Vehicle Camera Module Metal Housing Laser Welding Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera modules for vehicles have poor heat dissipation due to housings made of plastic materials with low heat conduction performance, which limits the effective dissipation of heat generated by image sensors.
Innovation Solution
The camera module uses metal injection molding (MIM) to manufacture both the front and rear bodies of the housing, allowing for complex shapes with a small thickness, and employs laser welding at the side surface to couple the bodies, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and easy bracket disposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic housing is used for the camera module, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the housing from plastic to metal, which fundamentally alters the thermal conductivity parameter. This enables effective heat dissipation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through metal injection molding (MIM) technology, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and heat dissipation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by integrating a metal housing with internal heat dissipation structures. The housing comprises a metal base material combined with heat dissipation fins and internal channels, creating a composite structure that optimizes both manufacturability and thermal management capabilities.
2Volume of moving object
If the housing thickness is reduced to minimize size, then the compactness is improved, but the heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces internal three-dimensional heat dissipation channels and fins within the housing structure. By creating vertical and lateral heat dissipation pathways inside the housing, the design enables effective heat dissipation without increasing the external thickness, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and heat dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a porous or channelled internal structure within the housing that allows heat to dissipate through multiple pathways. This internal porosity or channel network enables efficient heat transfer without increasing the overall housing volume, maintaining compactness while improving heat dissipation.
3Reliability
If welding is performed at the rear surface to seal the housing, then the sealing is achieved, but the bracket disposition becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the welding operation from the bracket installation area by performing welding at the side surface rather than the rear surface. This spatial segmentation allows the rear surface to remain accessible for bracket disposition while the side surface handles sealing, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing quality and ease of bracket installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the welding location from the rear surface (two-dimensional plane) to the side surface (different spatial dimension). This dimensional shift in welding position preserves the rear surface for bracket installation while achieving sealing through side surface welding, resolving the spatial conflict between sealing and bracket disposition.
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 significantly improves heat dissipation performance, secures a larger internal space for the circuit board, and ensures easy bracket placement while maintaining high weld quality.
Implementation Method 1
a side weld portion formed on a side surface of the front body so as to protrude therefrom, the side weld portion being coupled to the rear body by laser welding
Implementation Method 2
each of a front body and a rear body of the camera module is manufactured by metal injection molding (MIM)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a camera module for vehicles and a method of assembling the same, wherein the camera module includes a lens module configured to allow a lens to be mounted therein, a circuit board including an image sensor, a front body configured to allow the lens module to be assembled to the front thereof and to allow the circuit board to be assembled thereto inward from the rear, a rear body assembled to the rear of the front body, a side weld portion formed on a side surface of the front body so as to protrude therefrom, and a flange portion formed so as to extend forwardly of the rear body, a leading edge of the flange portion being in contact with the side weld portion.