Photographing device and unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 11,119,390 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2020
• Issued: 09/14/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Liu, Hao, Zhao, Xifeng, Liao, Ran, Chen, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US16/747,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20200159090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A photographing device includes a camera module assembly, a glass disposed external to the camera module assembly to protect the camera module assembly, and a temperature sensor configured to detect an internal temperature of the photographing device. The photographing device also includes a heating element disposed on the glass. The photographing device further includes a controller configured to obtain the external temperature and to control the heating element to heat the glass when a difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“

UAV”

), comprising;

a gimbal; and

a photographing device disposed on the gimbal, the photographing device including;

a camera module assembly;

a glass disposed external to the camera module assembly to protect the camera module assembly;

a temperature sensor configured to detect an internal temperature of the photographing device;

a heating element disposed on the glass; and

a controller configured to obtain the external temperature and to control the heating element to heat the glass when a difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the camera module assembly includes a circuit board, an imaging sensor loaded on the circuit board, and a lens module assembly loaded on the circuit board, and wherein the imaging sensor is received in the lens module assembly.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the heating element includes a resistor electrically connected with the circuit board, and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the glass using heat generated by supplying a current through the resistor.

4. The UAV of claim 3, wherein

the resistor is disposed at an external surface of the glass, or

the resistor is disposed inside the glass.

5. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the heating element includes a conductive coating electrically connected with the circuit board, and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the glass using heat generated by supplying a current to the conductive coating.

6. The UAV of claim 5, wherein the heating element also includes a resistor disposed inside the glass, and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the glass using heat generated by supplying a current through the resistor and the conductive coating.

7. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the photographing device also includes a front cover configured to cover the camera module assembly, and wherein the glass is configured to seal an outer side of the front cover that is away from the camera module assembly through a UV curable glue.

8. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the photographing device also includes a front cover and a dust-proof cotton, the front cover covers the camera module assembly, and the dust-proof cotton is disposed between the front cover and the camera module assembly.

9. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the photographing device also includes a front cover, a back cover, and a sealing glue, and wherein the front cover and the back cover are configured to couple together to form a receiving space, the camera module assembly is received in the receiving space, and the sealing glue is disposed between the back cover and the circuit board.

10. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the photographing device also includes a front cover, a back cover, and a hygroscopic material, and wherein the front cover and the back cover are configured to couple together to form a receiving space, the camera module assembly is received in the receiving space, the hygroscopic material is disposed in the receiving space, and the hygroscopic material is configured to remove water content from an interior of the photographing device.