Camera device

Abstract

This camera device includes: a rear case having formed therein a space; a front case disposed at the front of the rear case; a camera module disposed in the space and including a barrel and lenses arranged in the barrel; and a glass disposed on the front surface of the front case, wherein the glass is disposed to be inclined to have a predetermined angle with respect to a virtual line (l) perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the lenses.

Description

camera device

[0001] This embodiment relates to a camera device.

[0002]

[0003] Recently, ultra-small camera modules have been developed and are widely used in small electronic products such as smartphones, laptops, and game consoles.

[0004] As automobiles become more widespread, miniature cameras are increasingly being used in vehicles, as well as in small electronic devices. Examples include black box cameras for vehicle protection or to gather objective data on traffic accidents, rearview cameras that allow drivers to monitor blind spots at the rear of the vehicle, ensuring safety when backing up, and perimeter detection cameras that monitor the vehicle's surroundings.

[0005] The camera device includes a housing that forms an outer shape and a camera module arranged within the housing. Glass that allows light to enter from the outside may be arranged on the front of the housing.

[0006] Meanwhile, when the external temperature of the camera module changes rapidly, moisture and frost frequently enter the camera module, especially the lens barrel. This can cause the images captured by the camera module to become unclear. Furthermore, when it rains or snows, water droplets and ice can form on the lens surface, obscuring the field of vision.

[0007] To prevent this, the camera module is equipped with a cover glass connected to a heater to remove moisture from the lens, but there is a problem that spot ghosting occurs due to the cover glass.

[0008]

[0009] The present invention provides a camera device capable of preventing ghosting by slanting the glass.

[0010]

[0011] A camera device according to the present embodiment comprises: a rear case having a space formed therein; a front case disposed in front of the rear case; a camera module disposed in the space and including a barrel and a lens disposed within the barrel; and glass disposed on the front of the front case, wherein the glass is disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an imaginary line (l) perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the lens.

[0012]

[0013] The above glass and the above virtual line (l) can form an angle of 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less.

[0014] The glass may include a heat generating member that provides heat to the glass, and the heat generating member may include: a heat generating portion arranged on a surface of the glass; a terminal arranged inside the front case; a connection portion having one end connected to the terminal and providing power; and a clip arranged between the terminal and the heat generating portion.

[0015] The clip includes an upper portion connected to the heating unit, a lower portion connected to the terminal, and a side portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, and the clip can have elasticity in the direction of the optical axis.

[0016] The angle formed by the upper portion and the virtual line (l) may correspond to the angle formed by the glass and the virtual line (l).

[0017] A glass mounting portion to which the glass is coupled is arranged on the front of the front case, and the bottom surface of the glass mounting portion is arranged to face the emission surface of the glass, and an angle formed between the bottom surface of the glass mounting portion and the virtual line (l) may correspond to an angle formed between the glass and the virtual line (l).

[0018] The front of the front case is provided with an edge portion that protrudes forward more than other areas and supports the side surface of the glass, and an angle formed by the front surface of the edge portion and the virtual line (l) may correspond to an angle formed by the glass and the virtual line (l).

[0019] It includes a mid-case disposed between the front case and the rear case, and the mid-case is formed to penetrate from the front to the rear, and may include a guide hole to which the connecting part is coupled.

[0020] A sealing member may be placed between the rear case and the mid case, and between the mid case and the front case.

[0021] The above lens may include an outermost lens disposed within the front case, and may include regions in which the outermost lens and the glass each have different distances in the optical axis direction.

[0022]

[0023] This embodiment has the advantage of eliminating ghosting by arranging the glass at an angle relative to the optical axis and an imaginary line perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby adjusting the reflection angle. Consequently, the camera device can capture higher-quality images.

[0024]

[0025] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of A in Figure 1.

[0027]

[0028] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0029] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for use.

[0030] In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as having a meaning that can be generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, unless explicitly and specifically defined and described, and terms that are commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0031] Additionally, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0032] In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and when it is described as “A and / or at least one (or more) of B, C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, C.

[0033] Additionally, in describing components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0034] And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' to another component, it may include not only cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' directly to the other component, but also cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' by another component between the component and the other component.

[0035] Additionally, when described as being formed or arranged "above" or "below" each component, "above" or "below" includes not only cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. Furthermore, when expressed as "above" or "below," the meaning may include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of A in FIG. 1.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention can have an exterior formed by combining a rear case (200), a mid case (300), and a front case (400). The housing of the camera device (10) can be formed by combining the rear case (200), the mid case (300), and the front case (400).

[0038] A space may be formed inside the rear case (200). A camera module (100), which will be described later, may be placed in the space inside the rear case (200).

[0039] The above mid-case (300) can be coupled to the front of the rear case (200). A first sealing member (610) can be placed between the mid-case (300) and the rear case (200). The first sealing member (610) can prevent foreign substances from entering the space between the mid-case (300) and the rear case (200).

[0040] A space may be formed within the mid-case (300). The space within the mid-case (300) may be connected to the space of the rear case (200). At least a portion of a camera module (100), which will be described later, may be placed within the space within the mid-case (300).

[0041] The front case (400) may be coupled to the front of the mid case (300). A second sealing member (620) may be placed between the front case (400) and the mid case (300). The second sealing member (620) may prevent foreign substances from entering the space between the front case (400) and the mid case (300).

[0042] A space may be formed inside the front case (400). The space within the front case (400) may be connected to the space within the mid case (300) and the space within the rear case (200). At least a portion of a camera module (100), which will be described later, may be placed in the space within the front case (400).

[0043] The front case (400) may include a flange portion (410) and a body portion (420). The flange portion (410) may form the lower end of the front case (400). The flange portion (410) may have a larger cross-sectional area than the body portion (420). The lower surface of the flange portion (410) may be coupled to the upper surface of the mid case (300).

[0044] The above body part (420) may be placed on the flange part (410). Glass (490) may be placed on the front of the body part (420). Light incident through the glass (490) may be transmitted to an image sensor (not shown) through a lens (140) in a camera module (100) to be described later.

[0045] The arrangement and joining structure of the above glass (490) and the front case (400) will be described later.

[0046] The above camera device (10) may include a camera module (100). The camera module (100) may be placed in a space within the rear case (200), the mid case (300), and the front case (400).

[0047] The above camera module (100) may include a body (130) forming an outer shape, a lens holder (120) arranged on the inside of the body (130), a lens barrel (110) arranged inside the lens holder (120), and a lens (140) arranged inside the lens barrel (110).

[0048] The above lenses (140) may be provided in multiple numbers and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the optical axis direction in the space within the lens barrel (110). The incident surface of the outermost lens among the lenses (140) may be arranged to protrude upward from the upper surface of the lens barrel (110). The lenses (140) may be arranged to face the glass (490) in the optical axis direction. The outermost lens among the lenses (140) and the glass (490) may each include regions having different distances in the optical axis direction.

[0049] The lens barrel (110) may have a space formed on the inside where the lens (140) is placed. The lens barrel (110) may be formed in a cylindrical shape. A retainer for supporting the outermost lens among the lenses (140) may be coupled to the upper end of the lens barrel (110).

[0050] The lens holder (120) is placed on the outside of the lens barrel (110) and can be screw-connected to the lens barrel (110). A flange (125) having a larger cross-sectional area than other areas is provided on the outer surface of the lens holder (120), and can be placed on the upper surface of the body (130).

[0051] The body (130) may have a space formed therein in which the lens holder (120) and the lens barrel (110) are placed. A printed circuit board (not shown) on which an image sensor is mounted may be placed in the space within the body (130). The printed circuit board may be coupled to the rear surface of the lens holder (120) so that the image sensor faces the lens (140) in the optical axis direction. The image sensor may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a long side and a short side.

[0052] The above camera device (10) may include a heating member. The heating member may include a heating portion (not shown), a terminal (510), a connecting portion (530), and a clip (550).

[0053] The above heating element may be placed on the surface of the glass (490). The heating element may provide heat to the glass (490) through power applied through the connection element (530). Accordingly, frost formed on the surface of the glass (490) may be removed.

[0054] The above heating element may be a PTC heater (positive temperature coefficient heater). The heating element may include a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) material and may be manufactured in the form of a semiconductor element. The heating element may include a PTC element, an electrode plate, and an insulating plate. The heating element may include heating ink applied to a sheet having a circuit pattern formed thereon. The heating element may have a hole formed in the center thereof through the glass (490) to allow light to pass therethrough.

[0055] The terminal (510) may be connected to one end of the connection portion (530). The terminal (510) may be electrically connected to the heating unit via the clip (550). The terminal (510) may be arranged within the front case (400). A guide (470) supporting the lower surface of the terminal (510) may be arranged in the front case (400). The guide (470) may have a shape that protrudes upward from the lower surface of the front case (400) more than other areas. The terminal (510) may be a B to B connector.

[0056] The above-mentioned connecting portion (530) may have one end connected to the terminal (510) and the other end connected to the printed circuit board. One end of the connecting portion (530) may be coupled to the terminal (510). The connecting portion (530) may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The connecting portion (530) may have a region that is bent at least once. A guide hole (330) may be formed in the mid-case (300) so as to penetrate from the upper surface to the lower surface, and into which the connecting portion (530) is coupled. The connecting portion (530) may be supported in a space within the mid-case (300) through the guide hole (330). Power may be supplied to the heating portion through the connecting portion (530), or an electrical signal for driving the heating portion may be transmitted and received.

[0057] The clip (550) can electrically connect the terminal (510) and the heating unit. The clip (550) can be placed between the terminal (510) and the heating unit. The clip (550) can have a predetermined elasticity in the direction of the optical axis.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the clip (550) may include an upper portion (554) connected to the heating unit, a lower portion (552) connected to the terminal (510), and a side portion (556) connecting the upper portion (554) and the lower portion (552). The clip (550) may have an approximate “ㄷ” shape due to the upper portion (554), the lower portion (552), and the side portion (556).

[0059] The above-mentioned heating member may include a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature within the camera device (10), and the temperature sensor may be placed at the bottom of the glass (490).

[0060] Below, the arrangement structure of the above glass (490) will be described.

[0061] As described above, the glass (490) may be placed on the front of the body portion (420) of the front case (400). A glass mounting portion (430) on which the glass (490) is placed may be formed on the front of the front case (400). The glass mounting portion (430) may have a groove shape. The bottom surface (432) of the glass mounting portion (430) may support the exit surface (494) of the glass (490). A space may be formed in the center of the glass mounting portion (430) within the front case (400).

[0062] An edge portion (440) that protrudes forward from other areas and supports the side surface of the glass (490) may be formed on the front surface of the front case (400). The edge portion (440) may be arranged to surround the perimeter of the glass (490).

[0063] The glass (490) according to the present embodiment may be arranged to be inclined with respect to the optical axis direction. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the glass (490) may be arranged to be inclined with respect to an imaginary line (l) that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The glass (490) may be arranged to have an acute angle (a) with the imaginary line (l). When the incident surface (492) and the exit surface (494) of the glass (490) are arranged to be parallel to each other, the incident surface (492) and the exit surface (494) of the glass (490) may be arranged to have a predetermined angle with the imaginary line (l), respectively. The angle (a) formed by the glass (490) and the imaginary line (l) may be 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less. The angle (a) formed by the glass (490) and the imaginary line (l) may be 10 degrees.

[0064] In order to support the glass (490), the front surface of the edge portion (440) arranged around the periphery of the glass (490) may also be arranged to be inclined with respect to the virtual line (l) so as to form the same plane as the surface of the glass (490). That is, the angle formed by the front surface of the edge portion (440) and the virtual line (l) may correspond to the angle formed by the surface of the glass (490) and the virtual line (l). The front surface of the edge portion (440) may include an area having different vertical heights.

[0065] The front surface (494) of the glass mounting portion (430), i.e., the bottom surface (432), which faces the emission surface (494) of the glass (490), may be arranged to be inclined with respect to an imaginary line (l) perpendicular to the optical axis direction. That is, the angle formed by the bottom surface (432) and the imaginary line (l) may correspond to the angle formed by the surface of the glass (490) and the imaginary line (l).

[0066] The upper end (554) of the clip (550) connected to the heating element arranged on the emission surface (494) of the glass (490) may be arranged to be inclined with respect to an imaginary line (l) perpendicular to the optical axis direction. That is, the angle formed by the upper end (554) and the imaginary line (l) may correspond to the angle formed by the surface of the glass (490) and the imaginary line (l).

[0067] When placing glass in front of a camera device, ghosting may occur due to the reflectivity of the glass itself.

[0068] According to the above structure, the glass (490) can be arranged at an angle relative to the optical axis and an imaginary line perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby allowing the reflection angle to be adjusted, thereby eliminating ghosting. Accordingly, the camera device (10) can obtain higher quality images.

[0069] Although all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention have been described above as being combined or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all components may be selectively combined and operated one or more times. In addition, terms such as "include," "comprise," or "have" described above, unless specifically stated to the contrary, mean that the corresponding component may be inherent, and therefore should be interpreted as including other components rather than excluding other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted as being consistent with the contextual meaning of the related technology, and shall not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal sense, unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

[0070] The above description is merely an illustrative description of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. Rear case with space formed inside; A front case positioned in front of the above rear case; A camera module disposed in the above space and including a barrel and a lens disposed within the barrel; Includes glass placed on the front of the front case, A camera device in which the above glass is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle based on an imaginary line (l) perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the lens.

2. In paragraph 1, A camera device in which the above glass and the above virtual line (l) form an angle of 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less.

3. In paragraph 1, It includes a heating element that provides heat to the above glass, The above heating element, A heating element placed on the surface of the above glass; A terminal arranged within the above front case; A connection part that is connected to the above terminal and provides power; and A camera device including a clip disposed between the terminal and the heating unit.

4. In paragraph 3, The clip includes an upper portion connected to the heating unit, a lower portion connected to the terminal, and a side portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The above clip is a camera device having elasticity in the direction of the optical axis.

5. In paragraph 4, A camera device in which the angle formed by the upper portion and the virtual line (l) corresponds to the angle formed by the glass and the virtual line (l).

6. In paragraph 1, A glass mounting portion to which the glass is attached is arranged on the front of the above front case, The bottom surface of the above glass mounting part is positioned to face the output surface of the above glass, A camera device in which the angle formed by the bottom surface of the glass mounting portion and the virtual line (l) corresponds to the angle formed by the glass and the virtual line (l).

7. In paragraph 6, On the front of the above front case, an edge portion is arranged that protrudes forward more than other areas and supports the side of the glass, A camera device in which the angle formed by the front of the edge portion and the virtual line (l) corresponds to the angle formed by the glass and the virtual line (l).

8. In paragraph 3, Including a mid case positioned between the front case and the rear case, A camera device in which the above mid-case is formed to penetrate from the front to the rear and includes a guide hole to which the connecting part is coupled.

9. In paragraph 8, A camera device in which a sealing member is placed between the rear case and the mid case, and between the mid case and the front case.

10. In paragraph 1, The above lens includes an outermost lens arranged within the front case, A camera device including regions in which the outermost lens and the glass each have different distances in the direction of the optical axis.

Images