CN115002313B

CN115002313B - Camera module and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN115002313B
Application number: CN202210566941.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周鼎
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-23
Filing date: 2022-05-23
Publication date: 2024-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2042-05-23
Also published as: CN115002313A

Abstract

The application provides a camera module and electronic equipment, which comprise a processing module, wherein the processing module can process image information; the thermoelectric conversion structure is arranged on one side of the processing module and is used for converting heat energy into electric energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure is provided with a current output end; and the switch is electrically connected with the current output end and is used for controlling the on-off of the current output end. The on-off of the current output end can be controlled through the setting switch, and whether the thermoelectric conversion structure works or not can be further controlled, so that the camera module can be ensured to work in a proper working temperature range even under adverse environments.

Description

Camera module and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of cameras, in particular to a camera module and electronic equipment.

Background

In the working process of the camera, as the service time increases, heat generated by a chip of the camera is more and more, the chip is overheated to influence the drawing, meanwhile, the inner cavity of the camera and the temperature of the body are increased to influence the focal length of the lens, and the most direct is that the imaging drawing of the camera is blurred, so that the heat is generally transmitted to the environment outside the camera through graphite, copper foil and the like.

In the related art, there is a scheme of converting heat generated by a camera into electric energy for use by providing a thermoelectric conversion structure and achieving a cooling effect. However, the existing camera adopting the thermoelectric conversion structure has a certain requirement on the use environment, and in adverse environments such as a lower temperature environment, the thermoelectric conversion structure can have adverse effects on the operation of the camera.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a camera module and electronic equipment, can ensure that the camera module normally works.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a camera module, including:

the processing module can process the image information;

the thermoelectric conversion structure is arranged on one side of the processing module and is used for converting heat energy into electric energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure is provided with a current output end; and

the switch is electrically connected with the current output end and is used for controlling the on-off of the current output end.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, including a battery, a functional module, and a camera module as described above; the current output end in the camera module is electrically connected with the battery and/or the functional module through the switch.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, including a camera module, a battery, a functional module, and a switch;

the camera module comprises a processing module and a thermoelectric conversion structure, and the processing module can process image information;

the thermoelectric conversion structure is arranged on one side of the processing module and is used for converting heat energy into electric energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure is provided with a current output end; the current output end is electrically connected with at least one of the processing module, the battery and the functional module through the switch, and the switch is used for controlling the on-off of the current output end.

The embodiment of the application provides camera module and electronic equipment, processing module in the camera module can handle image information, through setting up in the thermoelectric conversion structure of processing module one side, can convert the heat energy of processing module into electric energy and utilize, such as thermoelectric conversion structure can convert the heat that processing module produced in the course of the work, because heat is converted by thermoelectric conversion structure, so can effectively reduce the temperature around the processing module, avoid the too high temperature and influence the work of processing module. It can be understood that the thermoelectric conversion structure can convert heat only when a passage is formed at the current output end, and the on-off of the current output end can be controlled by arranging a switch so as to control whether the thermoelectric conversion structure works, so that when the temperature at the processing module is too high, the switch is closed, and the current output channel is conducted at the moment, so that the thermoelectric conversion structure can convert heat energy into electric energy so as to reduce the temperature around the processing module; when the temperature of the external environment is low, the heat generated by the operation of the processing module can generate a temperature difference with the surrounding low-temperature environment, when the processing module is not at the proper operating temperature, the switch is turned off to disconnect the current output channel of the thermoelectric conversion structure, and even if the temperature difference exists, the thermoelectric conversion structure can not consume the heat around the processing module, namely, the heat around the processing module can not be consumed by the thermoelectric conversion structure, so that the processing module can not normally operate due to the environment at the too low temperature, the processing module can be ensured to normally operate, the switch is turned on only when the processing module is operated to a temperature higher than the proper operating temperature, and the current output channel is turned on, so that the thermoelectric conversion structure converts the heat energy into electric energy to reduce the temperature around the processing module. That is, due to the arrangement of the switch and the thermoelectric conversion structure, the camera module can be ensured to work in a proper working temperature range even in adverse environments.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are required to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described below. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained from these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

For a more complete understanding of the present application and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the following description.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the camera module shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the camera module shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a first thermoelectric unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a schematic partial structure diagram of a thermoelectric conversion structure according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a first thermoelectric conversion structure, a circuit board, and a processing module according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric conversion structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when connected to a switch.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the connection among the thermoelectric conversion structure, the switch and the processing module according to the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the thermoelectric conversion structure, the switch, the processing module, and the thermal sensor provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of connection among a first thermoelectric conversion structure, a second thermoelectric conversion structure, and a switch according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It will be apparent that the described embodiments are only some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments, which can be made by a person skilled in the art without any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the present application based on the embodiments herein.

The embodiment of the application provides a camera module and electronic equipment, can ensure that the camera module normally works. This will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module provided in an embodiment of the present application, fig. 2 is an exploded structural diagram of the camera module shown in fig. 1, and fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the camera module shown in fig. 1. The camera module 10 may include a housing 11, a processing module 12, and a lens 13, wherein the housing 11 is provided with a mounting cavity 111 and a lens mounting hole 112 as support members, and the lens mounting hole 112 communicates with the mounting cavity 111. The process module 12 is mounted within the mounting cavity 111. The lens 13 is mounted on the lens mounting hole 112, and the lens 13 is used for projecting image information to the processing module 12 so as to process the image information through the processing module 12.

It will be appreciated that the processing module 12 may be integrated with an image sensor and a processor, wherein the processor has a function of processing images and a control function, and the working principle of the camera module 10 is as follows: the optical image generated by the lens 13 is projected onto the surface of the image sensor in the processing module 12, then converted into an electric signal, converted into a digital image signal by A/D (analog-to-digital) conversion, sent to the processor for processing, the scene image can be seen through the display, and if the processed image signal is transmitted to the display of the opposite videophone through the telephone network, the opposite videophone can see the scene image.

It will also be appreciated that in order to prevent reddening or blurring of the image, a blue glass 14 may be provided on the projection path of the optical image, the blue glass 14 may absorb infrared rays to improve the image quality, and the blue glass 14 is provided on the side of the lens 13 facing the processing module 12 as shown in fig. 3.

It should be noted that, in the working process of the camera module 10, along with the increase of the service time, the processing module 12 in the camera module 10 generates heat, and the generated heat is more and more, the overheating of the processing module 12 will affect the image, and the temperature rise of the processing module 12 will cause the temperature rise of the base 11 and the temperature rise in the mounting cavity 111 of the base 11, at this time, the focal length of the lens 13 will be affected, and the most direct imaging image of the camera module 10 will become blurred.

Based on this, the camera module 10 provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include a thermoelectric conversion structure 15, where the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is disposed on one side of the processing module 12 and is used for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 has a current output end, so that electrical energy can be transmitted to be utilized, for example, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can convert heat generated by the processing module 12 during the working process, and since the heat is converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, the temperature around the processing module 12 can be effectively reduced, so that the influence on the working of the processing module 12 caused by the too high temperature is avoided, and the influence on the focal length of the lens 13 due to the temperature rise of the housing 11 and the temperature rise in the mounting cavity 111 of the housing 11 can also be avoided.

It will be appreciated that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 has a hot end and a cold end, and a PN couple arm disposed between the hot end and the cold end, where the hot end refers to an end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 facing the hot end and the cold end refers to an end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 facing the cold end, where heat can flow from the hot end to the cold end, a temperature gradient field is established between the hot end and the cold end, and holes and electrons located at the high temperature end inside the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 start to diffuse to the low temperature end under the driving of the temperature field, so that a potential difference is formed between the two ends of the PN couple arm, and a current is generated in the circuit, where the heat energy is converted into electric energy.

In order to more clearly explain the working principle of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, please refer to fig. 4 in combination with fig. 3, fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a first thermoelectric unit according to an embodiment of the present application. The thermoelectric conversion structure 15 includes a first thermoelectric unit 151, where the first thermoelectric unit 151 includes a first hot end 1511, a first cold end 1512, and a first thermocouple 1513 disposed between the first hot end 1511 and the first cold end 1512, the first hot end 1511 is disposed towards a side where the processing module 12 is located, and the first cold end 1512 is disposed away from the side where the processing module 12 is located, so that when heat on the side where the processing module 12 is located is higher, heat can flow from the first hot end 1511 to the first cold end 1512, a temperature gradient field is established between the first hot end 1511 and the first cold end 1512, and holes and electrons located inside the first thermocouple 1513 of the first hot end 1511 start to diffuse towards the first cold end 1512 under the driving of the temperature field, so that a potential difference is formed across the first thermocouple 1513. It is understood that the first thermocouple 1513 includes a first P-type thermocouple 15131 and a first N-type thermocouple 15132, where the first P-type thermocouple 15131 and the first N-type thermocouple 15132 have a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, the first end of the first P-type thermocouple 15131 and the first end of the first N-type thermocouple 15132 are connected and conducted by a first conductor 1514, the second end of the first P-type thermocouple 15131 is connected to a second conductor 1515, the second end of the first N-type thermocouple 15132 is connected to a third conductor 1516, it is understood that the end where the first conductor 1514 is located is a first hot end 1511, the end where the second conductor 1515 and the third conductor 1516 are located is a first cold end, and when the first cold end 1512 forms a path, it can be realized to convert heat into electricity and use it. The powered element may be powered, such as by placing the powered element in the path of the first cold end 1512.

Among them, the first conductor 1514, the second conductor 1515, and the third conductor 1516 may be made of a conductive material such as copper.

It will be appreciated that the first thermoelectric unit 151 may convert heat from the side of the process module 12 into electricity for use.

In some embodiments, heat away from the side of the processing module 12 may be utilized, that is, heat of the external environment may be utilized, and referring to fig. 5 in combination with fig. 3, fig. 5 is a schematic partial structure diagram of the thermoelectric conversion structure according to the embodiments of the present application. At this time, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 further includes a second thermoelectric unit 152, where the second thermoelectric unit 152 includes a second hot side 1521, a second cold side 1522, and a second thermocouple 1523 disposed between the second hot side 1521 and the second cold side 1522, the second hot side 1521 is disposed away from the side where the processing module 12 is located, and the second cold side 1522 is disposed toward the side where the processing module 12 is located. It will be appreciated that the structure and operation of the second thermoelectric unit 152 are substantially the same as those of the first thermoelectric unit 151, except that the second hot end 1521 of the second thermoelectric unit 152 is opposite to the first hot end 1511 of the first thermoelectric unit 151, and the second cold end 1522 of the second thermoelectric unit 152 is opposite to the first cold end 1512 of the first thermoelectric unit 151, so that heat of the external environment can be converted into electric energy. The second thermocouple 1523 includes a second P-type thermocouple 15231 and a second N-type thermocouple 15232, where the second P-type thermocouple 15231 and the second N-type thermocouple 15232 have a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, the first end of the second P-type thermocouple 15231 and the first end of the second N-type thermocouple 15232 are connected and conducted through a fourth conductor 1524, the second end of the second P-type thermocouple 15231 is connected to a fifth conductor 1525, the second end of the second N-type thermocouple 15232 is connected to a sixth conductor 1526, it is understood that the end where the fourth conductor 1524 is located is a second hot end 1521, and the end where the fifth conductor 1525 and the sixth conductor 1526 are located is a second cold end 1522, where when the second cold end 1522 forms a channel, it is possible to convert heat into electric quantity and use it. The power consuming elements may then be powered, such as by placing the power consuming elements in the path of the second cold end 1522.

Among them, the fourth conductor 1524, the fifth conductor 1525, and the sixth conductor 1526 may be made of a conductive material, such as copper.

It will be appreciated that the second thermoelectric unit 152 may convert heat from the external environment into electricity for use.

It is also understood that, in order to make the structure of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 more compact, the first thermoelectric unit 151 and the second thermoelectric unit 152 may be integrated into the same housing 153, wherein the housing 153 is a housing having thermal conductivity.

In order to facilitate the installation of the processing module 12, the camera module 10 may further include a circuit board 16, where the processing module 12 is electrically connected to the circuit board 16, that is, the processing module 12 is integrated on the circuit board 16, and the circuit board 16 is installed in the installation cavity 111 of the base 11.

At this time, referring to fig. 6 in combination with fig. 3, fig. 6 is a schematic partial structure diagram of the first thermoelectric conversion structure, the circuit board and the processing module according to the embodiment of the present application. In order to better dissipate heat from the process module 12, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may comprise a first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a, the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a being arranged on the circuit board 16 and being located on a side of the circuit board 16 facing away from the process module 12, the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a having a first current output.

In order to improve the heat conductivity, a heat conductive sheet 19 may be provided between the circuit board 16 and the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15 a.

The thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may further include a second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b, where the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b is embedded in a sidewall of the base 11, and the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b may surround a peripheral side of the process module 12, and the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b has a second current output end. It will be appreciated that the first current output and the second current output may be connected in series or in parallel, as long as the transmission of electrical energy is ultimately enabled.

It should be noted that, as long as the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 has a temperature difference, heat is consumed and converted into electric energy, at this time, when the camera module 10 is in a unfavorable environment, such as a low temperature environment, the heat generated by the operation of the processing module 12 can generate a temperature difference with the surrounding low temperature environment, and when the processing module 12 is not in an overheated state, if the current converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is continuously led out, the temperature of the processing module 12 is continuously reduced, and at this time, the processing module 12 is in a low temperature environment and cannot normally operate due to the thermoelectric conversion structure 15.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the thermoelectric conversion structure according to the embodiment of the present application when the thermoelectric conversion structure is connected to a switch. The camera module 10 may further be provided with a switch 17, the switch 17 is electrically connected with the current output end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, and the switch 17 is used for controlling on-off of the current output end. It can be understood that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can convert heat only when a passage is formed at the current output end, and the switch 17 is provided to control the on/off of the current output end, so as to control whether the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 works, when the temperature at the processing module 12 is too high, the switch 17 is closed, and the current output channel is turned on, so that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can convert heat energy into electric energy to reduce the temperature around the processing module 12; when the temperature of the environment is low, such as the external environment, the heat generated by the operation of the processing module 12 can generate a temperature difference with the surrounding low-temperature environment, when the processing module 12 is not at the proper operation temperature, the switch 17 is turned off to disconnect the current output channel of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, and even if the temperature difference exists, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 does not consume the heat around the processing module 12, that is, the heat around the processing module 12 is not consumed by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, so that the processing module 12 cannot work normally due to the environment at the too low temperature, the processing module 12 is ensured to work normally, and the switch 17 is turned on only when the temperature of the processing module 12 is higher than the proper operation temperature, and the current output channel is turned on, so that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 converts the heat energy into the electric energy to reduce the temperature around the processing module 12. That is, since the switch 17 and the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 are provided, it is possible to ensure that the camera module 10 can ensure that the processing module 12 in the camera module 10 operates in a proper operation temperature range even under adverse circumstances.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the connection among the thermoelectric conversion structure, the switch and the processing module according to the embodiments of the present application. The opening and closing of the switch 17 may be controlled by the processing module 12, such as the switch 17 being electrically connected to a processor in the processing module 12 to enable the processor in the processing module 12 to control the switch 17 to open and close. Illustratively, when the temperature surrounding the process module 12 is greater than or equal to the first preset value, the process module 12 controls the switch 17 to be closed, at which time the current output terminal of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is turned on and is capable of outputting current, i.e., the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is capable of converting heat into electricity, thereby reducing the temperature at the process module 12. When the temperature around the processing module 12 is less than the first preset value, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be turned off, and the current output end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is not turned on at this time, so that no current can be output, that is, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 does not convert heat into electricity, which may also be understood as that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 does not work at this time.

The first preset value may be set according to practical situations, and may be in a temperature range where the processing module 12 can normally operate, for example, the setting range of the first preset value may be between 25 degrees celsius and 30 degrees celsius, such as 25 degrees celsius. That is, when the temperature around the processing module 12 is greater than or equal to 25 degrees celsius, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be turned on, and at this time, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can convert heat into electricity and output the electricity through the current output end, and in the process of heat conversion, the temperature around the processing module 12 can be reduced. When the temperature around the processing module 12 is less than 25 degrees celsius, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be turned off, and the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 does not operate.

As shown in fig. 9, fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of connection among the thermoelectric conversion structure, the switch, the processing module and the thermal sensor according to the embodiment of the present application. The temperature may be sensed by the thermal sensor 18, and the camera module 10 may further include a thermal sensor 18, where the thermal sensor 18 is disposed on a side of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 where the hot end is located and is electrically connected to the processing module 12, the thermal sensor 18 may feed back a detected temperature signal to the processing module 12, and the processing module 12 may control the switch 17 to be opened or closed according to the temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor 18. When the temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor 18 is greater than or equal to the first preset value, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be closed. When the temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor 18 is less than the first preset value, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be turned off.

In other embodiments, the processing module 12 may also control the switch 17 to be turned on or off according to the magnitude of the current converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15. For example, when the current value converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is greater than a preset value, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be closed, and when the current value converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is less than the preset value, the processing module 12 controls the switch 17 to be opened. At this time, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can be prevented from outputting a small current to interfere with the power consumption module.

It will be appreciated that when the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 includes the first thermoelectric unit 151 and the second thermoelectric unit 152, since the first thermoelectric unit 151 includes the first hot side 1511 and the second thermoelectric unit 152 includes the second hot side 1521, the first thermal sensor 18 is disposed on the side of the first hot side 1511 and the second thermal sensor 18 is disposed on the side of the second hot side 1521, and the first thermal sensor 18 and the second thermal sensor 18 are electrically connected to the processing module 12.

It is further understood that referring to fig. 10, fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of connection among the first thermoelectric conversion structure, the second thermoelectric conversion structure and the switch according to the embodiment of the present application. When the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 includes the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a and the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b, the first current output end of the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a may be electrically connected to the switch 17, and the switch 17 is used to control on/off of the first current output end. The second current output terminal of the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15b may be electrically connected to a switch 17, and the switch 17 is used to control on-off of the second current output terminal.

In other embodiments, two switches 17 may be provided, where one switch 17 controls the first current output terminal of the first thermoelectric conversion structure 15a and the other switch 17 controls the second current output terminal of the second thermoelectric conversion structure 15 b.

Alternatively, the switch 17 may be controlled by the processing module 12, and the switch 17 may be a thermal switch, where the thermal switch is electrically connected to the current output end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15, and the thermal switch controls the on/off of the current output end. It will be appreciated that a thermal switch is provided on one side of the process module 12, which is opened or closed depending on the temperature change around the process module 12. When the temperature around the processing module 12 is greater than or equal to the second preset value, the thermal switch is closed. When the temperature around the processing module 12 is less than the second preset value, the thermal switch is turned off. For example, the second preset value may be set in a range between 25 degrees celsius and 30 degrees celsius, such as 25 degrees celsius. That is, when the temperature around the processing module 12 is greater than or equal to 25 degrees celsius, the thermal switch is closed, the current output end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 forms a path, at this time, the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can convert heat into electric quantity and output the electric quantity through the current output end, and in the process of heat conversion, the temperature around the processing module 12 can be reduced. When the temperature around the process module 12 is less than 25 degrees celsius, the thermal switch is turned off and the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 does not operate.

The thermal switch may include a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet, where the first metal sheet is capable of deforming to bend toward the second metal sheet and contact the second metal sheet when the temperature around the first metal sheet reaches a second preset value, and the thermal switch is electrically conductive, and returns to deform to move away from the second metal sheet until separating from the second metal sheet when the temperature around the first metal sheet is less than the second preset value, and is turned off.

It will be appreciated that the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may be utilized after converting thermal energy into electrical energy, such as by supplying power to the process module 12, as shown in fig. 8, at which time the current output of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may be electrically connected to the process module 12 via the switch 17, and when the switch 17 is closed, the circuit is conductive, at which time the current converted by the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may flow to the process module 12 to supply power to the process module 12.

On the other hand, referring to fig. 11, fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. The present embodiments also provide an electronic device 100, which electronic device 100 may be any of various types of computer system devices that are mobile or portable and perform wireless communications. Specifically, the electronic device 100 may be a smart phone (see fig. 11 for a smart phone), a portable game device, a laptop, a portable internet device, other handheld devices such as a watch, etc., and the electronic device 100 may also be other wearable devices (e.g., a head-mounted device such as electronic glasses, electronic clothing, a smart watch). The electronic device 100 may also be any of a number of electronic devices including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, smart phones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistants, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, medical devices, vehicle transportation equipment, programmable remote controls, pagers, laptop computers, moving picture experts group audio layer players, portable medical devices, and digital cameras and combinations thereof. In some cases, the electronic device 100 may perform a variety of functions (e.g., playing music, displaying video, storing pictures, and receiving and sending phone calls). The present application describes an electronic device 100 as a smart phone.

The electronic device 100 may include a housing 20, a camera module 10 as described above, a battery, and a functional module, where the functional module may be integrated on a main control board, and the camera module 10, the battery, and the main control board are respectively disposed on the housing 20, and it may be understood that the functional module may be a speaker module and/or a fingerprint module, and of course may also be other functional modules. The current output terminal of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may be electrically connected to the battery through a switch 17 in the camera module 10, so that the battery may be charged. Alternatively, the current output end of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may be electrically connected to the functional module through the switch 17 in the camera module 10, so that power can be supplied to the functional module. It is also possible that the current output of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 can be electrically connected to the functional module and the battery via the switch 17 in the camera module 10, so that the functional module can be supplied with power and the battery can be charged.

The number of the camera modules 10 may be set according to actual needs, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more, which is not limited herein.

In still another aspect, an electronic device 100 is provided in the embodiments of the present application, including a camera module 10, a battery, a functional module, and a switch, where the camera module 10 includes a processing module 12 and a thermoelectric conversion structure 15, and the processing module 12 is capable of processing image information. The thermoelectric conversion structure 15 is disposed on one side of the processing module 12 and is used for converting thermal energy into electric energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 has a current output end; the current output terminal is electrically connected with at least one of the processing module 12, the battery and the functional module through a switch, and the switch is used for controlling the on-off of the current output terminal. The control of the switch and the specific structure of the thermoelectric conversion structure 15 may be referred to the above description, and the description is omitted herein.

In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of the embodiments are emphasized, and for parts of one embodiment that are not described in detail, reference may be made to related descriptions of other embodiments.

In the description of the present application, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.

The camera module and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail, and specific examples are applied to illustrate the principles and the embodiments of the present application, where the descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the method and the core idea of the present application; meanwhile, those skilled in the art will have variations in the specific embodiments and application scope in light of the ideas of the present application, and the present description should not be construed as limiting the present application in view of the above.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

the processing module can process the image information;

the switch is electrically connected with the current output end and is used for controlling the on-off of the current output end;

when the temperature at the processing module is greater than or equal to a preset value, the switch is closed, so that an output channel of the current output end is conducted, and the thermoelectric conversion structure converts heat energy into electric energy;

when the temperature at the processing module is smaller than the preset value, the switch is turned off, so that an output channel of the current output end is turned off, and the thermoelectric conversion structure is free from thermoelectric conversion.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the switch is electrically connected to the processing module, and the processing module is configured to control the switch to open and close.

3. The camera module of claim 2, further comprising a thermal sensor, wherein the thermoelectric conversion structure has a hot end and a cold end, the thermal sensor is disposed on a side of the thermoelectric conversion structure where the hot end is located and is electrically connected to the processing module, and the processing module is capable of controlling the switch to be opened and closed according to a temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor.

4. The camera module of claim 3, wherein the processing module controls the switch to close when the temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor is greater than or equal to a first preset value;

and when the temperature signal transmitted by the thermal sensor is smaller than the first preset value, the processing module controls the switch to be turned off.

5. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a thermal switch, the thermal switch is electrically connected with the current output end, the thermal switch is arranged at one side of the processing module, and the thermal switch is used for controlling on-off of the current output end;

when the temperature around the processing module is greater than or equal to a second preset value, the thermal switch is closed;

and when the temperature around the processing module is smaller than the second preset value, the thermal switch is turned off.

6. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the current output is electrically connected to the processing module through the switch such that the thermoelectric conversion structure is capable of powering the processing module when the switch is closed.

7. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion structure comprises a first thermoelectric unit comprising a first hot side, a first cold side, and a first thermocouple disposed between the first hot side and the first cold side, the first hot side disposed toward a side of the processing module, and the first cold side disposed away from the side of the processing module.

8. The camera module of claim 1 or 7, wherein the thermoelectric conversion structure comprises a second thermoelectric unit, the second thermoelectric unit comprising a second hot side, a second cold side, and a second thermocouple disposed between the second hot side and the second cold side, the second hot side disposed away from a side of the processing module, the second cold side disposed toward a side of the processing module.

9. The camera module of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board, wherein the processing module is electrically connected to the circuit board, the thermoelectric conversion structure comprises a first thermoelectric conversion structure, the first thermoelectric conversion structure is disposed on the circuit board and located on a side of the circuit board facing away from the processing module, the first thermoelectric conversion structure has a first current output end, and the switch is used for controlling on-off of the first current output end.

10. The camera module of claim 8, further comprising a housing having a sidewall, the housing being provided with a mounting cavity; the processing module is arranged in the mounting cavity; the thermoelectric conversion structure comprises a second thermoelectric conversion structure, the second thermoelectric conversion structure is embedded in the side wall of the base body, the second thermoelectric conversion structure is provided with a second current output end, and the switch is used for controlling the on-off of the second current output end.

11. An electronic device comprising a battery, a functional module, and a camera module according to any one of claims 1-10;

the current output end in the camera module is electrically connected with the battery and/or the functional module through the switch.

12. An electronic device is characterized by comprising a camera module, a battery, a functional module and a switch;

the thermoelectric conversion structure is arranged on one side of the processing module and is used for converting heat energy into electric energy, and the thermoelectric conversion structure is provided with a current output end; the current output end is electrically connected with at least one of the processing module, the battery and the functional module through the switch, and the switch is used for controlling the on-off of the current output end;