Vehicle Camera Module Spacer Grooves for Thermal Optical Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera modules for vehicles are susceptible to changes in optical characteristics due to humidity and temperature, leading to deformation and deterioration of lens performance.
Innovation Solution
A camera module design featuring a spacer with grooves on its upper and lower surfaces to provide a buffer structure between lenses, alleviating thermal expansion and contraction, thereby maintaining optical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional lens holder structure is used without buffer structures, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to thermal expansion and contraction of lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates a buffer structure with grooves that allow the lens to expand and contract thermally without deforming optical characteristics. The grooved structure acts as a flexible buffer zone that accommodates dimensional changes while maintaining optical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention directly addresses thermal expansion by providing a buffer structure in the spacer that accommodates the expansion and contraction of the lens due to temperature changes. The grooves allow the lens material to expand into the empty space rather than deforming under constraint.
2Reliability
If the spacer includes buffer structures with grooves, then the reliability improves by suppressing lens deformation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer uses a grooved buffer structure that provides flexibility to accommodate thermal dimensional changes of the lens. The grooves create a compliant region that absorbs expansion stress without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer structure changes the physical parameters of the spacer by introducing grooves that alter its mechanical compliance. This allows the spacer to dynamically adjust its effective stiffness based on thermal conditions, providing reliability without complex control systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If no buffer structure is provided, then the manufacturing precision is easier to achieve, but the optical characteristics change due to thermal effects
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer structure with grooves anticipates and accommodates thermal expansion of the lens, allowing it to maintain its dimensional stability despite temperature changes. This ensures that manufacturing precision achieved at assembly temperature is maintained across varying operating temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooved buffer structure provides beforehand cushioning by creating empty space that absorbs thermal expansion before it can cause deformation. This preventive design maintains optical characteristics without requiring active compensation or complex manufacturing tolerances.
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 buffer structure suppresses changes in optical characteristics and deformation of lenses, enhancing the reliability and stability of the camera module under varying ambient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
alleviating contraction and expansion of the lens
Implementation Method 2
alleviating contraction and expansion of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
The camera module disclosed in the embodiment of the invention includes a lens holder; a plurality of lenses disposed within the lens holder; a spacer disposed between at least one of the plurality of lenses and the lens holder, at least one groove may be disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer.