CN211509126U - Anti-fog camera and anti-fog device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof. The anti-fog camera comprises a shell, a camera module arranged in a containing cavity of the shell and a light-transmitting element arranged at a first opening of the shell; and, an anti-fogging device. The anti-fog device includes, the anti-fog device includes: the heating element is superposed on the inner side of the light-transmitting element, and the heating element is used for heating the light-transmitting element after being conducted. Thus, the anti-fog camera has stable anti-fogging performance and better anti-fog effect.

Description

Anti-fog camera and anti-fog device thereof

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of cameras, in particular to an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof.

Background

In recent years, with the rapid development of intelligent devices, various intelligent devices have higher and higher requirements for image transmission. For example, in unmanned application scenes such as sales counter or unmanned supermarket of selling, the module of making a video recording need the purchase information of gathering the consumer to support unmanned the selling of goods. However, the common camera module cannot be used in an extremely warm environment or an environment with rapidly changing temperature, and particularly, the problem that the part of the camera in contact with the external environment is easily fogged or frosted to affect the image acquisition function is particularly prominent.

Therefore, a need exists for an anti-fog camera that can adapt to a particular shooting environment.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application provides an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, which can effectively prevent the anti-fog camera from fogging or frosting a portion contacting with an external environment.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein the anti-fog camera can be applied to application scenes of various different shooting temperatures, and the anti-fog performance of the anti-fog camera remains stable at different shooting temperatures.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein the anti-fog camera can intelligently regulate and control the operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature characteristics of the external environment, so as to ensure that the temperature of the light-transmitting element contacting with the external environment at different shooting temperatures maintains a preset value. In other words, in the present application, the operating power of the heating element is determined based on the temperature difference between the external environment and the operating environment thereof, rather than operating at a specific operating power.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein the temperature detection element of the anti-fog camera is used for detecting the real-time temperature of the light transmission element rather than the ambient temperature in the accommodating chamber, and the anti-fog camera further controls the operation mode of the heating element based on the detected temperature, so that the temperature of the light transmission element is maintained at a preset value.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein, the heating element is an electrical heating film with a film structure, which has a relatively thin thickness dimension, so that when the heating element is attached to the inner side of the light transmitting element, the real-time temperature of the heating element is almost consistent with the temperature of the light transmitting element, so that the temperature detecting element can acquire the real-time temperature of the light transmitting element by detecting the real-time temperature of the heating element. Therefore, on one hand, the temperature detection element can be effectively prevented from interfering the image acquisition of the camera module; on the other hand, the accuracy of temperature detection can be effectively ensured.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein the temperature detection element and the heating element are electrically connected to the camera module through the same connecting circuit to reduce the number of wires and facilitate the wires.

Another object of this application is to provide an antifog camera and anti-fogging device thereof, wherein, temperature detect element with heating element passes through the module of making a video recording supplies power, in other words, need not for temperature detect element with external power supply line is laid to heating element, so as to do benefit to the improvement accept the leakproofness of chamber.

Another object of the present application is to provide an anti-fog camera and an anti-fog device thereof, wherein the anti-fog camera has a simple structure and a low cost, and can economically and effectively ensure that image transmission requirements are met at different shooting temperatures.

In order to achieve at least one of the above objects, the present application provides an anti-fog camera, including:

the shell is provided with a containing cavity and a first opening, wherein the first opening is communicated with the containing cavity;

the camera module is arranged in the accommodating cavity and corresponds to the first opening;

the light-transmitting element is arranged at the first opening of the shell so as to allow external light to pass through the light-transmitting element and the first opening and be collected by the camera module; and

an anti-fog device, wherein the anti-fog device comprises: the heating element is superposed on the inner side of the light-transmitting element, and the heating element is used for heating the light-transmitting element after being conducted.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the heating element is implemented as an electrical heating film, wherein the electrical heating film is attached to the light transmissive element in a stacked manner such that the heating element and the light transmissive element have an integrated structure such that the real-time temperature of the heating element and the light transmissive element is consistent.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the heating element includes an annular heating band having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, wherein the inner circumference of the annular heating band defines an inner through hole, wherein when the heating element is attached to the inner side of the light transmission element, the inner through hole corresponds to the camera module, so that external light passing through the light transmission element can be supported to the camera module through the inner through hole.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the anti-fog device further comprises: a temperature detection element, wherein the temperature detection element is configured to detect the temperature of the heating element to obtain the temperature of the light transmission element, and the heating element is stacked inside the light transmission element so that the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light transmission element are nearly equal; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element so that the temperature of the light transmission element is kept at a preset value

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature sensing element is adjacent to the heating element for sensing the temperature of the heating element.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is attached to the heating element for detecting the temperature of the heating element.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is affixed to the heating element adjacent to the inner perimeter of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is attached to a middle portion of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is affixed to the heating element and adjacent to an outer periphery of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the heating element is electrically connected to the camera module through a first connection circuit to supply power to the heating element through the camera module, and the temperature detecting element attached to the heating element is electrically connected to the camera module through the first connection circuit to supply power to the temperature detecting element through the camera module.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the first connection circuit extends from the heating element along an inner wall of the housing to and is electrically connected to the camera module.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the controller is integrated with the camera module, and the controller is configured to increase the heating power of the heating element to raise the temperature of the light-transmitting element when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element is lower than a preset value; when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is higher than the preset value, reducing the heating power of the heating element so as to reduce the temperature of the light-transmitting element; and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is equal to the preset value, keeping the heating power of the heating element so as to keep the temperature of the light-transmitting element at the preset value.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the housing further has a second opening communicating with the receiving cavity, wherein the camera module is installed in the receiving cavity through the second opening, wherein the anti-fog camera further includes a sealing member for sealing the second opening, the sealing member having a cable guiding groove for allowing a second connection circuit for electrically connecting the camera module and an external power supply to pass through.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the cable guide groove is sealingly engaged with the electrical connector of the second connection circuit to seal the housing cavity.

According to another aspect of the application, an anti-fog device for an anti-fog camera is also provided, which is characterized by comprising

The heating element is used for being superposed on the inner side of the light-transmitting element so that the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light-transmitting element are nearly equal;

the temperature detection element is attached to the heating element and is used for detecting the temperature of the heating element so as to acquire the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element; and

the temperature detection element attached to the heating element is also electrically connected to the camera shooting module through the first connecting circuit so as to supply power to the temperature detection element through the camera shooting module.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the heating element is implemented as an electrical heating film, wherein the electrical heating film is configured to be overlappingly attached to the light-transmitting element, so that the heating element and the light-transmitting element have an integrated structure, and the real-time temperature of the heating element and the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element are consistent.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the heating element has an annular heating band having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, wherein the inner periphery of the annular heating band defines an inner through hole, and wherein the inner through hole corresponds to the camera module when the heating element is attached to the inner side of the light transmissive element.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is affixed to the heating element adjacent to the inner perimeter of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is attached to a middle portion of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the temperature detection element is affixed to the heating element and adjacent to an outer periphery of the annular heating band.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the anti-fog device further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is maintained at a preset value.

In one or more embodiments of the present application, the controller is integrated with the camera module.

Further objects and advantages of the present application will become apparent from an understanding of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present application will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a prior art anti-fog camera.

Fig. 1B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of another prior anti-fog camera.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an anti-fog camera according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an anti-fog device in the anti-fog camera according to the preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an equivalent implementation of the anti-fog means according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic view of another equivalent embodiment of the anti-fogging device according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a variant implementation of the anti-fogging device according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is an exploded schematic view of the sealing element and the second connection circuit of the anti-fog camera according to the preferred embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of an anti-fog method for an anti-fog camera according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to disclose the application and to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the application. The preferred embodiments in the following description are given by way of example only, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The underlying principles of the application, as defined in the following description, may be applied to other embodiments, variations, modifications, equivalents, and other technical solutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the application.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the present disclosure, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and the like are used in an orientation or positional relationship indicated in the drawings for ease of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or components must be in a particular orientation, constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus the above terms are not to be considered limiting of the present application.

It is understood that the terms "a" and "an" should be interpreted as meaning that a number of one element or element is one in one embodiment, while a number of other elements is one in another embodiment, and the terms "a" and "an" should not be interpreted as limiting the number.

Summary of the application

As described above, with the rapid development of smart devices in recent years, the smart devices have increasingly high requirements for image transmission, and the existing camera modules cannot be applied to very warm environments or environments with rapidly changing temperatures, and particularly, a portion (generally, a glass cover or a glass sheet) of the camera, which is in contact with the external environment, is easily fogged or frosted. For example, when the camera is applied to a vending cabinet, the temperature difference between the internal working temperature of the vending cabinet and the external environment temperature is large, and therefore, when the water vapor contained in the air in the external environment is close to the glass with low temperature, the water vapor can frost or fog on the surface of the glass, and the image shooting effect is affected.

Currently, there are two main anti-fogging schemes in the industry. One is to apply an anti-fogging coating on the portion of the camera that is in contact with the external environment. For example, in the patent application publication No. CN107722679A, a method for preparing a super-hydrophilic coating material is disclosed, which solves the problem of fogging or frosting of the glass surface of the camera in contact with the external environment through the hydrophilic property of the coating material. However, the applied anti-fogging coating may affect the imaging performance of the camera (since the anti-fogging coating may change the optical properties of the glass); moreover, the coating material has poor durability and short service life.

Another anti-fogging solution is to heat the camera. For example, in patent application No. CN207560147U, an anti-fogging camera device is disclosed, which achieves the purpose of preventing fogging by disposing a heating wire 2A on a camera 1A. Specifically, fig. 1A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the anti-fog camera device in the patent application, as shown in fig. 1A, a camera 1A and a heating wire 2 are disposed in a space sealed by a transparent glass cover 3A, wherein when the camera 1A is applied to a low-temperature shooting environment such as a refrigerator, the heating wire 2A is conducted to generate heat to heat air in the sealed space, and the temperature of the transparent glass cover 3A is raised by the heated air, so as to achieve an anti-fog effect.

For another example, in patent application No. CN207766371U, a camera with anti-fogging function is disclosed. Fig. 1B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an anti-fogging camera in the patent application document, and as shown in fig. 1B, the anti-fogging camera is provided with a graphite heating body 2B and a temperature sensor 4B on the inner wall of a cavity for mounting the camera 1B, wherein the temperature sensor 4B is used for detecting the temperature of air in the cavity, and when the temperature in the cavity is detected to be low, the graphite heating body is started to generate heat to heat the air in the cavity, and then the temperature of the transparent glass cover 3B is increased through the heated air, so that an anti-fogging effect is achieved.

Although the anti-fogging problem can be solved to some extent by the technical means of anti-fogging by heating, it still has a number of drawbacks, in particular, the anti-fogging property is unstable.

Specifically, existing anti-fog cameras (including the above-listed patent CN207766371U and patent CN207560147U) that achieve anti-fogging by heating means are set to generate heat at a specific power. In other words, upon detecting a temperature difference between the internal temperature of the camera and the external ambient temperature, the heating element is activated and operated at a preset power to generate heat. Such a heating method cannot ensure that the temperature of the glass cover in contact with the external environment is maintained stable, in other words, the antifogging performance of the antifogging camera is unstable.

For example, when the existing anti-fog camera is applied to a refrigerating environment (having a small difference between internal and external temperatures) and a freezing environment (having a large difference between internal and external temperatures), a heating element generating heat at a certain power causes a difference in temperature of the glass cover in the two different working environments, thereby causing a difference in anti-fog performance. That is, the existing antifogging camera that realizes antifogging through heating means cannot adapt to the application scene that has many different shooting environments.

Further, in the anti-fog camera provided with the temperature sensor, the detection object of the temperature sensor is the temperature of the air inside the cavity, not the temperature of the glass cover. That is, in the existing anti-fog camera, the temperature sensor cannot intuitively monitor the anti-fog performance of the anti-fog camera, and it only provides a fuzzy trigger signal: when the temperature in the cavity is detected to be less than the preset value, the heating element is started as a trigger signal to heat the air in the cavity so as to improve the temperature of the glass cover. That is, the existing anti-fog cameras that achieve anti-fogging through heating means lack an accurate anti-fogging performance control mechanism.

In addition, the existing heating element (whether a graphite heating body or a heating wire) has a relatively thick size, and meanwhile, when the installation position of the heating element is designed, the light collection of the camera module needs to be prevented from being influenced. The above factors not only limit the choice of mounting positions of the heating elements, but also cause a low heating efficiency. For example, in the patents CN207766371U and CN207560147U listed above, the heating modes are: the heating element heats the air, and then heats the glass cover through the heated air, that is, the heating element indirectly heats the glass cover, and the heating efficiency is low.

To above-mentioned technical defect, the basic idea of this application lies in providing one kind and has stable antifogging property, can be applicable to the antifogging camera of multiple different shooting temperature environment, and its adoption has the electrical heating film of thinner thickness size as heating element, and will heating element superposes the bottom side of affixing in light-transmitting element with, in order to pass through heating element is direct right light-transmitting element heats. Because the heating element and the light-transmitting element are overlapped, the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light-transmitting element are almost equal, and correspondingly, the anti-fog camera further comprises a temperature detection element for detecting the real-time temperature of the heating element so as to obtain the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element; further, the anti-fog camera further comprises a controller capable of intelligently regulating and controlling the heating power of the heating element based on the detected real-time temperature, so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is kept at a preset value, namely, the anti-fog camera is ensured to have stable anti-fogging performance.

Based on this, the application provides an anti-fog camera, which comprises a shell with a containing cavity and a first opening, wherein the first opening is communicated with the containing cavity; the camera module is arranged in the accommodating cavity and corresponds to the first opening; set up in the light-transmitting component of the first opening of casing to allow external light to pass the light-transmitting component with first opening and by the module of making a video recording gathers, wherein, anti-fogging device includes: a heating element configured to heat the light transmissive element after being conducted, wherein the heating element is stacked inside the light transmissive element such that real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light transmissive element are approximately equal; the temperature detection element is used for detecting the temperature of the heating element so as to acquire the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element; and (c) and (d). A controller, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is maintained at a preset value. Therefore, the anti-fog camera has stable anti-fogging performance and can be adapted to application environments with different shooting temperatures.

Having described the general principles of the present application, various non-limiting embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Exemplary anti-fog Camera

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an anti-fog camera according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the anti-fog camera includes: the device comprises a shell 10, a camera module 20, a light-transmitting element 30 and an anti-fog device 40, wherein the shell 10 comprises an accommodating cavity 11 and a first opening 12 communicated with the accommodating cavity 11. The camera module 20 is supported in the receiving cavity 11 of the housing 10 and corresponds to the first opening 12 of the housing 10. The light-transmitting element 30 is disposed in the first opening 12 of the housing 10 to seal the first opening 12, wherein the light-transmitting element 30 is made of a light-permeable material to allow external light to pass through and be collected by the camera module 20 through the first opening 12. The anti-fog device 40 is disposed in the accommodating cavity 11 of the housing 10, and is used for controlling the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 to be kept at a preset value, so that the anti-fog camera has stable anti-fog performance and can adapt to application scenes with various different shooting temperatures.

As shown in fig. 2, in the embodiment of the present invention, the accommodating cavity 11 of the housing 10 provides an internal working environment for the camera module 20, and the light-transmitting element 30 disposed at the first opening 12 of the housing 10 is in contact with an external environment. Accordingly, the shape and size of the housing 10 depend on the specific application scenario, and the shape and size design thereof can be freely changed based on the structural matching requirement of the application scenario, which is not limited by the present application. Preferably, the outline of the receiving cavity 11 of the housing 10 is designed to be adapted to the camera module 20, so as to facilitate the camera module 20 to be fittingly installed in the receiving cavity 11, and ensure that the outline of the receiving cavity 11 does not affect the image capturing of the camera module 20.

The first opening 12 of the housing 10 is used for installing the transparent component 30, wherein the size and shape of the first opening 12 depend on the distance between the camera module 20 and the transparent component 30 and the field angle of the camera module 20. Preferably, the shape of the first opening 12 corresponds to the lens of the camera module 20, for example, when the lens cross-section is circular, the cross-section of the first opening 12 is also circular. Moreover, the size of the first opening 12 should be large enough to prevent the first opening from affecting the external light entering the camera module 20.

When the light-transmitting element 30 is installed in the first opening 12 of the housing 10, the first opening 12 is sealed by the light-transmitting element 30, so that the internal working environment of the camera module 20 is a sealed environment. Similarly, the shape and size of the transparent component 30 should be designed to ensure that the external light can be sufficiently collected by the camera module 20. Specifically, when the first opening 12 has a size capable of sufficiently covering the angle of view of the camera module 20, a planar light-transmitting member may be adopted, that is, the light-transmitting member 30 is implemented as a light-transmitting cover sheet; when the first opening 12 is not sized to sufficiently cover the field angle of the camera module 20, a light-transmitting member having an outward convex shape, that is, the light-transmitting member 30 is implemented as a light-transmitting cover.

It is worth mentioning that the light-transmitting element 30 can be made of glass material, optical plastic, and polymer light-transmitting material of novel polymers, wherein the optical plastic includes, but is not limited to, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polydiallyl diglycol carbonate; the novel macromolecular polymeric light-transmitting material includes, but is not limited to OZ-1000 resin, KT-153 spirane resin, TS series optical material, MH resin, APO resin and TS26 resin.

In order to facilitate the installation of the camera module 20, as shown in fig. 2, in the embodiment of the present application, the housing 10 further includes a second opening 13 communicating with the receiving cavity 11 and opposite to the first opening 12, wherein the camera module 20 enters the receiving cavity 11 of the housing 10 through the second opening 14. That is, in the embodiment of the present application, the housing 10 has two openings oppositely disposed, wherein the first opening 12 is located at the head of the housing 10 and the second opening 13 is located at the tail of the housing 10. Accordingly, in the process of assembling the anti-fog camera, the camera module 20 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 11 along the second opening in a manner that the lens of the camera module faces the first opening 12. It should be understood that, since the head (where the lens is located) of the camera module 20 is smaller than the tail of the camera module 20, in this way, the installation of the camera module 20 is facilitated to be positioned, so as to improve the installation accuracy and the installation convenience.

After the camera module 20 is mounted in the housing cavity 11 of the housing 10 through the second opening 13, the second opening 13 is further sealed by a sealing member 50 to ensure that the internal working environment of the camera module 20 is a sealed environment. In other words, in the embodiment of the present application, the housing 10 has two opposite heads, wherein the first opening 12 is sealed by the light-transmitting element 30, and the second opening 13 is sealed by the sealing element 50, so that the accommodating cavity 11 of the housing 10 is sealed by the light-transmitting element 30 and the sealing element 50, and the internal working environment of the camera module 20 is a sealed environment. In particular, in the embodiment of the present application, the sealing member 50 further includes a cable guide groove 51 for routing a connection circuit for conducting the camera module 20 and an external power supply, and the discussion about this portion is further fully described in the following description about the anti-fogging device 40.

It should be understood that when the anti-fog camera is applied to an intelligent device such as an unmanned counter, the light-transmitting element 30 contacting with the external environment is prone to be condensed on the surface of the light-transmitting element 30 due to the large difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature, so that fog or even frost is generated, and the image acquisition and image transmission functions of the camera module are affected. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present application, the anti-fog camera further includes an anti-fog device 40, which is disposed in the receiving cavity 11 of the housing 10, and is used for removing frost or fog condensed on the surface of the light-transmitting element 30 and preventing the surface of the light-transmitting element from fogging or frosting.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an anti-fog device in the anti-fog camera according to the preferred embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the anti-fog device 40 includes a heating element 41, a temperature detection element 42 and a controller 43, wherein the heating element 41 is attached to the bottom side of the light-transmitting element 30 and used for heating the light-transmitting element 30 after being conducted; the temperature detection element 42 is configured to detect a real-time temperature of the heating element 41 to obtain a real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element 30; and the controller 43, configured to control the operation mode of the heating element 41 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 42, so as to ensure that the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 is maintained at a preset value. In other words, in the embodiment of the present application, the anti-fog device 40 provides an accurate anti-fog performance control mechanism, which can effectively ensure that the anti-fog camera has stable anti-fog performance in application scenarios of various shooting environments.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, in the embodiment of the present application, the heating element 41 is implemented as an electric heating film having a film structure with a relatively thin thickness dimension, for example, the electric heating film may be implemented as a polyimide film electric heating film. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the polyimide film electrical heating film is a polyimide film as an outer insulator; the metal foil and the metal wire are used as internal conductive heating bodies and are formed by high-temperature high-pressure heat sealing. The polyimide thin film electrical heating film has excellent insulating strength, excellent dielectric strength, excellent heat conduction efficiency, excellent resistance stability, which enables it to be widely applied to the heating field and enables a considerably high temperature control accuracy to be obtained.

Preferably, in the embodiment of the present application, the heating element 41 is attached to the bottom side of the light-transmitting element 30 in an overlapping manner, so as to heat the light-transmitting element 30 after being conducted. It should be understood that when the heating element 41 is stacked on the light-transmitting member 30, on one hand, the heat generated by the heating element 41 can directly act on the light-transmitting member 30 to improve the heating efficiency; on the other hand, the stacked structure relationship makes the real-time temperatures of the light transmitting member 30 and the heating member 41 nearly equal, so that the real-time temperature of the light transmitting member 30 can be measured with high accuracy by measuring the temperature of the heating member 41.

It should be understood that, during the model selection process of the heating element 41, it should also be ensured that the heating element 41 does not affect the imaging performance of the camera module 20 (in the form that the heating element 41 blocks the external light from entering the camera module 20). Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, in the embodiment of the present application, the heating element 41 includes an annular heating belt 411 having an inner edge 412 and an outer edge 413, wherein the inner edge 412 of the annular heating belt 411 defines an inner through hole 410, and when the heating element 41 is attached to the inner side of the light-transmitting element 30, the inner through hole 410 corresponds to the camera module 20, so that the external light passing through the light-transmitting element 30 can be abutted to the camera module 20 through the inner through hole 410. Preferably, the annular heating band 411 has a width dimension such that when the heating element 41 is attached to the inner side of the light transmitting element 30, the outer edge 413 of the annular heating band 411 coincides with the outer circumference of the light transmitting element 30.

As shown in fig. 3, in order to improve the temperature detection accuracy of the light-transmitting element 30, in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41, so as to detect the real-time temperature of the heating element 42, so as to obtain the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element 30. It should be understood that the accuracy of detecting the temperature of the temperature detection element 42 decreases with the increase of the approach distance (due to the thermal energy transmission loss), and therefore, when the temperature detection element 42 is directly attached to the heating element 41, the detection distance between the temperature detection element 42 and the heating element 41 is almost 0, and the accuracy of detecting the temperature thereof is high, so that the accuracy of detecting the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 can be improved.

It should be noted that, when the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41, the position of the transparent element 30 occupied by the temperature detection element 42 belongs to the position of the heating element 41 originally occupying the transparent element 30, and therefore, the temperature detection element 42 does not affect the image capturing function of the camera module 20.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 3, in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41 and adjacent to the inner periphery 412 of the annular heating band 411. Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an equivalent implementation of the anti-fog means according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4, in the equivalent embodiment, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the middle of the annular heating belt 411. Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic view of another equivalent embodiment of the anti-fogging device according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, in the equivalent embodiment, the temperature detecting element 42 is attached to the heating element 41 and is adjacent to the outer periphery 413 of the annular heating belt 411. Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a variant implementation of the anti-fogging device according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, in this modified embodiment, the temperature detection element 42 is adjacent to the heating element 41 for detecting the temperature of the heating element 41. That is, in this modified embodiment, the temperature detection element 42 is not directly attached to the heating element 41, but is disposed adjacent to the heating element 41. In a specific implementation, the temperature detecting element 42 may be suspended from the inner wall of the housing 10 by a bracket and adjacent to the heating element 41, which is not limited by the present application.

In particular, as shown in fig. 3-6, in the embodiment of the present application, the heating element 41 is electrically connected to the camera module through a first connection circuit 44, so as to supply power to the heating element 41 through the camera module 20. That is, in the present embodiment, the heating element 41 is operated in the "internal power supply" mode, so that the trouble of laying a cable for the heating element 41 can be eliminated. In particular, as shown in fig. 3-6, in the embodiment of the present application, the first connecting circuit 44 extends from the heating element 41 along the inner wall of the housing 10 to and electrically connected to the camera module 20.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 3 to 6, in the embodiment of the present application, the temperature detecting element 42 attached to the heating element 41 is also electrically connected to the camera module 20 through the first connecting circuit 44, so as to supply power to the temperature detecting element 42 through the camera module 20. In other words, in the present embodiment, the heating element 41 and the temperature detection element 42 share a communication and/or conductive line to reduce the number of cable runs.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present application, the image capturing module 20 is connected to an external power source through the second connection circuit 45, so as to supply power to the image capturing module 20 through the external power source. As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the second connection circuit 45 extends rearward from the camera module 20 and extends to the outside through a cable guide groove 51 provided in the sealing member 50. In particular, in the claimed embodiment, the cable guide groove 51 is sealingly engaged with the electrical connector 451 of the second connection circuit 45 to seal the housing cavity 11, thereby ensuring that the internal working environment of the camera module 20 is a sealed environment.

It is worth mentioning that, compared to the existing anti-fog camera, since the heating element 41 and the temperature detection element 42 adopt the conduction mode of "internal wiring and internal power supply", the number of the cable guide grooves 51 provided in the sealing element 50 can be reduced to reduce the adverse effect of the cable guide grooves 51 on the sealing performance of the internal environment.

Further, after acquiring the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element 30, the controller 43 further controls the operation mode of the heating element based on a preset program, so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 is maintained at a preset value.

In the embodiment of the present application, the preset control logic of the controller 43 is: when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 42 is lower than a preset value, increasing the heating power of the heating element 41 to raise the temperature of the light transmitting element 30; when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 42 is higher than the preset value, the heating power of the heating element 41 is reduced to reduce the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30; and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element 42 is equal to the preset value, maintaining the heating power of the heating element 41 so that the temperature of the light transmitting element 30 is maintained at the preset value.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present application, the controller 43 is integrated in the camera module 20 to intelligently control the heating element 41 based on the control program. Of course, those skilled in the art should appreciate that in other examples of the present application, the controller 43 can exist as a separate component, and is not limited to the present application.

In summary, an anti-fog camera according to an embodiment of the present application is illustrated, which uses an electrical heating film with a thinner thickness dimension as a heating element, and attaches the heating element to the bottom side of a light-transmitting element in an overlapping manner, so as to directly heat the light-transmitting element through the heating element. Because the heating element and the light-transmitting element are arranged in a superposed manner, the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light-transmitting element are almost equal, so that the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element can be obtained by the temperature detection element for detecting the real-time temperature of the heating element; further, after the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element is acquired, the controller can intelligently regulate and control the heating power of the heating element, so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is kept at a preset value. In this way, the anti-fog camera is ensured to have stable anti-fogging performance, so that the anti-fog camera can be applied to application scenes with different shooting environments.

It should be noted that the anti-fog camera disclosed in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various devices that need to acquire images, such as an unmanned goods container, an unmanned goods supermarket, a monitoring device, and the like, which is not limited in the present application. Also, since the anti-fog camera has stable anti-fogging performance, the anti-fog camera can stably operate even if the shooting environment temperature changes.

Exemplary anti-fogging device

According to another aspect of the present application, there is also provided an anti-fog device for an anti-fog camera, which includes a heating element 41, a temperature detection element 42 and a first connection circuit 44, wherein the heating element 41 is used for being attached to the inner side of a light-transmitting element 30 of the anti-fog camera and is configured for heating the light-transmitting element 30 after being conducted; the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41 and configured to detect the temperature of the heating element 41 to obtain the real-time temperature of the light transmissive element 30. Accordingly, the heating element 41 is electrically connected to the camera module 20 of the anti-fog camera through the first connection circuit 44 to supply power to the heating element 42 through the camera module 20, and the temperature detection element 42 attached to the heating element 41 is also electrically connected to the camera module 20 through the first connection circuit 44 to supply power to the temperature detection element 42 through the camera module 20.

In the anti-fog device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the heating element 42 is implemented as an electric heating film, wherein the electric heating film is configured to be attached to the light-transmitting element 30 in a stacked manner, so that the heating element 41 and the light-transmitting element 30 have an integrated structure, and the real-time temperature of the heating element 41 and the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 are consistent.

In the anti-fog device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the heating element package 41 includes an annular heating band 411, the annular heating band 411 has an inner periphery 412 and an outer periphery 413, wherein the inner periphery 412 of the annular heating band 411 defines an inner through hole 410, and when the heating element 41 is attached to the inner side of the light-transmitting element 30, the inner through hole 410 corresponds to the camera module 20.

In the anti-fog device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41 and adjacent to the inner periphery 412 of the annular heating belt 411.

In the anti-fogging device 40 described above, in an embodiment of the present application, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the middle of the annular heating belt 411.

In the anti-fog device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the temperature detection element 42 is attached to the heating element 41 and adjacent to the outer periphery 413 of the annular heating belt 411.

In the anti-fog device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the anti-fog device 400 further includes a controller 43, wherein the controller 43 is configured to control the operation mode of the heating element 41 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 42, so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element 30 is maintained at a preset value.

In the anti-fogging device 40, in an embodiment of the present application, the controller 43 is integrated with the camera module 20.

Exemplary anti-fogging method

According to still another aspect of the present application, there is also provided an anti-fog method of an anti-fog camera, comprising the steps of: s810, detecting the temperature of the heating element to obtain the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element by the temperature detection element attached to the heating element, wherein the heating element is attached to the light-transmitting element, and S820, controlling the working mode of the heating element based on the temperature obtained by the temperature detection element to keep the temperature of the light-transmitting element at a preset value.

In the above anti-fog method, in an embodiment of the present application, the heating element is implemented as an electric heating film, wherein the electric heating film is attached to the light-transmitting element in an overlapping manner, so that the heating element and the light-transmitting element have an integrated structure, so that the heating element and the light-transmitting element have a real-time temperature consistent.

In the anti-fog method, in an embodiment of the present application, the controlling the operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature obtained by the temperature detection element so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is kept at a preset value includes:

when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is lower than a preset value, increasing the heating power of the heating element to increase the temperature of the light-transmitting element;

when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is higher than the preset value, reducing the heating power of the heating element so as to reduce the temperature of the light-transmitting element; and

when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is equal to the preset value, the heating power of the heating element is kept, so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is kept at the preset value.

The foregoing describes the general principles of the present application in conjunction with specific embodiments, however, it is noted that the advantages, effects, etc. mentioned in the present application are merely examples and are not limiting, and they should not be considered essential to the various embodiments of the present application. Furthermore, the foregoing disclosure of specific details is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be limiting, since the foregoing disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise details disclosed.

The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, systems referred to in this application are only given as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the connections, arrangements, configurations, etc. must be made in the manner shown in the block diagrams. These devices, apparatuses, devices, systems may be connected, arranged, configured in any manner, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Words such as "including," "comprising," "having," and the like are open-ended words that mean "including, but not limited to," and are used interchangeably therewith. The words "or" and "as used herein mean, and are used interchangeably with, the word" and/or, "unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The word "such as" is used herein to mean, and is used interchangeably with, the phrase "such as but not limited to".

It should also be noted that in the devices, apparatuses, and methods of the present application, the components or steps may be decomposed and/or recombined. These decompositions and/or recombinations are to be considered as equivalents of the present application.

The previous description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present application. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, the present application is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit embodiments of the application to the form disclosed herein. While a number of example aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions and sub-combinations thereof.

Claims (22)

1. An anti-fog camera, comprising:

the shell is provided with a containing cavity and a first opening, wherein the first opening is communicated with the containing cavity;

the camera module is arranged in the accommodating cavity and corresponds to the first opening;

the light-transmitting element is arranged at the first opening of the shell so as to allow external light to pass through the light-transmitting element and the first opening and be collected by the camera module; and

an anti-fog device, comprising: the heating element is superposed on the inner side of the light-transmitting element and is used for heating the light-transmitting element after being conducted.

2. The anti-fog camera of claim 1, wherein the heating element is implemented as an electrical heating film that is adhesively affixed to the light transmissive element such that the heating element and the light transmissive element have an integral structure such that the real-time temperature of the heating element and the light transmissive element are consistent.

3. The anti-fog camera of claim 2, wherein the electrical heating film comprises an annular heating band having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery of the annular heating band defining an inner through hole, and when the annular heating band is attached to the inner side of the light transmissive element, the inner through hole corresponds to the camera module, so that external light passing through the light transmissive element can be abutted to the camera module through the inner through hole.

4. The anti-fog camera of claim 3, wherein the anti-fog device further comprises:

a temperature detection element configured to detect a temperature of the endless heating belt to acquire a temperature of the light transmitting element; and

a controller configured to control an operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element such that the temperature of the light transmissive element is maintained at a preset value.

5. The anti-fog camera of claim 4, wherein the temperature detection element is adjacent to the annular heating band for detecting the temperature of the heating element.

6. The anti-fog camera of claim 4, wherein the temperature detection element is attached to the annular heating band for detecting the temperature of the heating element.

7. The anti-fog camera of claim 6, wherein the temperature detection element is affixed to the annular heating band adjacent to an inner perimeter of the annular heating band.

8. The anti-fog camera of claim 6, wherein the temperature detection element is attached to a middle portion of the annular heating band.

9. The anti-fog camera of claim 6, wherein the temperature detection element is affixed to the annular heating band adjacent to an outer periphery of the annular heating band.

10. The anti-fog camera of any one of claims 6-9, wherein the heating element is electrically connected to the camera module through a first connection circuit to supply power to the heating element through the camera module, and wherein the temperature detection element attached to the heating element is electrically connected to the camera module through the first connection circuit to supply power to the temperature detection element through the camera module.

11. The anti-fog camera of claim 10, wherein the first connection circuit extends from the heating element along an inner wall of the housing to and is electrically connected to the camera module.

12. The anti-fog camera of claim 4, wherein the controller is integrated with the camera module, and is configured to increase the heating power of the heating element to raise the temperature of the light-transmitting element when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element is lower than a preset value; when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is higher than the preset value, reducing the heating power of the heating element so as to reduce the temperature of the light-transmitting element; and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection element is equal to the preset value, keeping the heating power of the heating element so as to keep the temperature of the light-transmitting element at the preset value.

13. The anti-fog camera of claim 1 or 4, wherein the housing further has a second opening communicated with the accommodating cavity, and the camera module is mounted in the accommodating cavity through the second opening; wherein the anti-fog camera further comprises a sealing element for sealing the second opening, the sealing element having a cable guide groove for allowing a second connection circuit for electrically connecting the camera module and an external power supply to pass through.

14. The anti-fog camera of claim 13, wherein the cable guide slot sealingly engages with an electrical connector of the second connection circuit to seal the receiving cavity.

15. An anti-fog device for an anti-fog camera, comprising

The heating element is used for heating the light-transmitting element after being conducted, wherein the heating element is overlapped on the inner side of the light-transmitting element, so that the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light-transmitting element are consistent;

the temperature detection element is attached to the heating element and is used for detecting the temperature of the heating element so as to acquire the real-time temperature of the light-transmitting element; and

the temperature detection element attached to the heating element is also electrically connected to the camera shooting module through the first connecting circuit so as to supply power to the temperature detection element through the camera shooting module.

16. The anti-fog apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heating element is implemented as an electrical heating film configured to be overlappingly affixed to the light transmissive element such that the heating element and the light transmissive element have an integral structure such that the real-time temperatures of the heating element and the light transmissive element are approximately equal.

17. The anti-fog device of claim 16, wherein the electrically heated film comprises an annular heating band having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, wherein the inner periphery of the annular heating band defines an inner through hole, wherein the inner through hole corresponds to the camera module when the heating element is affixed to the inside of the optically transparent element.

18. The anti-fog device of claim 17, wherein the temperature detection element is affixed to the annular heating band adjacent to an inner perimeter of the annular heating band.

19. The anti-fogging device according to claim 17, wherein the temperature detection element is attached to a middle portion of the annular heating band.

20. The anti-fogging device according to claim 17, wherein the temperature detection element is affixed to the annular heating band adjacent to an outer periphery thereof.

21. The anti-fogging device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the anti-fogging device further comprises a controller configured to control an operation mode of the heating element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element so that the temperature of the light-transmitting element is maintained at a preset value.

22. The anti-fog apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is integrated with the camera module.

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