Roof mounted imager module

• US 10,129,445 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, Jr., Danny L., Hendricks, Michael G., Schueler, Kevin A., Kantola, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holder, Anner N
• Application Number:
  US15/449,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20170257535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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 roof mounted module for a vehicle includes a base plate configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle roof. An outer housing operably coupled with the base plate. An inner housing proximate the outer housing, including an imager sealing portion defining a sealing plane. The inner housing defines an inner cavity. An imager module is disposed in the cavity and is in communication with a viewing aperture defined through the outer housing. An imager mounting feature is disposed between the imager module and the inner housing. The imager mounting feature applies a force acting in a direction normal to the sealing plane.

Claims

1. A roof mounted module for a vehicle comprising:

a base plate configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle roof;

an outer housing operably coupled with the base plate;

an inner housing proximate the outer housing and including an imager sealing portion defining a sealing plane, the inner housing defining an inner cavity;

an imager module disposed in the cavity and in communication with a viewing aperture defined through the outer housing; and

an imager mounting feature disposed between the imager module and the inner housing, the imager mounting feature applying a force acting in a direction normal to the sealing plane.

2. The roof mounted module of claim 1, wherein the inner housing includes an interior wall that separates the inner cavity into a forward electronics compartment and a rearward imager module compartment.

3. The roof mounted module of claim 1, wherein the viewing aperture defines a viewing window that extends through a rear wall of the imager module.

4. The roof mounted module of claim 3, further comprising:

a clear polymeric cover lens extending over the viewing window and generally flush with the rear wall of the imager module.

5. The roof mounted module of claim 1, wherein the imager module is operably coupled to a lateral circuit board adjacent the base plate.

6. The roof mounted module of claim 1, wherein a space is defined between the inner housing and the outer housing proximate the viewing aperture, wherein the imager mounting feature extends into the space.

7. The roof mounted module of claim 1, further comprising:

a viewing aperture defined in the base plate, wherein a data connection between the vehicle and the imager module extends through the viewing aperture.

8. A roof mounted module for a vehicle comprising:

a base plate including an imager sealing portion;

an outer housing operably coupled with the base plate;

an inner housing proximate the outer housing and including an imager sealing portion defining a sealing plane, the inner housing including an interior wall that defines a forward electronics compartment and a rearward imager module compartment;

an imager module disposed in a cavity and in communication with a viewing aperture defined through the outer housing; and

an imager mounting feature disposed between the imager module and the inner housing, the imager mounting feature applying a force parallel to the sealing plane.

9. The roof mounted module of claim 8, wherein the viewing aperture defines a viewing window that extends through a rear wall of the imager module.

10. The roof mounted module of claim 8, further comprising:

a clear polymeric cover lens extending over a viewing window and generally flush with a rear wall of the imager module.

11. The roof mounted module of claim 8, wherein the imager module is operably coupled to a lateral circuit board adjacent the base plate.

12. The roof mounted module of claim 8, wherein a space is defined between the inner housing and the outer housing proximate the viewing aperture, wherein the imager mounting feature extends into the space.

13. The roof mounted module of claim 8, further comprising:

a viewing aperture defined in the base plate, wherein a data connection between the vehicle and the imager module extends through the viewing aperture.

14. A roof mounted module for a vehicle comprising:

a base plate configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle roof;

a housing assembly operably coupled with the base plate, and including an imager sealing portion defining a sealing plane;

an imager module disposed in the housing assembly and in communication with a viewing aperture defined through the housing assembly; and

an imager mounting feature disposed between the imager module and the housing assembly, the imager mounting feature applying a force acting in a direction normal to the sealing plane.

15. The roof mounted module of claim 14, wherein the housing assembly includes an interior wall that defines a forward electronics compartment and a rearward imager module compartment.

16. The roof mounted module of claim 14, wherein the viewing aperture defines a viewing window that extends through a rear wall of the imager module.

17. The roof mounted module of claim 16, further comprising:

a clear polymeric cover lens extending over the viewing window and generally flush with the rear wall of the imager module.

18. The roof mounted module of claim 14, wherein the imager module is operably coupled to a lateral circuit board adjacent the base plate.

19. The roof mounted module of claim 16, wherein the viewing window is disposed on a rear wall of the imager module.

20. The roof mounted module of claim 14, further comprising:

a viewing aperture defined in the base plate, wherein a data connection between the vehicle and the imager module extends through the viewing aperture.