Segmented Annular Lens Heater for In-Vehicle Camera Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of an integrated heater with a large connector into a lens unit for in-vehicle cameras poses challenges due to the size constraint, making it difficult to lead the connector out through the lens barrel's lead-out hole, which can result in increased component count, positional displacement of the optical system, and compromised optical performance.

Innovation Solution

The integrated heater is designed with a heating unit, power supply unit, and connector formed integrally, and a part of the annular body of the heating unit is divided, allowing easy introduction into the lens barrel through a through hole, eliminating the need to divide the lens barrel and reducing the risk of positional deviation during incorporation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the connector size is increased to ensure electrical reliability, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the connector cannot be led out through the lead-out hole of the lens barrel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidease of incorporation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The heating unit's annular body is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled together, allowing the integrated heater with large connector to be incorporated into the lens barrel through the limited lead-out hole while maintaining electrical reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the lens barrel is divided to accommodate the integrated heater, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the number of components increases and positional displacement may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of heater installationVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of dividing the lens barrel to accommodate the heater, the heater's annular body is divided into segments that can be assembled within the intact lens barrel, inverting the segmentation approach to avoid increasing component count and maintaining optical alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the integrated heater is used to reduce component count, then the device complexity is reduced, but the connector cannot be led out through the lead-out hole

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidease of incorporation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The annular body of the heating unit is segmented into multiple parts that can be assembled together inside the lens barrel, enabling the integrated heater design to be incorporated through the lead-out hole while maintaining the benefit of reduced component count

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented annular body parts are assembled nested within the lens barrel structure, with each segment fitting into the overall integrated heater configuration that connects to the external connector through the lead-out hole

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This configuration ensures easy incorporation and high electrical reliability of the heater, maintains the desired optical performance, and provides sufficient snow melting and anti-fog functions without increasing the number of components or lowering incorporation accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a heating unit 32 as an annular body disposed between the lenses 13 and 14 and generating heat by power supply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the heating unit 32...transmitting the generated heat to the lens 13

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250180895A1Heater, lens unit, camera module, in-vehicle system, mobile body, and heater incorporation method

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 MAXELL LTD

AI summary

Provided are a heater, a lens unit, a camera module, an in-vehicle system, a mobile body, and a heater incorporation method capable of securing easy incorporation and high electrical reliability without increasing number of components and lowering incorporation accuracy.A heater 30 of the present invention includes a heating unit 32 as an annular body that is disposed between lenses and generates heat by power supply, a connector 34 that is electrically connected to a power supply side, and a power supply unit 36 that extends so as to electrically connect the connector 34 and the heating unit 32 and supplies power to the heating unit 32, in which the heating unit 32, the power supply unit 36, and the connector 34 are integrally formed, and a part of the annular body of the heating unit 32 is divided.