Camera Lens Fog Prevention via Internal Airflow Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surveillance camera devices require additional components like fan heater units and nozzles to prevent dew condensation, increasing complexity and cost, and fail to uniformly remove fog from the lens surface, especially when the lens direction changes.
Innovation Solution
A camera device design featuring a movable second casing with a gap between the lens barrel and a light-transmitting cover, allowing warmed air from a heating member, such as a circuit board, to flow out and uniformly suppress fog without the need for fans or dedicated heaters, while maintaining a constant distance between the lens and cover to prevent vignetting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fan heater unit and nozzle are added to prevent dew condensation, then dew condensation prevention is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the heat already generated by the camera's own operations (image pickup element and/or processing unit) to prevent dew condensation on the lens. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external heating devices, fans, or nozzles, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective dew condensation prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes the waste heat that is already present within the camera housing from operational components. By directing this existing heat source to the lens surface through a strategically formed gap, the system eliminates the need for dedicated heating components, reducing both part count and assembly complexity
2Reliability
If a nozzle is positioned beside the lens, then fog removal near the discharge port is improved, but fog removal on the far side of the lens is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the air flow path by creating a gap between the camera housing and lens barrel that allows warm air to circulate around the lens. This segmentation enables the heat to reach all areas of the lens surface uniformly, including the far side that would otherwise be inaccessible to a single-point nozzle discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point heat source (nozzle beside the lens) to a distributed heat distribution system by forming a circumferential gap between the housing and lens barrel. This dimensional change allows warm air to flow around the entire lens, achieving uniform fog removal across all surfaces including the previously problematic far side
3Reliability
If multiple nozzles are provided circumferentially around the lens, then fog removal coverage is improved, but uniformity of fog removal across the lens surface is still insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the housing structure with the air flow path function by forming a gap between the housing and lens barrel. This integration creates a continuous circumferential air flow path that distributes heat uniformly around the lens, achieving comprehensive fog removal coverage without requiring multiple separate nozzle components
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
This configuration efficiently and uniformly removes fog from the lens surface, reducing production costs and ensuring clear images regardless of the lens direction, without causing vignetting or direct finger contact that could degrade the image.
Implementation Method 1
a heating member, which is a circuit board configured to drive at least an image pickup element
Implementation Method 2
the air warmed by the heating member flows into the air flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device includes: a camera including a lens; a first casing including a light-transmitting cover disposed to oppose the lens; a second casing which supports the camera within the first casing, and which surrounds the camera such that a side of the second casing opposing the light-transmitting cover is spaced from the camera with a gap; and an air flow path which allows air within the second casing to flow out toward the light-transmitting cover via the gap. The air flow path is formed between the second casing and a lens barrel of the lens.