Camera module with heating function
The camera module design with an internal electric heating unit and sealed connections addresses lens clouding and connector space issues, ensuring stable imaging and compact size.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHEJIANG SUNNY SMARTLEAD TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing camera modules face issues with lens clouding due to insufficient waterproofing of heating coils, vulnerability to air flow, large connector installation area, high manufacturing costs, and hindered miniaturization.
A camera module design with an electric heating device inside the lens barrel, using flexible circuit boards or lead wires for connections, sealed with a sealing member, and welded connectors to ensure waterproofing and compact design.
Prevents lens fogging, ensures stable image quality, reduces connector volume, and achieves miniaturization while maintaining aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure 2026518101000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] <Cross - reference to Related Applications> This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application filed on May 12, 2023, with the application number 202310532862.8 and the invention title "Camera Module with Heating Function", and all its contents are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of image forming apparatuses, and particularly to a camera module with a heating function.
Background Art
[0003] With the rapid development of intelligent vehicles, the application technology of in - vehicle camera modules has matured, and the number of vehicles equipped with camera modules as components of advanced driver assistance systems has been increasing. Due to changes in the driving environment, the front lens of the camera module may become cloudy or frozen at various temperatures, resulting in unclear images and the inability to perform its original functions. To reduce the problem of lens clouding, a heating coil is wound around the outside of the lens, and power is supplied to the heating coil through a conductive circuit, a power circuit board, and a connector, and the lens is electrically heated.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] As described above, in the method of winding and exposing the heating coil around the lens, waterproofness cannot be ensured. Also, there is a problem that the heating effect of the heating coil on the lens is easily affected by factors such as air flow. Connecting the conductive circuit and the power circuit board with a connector makes it easy to insert and remove, but the plug - in structure of the connector has a large installation area and volume, which hinders the volume control and miniaturization of the camera module. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the camera module using a connector is high.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a camera module with a heating function.
[0006] The camera module with heating function comprises a lens, an electric heating device, a circuit board, and a housing. The lens comprises a lens barrel and a lens assembly mounted inside the lens barrel. The electric heating device comprises an electrical connection part and an electric heating part, one end of the electrical connection part being electrically connected to the electric heating part, and a first conductive connector being provided at the other end of the electrical connection part, with the electric heating part located inside the lens barrel. A second conductive connector is provided on the circuit board, and the first conductive connector and the second conductive connector are connected by welding. The circuit board is provided with a power supply circuit electrically connected to the second conductive connector, a through hole is provided in the wall of the lens barrel, the through hole is located close to the circuit board, and the electrical connection part is led out to the outside of the lens barrel through the through hole. The housing is provided with a lens mounting part for mounting the lens, the lens is mounted on the lens mounting part, and the circuit board is located inside the housing.
[0007] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the electrical connection part is further a flexible circuit board or lead wire. According to the above-described technical solution of the present invention, since flexible circuit boards are typically thin, the internal space of the camera module can be more effectively saved. Since electrical connections of electrical components can be made via lead wires, there is the advantage of a wider range of applicable materials.
[0008] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the electrical connection part is a flexible circuit board, and the electric heating part is an electric heating sheet comprising a substrate and a heating wire disposed inside or on the surface of the substrate, or the electric heating part is a heating wire formed on or inside the surface of the flexible circuit board.
[0009] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the lens assembly further includes two or more lenses spaced apart along the optical axis of the lens, and the electric heating unit is positioned inside the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens. According to the above-described technical solution of the present invention, the electric heating unit can raise the temperature inside the lens more directly and rapidly, thereby preventing fogging of the lens.
[0010] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the circuit board is further positioned at the light-emitting end of the lens, the circuit board and the lens barrel are fixedly connected, and the photosensitive element positioned on the circuit board is used to convert the light emitted from the lens into an image signal. With the above-described technical solution of the present invention, on the one hand, the distance between the electric heating unit and the circuit board can be shortened by the above structure, and the connection can be achieved with a shorter electrical connection. On the other hand, the fixed connection between the circuit board and the lens barrel can further stabilize the temperature drift of the camera module, thereby achieving more stable image quality.
[0011] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the electrical connection located inside the lens barrel is an internal electrical connection, and the electrical connection located outside the lens barrel is an external electrical connection, and the external electrical connection and the outer wall of the lens barrel are connected by adhesive bonding. With the above-described technical solution of the present invention, the electrical connection located outside the lens barrel (external electrical connection) can be securely connected to the lens barrel, and the outward protrusion of the electrical connection can be prevented from affecting the layout and mounting of other components inside the housing. Furthermore, since the internal electrical connection is concealed inside the lens barrel, it does not affect the aesthetic appearance of the outer part of the lens barrel that may be exposed to the outside of the housing.
[0012] In the above-described camera module with heating function, a housing groove for accommodating the internal electrical connection is further provided in the inner wall of the lens barrel. By arranging the internal electrical connection in the housing groove according to the above-described technical solution of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the internal electrical connection affecting the layout and mounting of the lens assembly inside the lens barrel.
[0013] In the above-described camera module with heating function, a sealing member is further provided at a position corresponding to the through-hole of the electrical connection part. With the above-described technical solution of the present invention, the lens and the lens barrel are sealed and connected, the electric heating part is located inside the lens barrel, and the electrical connection part and the lens barrel are sealed via the sealing member, thereby ensuring the waterproofness of the heating coil.
[0014] In the above-described camera module with heating function, the electric heating unit further has an annular structure and is positioned inside the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens.
[0015] In the above-described camera module with heating function, a heat conduction medium is further placed between the electrically heating unit and the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens.
[0016] In the above-described camera module with a heating function, the electric heating unit is positioned inside the lens barrel, preventing contact with the external environment and ensuring the waterproofness of the electric heating unit. Furthermore, since the electric heating unit is built into the lens barrel, external airflow and other factors are prevented from affecting the heating effect on the lens. In addition, connecting the first conductive connector and the second conductive connector by welding overcomes the problem of connectors occupying a large space when plugged in, making it easier to control the volume and miniaturize the design of the camera module. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0017] To more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings necessary for the description of the embodiments or the prior art are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the disclosed drawings without creative efforts.
[0018] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing the three-dimensional structure of the camera module with a heating function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the cross-sectional structure of the camera module with a heating function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the electrical connection part in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the electrical connection part in the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing the connection method between the lens barrel and the circuit board in one embodiment. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged view of the lower position of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing the cross-section of the camera module with a heating function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing the structure of the electric heating part in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing the structure of the electric heating part in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 9.
Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention
[0019] Hereinafter, referring to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Similar terms such as "including" or "comprising" used in the present invention mean that the elements before that term include the elements listed after that term, and do not exclude the possibility of including other elements.
[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used in the present invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of the present invention. Also, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries, for example, should be interpreted to be consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and it should be understood that they should not be interpreted in an idealized or highly formal sense unless explicitly defined otherwise in the present invention.
[0021] Parts not described in detail in the present invention, parameters such as specific models of parts, relationships between parts, and control circuits are assumed to be technologies, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the related art. However, where appropriate, such technologies, methods, and devices should be regarded as part of this specification.
[0022] In the drawings of the present invention, the arrows without numbers indicate the direction of light rays.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a camera module 100 with a heating function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The camera module 100 with a heating function includes a lens 10, an electric heating device 30, a circuit board 20, and a housing 40.
[0024] The lens 10 comprises a lens barrel 11 and a lens assembly 13 mounted inside the lens barrel 11. The lens barrel 11 is generally a hollow cylindrical structure and can be made of plastic (PC or ABS) or metal (stainless steel or aluminum). The lens assembly 13, located inside the lens barrel 11, typically consists of multiple lenses, including a lens 12 corresponding to the light-ray incident end 14 of the lens 10. After the camera module 100 is mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle may be used at low temperatures, so if the temperature outside the lens 12 is lower than the temperature inside the lens 12, water vapor inside the lens 12 will condense into water mist inside the lens 12, affecting the imaging effect of the lens 10.
[0025] The electric heating device 30 comprises an electrical connection part 31 and an electric heating part 32. One end of the electrical connection part 31 is electrically connected to the electric heating part 32, and a first conductive connector 33 is provided at the other end of the electrical connection part 31. The electric heating part 32 is located inside the lens barrel 11. When the electric heating part 32 is connected to the power supply circuit via the electrical connection part 31, the electric heating part 32 generates heat, raising the temperature inside the lens barrel 11. By making the temperature inside the lens barrel 11 (the temperature inside the lens 12) equal to or higher than the temperature outside the lens 12 (the ambient temperature), the problem of lens fogging can be avoided.
[0026] A second conductive connector 21 is provided on the circuit board 20, and the first conductive connector 33 and the second conductive connector 21 are connected by welding. The circuit board 20 is provided with a power supply circuit that is electrically connected to the second conductive connector 21. By connecting the first conductive connector 33 and the second conductive connector 21 by welding, the problem that the connector occupies a large space when plugging it in, affecting the miniaturization of the camera module 100 and the effective use of the internal space of the camera module 100, is overcome. The above welding method may be tin spray welding which can be achieved by machine, thereby improving consistency in the manufacturing process and ensuring good electrical connection between the first conductive connector 33 and the second conductive connector 21. Since the inside of the lens barrel 11 has a relatively sealed structure, when heating the inner space of the lens 12 with the electric heating unit 32, high heating power is not required, nor is it necessary to operate the electric heating unit 32 continuously. Therefore, the heating temperature can be controlled by the presence and magnitude of the current in the power supply circuit.
[0027] A through-hole 112 is provided in the wall of the lens barrel, and the position of the through-hole 112 is close to the circuit board 20. The electrical connection part 31 is brought out to the outside of the lens barrel 11 through the through-hole 112. On the one hand, the electrical connection part 31 is located partially inside the lens barrel 11 and partially outside the lens barrel 11. Since part of the electrical connection part 31 is located inside the lens barrel 11, it is possible to avoid the aesthetic problems and the problem of the electrical connection part 31 being completely exposed on the outside of the lens barrel 11, and occupying the layout space of other components.
[0028] The housing is provided with a lens mounting section 41 for attaching the lens 10. The lens 10 is attached to the lens mounting section 41, and the circuit board 20 is located inside the housing. The housing may be a single, integrated housing, or it may be assembled from a first housing and a second housing. By arranging the electric heating device 30 inside the lens barrel 11, the electric heating device 30 is prevented from being exposed, heat loss is suppressed, and the aesthetic appearance of the camera module 100 is improved.
[0029] In the above embodiment of the camera module 100 with a heating function of the present invention, the electric heating unit 32 is arranged inside the lens barrel 11, so that the electric heating unit 32 does not come into contact with the external environment and the waterproofness of the electric heating unit 32 is ensured. Furthermore, since the electric heating unit 32 is built into the lens barrel 11, external airflow and other factors do not affect the heating effect on the lens 10 by the electric heating unit 32. In addition, connecting the first conductive connector 33 and the second conductive connector 21 by welding overcomes the problem of the connector occupying a large space when plugged in, making it easy to control the volume and miniaturize the design of the camera module 100.
[0030] In the camera module 100 with heating function according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connection section 31 has various specific implementation methods. As shown in Figure 3, the electrical connection section 31 is a flexible circuit board, and a first conductive connector 33 is provided at the end of the flexible circuit board. Since flexible circuit boards are usually thin, they can more effectively save internal space in the camera module 100. In another specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the electrical connection section 31 is a lead wire, and a first conductive connector 33 is provided at the other end of the lead wire. Since the electrical connection of the electrical components is made via the lead wire, there is an advantage in that the range of applicable materials is widened. The length of the flexible circuit board needs to be determined according to the distance between the electric heating device 30 and the board, and it is necessary to ensure that the electric heating unit 32 and the power supply circuit are electrically conductive.
[0031] In some embodiments, the electrical connection section 31 is a flexible circuit board, and the electric heating section 32 is an electric heating sheet comprising a substrate 321 and a heating wire 322 disposed inside or on the surface of the substrate 321. The substrate 321 can be made of a heat-resistant material such as glass fiber cloth, glass fiber mesh, or fire-resistant wool. Alternatively, the electric heating section 32 is an electric heating wire formed on or inside the flexible circuit board. When in use, the flexible circuit board must have good heat resistance, and the temperature of the electric heating wire must be controlled to prevent damage to the flexible circuit board due to overheating.
[0032] There are various ways in which the electric heating unit 32 and the lens barrel 11 can be positioned. However, since fogging generally occurs inside the lens 12, the lens assembly 13 can optionally include two or more lenses spaced apart along the optical axis of the lens 10. As shown in Figure 2, the electric heating unit 32 is positioned inside the lens 12 corresponding to the light-ray incident end 14 of the lens 10. Therefore, the electric heating unit 32 can raise the temperature inside the lens 12 more directly and quickly, thereby preventing fogging of the lens.
[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, based on the structure of the above embodiment, the circuit board 20 is positioned at the light-emitting end 15 of the lens 10, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The circuit board 20 and the lens barrel 11 are fixedly connected (for example, by adhesive bonding). The photosensitive element 22 positioned on the circuit board 20 is used to convert the light rays emitted from the lens 10 into an image signal. On the one hand, the above structure allows for a reduction in the distance between the electric heating unit 32 and the circuit board, enabling connection with a shorter electrical connection unit 31. On the other hand, the fixed connection between the circuit board 20 and the lens barrel 11 further stabilizes the temperature drift of the camera module 100, thereby achieving more stable image quality.
[0034] In an optional embodiment as shown in Figure 2, a through-hole 112 is provided in the wall of the lens barrel 11, and the position of the through-hole 112 is close to the circuit board 20. The electrical connection 31 is brought out to the outside of the lens barrel 11 through the through-hole 112. The electrical connection 31 located inside the lens barrel 11 is the inner electrical connection 311, and the electrical connection 31 located outside the lens barrel 11 is the outer electrical connection 312. The outer electrical connection 312 is connected to the outer wall of the lens barrel 11 by adhesion (e.g., adhesion by adhesive or double-sided tape). This structure allows the electrical connection located outside the lens barrel 11 (outer electrical connection 312) to be securely connected to the lens barrel 11, preventing outward protrusion from affecting the layout and mounting of other components inside the housing. In addition, since the inner electrical connection 311 is concealed inside the lens barrel, it does not affect the aesthetics of the outer portion of the lens barrel 11 that may be exposed outside the housing. Furthermore, in an optional embodiment, a housing groove 111 is provided in the inner wall of the lens barrel 11 for accommodating the internal electrical connection 311. By locating the internal electrical connection 311 in the housing groove, it is possible to avoid the internal electrical connection 311 affecting the layout and mounting of the lens assembly 13 inside the lens barrel.
[0035] In some embodiments, a through-hole 112 is provided in the wall of the lens barrel 11. The through-hole 112 is located close to the circuit board 20. The electrical connection part 31 is led out of the lens barrel 11 through the through-hole 112. A sealing member 313 is provided in the electrical connection part 31 at a position corresponding to the through-hole 112. The sealing member 313 may be a sealing rubber sleeve, a sealing rubber ring, or the like. The lens 12 and the lens barrel 11 are sealed together, and the electric heating part 32 is located inside the lens barrel 11, sealing the electrical connection part 31 and the lens barrel 11 via the sealing member 313, thereby ensuring the waterproofness of the heating coil.
[0036] In some embodiments, adhesive can also be filled into the position corresponding to the through hole 112 of the electrical connection portion 31.
[0037] In the embodiment of the camera module 100 with heating function shown in Figure 2, the electric heating unit 32 has an annular structure and is positioned inside the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end 14 of the lens 10. The annular structure of the electric heating unit 32 allows it to satisfy the heating function while avoiding blocking the light rays incident from the lens 10. In an optional embodiment, a heat conductive medium 34 is placed between the electric heating unit 32 and the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end 14 of the lens 10. The heat conductive medium 34 is thermal grease or other paste-like heat conductive material. This improves heat conduction between the electric heating unit 32 and the lens 12, allowing the lens to heat up rapidly.
[0038] Each of the technical features in the above embodiments can be arbitrarily grouped together, and for the sake of brevity, all groups of technical features from the above embodiments combined have not been described. However, any combination of these groups of technical features is considered to fall within the scope described herein, provided that they do not contradict each other.
[0039] The above embodiments are described in detail and specifically illustrating only some embodiments of the present invention, but this does not limit the scope of the claims. Those skilled in the art should note that several modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0040] 100 Camera Modules 10 lenses 11 Lens barrel 111 Storage groove 112 Through hole 12 lenses 13 Lens Assembly 14 Ray entrance end 15 Light beam exit end 20 Circuit boards 21 Second conductive connector 22 Photosensitive elements 30 Electric heating device 31 Electrical connection 32 Electric heating section 33 First Conductive Connector 34. Thermal Conducting Medium 311 Internal electrical connection 312 External electrical connection 313 Sealing components 321 circuit board 322 Heating wire 40 Housing 41 Lens mounting section
Claims
1. A camera module with a heating function comprising a lens, an electric heating device, a circuit board, and a housing, The lens comprises a lens barrel and a lens assembly mounted inside the lens barrel. The electric heating device comprises an electrical connection section and an electric heating section, one end of the electrical connection section is electrically connected to the electric heating section, a first conductive connector is provided at the other end of the electrical connection section, and the electric heating section is located inside the lens barrel. A second conductive connector is provided on the circuit board, the first conductive connector and the second conductive connector are connected by welding, the circuit board is provided with a power supply circuit electrically connected to the second conductive connector, a through hole is provided in the wall of the lens barrel, the position of the through hole is close to the circuit board, and the electrical connection part is led out to the outside of the lens barrel through the through hole. A camera module with a heating function, characterized in that the housing is provided with a lens mounting portion for attaching the lens, the lens is attached to the lens mounting portion, and the circuit board is arranged inside the housing.
2. The camera module with heating function according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection part is a flexible circuit board or a lead wire.
3. The camera module with heating function according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection part is a flexible circuit board, the electric heating part is an electric heating sheet comprising a substrate and a heating wire disposed inside or on the surface of the substrate, or the electric heating part is a heating wire formed on or inside the surface of the flexible circuit board.
4. The camera module with heating function according to claim 1, wherein the lens assembly includes two or more lenses spaced apart along the optical axis of the lens, and the electric heating unit is positioned inside the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens.
5. The camera module with heating function according to claim 4, characterized in that the circuit board is arranged at the light ray exit end of the lens, the circuit board and the lens barrel are fixedly connected, and the photosensitive element arranged on the circuit board is used to convert the light rays emitted from the lens into an image signal.
6. The camera module with heating function according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection part located inside the lens barrel is an inner electrical connection part, the electrical connection part located outside the lens barrel is an outer electrical connection part, and the outer electrical connection part and the outer wall of the lens barrel are connected by an adhesive method.
7. The camera module with heating function according to claim 6, characterized in that a housing groove for housing the internal electrical connection portion is provided in the inner wall of the lens barrel.
8. The camera module with heating function according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing member is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole of the electrical connection portion.
9. The camera module with heating function according to claim 4, characterized in that the electric heating unit has an annular structure and is arranged inside the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens.
10. The camera module with heating function according to claim 9, characterized in that a heat conductive medium is placed between the electric heating unit and the lens corresponding to the light ray incident end of the lens.