Camera module
The camera module's innovative heat dissipation fins and airflow paths address overheating issues in industrial camera modules, ensuring reliable image quality by efficiently removing heat from the imaging sensor and processor.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OMRON CORP
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
AI Technical Summary
Camera modules used in industrial applications, such as factory line monitoring, face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat generated by the imaging sensor and processor, leading to noise and image processing errors due to overheating.
A camera module design featuring a housing with heat dissipation fins arranged point-symmetrically around a cylindrical lens mounting portion, forming airflow paths that efficiently dissipate heat into the external space, with multiple airflow paths ensuring continuous heat removal even if one path is obstructed.
The design effectively dissipates heat from the imaging sensor and processor, reducing noise and image processing errors, ensuring stable image analysis in high-speed, long-duration imaging operations.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a camera module.
Background Art
[0002] In a digital camera, heat generation of an imaging sensor causes deterioration of image quality. Therefore, technologies have been developed in which a cooling fan and an air circulation path are provided in the camera to efficiently exhaust heat around the imaging sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] For example, a camera module for monitoring a factory line is assumed to have a more severe usage mode than a consumer digital camera, such as being required to perform repeated imaging processing at high speed and for a long time. If an imaging signal is continuously output repeatedly at high speed and for a long time, the imaging sensor becomes hot and the generation of noise increases. In addition, a processor that processes such an imaging signal into image data also becomes hot and may cause an error in image processing. Noise generated in the image or the absence of the image itself may also interfere with image analysis, etc., and thus is not acceptable in applications such as line monitoring. That is, a camera module used as an image sensor such as for object recognition requires higher heat exhaust performance.
[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides a camera module capable of efficiently discharging heat accumulated in a housing to an external space.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A camera module in one aspect of the present invention comprises an image sensor and a housing that supports the image sensor, the housing having a cylindrical lens mounting portion protruding from one surface and a group of heat dissipation fins protruding from the one surface such that a path for airflow is formed from at least a part of one side of the one surface, through an outer peripheral space surrounding the cylindrical outer circumference of the lens mounting portion, toward at least a part of the other side opposite to the one side.
[0007] A camera module configured in this way can be positioned in contact with the lens mounting area, where heat tends to concentrate inside the housing, and can generate an airflow that takes in that heat and dissipates it into the outside space, thus achieving high heat dissipation performance.
[0008] Furthermore, in the camera module described above, the heat dissipation fin group may be configured such that a plurality of heat dissipation fins on one side of the outer peripheral space surrounding the cylindrical outer circumference of the lens mounting portion and a plurality of heat dissipation fins on the other side of the outer peripheral space are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mounting portion. When two groups of heat dissipation fins are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the outer peripheral space in this way, the generated airflow can easily flow through the outer peripheral space surrounding the cylindrical outer circumference.
[0009] In this configuration, the path formed by multiple heat dissipation fins on one side should be oblique to that side, and the path formed by multiple heat dissipation fins on the other side should be oblique to that other side. This configuration increases the surface area of the heat dissipation fins that the airflow contacts, thereby improving heat dissipation performance.
[0010] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned camera module, the housing should be configured to have at least two sets of heat dissipation fins on one surface. With this configuration, it is expected that at least two airflows will be generated. Moreover, even if one is blocked, the other can be expected to generate airflow.
[0011] Furthermore, the camera module may be configured to include a fixing part that protrudes from one of its surfaces and is used to secure it to an object facing that surface. By fixing the camera module to the object using such a fixing part, an airflow path can be secured on the mounting surface side, allowing heat that tends to accumulate in the lens mounting area to be properly discharged to the outside space. [Effects of the Invention]
[0012] The present invention provides a camera module that can efficiently dissipate heat accumulated in the housing into the external space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0013] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view of the camera module according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the first enclosure, observed from the rear. [Figure 3] This is a front view showing the configuration of the heat dissipation fins and lens mount. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the airflow path through the first group of heat dissipation fins. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the airflow path through the second group of heat dissipation fins. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the camera module installed on the mounting base. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing, components with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configuration. Furthermore, in each drawing, if there are multiple structures with the same or similar configuration, reference numerals may be assigned to some of them, while the same reference numerals may be omitted to avoid complexity. In addition, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means to solve the problem.
[0015] Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the camera module 10 according to this embodiment. The camera module 10 is mainly composed of a first housing 100 and a second housing 200. The first housing 100 and the second housing 200 each have a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, and even when the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are connected to each other, the overall shape is roughly rectangular. For the material of the first housing 100 and the second housing 200, for example, an aluminum alloy with high heat dissipation may be used. When the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are connected to each other, the side of the first housing 100 opposite to the second housing 200 is referred to as the front side, and the side of the second housing 200 opposite to the first housing 100 is referred to as the rear side.
[0016] The first housing 100 has a lens mount 110, a heat dissipation fin 130, and a front fixing part 150 on one front surface. The first housing 100 supports the image sensor 120 via an image substrate. The lens mount 110 is a lens mounting part for detachably attaching the lens module 20, and has a cylindrical shape. When the lens module 20 is attached to the lens mount 110, the subject image focused by the lens group of the lens module 20 passes through the inside of the cylinder of the lens mount 110 and forms an image on the light-receiving surface of the image sensor 120. In the figure, the optical axis C of the lens group when the lens module 20 is attached to the lens mount 110 is shown by a dashed line.
[0017] Therefore, the image sensor 120 is positioned relatively close to the rear of the lens mount 110, and much of the heat generated from the image sensor 120 tends to accumulate on the lens mount 110. In other words, the lens mount 110 tends to become hot. The diffusion of the heat accumulated on the lens mount 110 will be described in detail later.
[0018] The heat dissipation fins 130 are thermally coupled to the imaging sensor 120 via the imaging substrate and play a role in diffusing much of the heat generated by the imaging sensor 120 into the air. In addition, some of the heat generated by the image processing processor supported by the second housing 200 is also received through the second housing 200 and diffused into the air. The configuration of the heat dissipation fins 130 and the heat diffusion will be described in detail later.
[0019] On one surface on the front side of the first housing 100, front fixing parts 150 for fixing the camera module 10 to the installation target are provided at each of the four corners. The front fixing part 150 includes, for example, a female screw. In addition, two side fixing parts 140 for fixing the camera module 10 to the installation target are provided on each side surface of the first housing 100. The side fixing part 140 is, for example, a female screw. Also, two side fixing parts 240 for fixing the camera module 10 to the installation target are provided on each side surface of the second housing 200. The side fixing part 240 is, for example, a female screw. The front fixing part 150, the side fixing parts 140 and 240 are selectively used according to the structure of the installation target and the installation posture of the camera module 10. In particular, since the side surfaces of the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are formed to be along the same plane, by using the two side fixing parts 140 and the two side fixing parts 240, the camera module 10 can be more stably fixed to the installation target.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first housing 100 observed from the back side, and is a view with the elements supported by the first housing 100 removed. The first housing 100 includes a housing recess 101 that houses so as to surround the periphery of the imaging sensor 120 mounted on the imaging substrate. The housing recess 101 has an opening 101a for guiding the subject light beam to the light receiving surface of the imaging sensor 120.
[0021] The heat generated by the imaging sensor 120 is absorbed from the housing recess 101 and propagated to the first housing 100. The heat propagated to the first housing 100 eventually reaches the heat dissipation fins 130. Also, the side cylinder part 111 of the lens mount 110 directly receives the heat generated by the imaging sensor 120 through the opening 101a. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the lens mount 110 is integrally formed as a part of the first housing 100, a relatively large amount of heat received in the housing recess 101 also gathers at the side cylinder part 111. In addition to this, the heat generated by the imaging sensor 120 is propagated to the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 through the imaging substrate.
[0022] Figure 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the heat dissipation fins 130 and the lens mount 110. The lens mount 110 and the heat dissipation fins 130 are each provided protruding from the base surface 102, which is one of the front surfaces of the first housing 100. The height of the lens mount 110, which is the amount of protrusion from the base surface 102, and the height of the heat dissipation fins 130, which is also the amount of protrusion from the base surface 102, may be different. In the figure, the base surface 102 is represented by shading.
[0023] The walls of the heat dissipation fins 130, which are erected from the base surface 102, form an inter-wall space between adjacent heat dissipation fins 130, with the base surface 102 as the bottom surface, which serves as a flow path for air. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, each heat dissipation fin 130 is not connected to the side cylinder portion 111 of the lens mount 110 at the end facing the side cylinder portion 111, and maintains a certain distance from it. Specifically, the circle connecting the ends of each heat dissipation fin 130, shown by the dotted line in the figure, is concentric with the side cylinder portion 111, and forms an outer peripheral space between it and the outer circumference of the side cylinder portion 111, with the base surface 102 as the bottom surface, which serves as a flow path for air.
[0024] In this embodiment, the ends of each heat dissipation fin 130 are formed to align with the concentric circles of the side cylinder portion 111. However, the shape and position of the ends of each heat dissipation fin 130 are not limited to this, as long as an outer peripheral space is formed on the outer circumference of the side cylinder portion 111. For example, each heat dissipation fin 130 may be formed to extend radially from the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110. When formed to extend radially, the imaginary lines obtained by extending each heat dissipation fin 130 are not necessarily limited to passing through the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110. For example, such imaginary lines may be offset radially such that they are at a certain distance from the cylindrical center. Furthermore, each heat dissipation fin 130 is not limited to being formed in a straight line, but may also be formed in a curved shape. Also, as in the case of radial formation, each heat dissipation fin 130 does not have to be arranged parallel to each other even if they belong to the same group of heat dissipation fins. In other words, the configuration may vary in the width of the airflow path.
[0025] Furthermore, the base surface 102 does not necessarily have to be flat; for example, the bottom surface of the outer peripheral space and the bottom surface of the space between the walls of the heat dissipation fins 130 may have some difference in height. The front fixing portion 150 is provided protruding from the base surface 102, similar to the lens mount 110 and the heat dissipation fins 130. In this embodiment, the front fixing portion 150 is arranged at the four corners of the base surface 102, and the top surfaces of each form the same plane. In addition, the top surface of each heat dissipation fin 130 is prepared to be lower than this same plane, that is, to be on the base surface 102 side.
[0026] The heat dissipation fins 130 can be divided into multiple heat dissipation fin groups depending on their arrangement. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the airflow path of the first set of heat dissipation fin groups. The upper part of Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the first set of heat dissipation fin groups, and the two lower parts of Figure 4 are diagrams illustrating the airflow path formed by the first set of heat dissipation fin groups.
[0027] The first group of heat dissipation fins is a combination of a first group 130a, which is a group of heat dissipation fins 130 having one end on the first side 102a, which is one side of the base surface 102, and a second group 130b, which is a group of heat dissipation fins 130 having one end on the second side 102b, which is opposite the first side 102a. The first group 130a and the second group 130b are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110, which coincides with the optical axis C when the lens module 20 is mounted on the lens mount 110.
[0028] The first set of heat dissipation fins and the side cylinder portion 111 of the lens mount 110, configured in this way, form a wall space and an outer peripheral space. As shown by the dotted arrow in the lower left figure of Figure 4, an airflow path is formed where air enters the wall space formed by the first group 130a from at least a portion of the first side 102a, passes through the outer peripheral space, and flows through the wall space formed by the second group 130b towards at least a portion of the second side 102b. Alternatively, as shown by the dotted arrow in the lower right figure of Figure 4, an airflow path is formed where air enters the wall space formed by the second group 130b from at least a portion of the second side 102b, passes through the outer peripheral space, and flows through the wall space formed by the first group 130a towards at least a portion of the first side 102a. The direction in which the airflow occurs depends on the environment in which the camera module 10 is installed and its installed orientation.
[0029] The airflow passing through the thus formed path efficiently removes heat from the heat dissipation fins 130 of the first group 130a and the second group 130b and the side cylinder portion 111, and diffuses it into the outside space. In particular, since this airflow contacts the side cylinder portion 111 of the lens mount 110, where heat generated by the image sensor 120 tends to accumulate, it suppresses the overheating of the area around the image sensor 120 and also reduces the heat transferred from the lens mount 110 to the lens module 20. Furthermore, since the first group 130a and the second group 130b are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110, they do not obstruct the smooth flow of the airflow.
[0030] Figure 5 illustrates the airflow path created by the second set of heat dissipation fins. The upper part of Figure 5 illustrates the second set of heat dissipation fins, while the two lower parts of Figure 5 illustrate the airflow path formed by the second set of heat dissipation fins.
[0031] The second group of heat dissipation fins is a combination of a third group 130c, which is a group of heat dissipation fins 130 having one end on the third side 102c, which is one side of the base surface 102, and a fourth group 130d, which is a group of heat dissipation fins 130 having one end on the fourth side 102d, which is opposite the third side 102c. The third group 130c and the fourth group 130d are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110, which coincides with the optical axis C when the lens module 20 is mounted on the lens mount 110.
[0032] The first set of heat dissipation fins and the side cylinder portion 111 of the lens mount 110, configured in this way, form a wall space and an outer peripheral space. Then, as shown by the dotted arrow in the lower left figure of Figure 5, an airflow path is formed in which air enters the wall space formed by the third group 130c from at least a portion of the third side 102c, passes through the outer peripheral space, and flows through the wall space formed by the fourth group 130d toward at least a portion of the fourth side 102d. Alternatively, as shown by the dotted arrow in the lower right figure of Figure 5, an airflow path is formed in which air enters the wall space formed by the fourth group 130d from at least a portion of the fourth side 102d, passes through the outer peripheral space, and flows through the wall space formed by the third group 130c toward at least a portion of the third side 102c. The direction in which the airflow occurs depends on the environment in which the camera module 10 is installed and its installed orientation, etc.
[0033] The airflow passing through the thus formed path efficiently removes heat from the heat dissipation fins 130 and side cylinder portion 111 of the third group 130c and fourth group 130d, and diffuses it into the outside space. In particular, since this airflow contacts the side cylinder portion 111 of the lens mount 110, where heat generated by the image sensor 120 tends to accumulate, it suppresses the overheating of the area around the image sensor 120 and also reduces the heat transferred from the lens mount 110 to the lens module 20. Furthermore, since the third group 130c and fourth group 130d are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mount 110, they do not obstruct the smooth flow of airflow.
[0034] Furthermore, the base surface 102 is provided with a first group of heat dissipation fins consisting of a first group 130a and a second group 130b, and a second group of heat dissipation fins consisting of a third group 130c and a fourth group 130d, so it can be expected that airflow will be generated in at least one of the paths. For example, when the camera module 10 is fixed to the installation target using the side fixing part 240, one side of the camera module 10 will be in contact with the installation target, and one end of one of the wall spaces will be closed off. However, the path formed by one group of heat dissipation fins on the base surface 102, which has two sides perpendicular to the installation target as its ends, will not be closed off, so it can be expected that airflow will be generated in this path. Note that it is not limited to providing two groups of heat dissipation fins as in this embodiment; three or more groups of heat dissipation fins may be provided.
[0035] Each heat dissipation fin 130 of the first group 130a is erected on the base surface 102 so as to be oblique to the first side 102a. Similarly, each heat dissipation fin 130 of the second group 130b is erected on the base surface 102 so as to be oblique to the second side 102b, each heat dissipation fin 130 of the third group 130c is erected so as to be oblique to the third side 102c, and each heat dissipation fin 130 of the fourth group 130d is erected on the base surface 102 so as to be oblique to the fourth side 102d. By arranging them in this way, the total length of the path can be increased, and consequently the area of the heat dissipation fins 130 that comes into contact with the amount of air can be increased, so that more heat can be transferred from the heat dissipation fins 130 to the airflow.
[0036] Figure 6 shows the camera module 10 installed on the mounting base 80. Specifically, it is a side view showing the front fixing part 150 in contact with the mounting surface 81 of the mounting base 80 and fixed with fixing bolts 90. The mounting base 80 has a through-hole through which the lens module 20 passes, and the lens module 20 is attached to the lens mount 110 through this through-hole.
[0037] As shown in the figure, when the camera module 10 is fixed to the mounting base 80 using the front fixing part 150, the front side is covered by the mounting surface 81. However, the end of the space between the walls formed by the heat dissipation fins 130 is not closed, so the inflow and outflow of airflow is not obstructed. In other words, even when the camera module 10 is fixed to the mounting object in this position, the airflow path explained using Figures 4 and 5 is secured, and heat can still be efficiently removed from the heat dissipation fins 130 and the side cylinder part 111 and diffused into the outside space.
[0038] The airflow described above is a simplified representation of a portion of the airflow generated on the front side of the camera module 10; in reality, other complex airflows may also occur. Of course, airflows not limited to those moving in the planar direction on the base surface 102 may also include components in the vertical direction.
[0039] [Note] Image sensor (120), A housing (100) supporting the imaging sensor and Equipped with, The aforementioned enclosure is A cylindrical lens mounting portion (110) is provided protruding from one surface (102), A group of heat dissipation fins (130) is provided protruding from the one surface such that a path for airflow is formed from at least a portion of one side (102a, 102c) of the one surface, through the outer peripheral space surrounding the cylindrical outer circumference of the lens mounting portion, toward at least a portion of the other side (102b, 102d) opposite to the one side. A camera module (10) having the following features. [Explanation of symbols]
[0040] 10...Camera module, 20...Lens module, 80...Mounting base, 81...Mounting surface, 90...Fixing bolt, 100...First housing, 101...Receiving recess, 101a...Opening, 102...Base surface, 102a...First side, 102b...Second side, 102c...Third side, 102d...Fourth side, 110...Lens mount, 111...Side cylinder section, 120...Image sensor, 130...Heat dissipation fins, 130a...First group, 130b...Second group, 130c...Third group, 130d...Fourth group, 140...Side fixing part, 150...Front fixing part, 200...Second housing, 240...Side fixing part
Claims
1. Image sensor and A housing supporting the aforementioned imaging sensor and Equipped with, The aforementioned enclosure is A cylindrical lens mounting section is provided protruding from one side, A group of heat dissipation fins is provided protruding from the aforementioned surface such that a path for airflow is formed, flowing from at least a portion of one side of the aforementioned surface, through the outer peripheral space surrounding the cylindrical outer circumference of the lens mounting portion, toward at least a portion of the other side opposite to the aforementioned side. It has, The heat dissipation fins are not connected to the outer circumference of the cylinder and are at a certain distance from it, thereby forming the outer peripheral space in the camera module.
2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation fin group is configured such that a plurality of heat dissipation fins on one side with respect to the outer peripheral space and a plurality of heat dissipation fins on the other side with respect to the outer peripheral space are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the cylindrical center of the lens mounting portion.
3. The camera module according to claim 2, wherein the path formed by the plurality of heat dissipation fins on one side intersects obliquely with respect to that side, and the path formed by the plurality of heat dissipation fins on the other side intersects obliquely with respect to that other side.
4. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has at least two sets of heat dissipation fins on one surface.
5. The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing portion protruding from the aforementioned surface for fixing to an object to be installed opposite the aforementioned surface.