CN111787213A - Camera module and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application discloses a camera module and an electronic device, which belong to the field of communication technology, so as to solve the problem that the battery life of the electronic device is insufficient in an occasion without charging conditions. Wherein, the camera module includes: an image sensor; a power processing circuit; an image processing circuit; In the case of the image sensor and the power processing circuit, the power processing circuit is used to collect power for the signal output by the image sensor; when the switching unit turns on the image sensor and the image processing circuit, the image processing circuit is used for the image sensor. The output signal is subjected to image processing. In the embodiment of the present application, the photoelectric conversion function of the image sensor in the camera can be used to convert the acquired light energy into electrical energy, thereby charging the battery and improving the battery life.

Description

Camera module and electronic equipment

technical field

The present application belongs to the field of communication technologies, and in particular relates to a camera module and an electronic device.

Background technique

As the functions of electronic devices continue to increase, the battery life of electronic devices has gradually become a concern of users. In order to improve the battery life of the electronic device, the existing technology mainly improves the battery capacity and reduces the power consumption of the electronic device. However, the inventor found that the prior art has at least the following problems: in the case where the charging conditions are not available, the electronic device can only maintain the running consumption of the electronic device through the existing battery power, and the electronic device still has insufficient battery life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present application provide a camera module and an electronic device, so as to solve the problem of insufficient battery life of the electronic device in an occasion without charging conditions.

In order to solve the above technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

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

image sensor;

Power processing circuit;

image processing circuit;

a switching unit, the image sensor is connected to one of the power processing circuit and the image processing circuit through the switching unit;

When the switching unit turns on the image sensor and the power processing circuit, the power processing circuit is configured to collect power for the signal output by the image sensor;

When the switching unit turns on the image sensor and the image processing circuit, the image processing circuit is configured to perform image processing on the signal output by the image sensor.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, including the above-mentioned camera module.

In the embodiment of this application, the camera module includes: an image sensor; a power processing circuit; an image processing circuit; a switching unit, and the image sensor communicates with the power processing circuit and the image processing circuit through the switching unit One is turned on; when the switching unit turns on the image sensor and the power processing circuit, the power processing circuit is used to collect power for the signal output by the image sensor; When the switching unit turns on the image sensor and the image processing circuit, the image processing circuit is configured to perform image processing on the signal output by the image sensor. Using the photoelectric conversion function of the image sensor in the camera, the obtained light energy can be converted into electric energy, and the electric energy can be used to charge the battery, which can supplement the electric energy of the battery, thereby improving the battery life.

Description of drawings

1 is one of the structural diagrams of a camera module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

2 is the second structural diagram of the camera module provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of an image sensor provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The terms "first", "second" and the like in the description and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It is to be understood that data so used may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that embodiments of the application can be practiced in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, "and/or" in the description and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

The camera module and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments and application scenarios with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a camera module provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera module includes:

image sensor 11;

power processing circuit 12;

image processing circuit 13;

a switching unit 14, the image sensor 11 is connected to one of the power processing circuit 12 and the image processing circuit 13 through the switching unit 14;

When the switching unit 14 turns on the image sensor 11 and the power processing circuit 12, the power processing circuit 12 is used to collect power for the signal output by the image sensor 11;

When the switching unit 14 turns on the image sensor 11 and the image processing circuit 13 , the image processing circuit 13 is configured to perform image processing on the signal output by the image sensor 11 .

In this embodiment, the camera module may include an image sensor 11, and the image sensor 11 can be used to collect optical signals and convert the optical signals into electrical signals. Based on the electrical signal, when the camera module is in different working states, the obtained electrical signal can be utilized differently.

The image sensor 11 is connected to the switching unit 14, and the switching unit 14 can be connected to the power processing circuit 12 or the image processing circuit 13 according to the working state of the camera module.

When the switching unit 14 is connected to the power processing circuit 12 , the image sensor 11 and the power processing circuit 12 are connected to each other. The image sensor 11 collects light, converts the obtained light signal into electric energy, and then transmits the converted electric energy to the electric energy processing circuit 12, and the electric energy processing circuit 12 uses the obtained electric energy to charge.

When the switching unit 14 is connected to the image processing circuit 13 , the image sensor 11 and the image processing circuit 13 are electrically connected. The image sensor 11 collects image information, and can send the collected image information to the image processing circuit 13, and the image processing circuit 13 can generate an image according to the obtained image information.

Therefore, the switching unit 14 can control the connection of the image sensor 11 according to the use state of the camera module. When the camera module needs to take pictures, the switching unit 14 can control the image sensor 11 to connect to the image processing circuit 12 to maintain normal camera work; when the camera module does not take pictures, the switching unit 14 can control the image sensor 11 to connect to the power processing circuit The circuit 13 is used to charge the battery, so that the battery power can be replenished in time, and the battery life can be improved.

When the electronic device has multiple cameras, the battery can be charged by using multiple camera modules of the multiple cameras, which can improve the charging efficiency.

In this way, the light converging effect of the camera lens can be utilized, and the photosensitive capability of the camera sensor can be fully utilized to collect ambient light and convert it into electrical energy, thereby charging the battery and improving the battery life of the electronic device.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2 , the switching unit 14 includes a first switching device 141 and a second switching device 142;

The first end of the first switching device 141 is connected to the image sensor 11 , and the second end of the first switching device 141 is connected to the power processing circuit 12 ;

The first end of the second switching device 142 is connected to the image sensor 11 , and the second end of the second switching device 142 is connected to the image processing circuit 13 .

The first switching device 141 may be a device for controlling the connection and disconnection of the image sensor 11 and the power processing circuit 12, and the device may be a switch or a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (Metal-Oxide-Semi-FET). Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor, MOSFET), etc.

The second switching device 142 may be a device for controlling the connection and disconnection of the image sensor 11 and the image processing circuit 13 , and the device may specifically be a switch, or a MOSFET or the like.

When the camera module is in different usage states, the first switch device 141 and the second switch device 142 can be controlled to be turned on and off alternately, so as to meet different usage requirements of the camera module in different usage states.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2 , the switching unit 14 further includes a controller 143 , and the controller 143 is respectively connected to the third terminal of the first switching device 141 and the third terminal of the second switching device 142 . end;

The controller 143 is configured to control the first end and the second end of the first switching device 141 to be turned on, or control the first end and the second end of the second switching device 142 to be turned on.

In this embodiment, when the camera module is not in the shooting mode, the camera module can be controlled to be charged. Specifically, the controller 143 can control the first switching device 141 to close, and control the second switching device 142 to open, so that the image sensor 11 is connected to the power processing circuit 12 , and the power processing circuit 12 uses the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11 Harvesting electrical energy to charge the battery.

When the camera module is in the shooting mode, the camera module can be controlled to shoot. Specifically, the controller 143 can control the first switching device 141 to be turned off, and control the second switching device 142 to be closed, so that the image sensor 11 is connected to the image processing circuit 13 , and the image processing circuit 13 uses the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11 to generate image to shoot.

Taking the first switching device 141 and the second switching device 142 as both MOSFETs as an example, the connection between the controller 143 and the first switching device 141 and the second switching device 142 can be seen in FIG. 2 . For the first switching device 141, the controller 143 can be connected to the gate of the MOSFET, the power processing circuit 12 can be connected to the drain of the MOSFET, and the image sensor 11 can be connected to the element of the MOSFET. For the second switching device 142, the controller 143 can be connected to the gate of the MOSFET, the image sensor 11 can be connected to the drain of the MOSFET, and the image processing circuit 13 can be connected to the element of the MOSFET.

In this way, the controller 143 can control the image sensor to be connected to the power processing circuit or to the image processing circuit according to the use state of the camera module, and the camera module can not only shoot but also charge the battery, which improves operational flexibility and saves costs. .

Optionally, the controller 143 is configured to receive a control signal, and when the control signal is the first control signal, control the first end and the second end of the first switching device 141 to conduct; When the control signal is the second control signal, the first end and the second end of the second switching device 142 are controlled to be turned on.

In this embodiment, the electronic device can send a control signal to the controller 143 according to the use state of the camera module. After the controller 143 receives the control signal, it can control different switching devices according to the type of the control signal.

When the battery needs to be charged, the electronic device can send a first control signal to the controller 143 . After the controller 143 receives the first control signal, it controls the first end and the second end of the first switching device 141 to conduct, that is, controls the image sensor 11 and the power processing circuit 12 to conduct. At this time, the image sensor 11 acquires the optical signal and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, and the power processing circuit 12 uses the electrical signal to charge.

When shooting is required, the electronic device may send a second control signal to the controller 143 . After the controller 143 receives the second control signal, it can control the first end and the second end of the second switching device 142 to conduct, that is, to control the image sensor 11 and the image processing circuit 13 to conduct. At this time, the image sensor 11 acquires an optical signal and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, that is, acquires image information, and the image processing circuit 13 generates an image using the image information.

By adding a power processing circuit at the sensor end of the camera, when the electronic device enters the photographing mode, the power processing circuit is automatically disconnected without affecting the original photographing function. When the electronic device exits the photographing mode, it automatically switches to the charging mode, and the power processing circuit starts to collect power at this time. In this way, the controller 143 controls the closing and opening of the first switching device 141 and the second switching device 142, thereby controlling the camera module to charge or capture images in different scenarios, and can flexibly control the camera module to operate in different scenarios Implementing different functions can reduce costs.

Optionally, the power processing circuit 12 includes a processing module circuit 121 and a battery 122, a first end of the processing module circuit 121 is connected to the image sensor 11, and a second end of the processing module circuit 121 is connected to the image sensor 11. battery 122;

The processing module circuit 121 is used for charging the battery 122 with the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11 .

In this embodiment, the power processing circuit 12 processes the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11, such as boosting the power, so that the voltage of the processed power matches the voltage of the battery, and other processing may also be performed. The battery 122 is charged by using the processed electrical signal, so that the battery 122 can be supplemented with electric power in various scenarios and the battery life can be improved.

Optionally, the processing module circuit 121 includes a first processing unit 1211 and a second processing unit 1212;

The first end of the first processing unit 1211 is connected to the image sensor 11, the second end of the first processing unit 1211 is connected to the second processing unit 1212, and the first processing unit 1211 is used for boosting The electrical signal output by the image sensor 11;

The second processing unit 1212 is connected to the first processing unit 1211 , and the second processing unit 1212 is used for charging the battery 122 with the boosted electrical signal.

The first processing unit 1211 may be a booster circuit, and the second processing unit 1212 may be a charging circuit. The second processing circuit may charge the battery 122 with the boosted electrical energy. In the case where the first processing unit and the second processing unit are integrated together, the layout space of the camera can be further reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In this way, the electronic device charges the battery after boosting the electric energy, which can match the voltage of the battery and improve the charging effect.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3 , the image sensor 11 includes a photopolymerization device 111 , a filter device 112 and a photosensitive device 113 , and the light passes through the photopolymerization device 111 and the filter device 112 in sequence and then emits light. to the light sensing device 113;

The light sensing device 113 is used for collecting light signals and converting the collected light signals into electrical signals.

In this embodiment, the photopolymerization device 111 may be a device for light polymerization, such as a microlens; the filter device 112 may be used for light filtering, such as a filter. The light sensing device 113 can collect light signals and convert the light signals into electrical signals. Therefore, in a shooting scene, the light sensing device 113 can be used for collecting image information, and in a charging scene, it can be used for collecting electric energy.

By using the electrical signal collection function of the image sensor 11 and adding a power processing circuit, power can be collected when the shooting module is not in the shooting mode, so as to charge and improve the battery life.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2, the image processing circuit 13 includes a signal processing module 131 and an image processor 132; the first end of the signal processing module 131 is connected to the image sensor 11, and the signal processing module The second end of 131 is connected to the image processor 132;

The signal processing module 131 is configured to perform analog-to-digital processing on the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11;

The image processor 132 is used to generate images based on the processed electrical signals.

In this embodiment, the signal processing module 131 acquires the electrical signal output by the image sensor 11 and performs analog-to-digital processing, that is, converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The processed electrical signal is output to the image processor, and the image processor generates an image based on the electrical signal.

In this embodiment, an image is generated by performing analog-to-digital processing on the electrical signal output by the image sensor, which can improve the effect of the image.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2 , the signal processing module 131 includes a source follower 1311 and an analog-to-digital converter 1312. The first end of the source follower 1311 is connected to the image sensor 11, and the The second end of the source follower 1311 is connected to the first end of the analog-to-digital converter 1312 , and the second end of the analog-to-digital converter 1312 is connected to the image processor 132 .

Wherein, the source follower 1311 is used to output an electrical signal whose impedance is within a preset impedance range to the analog-to-digital converter 1312;

The analog-to-digital converter 1312 is used to convert the electrical signal output by the source follower 1311 from an analog signal to a digital signal;

The image processor 132 is configured to generate an image based on the digital signal.

The source follower 1311 is used to convert the impedance of the electrical signal output by the image sensor, so that the impedance output by the source follower matches the impedance of the analog-to-digital converter, that is, the impedance is within a preset impedance range. The analog-to-digital converter 1312, that is, an analog-to-digital converter (Analog-to-Digital Converter, ADC), is used to convert the analog signal into a digital signal, and then transmit it to an image processor (Image Signal Processing, ISP) for processing to generate image.

In this embodiment, an image is generated after processing the electrical signal output by the image sensor, so that the effect of the image can be improved.

An embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, where the electronic device includes the camera module described in any one of the foregoing embodiments. Correspondingly, the electronic device includes the beneficial effects of the camera module in any of the above embodiments.

In this embodiment of the present application, by using the light-converging effect of the built-in lens of the camera and making full use of the light-sensing capability of the camera's sensor, when the camera is not in the shooting or photographing mode, it automatically enters the photoelectric energy collection function, and actively receives the environment in this way. The light energy is converted into electrical energy to charge the battery and improve the battery life of the electronic device. At the same time, the appearance of the electronic device is not affected, and the cost is saved.

It should be noted that, herein, the terms "comprising", "comprising" or any other variation thereof are intended to encompass non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, It also includes other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element qualified by the phrase "comprising a..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in a process, method, article or apparatus that includes the element. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatus in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing the functions in the order shown or discussed, but may also include performing the functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in the reverse order depending on the functions involved. To perform functions, for example, the described methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may also be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to some examples may be combined in other examples.

From the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and of course hardware can also be used, but in many cases the former is better implementation. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product in essence or in a part that contributes to the prior art, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, CD-ROM), including several instructions to make a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, or a network device, etc.) execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this application.

The embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments, which are merely illustrative rather than restrictive. Under the inspiration of this application, without departing from the scope of protection of the purpose of this application and the claims, many forms can be made, which all fall within the protection of this application.

Claims (10)

1. The utility model provides a module of making a video recording which characterized in that includes:

an image sensor;

an electric energy processing circuit;

an image processing circuit;

the image sensor is conducted with one of the electric energy processing circuit and the image processing circuit through the switching unit;

under the condition that the image sensor and the electric energy processing circuit are conducted by the switching unit, the electric energy processing circuit is used for collecting electric energy of signals output by the image sensor;

and under the condition that the image sensor and the image processing circuit are conducted by the switching unit, the image processing circuit is used for carrying out image processing on the signal output by the image sensor.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit includes a first switching device and a second switching device;

the first end of the first switching device is connected with the image sensor, and the second end of the first switching device is connected with the electric energy processing circuit;

and the first end of the second switching device is connected with the image sensor, and the second end of the second switching device is connected with the image processing circuit.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, wherein the switching unit further comprises a controller, and the controller is respectively connected to the third terminal of the first switching device and the third terminal of the second switching device;

the controller is used for controlling the conduction of the first end and the second end of the first switching device or controlling the conduction of the first end and the second end of the second switching device.

4. The camera module according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to receive a control signal, and control the first terminal and the second terminal of the first switching device to be turned on when the control signal is a first control signal; and when the control signal is a second control signal, controlling the conduction of the first end and the second end of the second switching device.

5. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the power processing circuit comprises a processing module circuit and a battery, a first end of the processing module circuit is connected to the image sensor, and a second end of the processing module circuit is connected to the battery;

the processing module circuit is used for charging the battery with the electric signal output by the image sensor.

6. The camera module of claim 5, wherein the processing module circuit comprises a first processing unit and a second processing unit;

the first end of the first processing unit is connected with the image sensor, the second end of the first processing unit is connected with the second processing unit, and the first processing unit is used for boosting an electric signal output by the image sensor;

the second processing unit is connected with the first processing unit and used for charging the battery with the boosted electric signal.

7. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a photo-polymerization device, a filter device and a photo-sensing device, and light sequentially passes through the photo-polymerization device and the filter device and then is emitted to the photo-sensing device;

the optical sensing device is used for collecting optical signals and converting the collected optical signals into electric signals.

8. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the image processing circuit comprises a signal processing module and an image processor; the first end of the signal processing module is connected with the image sensor, and the second end of the signal processing module is connected with the image processor;

the signal processing module is used for carrying out analog-digital processing on the electric signal output by the image sensor;

the image processor is used for generating an image based on the processed electric signals.

9. The camera module according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing module comprises a source follower and an analog-to-digital converter, a first end of the source follower is connected to the image sensor, a second end of the source follower is connected to a first end of the analog-to-digital converter, and a second end of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the image processor.

10. An electronic apparatus, characterized by comprising the camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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