly remove existing water mist / frost, which can achieve a significant defogging effect through a two-pronged approach.

[0017] (2) The heat from the thermoelectric cooler in this application is mainly applied to the first lens that needs to be defogging, avoiding ineffective heating of the entire camera module cavity and significantly reducing thermal interference to other electronic components. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a camera module in one embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a camera module in one embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a top view of a camera module in one embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of section BB in the middle.

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the BB section.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control unit of the camera module in one embodiment of this application.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Lens; 11. Lens group; 111. First lens; 112. Second lens; 12. Pressure ring; 13. Heat-conducting component; 14. Sealing ring; 15. Stepped section; 16. Lens barrel; 161. Platform section; 162. Annular cavity; 17. Moisture-absorbing material; 18. Thermoelectric cooler; 181. Hot end; 182. Cold end; 183. Flexible circuit board; 184. Solder; 2. Circuit board; 21. Glue. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0026] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., which indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0028] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification and claims of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or device.

[0029] like Figures 1-5 As shown, this application provides a camera module, including: a lens 1, the lens 1 including a lens barrel 16 and a lens group 11 disposed within the lens barrel 16, the lens group 11 including a first lens 111, the first lens 111 being the first lens on the object side of the lens 1, the object side referring to the side of the lens 1 facing the object being photographed; a circuit board 2, the lens 1 being disposed on the circuit board 2; and a thermoelectric cooler 18, the thermoelectric cooler 18 being disposed within the lens barrel 16 and located below the first lens 111; the thermoelectric cooler 18 including a hot end 181 and a cold end 182, wherein the hot end 181 faces the first lens 111, and the cold end 182 faces the inner side of the lens barrel 16. It should be understood that due to changes in ambient temperature and humidity, the surface of the lens 1, especially below the outermost first lens 111, is often the most sensitive area where condensation is most likely to form. Condensation not only affects the light transmittance and image quality of the lens 1, but may also cause long-term damage to the lens 1, such as corrosion or mold. This application can effectively remove condensed moisture from the lens 1 by providing a thermoelectric cooler 18 below the first lens 111.

[0030] Furthermore, the thermoelectric cooler 18 includes a hot end 181 and a cold end 182 disposed opposite to each other. The hot end 181 faces the first lens 111, and the cold end 182 faces the inner side of the lens barrel 16. Specifically, the hot end 181 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 is in close contact with the lower surface of the first lens 111. In cold or humid environments, the thermoelectric cooler 18 can use the rapid heating function of its hot end 181 to quickly increase the temperature of the first lens 111, thereby rapidly evaporating the fog or frost on the first lens 111, ensuring that the lens 1 maintains a clear field of view in cold or humid environments. The cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler faces the inner side of the lens barrel 16. In high humidity environments, it creates a low-temperature condensation point for the lens 1, causing the water vapor inside the lens barrel 16 cavity to cool immediately upon encountering the cold end 182, effectively reducing the absolute humidity inside the lens 1, and preventing water vapor inside the lens barrel 16 from condensing on the surface of the first lens 111 and other lenses inside the lens barrel 16.

[0031] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the lens group 11 also includes a second lens 112 adjacent to the first lens 111. The lens barrel 16 includes a stepped portion 15, which is located between the first lens 111 and the second lens 112. A thermoelectric cooler 18 is disposed on the stepped portion 15. The stepped portion 15 is adapted to separate the thermoelectric cooler 18 from the second lens 112 to reduce the impact of vibrations generated by the thermoelectric cooler 18 during operation on the second lens 112, thereby improving image quality. It is worth mentioning that the stepped portion 15 can also provide a stable support structure for the thermoelectric cooler 18. With the help of the stepped portion 15, the thermoelectric cooler 18 can be accurately placed below the first lens 111, improving the stability of the thermoelectric cooler 18 during operation.

[0032] In some embodiments, the step portion 15 is separately formed inside the lens barrel 16 to facilitate the assembly of the second lens 112 from top to bottom of the lens 1. Specifically, after the second lens 112 is installed into the lens barrel 16, the step portion 15, the thermoelectric cooler 18, the heat conductor 13, the first lens 111, and the pressure ring 12 are installed in sequence.

[0033] In some embodiments, the step portion 15 is integrally formed inside the lens barrel 16. In this case, the second lens 112 is installed into the lens barrel 16 from below the lens 1, and then other lenses or components are installed in sequence. The first lens 111 is installed into the step portion 15 of the lens barrel 16 from above the lens 1, and then the thermoelectric cooler 18, the heat conductor 13, the first lens 111, and the pressure ring 12 are installed in sequence.

[0034] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the camera module also includes a heat-conducting component 13, which is disposed between the first lens 111 and the thermoelectric cooler 18. Specifically, the heat-conducting component 13 is disposed on the hot end 181 of the thermoelectric cooler 18, and is responsible for efficiently and evenly transferring the heat generated at the hot end 181 to the first lens 111. Due to the good thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting component 13, it can distribute heat over a larger area, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency and preventing heat from concentrating in a small area, thus reducing the risk of localized overheating. Furthermore, the heat-conducting component 13 also has a certain buffering effect. Since the temperature of the hot end 181 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 may fluctuate during operation, the presence of the heat-conducting component 13 can provide a buffering effect, preventing drastic temperature changes from damaging the thermoelectric cooler 18, thereby extending its service life.

[0035] The use of heat-conducting component 13 not only improves the energy utilization efficiency of thermoelectric cooler 18, but also enhances the thermal management efficiency of the entire system by optimizing the heat transfer method. This helps improve the stability and reliability of the system, which is particularly important in scenarios requiring long-term operation.

[0036] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the lens barrel 16 includes a platform portion 161, which is located around the stepped portion 15 and below the thermoelectric cooler 18. The platform portion 161, the stepped portion 15, and the inner wall of the lens barrel 16 define an annular cavity 162. A moisture-absorbing material 17 for absorbing condensate is disposed within the annular cavity 162. It should be understood that in a high-humidity environment, when the cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 is cooling, water vapor in the air inside the lens barrel 16 cavity will condense into liquid due to the temperature drop, forming condensate. The moisture-absorbing material 17 disposed within the annular cavity 162 is suitable for absorbing the generated condensate, keeping the inside of the lens barrel 16 cavity dry, thereby preventing the condensate from accumulating on the surface of various components, avoiding damage to the camera module's function, and extending the lifespan of the camera module.

[0037] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, an annular groove can also be formed on the platform portion 161. That is, the annular groove is located on the periphery of the step portion 15 and below the thermoelectric cooler 18. The annular groove is suitable for tightly attaching or filling with a high-efficiency moisture-absorbing material 17. Thus, the moisture-absorbing material 17 can effectively absorb the condensate generated in the cavity of the lens barrel 16, thereby maintaining a dry environment inside the lens barrel 16 and preventing the camera module from being corroded or its performance from being degraded due to a humid environment.

[0038] In some embodiments, since there is sufficient usable space in the annular cavity 162, the annular groove can also be provided on the platform portion 161. In this case, since the height of the annular groove is raised by the platform portion 161, the moisture-absorbing material 17 placed in the annular groove is also closer to the cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler 18, so that the condensate generated in the cavity of the lens barrel 16 can be absorbed more quickly.

[0039] Furthermore, the thermoelectric cooler 18 is annular or semi-annular to better match the shape of the first lens 111, reduce heat loss caused by shape mismatch, maximize the effective area of ​​the thermoelectric cooler 18, enhance the conduction efficiency of the hot end 181 and the cold end 182, and improve the performance of the thermoelectric cooler 18.

[0040] Furthermore, the step portion 15 is an annular spacer or step disposed below the thermoelectric cooler 18 to support the thermoelectric cooler 18. It should be understood that the annular spacer, as an independent component, can be precisely designed and manufactured according to the actual needs of the thermoelectric cooler 18, so that the annular spacer can provide stable support for the thermoelectric cooler 18; the step formed by the body structure of the lens barrel 16 can make the structure of the entire camera module more integrated, improve the overall structural strength and stability of the camera module, and reduce the risk of failure caused by loosening or damage at the connection of components.

[0041] Furthermore, the thermoelectric cooler 18 is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 via a flexible circuit board 183. One end of the flexible circuit board 183 is bent and electrically connected to the thermoelectric cooler 18, while the other end of the flexible circuit board 183 extends to the circuit board 2 and electrically connects to the circuit board 2, thereby enabling the thermoelectric cooler 18 to conduct with the external circuit.

[0042] In some embodiments, the flexible circuit board 183 is preferably made of a high-temperature resistant material to ensure that the flexible circuit board 183 can work normally under high temperature, high humidity or extreme temperature conditions.

[0043] In some embodiments, the flexible circuit board 183 extends from one end of the thermoelectric cooler 18 into the lens barrel 16 to the circuit board 2, utilizing the internal space of the lens barrel 16 to avoid external wiring and make the entire camera module more compact; or the flexible circuit board 183 is directly molded into the lens barrel 16, making the camera module integrated, thereby improving the compactness and protection performance of the camera module, reducing camera module vibration, and improving camera module stability; or the flexible circuit board 183 is attached to the side wall of the lens barrel 16, avoiding occupying the central space inside the lens barrel 16 and providing more space for other components (such as optical elements); or a channel for setting the flexible circuit board 183 is formed in the side wall of the lens barrel 16, hiding the flexible circuit board 183 in the side wall of the lens barrel 16 to avoid external interference and mechanical damage. It should be understood that setting the flexible circuit board 183 in the lens barrel 16 will not affect the installation of other optical elements, and can improve the internal space utilization of the camera module, avoiding increasing the overall size of the camera module.

[0044] Furthermore, the flexible circuit board 183 and the circuit board 2 are electrically connected by welding or crimping. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, one end of the flexible circuit board 183 is bent and connected to the thermoelectric cooler 18, while the other end is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 via solder 184 at its bottom. In other embodiments, the flexible circuit board 183 can also be electrically connected to the circuit board 2 via conductive pins. It is worth noting that the circuit board 2 can provide a controllable DC power supply and control the direction and magnitude of the current through a program or sensor signal, enabling the camera module to intelligently adjust according to the external environment or internal state, optimizing energy use and reducing unnecessary energy waste.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, lens 1 is fixed to circuit board 2 by adhesive 21. The adhesive 21 provides a certain buffering effect, reducing thermal stress caused by temperature changes, thereby protecting the connection structure between circuit board 2 and lens 1. In addition, the adhesive 21 forms a seal between lens 1 and circuit board 2, thereby preventing dust, moisture and other contaminants from entering, improving the reliability and service life of the device. In other embodiments, welding or mechanical connection may also be used, and this application does not specifically limit this.

[0046] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 13 is annular or semi-annular, and is closely attached above the annular or semi-annular thermoelectric cooler 18. This further increases the interaction area between the heat generated when the hot end 181 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 releases heat and the first lens 111, quickly and efficiently removing fog or frost from the lens 1 and improving the image quality of the lens 1. It should be understood that designing the step portion 15, the heat-conducting element 13, and the thermoelectric cooler 18 as annular not only helps to distribute heat evenly but also avoids blocking light from passing through the lens 1, ensuring clear and stable imaging of the camera module.

[0047] In some embodiments, the camera module further includes a retaining ring 12, which is detachably mounted on the lens barrel 16 for fixing and positioning the first lens 111, ensuring the stability of the lens in the optical system. Simultaneously, the retaining ring 12 is easy to disassemble, facilitating adjustment and replacement during assembly and maintenance.

[0048] Furthermore, a sealing ring 14 is provided between the lens barrel 16 and the first lens 111. The sealing ring 14 can continuously maintain contact with the lens barrel 16 and the lens, thereby achieving dynamic sealing. Even under vibration or temperature changes, it can maintain a certain sealing effect. The sealing ring 14 can also effectively prevent moisture, dust and other foreign objects from entering the lens cavity, thereby protecting the lens from external contamination and ensuring the high imaging quality of the camera module.

[0049] In some embodiments, a temperature or humidity sensor electrically connected to the circuit board 2 is also provided inside the lens 1. This sensor is used to sense changes in temperature and humidity within the lens 1's internal environment and convert these changes into electrical signals for real-time monitoring and control of the temperature and humidity environment inside the lens 1. Specifically, the sensor's working principle is based on the fundamental principle of temperature and humidity sensors, which involves sensing changes in temperature and humidity through specific physical or chemical effects (such as resistance and capacitance) and converting these changes into electrical signals. For example, temperature sensors typically use elements such as thermistors or thermocouples, while humidity sensors rely on humidity-sensitive elements (such as lithium chloride or ceramics) to detect humidity changes. These sensors can convert changes in temperature and humidity in the environment into electrical signals, thereby providing real-time temperature and humidity data and enabling dynamic adjustment and optimization of the internal environment of the camera module.

[0050] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting element 13 may be one or two of copper sheets, graphene sheets, and aluminum sheets, and this application does not specifically limit it.

[0051] In some embodiments, the flexible circuit board 183 can also be replaced by wires or connectors to connect the circuit board 2. The flexible circuit board 183 is preferred. Due to its lightweight, bendability, and three-dimensional assembly capabilities, the flexible circuit board 183 (FPC) is suitable for electronic devices requiring high density, miniaturization, and high reliability. In some embodiments, because the manufacturing cost of the flexible circuit board 183 (FPC) is high and the process is complex, rigid circuit boards (PCBs) or wire connectors are still required in some applications requiring high stress or complex packaging. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0052] In some embodiments, the moisture-absorbing material 17 may be moisture-absorbing cotton, moisture-absorbing sheet, calcium chloride granules, activated carbon, molecular sieve, or fiber drying sheet, and this application does not specifically limit it.

[0053] This application also provides a camera device, including a camera module as described in any of the above.

[0054] The working mechanism and workflow of this application are as follows: Step S10: Active condensation dehumidification (prevention / removal of internal moisture) stage: When a high humidity environment or temperature change warning is detected (via the internal / external temperature and humidity sensors of the module), the circuit board 2 drives the thermoelectric cooler 18, causing its cold end 182 to begin cooling. Air flowing through the cavity of the lens barrel 16 is cooled as it passes near the cold end 182, and water vapor in it preferentially condenses into liquid water on or near the surface of the cold end 182. The condensed moisture is quickly absorbed and locked by the adjacent moisture-absorbing material 17, thereby effectively reducing the absolute humidity inside the lens 1 cavity and preventing water vapor from condensing on the surfaces of other lenses (especially the first lens 111, which has a lower temperature). This process mainly reduces the humidity inside the cavity and prevents condensation.

[0055] Step S20: Defogging / Defrosting Stage on Lens Surface: When condensation or frost has appeared on the inner or outer surface of the first lens 111, the circuit board 2 can maintain or increase the operating current of the thermoelectric cooler 18, or adjust the operating mode according to the sensor signal. At this time, the heat generated by the hot end 181 (heat dissipation surface) is efficiently conducted to the first lens 111 and its mounting structure through the tightly contacting pressure ring 12 (and / or heat-conducting element 13) and the lens barrel 16 wall. The heat generated by the thermoelectric cooler 18 acts directly on the lens, rapidly evaporating the dew or melting the frost layer on its surface, achieving rapid defogging and defrosting.

[0056] Step S30: Control Strategy: The defogging system includes a control unit, which refers to an MCU (microcontroller unit) or domain controller that can be integrated into the camera module. The control unit is used to receive signals from the internal temperature sensor of the module or from the external environment. The control strategy may include: starting when image blur is detected based on image analysis (defogging / frost), or automatically triggering based on temperature difference (such as entering or exiting a parking garage).

[0057] It is worth mentioning that the working state (current direction / magnitude) and duration of the hot end 181 and cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 in this application can be dynamically adjusted to balance the defogging effect with power consumption and temperature rise, thereby achieving comprehensive optimization of the camera module's defogging effect, power consumption and temperature rise.

[0058] Furthermore, the key operating parameters of the thermoelectric cooler 18 of this application are: operating voltage (3-12V DC), maximum operating current (1-3A), response time (<30s to reach the target temperature difference), minimum controllable temperature of cold end 182 (can be 15-25°C lower than the ambient temperature), and maximum temperature of hot end 181 (<80°C to avoid damage to the lens or internal components).

[0059] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, this application provides a workflow for a control unit: first, it receives environmental input; then, it acquires data through a sensor array; and finally, the data is processed by the control unit. The control unit transmits the data to an image analysis module, which first determines whether the image clarity meets the requirements. If it does, it enters a standby state; otherwise, it performs condensation cause analysis.

[0060] In the condensation cause analysis, if the cavity humidity exceeds the threshold, the cold end 182 dehumidification mode is activated. This involves cooling the cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 and capturing moisture with absorbent cotton, followed by a re-detection of temperature and humidity. If the lens temperature is below the dew point, the hot end 181 defogging mode is activated. This involves heating the hot end 181 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 and raising the lens temperature to defog, also followed by a re-detection of temperature and humidity. The entire process forms a closed loop, ensuring the system operates normally under different environmental conditions.

[0061] Currently, the conventional techniques used in the industry for defogging and defrosting camera modules generally involve adding heating wires inside or outside the lens barrel to heat and defrost, aiming to eliminate fogging or frost by raising the local temperature. However, conventional techniques have revealed a series of significant drawbacks in practical applications: First, continuous or intermittent heating introduces additional heat into the camera, which may interfere with the normal operating temperature range of the sensor and affect image quality, such as increased image noise and dark current. Second, prolonged high-temperature environments can accelerate the aging of polymer materials such as optical adhesives, sealing rings, and circuit boards, shortening the product lifecycle. Furthermore, in scenarios with extremely rapid temperature changes, the temperature rise rate of the heating wire often lags behind the condensation or frosting rate, leading to a recurring contradiction of "defogging not keeping up with fogging," making it difficult to meet the rigid requirements of high-level autonomous driving for real-time clear imaging.

[0062] This application utilizes the cold end 182 of the thermoelectric cooler 18 to actively reduce the humidity of the lens barrel 16 cavity to prevent condensation, while the hot end 181 directly heats the lens to quickly remove existing water fog or frost, achieving a significant dual-pronged effect. Furthermore, this application employs intelligent control of the thermoelectric cooler 18 to achieve targeted heating, ensuring that the heat primarily acts on the first lens 111 requiring defogging, avoiding ineffective heating of the entire lens barrel 16 cavity and significantly reducing thermal interference to other electronic components.

[0063] Furthermore, the intelligent control strategy of this application significantly improves the response speed and energy efficiency ratio of the thermoelectric cooler 18. It can promptly control the heat release of the hot end 181 and the cooling of the cold end 182 when the lens 1 needs defogging, defrosting, or dehumidification. Moreover, the thermoelectric cooler 18 of this application can automatically go into standby mode after the lens 1 has completed defogging, defrosting, or dehumidification, preventing the device from continuing to operate after reaching the set humidity, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, the moisture-absorbing material 17 can provide long-term humidity control for the lens 1, effectively maintaining the internal humidity of the camera module, achieving the effect of defogging, defrosting, and dehumidification for the camera module.

[0064] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims. The scope of protection claimed by this application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A camera module, characterized in that, include: The lens includes a lens barrel and a lens assembly disposed within the lens barrel; the lens assembly includes a first lens, which is the first lens on the object side of the lens. A circuit board, on which the lens is mounted; A thermoelectric cooler is disposed inside the lens barrel and located below the first lens; the thermoelectric cooler includes a hot end and a cold end, the hot end facing the first lens and the cold end facing the inside of the lens barrel.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lens group further includes a second lens adjacent to the first lens. The lens barrel includes a stepped portion located between the first lens and the second lens. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed on the stepped portion, and the stepped portion is adapted to separate the thermoelectric cooler from the second lens.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that, It includes a heat-conducting element disposed between the first lens and the thermoelectric cooler to transfer heat to the first lens.

4. The camera module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heat-conducting component is one or two of the following: copper sheet, graphene sheet, and aluminum sheet.

5. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lens barrel includes a platform portion located around the stepped portion and below the thermoelectric cooler. The platform portion, the stepped portion, and the inner wall of the lens barrel define an annular cavity, and a moisture-absorbing material for adsorbing condensate is disposed in the annular cavity.

6. The camera module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The moisture-absorbing material is moisture-absorbing cotton, moisture-absorbing sheet, calcium chloride granules, activated carbon, molecular sieve, or fiber drying sheet.

7. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermoelectric cooler is annular or semi-annular, and the stepped portion is an annular spacer or step disposed below the thermoelectric cooler to support the thermoelectric cooler.

8. The camera module according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The thermoelectric cooler is electrically connected to the circuit board via a flexible circuit board. One end of the flexible circuit board is bent and electrically connected to the thermoelectric cooler, while the other end of the flexible circuit board extends to the circuit board and is electrically connected to the circuit board.

9. The camera module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board extends from one end of the thermoelectric cooler inside the mirror barrel to the circuit board. The flexible circuit board is molded inside the lens barrel. Alternatively, the flexible circuit board can be attached to the side wall of the mirror barrel. Alternatively, a channel for mounting the flexible circuit board may be formed within the sidewall of the lens barrel.

10. A camera device, characterized in that, Includes the camera module as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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