VEHICULAR CAMERA AND LENS ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
- a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements;
wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder;
a printed circuit board;
an imager disposed at said printed circuit board;
wherein one of (i) said printed circuit board is held by a holding element and said lens holder is attached at said holding element by a cured adhesive and (ii) said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive;
wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process;
wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith;
wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager;
wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process; and
wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular camera includes a lens disposed at a lens holder and an imager disposed at a printed circuit board. The lens holder is one of (i) attached at the printed circuit board by a cured adhesive and (ii) attached at a holding element by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board held by the holding element. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. When further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the camera in a vehicle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
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a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements; wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder; a printed circuit board; an imager disposed at said printed circuit board; wherein one of (i) said printed circuit board is held by a holding element and said lens holder is attached at said holding element by a cured adhesive and (ii) said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive; wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process; wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process; and wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
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a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements; wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder; a printed circuit board; an imager disposed at said printed circuit board; wherein one of (i) said printed circuit board is held by a holding element and said lens holder is attached at said holding element by a cured adhesive and (ii) said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive; wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process; wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process; wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle; and wherein at least one of (i) optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens relative to said imager is achieved robotically, (ii) adhesive is dispensed as a layer of uncured adhesive that has a thickness of up to approximately 0.75 mm and (iii) when the adhesive is cured, a gap is maintained between the end of said lens and said imager. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
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a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements; wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder; a printed circuit board; an imager disposed at said printed circuit board; wherein one of (i) said printed circuit board is held by a holding element and said lens holder is attached at said holding element by a cured adhesive and (ii) said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive; wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process; wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process; wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens relative to said imager is achieved robotically; and wherein, when the adhesive is cured, a gap is maintained between the end of said lens and said imager. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
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a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements; wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder; a printed circuit board; an imager disposed at said printed circuit board; wherein said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive; wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process; wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to said printed circuit board, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process; wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens relative to said imager is achieved robotically; and wherein at least one of (i) the adhesive comprises an epoxy-amine adhesive, (ii) adhesive is dispensed as a layer of uncured adhesive that has a thickness of up to approximately 0.75 mm and (iii) said optical elements are disposed within a lens barrel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification