Vehicle Camera Heating With Conductive Housing Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems in vehicles face challenges in integrating heating elements in a space-efficient manner while maintaining electrical connectivity, especially in humid and low-temperature conditions, which can affect optical performance and require additional connectors.
Innovation Solution
The heating element is arranged between the circuit board and a conductive housing element, with contacts connected to both, eliminating the need for additional connections and using a positive temperature coefficient material to regulate temperature, and is fixed in place with a spring element and conductive paste for efficient heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating element is integrated into the camera housing, then temperature regulation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional electrical contacts and connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the housing element's electrical function with its structural function by making the housing itself electrically conductive. This allows the housing to serve both as the camera's structural enclosure and as an electrical contact for the heating element, eliminating the need for separate connector components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive housing element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support as the camera housing, serves as an electrical ground reference, and acts as an electrical contact for current supply to the heating element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Temperature
If additional electrical connectors are added for heating element integration, then heating functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with the electrical contact function, eliminating the need for separate connector components. This reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-tested, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining full heating functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electrical contact function from separate connector components and integrates it directly into the housing element itself. This eliminates unnecessary intermediate components and simplifies the manufacturing process.
3Volume of moving object
If the heating element is arranged between the circuit board and housing, then space utilization is improved, but electrical connection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By making the housing electrically conductive, the patent combines the structural housing function with the electrical contact function. This allows the heating element to be positioned between the circuit board and housing without requiring additional connectors, as the housing itself provides the necessary electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive housing serves multiple purposes: it provides the physical enclosure, acts as a structural support, serves as an electrical ground reference, and functions as an electrical contact for the heating element. This multi-functionality enables space-efficient arrangement without increasing connection complexity.
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 allows for a compact camera design with self-regulating heating, efficient heat dissipation, and cost-effective production by eliminating the need for extra connectors, thus enhancing optical performance and reliability under varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical heating element is, in particular, a resistive heating element that heats up when an electrical current flows through it
Implementation Method 2
The heating element can comprise a material with a positive temperature coefficient
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a camera for a vehicle (1) comprising at least one electrically conductive housing element (11), at least one printed circuit board (12) and at least one electrical heating element (13), wherein the electrical heating element (13) has a first contact (14) and a second contact (15) arranged opposite the first contact for supplying a heating current (IH) to the heating element (13), wherein the heating element (13) is arranged between the printed circuit board (12) and a section (16) of the housing element (11), and wherein the first contact (14) is electrically connected to the printed circuit board (12) and the second contact (15) is electrically connected to the housing element (11).