Vehicle Camera Module Illumination Lens Horizontal Light Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera modules for vehicle interiors face challenges in providing sufficient illumination to both the driver and passenger seats, leading to insufficient light levels, which can be costly to address with multiple LED placements and complex wiring.
Innovation Solution
A camera module configuration with an illumination unit featuring an illumination lens that reduces the vertical transmission area of the light beam, increasing the horizontal irradiation width, creating high illuminance areas for faces and reducing light in non-essential areas, thus enhancing illumination efficiency without increasing the light source's power or number of LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple light emitting diodes are arranged at multiple positions in the vehicle interior to compensate for insufficient light, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to additional structure, wiring, and power supply circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the existing camera module housing, integrating the light source into the camera module itself rather than using separate illumination devices. This merging approach provides sufficient illumination without requiring additional structural elements, wiring, or power supply circuits throughout the vehicle interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera module housing serves dual purposes: it protects the camera components and simultaneously functions as the housing for the light source. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated illumination structures while maintaining effective lighting for face authentication and monitoring.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light emitting diodes are arranged at multiple positions in the vehicle interior to compensate for insufficient light, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the cost increases due to additional structure, wiring, and power supply circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the existing camera module housing, integrating the light source into the camera module itself rather than using separate illumination devices. This merging approach provides sufficient illumination without requiring additional structural elements, wiring, or power supply circuits throughout the vehicle interior.
3Area of stationary object
If a wide angle lens is used to accommodate and image the faces of the driver and passenger in the same frame, then the imaging area is improved, but the illumination uniformity deteriorates due to insufficient light at the ends of the imaging area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the light source and optical axis specifically to target the facial regions of the driver and passenger seats, concentrating illumination where needed most. This local optimization ensures uniform illumination across the wide imaging area without requiring excessive light in non-critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses illumination uniformity across the wide horizontal imaging area by introducing vertical positioning of the light source and using optical axis orientation to distribute light effectively across the expanded field of view, maintaining uniformity despite the increased imaging area.
4Illumination intensity
If the amount of light is increased by arranging multiple LEDs, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the existing camera module housing, integrating the light source into the camera module itself rather than using separate illumination devices. This merging approach provides sufficient illumination without requiring additional structural elements, wiring, or power supply circuits throughout the vehicle interior.
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 ensures adequate illumination for driver and passenger faces, reduces light wastage, and simplifies the module's structure, eliminating the need for additional support members and reducing power consumption while maintaining uniform illumination across the imaging area.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination lens configured to transmit a light beam from the light source, and set an irradiation area having an irradiation width in a horizontal direction greater than an irradiation width in a vertical direction by reducing an area to which the light beam of the light source is transmitted in the vertical direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
A camera module (A) includes: an image capturing unit (10) configured to image an interior of a vehicle; and an illumination unit (20) configured to illuminate the interior of the vehicle, in which the illumination unit includes a light source (24) and an illumination lens (26) configured to transmit a light beam from the light source, and the illumination lens sets an irradiation area (E) having an irradiation width (Eh) in a horizontal direction greater than an irradiation width (Ev) in a vertical direction by reducing an area to which the light beam of the light source is transmitted in the vertical direction.