Vision module and lawnmower

Abstract

The application relates to the field of lawn mowers, and particularly provides a visual module and a lawn mower, which comprise a camera, a shell, a control board, a lens and a heat-conducting layer; the shell is provided with a mirror hole, the lens is sealingly installed in the mirror hole, and the camera is installed in the shell; the inner surface of the lens is divided into a visual area corresponding to the lens field angle of the camera and a non-visual area surrounding the visual area; the heat-conducting layer is coated on the non-visual area; and the control board is arranged in the shell and close to the mirror hole, so that the heat emitted by the control board can be conducted to the lens through the heat-conducting layer. According to the embodiment, the heat of the visual module is transmitted to the lens through the heat-conducting layer, so that the temperature of the water vapor on the outer surface of the lens is increased, the evaporation efficiency of the water vapor is improved, the heat generated when the visual module operates is ingeniously utilized, especially the heat energy emitted by the high-heat-density element such as the control board, the heating of the lens is realized in a passive heat management mode, the heat dissipation of the module is facilitated, the secondary utilization of the heat energy is realized, and the energy utilization efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of photographic device technology, and more particularly to a vision module and a lawnmower. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the visual modules of outdoor equipment (such as lawnmowers) often suffer from moisture buildup on the inner surface of the lens due to temperature differences between the inside and outside, which affects image formation.

[0003] Current mainstream solutions use electrically heated lenses to remove moisture. A significant drawback of this method is that the internal circuitry of the vision module itself generates substantial heat, pushing the heat dissipation design to its limits. The new heat source introduced by heating the lenses exacerbates the overall temperature rise, potentially triggering thermal protection and causing the camera to shut down, rendering the device unusable.

[0004] Therefore, a solution for removing water vapor without introducing an additional heat source is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a vision module and a lawnmower, aiming to improve the problem that existing moisture removal solutions easily cause the vision module to stop.

[0006] This application provides a vision module, including a camera, a housing, a control board, a lens, and a heat-conducting layer; The housing is provided with a mirror hole, the lens is sealed and installed in the mirror hole, and the camera is installed inside the housing; The inner surface of the lens is divided into a visual zone corresponding to the lens field of view of the camera and a non-visual zone surrounding the visual zone. The thermally conductive layer is coated on the non-visual area; The control board is disposed inside the housing and near the lens aperture so that the heat emitted by the control board can be conducted to the lens through the heat-conducting layer.

[0007] Optionally, the thermally conductive layer covers the entire non-visual area; the thermally conductive layer is a metal layer plated on the non-visual area.

[0008] Optionally, the thermally conductive layer is a silver layer.

[0009] Optionally, the front end of the housing is provided with an adhesive groove, which is filled with thermally conductive sealant, and the lens is sealed to the housing through the thermally conductive sealant.

[0010] Optionally, the mirror hole includes a first through hole and a second through hole that communicate from the inside to the outside, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the first through hole is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second through hole, and a mounting surface is formed between the two. The dispensing groove is disposed on the mounting surface.

[0011] Optionally, the lens is disposed within the second through hole, and the outer surface of the lens is flush with the end of the second through hole that is away from the first through hole.

[0012] Optionally, the control board includes a circuit board mounted on the housing with one side adjacent to the mirror hole.

[0013] Optionally, the housing is a metal housing.

[0014] Optionally, the dispensing groove is arranged around the axis of the mirror hole, and multiple dispensing grooves are provided, with the multiple dispensing grooves distributed at radial intervals along the mirror hole.

[0015] Optionally, the vision module also includes a water removal mechanism, which includes a wiper and a drive assembly. The wiper is connected to the drive assembly, which is fixed to the housing. The drive assembly is used to drive the wiper to wipe the outer surface of the lens.

[0016] Optionally, the vision module includes a lidar, which is disposed within the housing.

[0017] This application also provides a lawnmower that includes the aforementioned vision module.

[0018] This invention forms a thermally conductive layer by coating or electroplating a layer of highly thermally conductive material in the non-visual area, allowing heat accumulated inside the housing to be efficiently transferred to the lens. The lens temperature thus increases, and the water vapor adhering to its outer surface also heats up, significantly accelerating the evaporation rate and effectively reducing lens blurring caused by condensation or temperature differences, thereby improving image clarity.

[0019] Compared to existing active heating solutions, such as those involving the addition of an electric heating device to heat the lenses, this design offers superior thermal management. The vision module itself already operates under high thermal loads; adding further heating elements could easily cause excessive temperature rise in the entire module, potentially triggering overheat protection and shutting down. This embodiment cleverly utilizes the heat generated by the vision module itself during operation, particularly the heat dissipated by high-heat-density components like the control board, to passively heat the lenses. This not only aids in module heat dissipation but also enables the secondary utilization of heat energy, improving energy efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is an overall diagram of a visual module provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the inner surface of a lens of a vision module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a vision module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of part A.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Lens; 11. Visual area; 12. Non-visual area; 2. Housing; 21. Lens aperture; 211. First through hole; 212. Second through hole; 22. Mounting surface; 23. Adhesive groove; 3. Control board; 4. Camera; 51. Wiper; 52. Drive assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0023] Reference Figures 1 to 4 This application provides a vision module, including a camera 4, a housing 2, a control board 3, a lens 1, and a heat-conducting layer; the housing 2 is provided with a lens hole 21, the lens 1 is sealed and installed in the lens hole 21, and the camera 4 is installed in the housing 2; the inner surface of the lens 1 is divided into a visual area 11 corresponding to the field of view of the lens of the camera 4 and a non-visual area 12 surrounding the visual area 11; the heat-conducting layer is coated on the non-visual area 12; the control board 3 is disposed in the housing 2 and adjacent to the lens hole 21, so that the heat emitted by the control board 3 can be conducted to the lens 1 through the heat-conducting layer.

[0024] In this embodiment, the visual area 11 refers to the main optical area where the lens acquires images, while the non-visual area 12 is the portion of the housing 2 outside the lens's field of view that does not affect image quality. A high thermal conductivity material is coated or electroplated into the non-visual area 12 to form a thermally conductive layer, allowing heat accumulated inside the housing 2 to be efficiently transferred to the lens 1. The temperature of the lens 1 thus increases, and the water vapor adhering to its outer surface also heats up, significantly accelerating the evaporation rate of the water vapor. This effectively reduces the blurring of the lens 1 caused by condensation or temperature differences, improving image clarity.

[0025] Compared to common active heating solutions in existing technologies, this design offers greater thermal management advantages by introducing an additional electric heating device to heat lens 1. The vision module itself is already under a high thermal load during operation; adding further heating elements could easily cause the overall module temperature to rise excessively, potentially triggering overheat protection and shutting down. This embodiment cleverly utilizes the heat generated by the vision module itself during operation, particularly the heat dissipated by high-heat-density components like the control board 3, to passively heat lens 1. This not only aids in module heat dissipation but also enables the secondary utilization of heat energy, improving energy efficiency.

[0026] In other possible implementations, other electronic components that generate a lot of heat can be arranged near the lens 1, such as power devices, LED driver chips or processors, to further utilize their waste heat to enhance the anti-fog effect, thereby maintaining the clarity of the lens 1 surface under various working conditions.

[0027] Reference Figure 2 In this embodiment, there are three visual areas 11, two of which are circular areas corresponding to the lens and the other is the visual area corresponding to the infrared lamp.

[0028] In one embodiment, the control board 3 includes a circuit board mounted on the housing 2 with one side adjacent to the lens hole 21. The control board 3 used in this embodiment is a circuit board structure, such as a PCB board or PCBA board. The circuit board is positioned near the lens 1, thereby enabling more efficient transfer of the heat generated during operation to the heat-conducting layer through thermal radiation or direct thermal conduction, further enhancing the passive heating effect on the lens 1.

[0029] In one embodiment, the thermally conductive layer covers the entire non-visual area 12. The comprehensive coverage of the non-visual area 12 of the lens 1 significantly improves heating efficiency and heat dissipation performance by optimizing the heat conduction path. This design enables the rapid establishment of a uniform thermal field distribution, allowing the overall temperature of the lens 1 to rise more efficiently, thereby accelerating the evaporation of moisture adhering to the outer surface of the lens 1, effectively preventing fogging and improving visual clarity. Simultaneously, balanced thermal management also helps avoid localized overheating, extending the lifespan of the lens 1.

[0030] In one embodiment, the thermally conductive layer is a metal layer plated onto the non-visual area 12. Specifically, the thermally conductive layer is a silver layer. Silver is the metal with the highest known thermal conductivity, far exceeding that of common thermally conductive materials such as aluminum and copper. Using a silver layer as the thermally conductive layer allows for extremely rapid lateral diffusion of heat generated by heat sources (such as chips and screen driver circuits) to the entire non-visual area 12, thereby significantly improving overall heat dissipation efficiency and effectively reducing the core temperature of the device. The silver layer formed by the plating process is firmly bonded and not easily peeled off. This process enables high-precision graphics, perfectly confined to the "non-visual area 12," avoiding interference with the display effect. At the same time, the plating thickness is controllable, which is conducive to achieving a thinner and lighter design of the device, significantly saving the amount of precious metal materials used and effectively controlling costs.

[0031] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3As shown, the front end of the housing 2 is precision-machined and features a U-shaped dispensing groove 23. This groove is designed to precisely control and accommodate a fixed amount of thermally conductive sealant. During assembly, an automated dispensing process evenly fills the groove 23 with the thermally conductive sealant, followed by precise pressing of the lens 1. Utilizing the fluidity and capillary action of the sealant, the thermally conductive sealant effectively fills the microscopic assembly gap between the lens 1 and the housing 2. After the sealant cures, it not only achieves a high-strength bond between the lens 1 and the housing 2 but also forms a reliable dual-function barrier: on the one hand, its excellent thermal conductivity efficiently conducts heat generated by internal electronic components (such as CMOS sensors) to the external metal housing 2, providing active thermal management; on the other hand, it completely blocks possible moisture penetration paths, significantly improving the overall waterproof sealing rating of the vision module (e.g., reaching IP67 or higher), effectively resisting corrosion from harsh environments such as humidity and dust.

[0032] In one embodiment, the mirror hole 21 includes a first through hole 211 and a second through hole 212 that communicate from the inside to the outside. The cross-sectional area of ​​the first through hole 211 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second through hole 212, and a mounting surface 22 is formed between the two. The dispensing groove 23 is disposed on the mounting surface 22.

[0033] Furthermore, the lens 1 is disposed within the second through hole 212, and the outer surface of the lens 1 is flush with the end of the second through hole 212 that is away from the first through hole 211.

[0034] In this embodiment, the stepped structure formed by the first through hole 211 and the second through hole 212 naturally constitutes a mechanical positioning reference, enabling the lens 1 to be installed quickly and accurately. This not only ensures high coaxiality between the lens 1 and the optical axis, improving assembly yield, but also simplifies the assembly process. Furthermore, the adhesive dispensing groove 23 is specifically positioned on the mounting surface 22, strictly confining the adhesive within the groove area. This precise adhesive control effectively avoids the risk of adhesive overflowing into the first through hole 211 and contaminating the internal sensor, or overflowing outwards and affecting the appearance, greatly improving the reliability and cleanliness of the sealing operation. The design of the lens 1's outer surface being flush with the equipment housing not only creates a clean and aesthetically pleasing integrated appearance, enhancing the product's texture, but also avoids the risk of scratches that might result from a protruding lens 1, while making daily cleaning and maintenance more convenient.

[0035] In one embodiment, the housing 2 is a metal housing. The metal housing 2 itself possesses excellent thermal conductivity. When it comes into direct contact with the silver thermally conductive layer disposed in the non-visual area 12, the two together construct an efficient heat conduction path from the internal heat source to the external environment. Furthermore, the combination of the metal housing 2 and the silver thermally conductive layer enhances the overall structural robustness and durability. Compared to non-metallic materials, metal can better withstand the stress generated by the dispensing process and the mechanical impacts during daily use, providing more reliable support and protection for the lens 1 assembly.

[0036] In one embodiment, multiple dispensing grooves 23 are arranged around the axis of the lens aperture 21 and distributed radially at intervals along the lens aperture 21, forming multiple independent annular dispensing areas. This arrangement allows for more uniform and stable adhesive coverage during lens assembly, which is beneficial for improving sealing performance or bonding strength.

[0037] In other embodiments, the radial widths of the multiple dispensing grooves 23 can be differentiated according to actual process requirements, and do not need to be identical. For example, the dispensing grooves 23 near the inner side of the lens aperture 21 can be designed to be narrower to meet the requirements of structural compactness; while the dispensing grooves 23 on the outer side can be appropriately widened to accommodate more adhesive and enhance edge bonding or sealing effects. In addition, the depth and cross-sectional shape of each dispensing groove 23 can also be adjusted accordingly to further optimize the dispensing uniformity and adhesive flow control capabilities, thereby adapting to the needs of different lens sizes, adhesive properties, or assembly precision.

[0038] In one embodiment, the vision module also integrates a water removal mechanism, which mainly includes a wiper 51 and a drive assembly 52. ​​The wiper 51 is connected to the drive assembly 52, which is fixedly mounted on the housing 2. The drive assembly 52 drives the wiper 51 to wipe the outer surface of the lens 1, effectively removing water droplets, water films, or condensed water vapor adhering to the lens, ensuring image clarity. In this embodiment, the drive assembly 52 specifically includes a motor and a linkage mechanism. The motor outputs torque to drive the linkage mechanism, which then transmits the motion to the wiper 51, causing it to oscillate back and forth along the lens surface, achieving a highly efficient and stable wiping effect. This linkage mechanism optimizes torque transmission and enhances the smoothness and reliability of the wiper operation.

[0039] In other embodiments, the drive assembly 52 can also be simplified to a direct motor drive, where the motor output shaft is directly connected to the wiper 51. Through forward and reverse rotation of the motor or in conjunction with a reduction gear, the wiper 51 is driven to perform high-frequency, small-angle reciprocating wiping on the outer surface of the lens. This compact structure is suitable for applications with limited space or high response speed requirements, and helps to further improve water removal efficiency and system integration.

[0040] In one embodiment, the vision module includes a lidar, which is disposed within the housing. This embodiment integrates the lidar and camera into one unit. In this integrated scenario, the camera within the vision module generates heat during high-speed image processing, while the lidar module, emitting a large number of laser beams, is the primary heat source for the entire device. Compared to a standalone vision module without integrated lidar, this embodiment generates more heat during operation, allowing more heat to be transferred to the lens via the heat-conducting layer. This results in a higher lens temperature, improving the evaporation efficiency of water vapor on the lens surface and further reducing the likelihood of water vapor accumulating on the lens.

[0041] In one embodiment, this application also provides a lawnmower including the aforementioned vision module. The lawnmower in this embodiment is generally a lawnmower robot, which uses the vision module to determine whether there are obstacles ahead. The camera in this embodiment can be a video camera or a camera for taking pictures.

[0042] In other embodiments, the vision module can also be applied to other intelligent robots, such as robotic vacuum cleaners and intelligent delivery vehicles.

[0043] In this application, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0044] In this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0045] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc., in this application (if present) are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0046] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0047] Unless otherwise specified, all steps in this application may be performed sequentially or randomly. For example, if the method includes steps A and B, it means that the method may include steps A and B performed sequentially, or it may include steps B and A performed sequentially. For example, if the method may also include step C, it means that step C may be added to the method in any order. For example, the method may include steps A, B, and C, or it may include steps A, C, and B, or it may include steps C, A, and B, etc.

[0048] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A visual module, characterized in that, Includes camera, housing, control board, lens, and heat-conducting layer; The housing is provided with a mirror hole, the lens is sealed and installed in the mirror hole, and the camera is installed inside the housing; The inner surface of the lens is divided into a visual zone corresponding to the lens field of view of the camera and a non-visual zone surrounding the visual zone. The thermally conductive layer is coated on the non-visual area; The control board is disposed inside the housing and near the lens aperture so that the heat emitted by the control board can be conducted to the lens through the heat-conducting layer.

2. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermally conductive layer covers the entire non-visual area; the thermally conductive layer is a metal layer plated on the non-visual area.

3. The visual module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermally conductive layer is a silver layer.

4. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front end of the housing is provided with a dispensing groove, which is filled with thermally conductive sealant. The lens is sealed to the housing through the thermally conductive sealant.

5. The visual module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mirror hole includes a first through hole and a second through hole that communicate from the inside to the outside. The cross-sectional area of ​​the first through hole is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second through hole, and a mounting surface is formed between the two. The dispensing groove is disposed on the mounting surface.

6. The visual module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lens is disposed in the second through hole, and the outer surface of the lens is flush with the end of the second through hole away from the first through hole.

7. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control board includes a circuit board, which is mounted on the housing and has one side adjacent to the mirror hole.

8. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The casing is a metal casing.

9. The visual module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The dispensing groove is arranged around the axis of the mirror hole, and multiple dispensing grooves are provided, which are distributed at radial intervals along the mirror hole.

10. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a water removal mechanism, which includes a wiper and a drive assembly. The wiper is connected to the drive assembly, which is fixed to the housing. The drive assembly is used to drive the wiper to wipe the outer surface of the lens.

11. The visual module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes a lidar, which is disposed within the housing.

12. A lawnmower comprising the vision module as described in any one of claims 1-11.

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