Vehicle Camera Module Rib Structure for Thermal Optical Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera modules in vehicles are prone to shape changes and optical characteristic changes due to temperature variations, affecting their reliability and performance.
Innovation Solution
The camera module design includes a head portion with ribs, a lens barrel, and a lens portion with specific optical characteristics and thermal management features to mitigate optical changes due to temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera module is used in vehicle environments with temperature variations, then it can capture images of surrounding subjects and drivers, but the optical characteristics change depending on ambient temperature and lens material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully selecting lens materials with specific thermal expansion coefficients and designing the lens barrel structure to compensate for thermal effects. The lens holder and lens materials are chosen to have matched thermal properties, and the mechanical structure parameters (clearance, support positions) are optimized to maintain optical performance across temperature ranges from -40°C to 85°C.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly addresses thermal expansion by selecting lens and lens holder materials with compatible thermal expansion coefficients. The lens barrel is designed with expansion compensation mechanisms, including controlled clearances between lens components and the lens holder, allowing the structure to expand and contract uniformly with temperature changes while maintaining optical alignment and characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera module operates in varying temperature conditions, then it must maintain functional operation, but shape changes occur due to temperature affecting physical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses shape changes by selecting materials for the lens barrel, lens holder, and lenses with matched thermal expansion coefficients. This ensures uniform expansion and contraction across components, maintaining relative positions and shapes. The mechanical structure includes expansion compensation design with controlled clearances that allow shape changes without affecting optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material selection strategy, combining different materials (metal, plastic, glass) with complementary thermal properties in the lens assembly. The lens holder may use plastic materials with thermal expansion coefficients matched to the lenses, while the lens barrel uses materials resistant to thermal deformation, creating a composite structure that maintains shape stability across temperature ranges.
3Manufacturing precision
If the camera module is designed with tight tolerances to maintain optical precision, then manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing complexity by optimizing clearance parameters between lens components and the lens holder. Instead of requiring tight tolerances, the design uses calculated optimal clearances that accommodate normal manufacturing variations and thermal expansion while maintaining optical precision. The support positions and structural parameters are optimized to provide sufficient alignment tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lens assembly into modular components (lens elements, lens holder, lens barrel) with standardized interfaces. Each component can be manufactured and assembled separately with relaxed tolerances, then combined to achieve the required optical precision. This modular segmentation simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining optical alignment through designed interface features.
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 design improves the reliability of the camera module by reducing physical and optical changes due to temperature, ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor configured to convert light incident through the plurality of lenses into an electrical signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A camera module provided by an embodiment of the invention may include: a head part having a side wall part, a receiving space in the side wall part, and multiple ribs; a lens barrel having an opening connected to the receiving space of the head part and a lens holder perpendicularly extending through the opening; a lens part having multiple lenses in the lens holder; and an image sensor for converting light incident from the multiple lenses into an electrical signal, wherein the multiple ribs are spaced apart from each other on an upper circumference of the opening, each of the multiple ribs has a first inclined surface on the upper circumference of the opening, the opening has a second inclined surface on the circumference thereof, a first angle which is an internal angle between the first inclined surface and a horizontal straight line is R1, a second angle which is an internal angle between the second inclined surface and a horizontal straight line is R2, and a view angle of the image sensor in a diagonal direction is FOV and satisfies equation 1: R1 ≤ 90-1(1/2*FOV).