Hydrophilic Camera Cover Coating for Water Refraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photocatalyst films used in camera covers lose hydrophilicity at night or in shaded conditions, leading to reduced image clarity due to water drop refraction and potential corrosion of the resin, causing dirt accumulation and image degradation.
Innovation Solution
A hydrophilic coating with a water contact angle of 5 to 30 degrees, composed of an organic resin base material and an inorganic silicon compound, is applied to the camera cover, ensuring self-cleaning and permanent water repellency without photocatalysts, maintaining image clarity and preventing water and dirt adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a photocatalyst film is applied to the camera cover surface, then water drops are converted into a thin film and self-cleaning effect is achieved, but the hydrophilicity is lost during nighttime or rainy days when sunlight is unavailable, and titanium dioxide corrodes the surrounding resin causing dirt accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful photocatalyst component (titanium dioxide) from the hydrophilic coating system while retaining the essential hydrophilic functionality through alternative materials that do not cause resin corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite coating structure comprising a resin base material with hydrophilic inorganic particles dispersed throughout, creating a durable hydrophilic surface that maintains functionality without the corrosive effects of photocatalysts
2Manufacturing precision
If a hydrophilic coating is applied to prevent water drop adhesion, then image clarity is improved by eliminating refraction, but the coating may accumulate dirt and reduce light transmittance over time
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic coating enables self-cleaning functionality where water flows over the surface and automatically removes accumulated dirt, maintaining long-term image clarity without requiring manual intervention
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 solution ensures clear images by forming a thin water film on the camera cover, preventing water drop refraction and dirt accumulation, and maintaining hydrophilicity regardless of sunlight exposure, thus enhancing image clarity and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the outer surface has a hydrophilic coating... the water contact angle is 5 to 30 degrees... achieves self-cleaning effects and accelerates formation of a film of water drops
Implementation Method 2
the hydrophilic coating includes no photocatalyst but includes an inorganic material including silicon compound as a main component
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A camera cover (120) and camera capable of mitigating water drop and dirt adhesion and of ensuring image clarity are provided. A dome section (130) of the camera cover comprising an organic resin base material and includes, on its outer surface (130a), a hydrophilic coating (131) having a water contact angle between 5 and 30 degrees and includes a material with a main component being a silicon compound. The thickness of the hydrophilic coating (131) is 0.01 to 1 µm and includes no photocatalyst. The hydropphilic coating (131) thereby achieves self-cleaning effects and accelerates formation of a film of water drops being adhered to the outer surface of the camera cover (120).