Vehicle camera with connector system for high speed transmission

• US 10,367,281 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Conger, Jonathan D., Byrne, Steven V., Bally, Nazar F., Newiger, Achim, Mai, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desir, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US16/186,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20190081423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 348153, 348139, 348156, 348159, 34820814, 348825, 439 63, 439581
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A camera for a vehicular vision system includes a front housing portion, a circuit board and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion includes a lens and the rear housing portion includes a coaxial connecting element for electrically connecting to a vehicle cable. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of the coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of the coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board.

Claims

1. A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising:

a camera housing comprising a front housing portion and a rear housing portion;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens and an imager;

wherein said front housing portion has a circuit board attached thereat;

wherein said rear housing portion has an outer side and an inner side that is separated from the outer side by a wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rigid one-piece coaxial connecting element that extends through the wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein a first portion of said coaxial connecting element extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and a second portion of said coaxial connecting element extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises (i) a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of said first portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and (ii) a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of said second portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat;

wherein said rear housing portion mates with said front housing portion to encase said circuit board in a cavity of said camera housing;

wherein, as said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion, said second coaxial cable connector engages said third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect said coaxial connecting element with circuitry at said circuit board; and

wherein said first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a bent coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a straight coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein said coaxial connecting element is insert-molded in said rear housing portion.

5. The camera of claim 1, wherein said coaxial connecting element is press-fit into said rear housing portion.

6. The camera of claim 1, wherein said rear housing portion further comprises a multi-pin connector having a plurality of terminals, and wherein said plurality of terminals extend inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion to electrically connect to terminals of a header connector of said circuit board for electrically connecting to circuitry at said circuit board, and wherein said multi-pin connector is configured, at the outer side of said rear housing portion, to electrically connect to a plurality of terminals that electrically connects to a wire of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle.

7. The camera of claim 6, wherein said coaxial connecting element and said multi-pin connector are formed adjacent one another as part of said rear housing portion.

8. The camera of claim 6, wherein said coaxial connecting element and said multi-pin connector are spaced apart from one another at said rear housing portion.

9. The camera of claim 6, wherein said coaxial connecting element and said multi-pin connector are at least in part molded at said rear housing portion.

10. The camera of claim 6, comprising an electrically conductive shield disposed at least partially around said header connector and in electrical connection with circuitry at said circuit board, and wherein a clamping element is configured to engage said electrically conductive shield when said terminals engage said header connector during assembly of said camera, and wherein connection of said clamping element and said electrically conductive shield provides enhanced grounding of said terminals of said multi-pin connector with circuitry at said circuit board.

11. The camera of claim 1, wherein a connecting end of the coaxial cable comprises a laterally flexible core pin, and wherein a dielectric element is disposed at least partially along said laterally flexible core pin to limit lateral movement of said laterally flexible core pin within said first coaxial cable connector of said coaxial connecting element when said first coaxial cable connector is connected to the coaxial cable.

12. The camera of claim 1, wherein a connecting end of the coaxial cable comprises a crimped ferule that is received in said first coaxial cable connector at said rear housing portion when said first coaxial cable connector is connected to the coaxial cable.

13. The camera of claim 1, wherein said first coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said first coaxial cable connector, and wherein said second coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector, and wherein said third coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector.

14. The camera of claim 13, wherein said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector comprises a spring-loaded element that is biased towards an extended state to enhance electrical connection to said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector at said circuit board when said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion.

15. The camera of claim 13, wherein said imager comprises at least 1 million photosensor elements arranged in rows and columns in a two dimensional array.

16. The camera of claim 15, wherein, when said camera is disposed at the vehicle and is operated, said imager captures image data for a surround view system of the vehicle.

17. A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising:

a camera housing comprising a front housing portion and a rear housing portion;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens and an imager;

wherein said front housing portion has a circuit board attached thereat;

wherein said rear housing portion has an outer side and an inner side that is separated from the outer side by a wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rigid one-piece coaxial connecting element that extends through the wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein a first portion of said coaxial connecting element extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and a second portion of said coaxial connecting element extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises (i) a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of said first portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and (ii) a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of said second portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat;

wherein said third coaxial cable connector comprises a male coaxial cable connector and wherein said second coaxial cable connector comprises a female coaxial cable connector;

wherein said rear housing portion mates with said front housing portion to encase said circuit board in a cavity of said camera housing;

wherein, as said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion, said second coaxial cable connector engages said third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect said coaxial connecting element with circuitry at said circuit board; and

wherein said first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle.

18. The camera of claim 17, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a bent coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

19. The camera of claim 17, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a straight coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

20. The camera of claim 17, wherein said coaxial connecting element is insert-molded in said rear housing portion.

21. The camera of claim 17, wherein said coaxial connecting element is press-fit into said rear housing portion.

22. The camera of claim 17, wherein said first coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said first coaxial cable connector, and wherein said second coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector, and wherein said third coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector.

23. The camera of claim 22, wherein, as said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion, said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector is received in said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector.

24. A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising:

a camera housing comprising a front housing portion and a rear housing portion;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens and an imager;

wherein said front housing portion has a circuit board attached thereat;

wherein said rear housing portion has an outer side and an inner side that is separated from the outer side by a wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rigid one-piece coaxial connecting element that extends through the wall thickness of said rear housing portion;

wherein a first portion of said coaxial connecting element extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and a second portion of said coaxial connecting element extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises (i) a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of said first portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of said rear housing portion and (ii) a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of said second portion of said coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of said rear housing portion;

wherein said circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat;

wherein said third coaxial cable connector comprises a female coaxial cable connector and wherein said second coaxial cable connector comprises a male coaxial cable connector;

wherein said rear housing portion mates with said front housing portion to encase said circuit board in a cavity of said camera housing;

wherein, as said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion, said second coaxial cable connector engages said third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect said coaxial connecting element with circuitry at said circuit board; and

wherein said first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle.

25. The camera of claim 24, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a bent coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

26. The camera of claim 24, wherein said coaxial connecting element comprises a straight coaxial connecting element whereby a longitudinal axis of said first coaxial cable connector is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said second coaxial cable connector.

27. The camera of claim 24, wherein said coaxial connecting element is insert-molded in said rear housing portion.

28. The camera of claim 24, wherein said coaxial connecting element is press-fit into said rear housing portion.

29. The camera of claim 24, wherein said first coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said first coaxial cable connector, and wherein said second coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector, and wherein said third coaxial cable connector includes an inner connecting element and an outer connecting element that is electrically isolated from and at least partially circumscribes said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector.

30. The camera of claim 29, wherein, as said rear housing portion is mated with said front housing portion, said inner connecting element of said second coaxial cable connector is received in said inner connecting element of said third coaxial cable connector.