Camera Heat Spreader with Compressive Insulator for Thermal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras face thermal management challenges due to increased processing power, leading to thermal expansion of materials near the lens assembly, which affects image quality by shifting the focal plane and causing out-of-focus images.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system comprising a heat controller with a heat source, heat exchange, and offset arm that dissipates heat from the image sensor to a heat diffuser, preventing thermal energy from auxiliary electronics from reaching the lens assembly, using compressive forces and thermally conductive materials for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If processing power is increased to enable faster speeds and greater resolution, then camera capabilities improve, but thermal energy increases causing thermal expansion and image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful thermal energy from the lens assembly area by introducing a dedicated heat sink structure that selectively removes heat from the image sensor and processing electronics without affecting the lens assembly. This allows the camera to maintain high processing power while preventing thermal expansion-induced image quality degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the heat-generating electronics and the lens assembly. It provides a thermal conduction path that directs heat away from sensitive optical components, serving as a mediator that protects the lens assembly from thermal effects while allowing the electronics to operate at high performance levels.
2Manufacturing precision
If heat is transferred away from the image sensor to prevent thermal expansion, then image quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat sink structure with existing camera components, integrating thermal management functionality into the housing or mounting structure rather than adding a completely separate system. This consolidation approach maintains image quality through effective heat transfer while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing shared structural elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively mitigates thermal expansion effects, maintaining image quality by transferring heat away from the image sensor and lens components, preventing thermal energy from auxiliary electronics from interfering with the image sensor and lens assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a heat spreader including a heat source coupled to the image sensor and an arm coupled to the heat source and the heat diffuser
Implementation Method 2
Thermal expansion of materials near the heating electronics causes shifts in the lens assembly that interferes with the quality of images
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchange coupled to the flexible arm, and the heat exchange transfers the heat away from the imaging device via the flexible arm
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture device includes an image sensor and a heat controller. The image capture device includes a heat spreader that extends between the image sensor and the heat controller. The heat spreader dissipates heat from the image sensor to the heat controller. The image capture device includes an electronics unit spaced from the image sensor. The image capture device includes a compressive insulator that contacts the heat spreader and the electronics unit, and the compressible insulator thermally separates the electronics unit and the heat spreader.