Camera Heating Circuit Control for Rapid Defrost and Defogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current camera heating systems lack intelligent control to effectively defrost and defog cameras, as they provide continuous and stable current to heating wires or films, making it difficult to sense temperature and control heating efficiently, especially in small camera volumes.

Innovation Solution

A heating system with a control device, power supply device, and heating circuit that adjusts current values based on resistance changes in the heating circuit, allowing for high current for rapid heating and low current for sustained heating, using sensing resistors, capacitors, and coils to determine the energized state of the heating component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If continuous and stable current is provided to heating wires or films, then the heating system can maintain stable operation, but it becomes difficult to sense temperature and control heating efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable operationVSAvoidcontrol heating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by using pulse-width modulation (PWM) to provide periodic heating current to the heating component. The control device adjusts the duty cycle of the periodic current pulses to control heating intensity, enabling both stable operation and efficient temperature control. This resolves the contradiction by replacing continuous current with controlled periodic current that maintains stability while improving controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the heating component and feeding this information back to the control device. The control device adjusts the heating current based on the temperature feedback, enabling precise temperature control. This resolves the contradiction by providing both stable operation through continuous monitoring and efficient control through closed-loop feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If high current is used for rapid heating, then defrosting and defogging speed increases, but energy consumption and heat loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefrosting speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic pulsed current instead of continuous high current. The heating component receives high current in periodic pulses during the defrosting phase to achieve rapid heating, then transitions to lower current or intermittent heating once the target temperature is reached. This reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining high productivity during the critical defrosting period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic current adjustment where the heating current varies over time based on the heating stage. During initial defrosting, high current is applied for rapid heating. As the temperature approaches the target, the current is dynamically reduced. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both productivity during the critical phase and energy efficiency during the sustained phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If the camera volume is reduced, then portability improves, but space for heating components and control circuits is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera portabilityVSAvoidheating system integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heating control function with the camera's existing power management circuitry. The control device integrates the temperature sensing, current control, and heating management functions into a unified circuit that shares components with the camera's power system. This reduces the overall space requirement while maintaining the necessary heating functionality for small camera volumes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the heating system components multi-functional. The power management circuit serves both the camera's general power needs and the heating component control. The control device handles both image processing tasks and heating control. This universality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, allowing the heating system to fit within limited camera volume while improving portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables rapid defrosting and defogging by increasing temperature quickly with high current and sustaining heating with low current, effectively addressing the challenge of controlling heating in camera systems.

Implementation Method 1

the power supply device provides electric energy for the heating wire or the heating film to achieve drying of the surface of the camera

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The first coil is used to receive the heating current to create a magnetic field. The second coil is used to generate an induced current due to the magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4333557A1Heating system and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS (XIAMEN) CO LTD
  • EP4333557A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4333557A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4333557A1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A heating system (10) includes: a control device (11), a power supply device (12) and a heating circuit (13). The heating circuit (13) includes a heating component (131) and a current control component (132). The power supply device (12) is used to provide a heating current for the heating circuit (13). The heating component (131) is used to heat the camera (22) with the heating current. The current control component (132) is used to adjust a resistance of the heating circuit (13). The resistance is negatively correlated with a current passing through the heating circuit (13). The control device (11) is used to control the power supply device (12) to adjust a current value of the heating current from a first current value to a second current value after detecting that the heating component (131) enters a non-energized state from an energized state. The second current value is less than the first current value.