Vehicle Camera Module Housing for Heat Dissipation and Watertight Sealing

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size of image sensors in vehicle cameras leads to higher heat generation, necessitating metal housings for heat dissipation, which increases manufacturing costs and compromises watertightness, potentially shortening product life.

Innovation Solution

A camera module design using a plastic terminal housing joined to a metal rear body plate via thermal fusion, with an O-ring and coupling members for enhanced watertightness, and a manufacturing method involving insert injection molding to reduce costs and improve sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a metal housing is used to dissipate heat from the image sensor, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and watertightness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is constructed as a composite structure combining metal and plastic materials. The metal portion (first housing) provides heat dissipation functionality, while the plastic portion (second housing) provides watertight sealing and cost-effective manufacturing through injection molding. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of heat dissipation performance and watertightness while reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to using metal throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is divided into two distinct segments: a first housing made of metal for heat dissipation and a second housing made of plastic for sealing and structural support. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function and manufactured using appropriate processes, with the plastic portion being injection-molded around the metal component to achieve both thermal management and watertight sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If a metal housing is used to dissipate heat from the image sensor, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is constructed as a composite structure combining metal and plastic materials. The metal portion (first housing) provides heat dissipation functionality, while the plastic portion (second housing) provides watertight sealing and cost-effective manufacturing through injection molding. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of heat dissipation performance and watertightness while reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to using metal throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic second housing replaces the need for complex mechanical assembly of multiple metal components. Through injection molding, the plastic material is injected around the metal first housing, automatically forming sealing structures and structural features that would otherwise require additional machining and assembly steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Temperature

If a metal housing is used to dissipate heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but watertightness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidwatertightness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is constructed as a composite structure combining metal and plastic materials. The metal portion (first housing) provides heat dissipation functionality, while the plastic portion (second housing) provides watertight sealing and cost-effective manufacturing through injection molding. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of heat dissipation performance and watertightness while reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to using metal throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining excellent watertightness, thereby extending the product's lifespan and performance.

Implementation Method 1

a terminal housing joined to the rear body plate by thermal fusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal fusion: Melting

Implementation Method 2

The O-ring may be in a state of elastic deformation to provide a watertight seal with the terminal housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250264783A1Camera module for vehicle and its manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

A camera module for a vehicle and a method therefor are provided. The camera module includes a lens module, a front body to insert a part of the lens module, a substrate disposed inside the front body, a rear body coupled to the front body, and a terminal unit connected to the substrate. The rear body includes a rear body plate disposed in a seating groove portion formed along an inner peripheral surface of the front body, and a terminal housing joined to the rear body plate by thermal fusion, and the terminal unit extends longitudinally from a portion connected to the substrate and penetrates the terminal housing.