Lens Assembly Thermal Conductance for Vehicle Camera Condensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Condensation occurs inside camera modules mounted on vehicles due to rapid temperature changes, leading to performance deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A lens assembly design featuring a first lens barrel and a second lens barrel with a gap maintaining portion, where the thermal conductance of the second lens barrel is higher than that of the first lens barrel, preventing condensation on the image-side surface of the first lens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the lens barrel is made of synthetic resin to reduce weight and simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture and weight are improved, but thermal conductance is insufficient leading to condensation on the lens surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcondensation prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining synthetic resin for the lens barrel with a metal layer having high thermal conductance deposited on the lens surface or integrated into the structure. This composite approach allows the bulk material to remain lightweight and easy to manufacture while the metal component provides the necessary thermal conductance to prevent condensation on the lens surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a metal lens barrel is used to increase thermal conductance and prevent condensation, then condensation prevention is improved, but weight increases and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondensation preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials where a metal layer is applied only where thermal conductance is needed (on the lens surface or in specific structural regions) rather than making the entire lens barrel from metal. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the condensation prevention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing high thermal conductance only in specific locations where it is most needed - namely on the lens surface or in thermal pathways directly connected to the lens - rather than uniformly throughout the entire lens barrel structure. This localized approach reduces manufacturing complexity while effectively preventing condensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively prevents condensation within the camera module, thereby maintaining the performance and reliability of the camera module across varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal conductance of the second lens barrel is higher than a thermal conductance of the first lens barrel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250130394A1Lens assembly

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

A lens assembly includes a first lens barrel; a second lens barrel disposed in front of the first lens barrel while surrounding at least a portion of the first lens barrel; and a first lens disposed in front of the second lens barrel in contact with a portion of the second lens barrel, wherein a thermal conductance of the second lens barrel is higher than a thermal conductance of the first lens barrel.