KR20200076414A - Camera module for preventing condensation and freezing - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one embodiment, provided is a camera module which comprises: a lens barrel having a lens insertion space; a first lens inserted into the lens insertion space; a second lens inserted into the lens insertion space and positioned adjacent to the first lens; and a heat generating unit positioned between the first lens and the second lens and generating heat by electricity.

Description

Camera module for preventing freezing and condensation {CAMERA MODULE FOR PREVENTING CONDENSATION AND FREEZING}

The following embodiment relates to a camera module for preventing freezing and condensation.

Since the camera module is small, it is applied to various IT devices such as camera phones, PDAs, and portable mobile devices such as smart phones. Recently, the number of devices equipped with small camera modules that realize high pixels according to various tastes of consumers is gradually increasing. to be. In general, a camera module installed in a vehicle enables a driver to see a blind spot at the rear of the vehicle that is difficult for the driver to see through a monitor inside the vehicle, thereby preventing the risk of a safety accident when the vehicle is retracted or parked. to be. In addition to this, camera modules are currently applied to mobile devices, etc. These camera modules must be equipped with a compact and high-performance imaging function to suit the user's taste.

On the other hand, in the conventional camera module, when the weather is cold, there is a problem that freezing occurs outside the lens or dew condensation occurs inside the lens barrel. When freezing occurs outside the lens, a problem may occur that not only obscures the lens field of view but also degrades the image quality. Therefore, a camera module that can prevent freezing and condensation by heating the lens itself is required.

The above-described background art is possessed or acquired by the inventor during the derivation process of the present invention, and is not necessarily a known technology disclosed to the public before filing the present invention.

An object of an embodiment is to provide a camera module capable of heating a lens itself, including a heating unit.

The purpose of one embodiment is to provide a camera module capable of preventing freezing and condensation.

A camera module according to an embodiment includes a lens barrel having a lens insertion space; A first lens inserted into the lens insertion space; A second lens inserted into the lens insertion space and positioned adjacent to the first lens; And it may be located between the first lens and the second lens, it may include a heat generating portion that is generated by electricity.

The heating unit, the heating film is in close contact between the first lens and the second lens, the heat generated by electricity; And an electrode part electrically connected to the heating film.

The heating film may be formed in a circular shape with a hollow formed in the center.

An electrode hole formed through the barrel; And a power supply unit supplying electricity to the electrode unit, and the electrode unit may be electrically connected to the power supply unit through the electrode hole to bypass the lens insertion space.

The electrode hole may be formed by penetrating a portion of the barrel supporting the side surface of the second lens in a vertical direction.

It may further include a control unit for controlling the temperature of the heating film by adjusting the size of the current supplied to the electrode unit.

The camera module according to an embodiment may heat the lens itself by including a heating unit.

The camera module according to an embodiment may prevent freezing and condensation.

The effects of the camera module according to an embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

The following drawings attached to this specification are intended to illustrate one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and to serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention, the present invention is only described in those drawings It should not be construed limitedly.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment.
2 is a plan view of a heating unit according to an embodiment.
3 is a block diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components have the same reference numerals as possible even though they are displayed on different drawings. In addition, in describing an embodiment, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with understanding of the embodiment, the detailed description is omitted.

Further, in describing the components of the embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like can be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the component from other components, and the nature, order, or order of the component is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, but another component between each component It should be understood that may be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

Components included in any one embodiment and components including common functions will be described using the same name in other embodiments. Unless there is an objection to the contrary, the description described in any one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, and a detailed description will be omitted in the overlapped range.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment. 2 is a plan view of a heating unit according to an embodiment. 3 is a block diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment. Meanwhile, each configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example, and each configuration may be formed in various sizes, shapes, and numbers.

1 to 3, the camera module 1 according to an embodiment may be capable of self-heating by the heating unit 13. The camera module 1 can improve the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the tube 10 through the heat generated by the heat generating unit 13, and prevent freezing and condensation.

The camera module 1 according to an embodiment includes a barrel 10, a first lens 11, a second lens 12, a heating unit 13, an electrode hole 14, a sensor unit 15, a control unit ( 16) and a power supply 17.

The barrel 10 may have a plurality of lenses inserted therein. The barrel 10 may include a lens insertion space 101 into which a plurality of lenses are inserted. The barrel 10 may be inserted into the camera body.

The first lens 11 may be inserted into the lens insertion space 101. For example, the first lens 11 may be an objective lens positioned on the outermost side of the barrel 10.

The second lens 12 may be inserted into the lens insertion space 101. The second lens 12 may be positioned adjacent to the first lens 11. For example, the second lens 12 may be a lens positioned second from the outside in the barrel 10.

The heating unit 13 may be heated by electricity. That is, the heating unit 13 may generate heat when supplied with electricity. The heating unit 13 may be positioned between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12. When the heating unit 13 generates heat between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12, heat generated in the heating unit 13 is transmitted through the first lens 11 and the second lens 12. Can be delivered. Accordingly, air temperatures inside the surfaces of the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 and the lens insertion space 101 may be increased. Therefore, it is possible to prevent freezing on the surfaces of the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 or condensation inside the lens insertion space 101. Since the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 are located in the vicinity of the outside in the barrel 10, they can be sensitive to the temperature of the outside air. Therefore, by positioning the heating part 13 between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 located near the outside, it is possible to effectively prevent freezing and condensation. Meanwhile, the heating unit 13 may be applied not only between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12, but also between other lenses or the surface of the other lens. A plurality of heating units 13 may be provided.

The heating unit 13 may include a heating film 131 and an electrode unit 132.

The heating film 131 may be heated by electricity. That is, the heating film 131 may generate heat when supplied with electricity. The heating film 131 may be in close contact between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12. The heating film 131 may have a thin film shape. The heating film 131 may be formed in a circular shape in which a hollow 131a is formed at the center. According to such a configuration, light transmitted through the first lens 11 may be transmitted to the second lens 12 through the hollow 131a. Therefore, even if the heating film 131 is positioned between the first lens 11 and the second lens 12, light passing through the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 and the heating film 131 It may not interfere. The heating film 131 may include, for example, an M.C.O film.

The electrode unit 132 may be electrically connected to the heating film 131. The electrode unit 132 may be electrically connected to the power supply unit 17. That is, one side of the electrode portion 132 may be connected to the heating film 131, and the other side may be connected to the power supply 17. The power supply unit 17 may supply electricity to the electrode unit 132. That is, the power supply unit 17 may supply electricity to the heating film 131 through the electrode unit 132. The power supply unit 17 may be located outside the barrel 10. The power supply 17 may be located inside the camera body. The electrode unit 132 may include a positive electrode 132a and a negative electrode 132b. For example, the positive electrode 132a and the negative electrode 132b may be symmetrically opposite to each other with respect to the heating film 131. The electrode unit 132 may be connected to the power supply unit 17 through an electrode hole 14 to be described later.

The electrode hole 14 may provide a path through which the electrode unit 132 is connected to the power supply unit 17. The electrode hole 14 may be formed through the barrel 10. The electrode part 132 may be connected to the power supply part 17 through the electrode hole 14. The electrode hole 14 may penetrate the barrel 10 at a position that does not interfere with the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 inserted in the lens insertion space 101. For example, the electrode hole 14 may penetrate the barrel 10 in the vertical direction based on the state of FIG. 1. For example, the electrode hole 14 may penetrate a portion of the barrel 10 supporting the side surface of the second lens 12 in the vertical direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that light passing through the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 leaks through the electrode hole 14. In addition, the electrode part 132 may be connected to the power supply part 17 by bypassing the lens insertion space 101 by passing through the electrode hole 14. Therefore, the electrode unit 132 may not interfere with the first lens 11 and the second lens 12. Meanwhile, the electrode hole 14 may communicate the outside of the lens insertion space 101 and the barrel 10. Therefore, the electrode hole 14 may function as an air vent. Even if the air inside the lens insertion space 101 expands due to the heat generated from the heating film 131, the air inside the lens insertion space 101 can be distributed to the outside of the barrel 10 through the electrode hole 14. Therefore, the pressure inside the lens insertion space 101 can be kept constant.

The sensor unit 15 may measure the temperature inside and outside the barrel 10. For example, the sensor unit 15 may measure the temperature inside the lens insertion space 101 of the barrel 10. The sensor unit 15 may measure the temperature of the outside air of the barrel 10.

The control unit 16 may adjust the amount of current supplied from the power supply unit 17 to the electrode unit 132. The control unit 16 may control the temperature of the heating film 131 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to the electrode unit 132. In controlling the temperature of the heating film 131, the control unit 16 may take into account the internal and external temperatures of the barrel 10 measured by the sensor unit 15. For example, the control unit 16 increases the amount of current supplied to the electrode unit 132 when the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the tube 10 measured by the sensor unit 15 exceeds a set value, thereby increasing the heat generation film ( 131) can be increased. When the temperature inside the barrel 10 measured by the sensor unit 15 exceeds a set value, the control unit 16 decreases the current supplied to the electrode unit 132 to decrease the temperature of the heating film 131. Can. Therefore, the temperature inside the barrel 10 is excessively increased, and the air inside the lens insertion space 101 is excessively expanded or the first lens 11 and the second lens 12 are not damaged by hot heat. Can.

Although the embodiments have been described by the limited drawings as described above, a person skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than the described method, and/or components such as the structure, device, etc. described may be combined or combined in a different form from the described method, or may be applied to other components or equivalents. Even if replaced or substituted by, appropriate results can be achieved.

1: Camera module
10: tube
11: First lens
12: second lens
13: heating section
131: heating film
132: electrode portion
14: electrode hole
15: sensor unit
16: Control
17: power supply

Claims (6)

A barrel having a lens insertion space;
A first lens inserted into the lens insertion space;
A second lens inserted into the lens insertion space and positioned adjacent to the first lens; And
A camera module positioned between the first lens and the second lens, and including a heating unit that generates heat by electricity. According to claim 1,
The heating unit,
A heating film that is in close contact between the first lens and the second lens and is heated by electricity; And
A camera module including an electrode part electrically connected to the heating film. According to claim 2,
The heating film is formed in a circular shape with a hollow in the center, a camera module. According to claim 3,
An electrode hole formed through the barrel; And
Further comprising a power supply for supplying electricity to the electrode portion,
The electrode module passes through the electrode hole to electrically bypass the lens insertion space, and is electrically connected to the power supply unit. According to claim 4,
The electrode hole is formed by penetrating a portion of the barrel supporting the side surface of the second lens in a vertical direction. The method of claim 5,
Further comprising a control unit for controlling the temperature of the heating film by adjusting the size of the current supplied to the electrode unit, the camera module.

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