In-Vehicle Camera Spacer for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle cameras with flexible cables can generate noise due to parasitic capacitance or magnetic fields, causing electromagnetic interference that deteriorates electrical signals and affects other vehicle devices, as existing solutions with electromagnetic wave absorbers consume electrical energy and reflect noise.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle camera design featuring a conductive housing with a spacer that creates a gap between the flexible cable and the housing, eliminating electromagnetic wave absorption and reflection properties to prevent current flow and noise emission, while maintaining signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If an electromagnetic wave absorber is used to cover the housing inner surface to prevent noise emission, then noise emission from the housing is reduced, but electrical signal quality deteriorates due to energy consumption by the absorber
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible cable and the housing inner surface. This spacer creates a physical gap that prevents direct electromagnetic coupling, thereby reducing noise emission without requiring electromagnetic wave absorbers that would consume signal energy. The spacer acts as a mediator that isolates the cable from the housing while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the electromagnetic wave absorber component from the system. Instead of using absorptive materials that consume electrical energy, the solution relies on geometric arrangement (creating gaps) and reflective shielding to achieve noise reduction without the harmful energy consumption effect on electrical signals.
2Device complexity
If the flexible cable is allowed to contact the housing to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but noise emission increases due to parasitic capacitance and electromagnetic coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer serves as a simple intermediary component that prevents direct contact between the flexible cable and housing. This minimal addition creates sufficient electromagnetic isolation without requiring complex shielding structures, maintaining structural simplicity while effectively reducing noise emission through gap formation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If electromagnetic wave absorber is placed close to the flexible cable to maximize noise absorption, then noise emission is reduced, but electrical signal energy is consumed by the absorber
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is positioned between the flexible cable and housing to create a gap that prevents electromagnetic energy transfer. This intermediary structure blocks the path for both noise emission and signal energy consumption, achieving noise reduction without the absorber's harmful energy consumption effect on electrical signals.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using absorptive materials that convert electromagnetic energy into heat (causing signal deterioration), the invention uses reflective shielding and geometric gap formation to redirect electromagnetic fields. This converts the potential harmful absorption effect into a beneficial reflection-based isolation mechanism that preserves signal energy.
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 spacer minimizes noise emission from the housing and prevents signal deterioration by blocking electromagnetic interference, ensuring reliable communication between the imager and control board without sacrificing signal quality.
Implementation Method 1
adverse effects of an electrical current flowing through the circuit in the flexible cable may be exerted on the housing by an electrical field (i.e., parasitic capacitance) or magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
This causes electrical current to flow in the housing, so that the housing may function as an antenna to emit noise (i.e., electromagnetic waves) into the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle camera is provided which includes an imager equipped with a lens, a control board on which a circuit is mounted to control an operation of the imager, a flexible cable connecting the imager and the control board to be communicable therebetween, and an electrically conductive housing in which the imager, the flexible cable, and the control board are arranged. A spacer which is designed to have neither electromagnetic wave absorption nor electromagnetic wave reflection properties is arranged away from the control board in a contactless manner and located between the flexible cable and an inner surface of the housing to form a gap therebetween. This minimizes generation of noise transmitted from the housing to inside the vehicle without sacrificing the quality of electrical signals transmitted through a circuit in the flexible cable.