Vehicle Camera Lens Flange Grooves for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera modules for vehicles are susceptible to changes in optical characteristics due to humidity and temperature, leading to deformation and reduced photographic quality, particularly in lenses with plastic materials.
Innovation Solution
The camera module incorporates lenses with grooves on the flange portion and spacers to form a buffer structure, which compensates for thermal expansion and contraction, maintaining optical reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic lens is used in a vehicle camera module, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but optical characteristics change due to temperature and humidity, leading to deformation and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer structure comprising grooves formed on the flange portion of the lens and corresponding spacers that engage with these grooves. This creates a flexible accommodation mechanism that allows the lens to expand and contract with temperature changes while maintaining optical alignment, thereby preserving reliability without sacrificing the manufacturing advantages of plastic lenses.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lens flange portion is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then shape stability is improved, but thermal expansion and contraction cause permanent deformation and optical characteristic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, rigid flange portion into a dynamic structure by incorporating grooves that allow controlled movement. The buffer structure enables the flange to dynamically adjust its shape in response to thermal expansion and contraction, accommodating dimensional changes while preventing permanent deformation and maintaining optical reliability.
3Reliability
If grooves are added to the flange portion to create a buffer structure, then reliability under temperature changes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flange portion into multiple segments by forming grooves that create distinct regions. This segmentation allows each region to move independently during thermal expansion and contraction, enabling the buffer structure to accommodate dimensional changes while maintaining overall structural integrity and optical alignment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lens is allowed to expand and contract freely with temperature changes, then adaptability to temperature variations is improved, but permanent deformation occurs and optical characteristics change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by pre-configuring the buffer structure with grooves and spacers that counteract the harmful effects of thermal expansion and contraction. This predetermined mechanism prevents permanent deformation and maintains optical characteristics by providing resistance against unwanted dimensional changes while allowing controlled adaptability.
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 grooves and spacers stabilize the lens flange portion, preventing permanent deformation and maintaining optical performance despite temperature changes, enhancing the reliability of the camera module.
Implementation Method 1
the camera module has a problem in that optical characteristics are changed depending on the ambient temperature and the material of the lens
Implementation Method 2
the camera module has a problem in that optical characteristics are changed depending on the ambient temperature and the material of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A camera module disclosed in an embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of lenses stacked from an object side toward an image side; and spacers respectively disposed on an outer circumference between adjacent lenses, wherein at least a first lens of the plurality of lenses includes a first region having an effective diameter having an object-side first surface and an upper-side second surface; and a flange portion disposed around the first region and having a third surface extending outwardly from the first surface and a fourth surface extending outwardly from the second surface, wherein the flange portion includes a plurality of first grooves concave from the third surface of the flange portion toward the fourth surface, and a plurality of second grooves concave from the fourth surface toward the third surface, and wherein each of the third and fourth surfaces of the flange portion may face the spacers.