CAMERA FOR VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS

• US 20150203037A1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Byrne, Steven V., Stickler, Ben, Rieden, Richard, Sesti, Matthew C., Brasier, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,365,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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 camera module for a vehicle vision system includes a circuit element including an imaging sensor, associated circuitry and a circuitry connector. A cable has a cable portion and a cable connector for connecting to the circuitry connector. A housing portion includes a lens receiving portion and a cable receiving portion that mate together to substantially house the circuit element. The lens receiving portion includes a lens assembly. The cable receiving portion includes a connector receiving portion configured to receive and retain the cable connector therein and a wire receiving portion configured to receive and retain the cable portion therein. The tube has an appropriate form for a given cable shape and the tube encompasses at least a portion of the wire receiving portion and the cable portion. The tube substantially seals around the portion of the wire receiving portion and the cable portion.

Claims

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

a circuit element, said circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, said circuit element including a circuitry connector;

a cable having a cable portion and a cable connector for connecting to said circuitry connector;

a housing portion comprising a lens receiving portion and a cable receiving portion, said lens receiving portion and said cable receiving portion mating together to substantially house said circuit element;

wherein said lens receiving portion includes a lens assembly;

wherein said cable receiving portion includes a connector receiving portion and a wire receiving portion, and wherein said connector receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable connector therein and said wire receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable portion therein;

a tube having an appropriate form for a given cable shape, wherein said tube encompasses at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion; and

wherein said tube substantially seals around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said tube is shrink-wrapped to substantially seal around said at least a portion of said cable receiving portion and said cable portion.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a shaped receiving pocket configured to receive and retain a respectively-shaped cable connector therein.

4. The camera module of claim 3, wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a generally rectangular-shaped connector receiving portion configured to receive and retain a generally rectangular-shaped cable connector therein.

5. The camera module of claim 3, wherein said cable receiving portion comprises a generally cylindrical-shaped wire receiving portion configured to receive and retain a generally cylindrical-shaped cable portion therein.

6. The camera module of claim 3, wherein said wire receiving portion comprises a shaped receiving portion configured to receive and retain a respectively-shaped cable portion therein.

7. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said lens receiving portion is configured to at least partially receive said lens assembly, said lens assembly including at least one optical element, wherein a lens mounting element is attached to said circuit element so as to provide an optical path through said at least one optical element of said lens assembly to said imaging sensor at said circuit element.

8. The camera module of claim 7, wherein said circuit element is mounted at least partially within said lens receiving portion that includes said lens assembly, said cable receiving portion mating with said lens receiving portion to substantially seal said circuit element therein.

9. The camera module of claim 7, wherein said tube is shrink-wrapped to substantially seal around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.

10. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said camera module comprises a rearview camera for a vehicle.

11. The camera module of claim 10, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS imaging sensor.

12. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said cable shape is generally cylindrical.

13. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said lens receiving portion comprises a polymeric material and wherein said cable receiving portion comprises a polymeric material.

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

a circuit element, said circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, said circuit element including a circuitry connector;

a cable having a cable portion and a cable connector for connecting to said circuitry connector;

a housing portion comprising a lens receiving portion and a cable receiving portion, said lens receiving portion and said cable receiving portion mating together to substantially house said circuit element;

wherein said lens receiving portion is configured to at least partially receive a lens assembly, and wherein said lens assembly provides an optical path through at least one optical element of said lens assembly to said imaging sensor at said circuit element;

wherein said cable receiving portion includes a connector receiving portion and a wire receiving portion, and wherein said connector receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable connector therein and said wire receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable portion therein;

wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a shaped receiving pocket configured to receive and retain a respectively-shaped cable connector therein;

wherein said wire receiving portion comprises a shaped receiving portion configured to receive and retain a respectively-shaped cable portion therein;

a tube having an appropriate form for a given cable shape, wherein said tube encompasses at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion; and

wherein said tube substantially seals around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.

15. The camera module of claim 14, wherein said tube is shrink-wrapped to substantially seal around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.

16. The camera module of claim 14, wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a generally rectangular-shaped connector receiving portion configured to receive and retain a generally rectangular-shaped cable connector therein.

17. The camera module of claim 14, wherein said cable receiving portion comprises a generally cylindrical-shaped wire receiving portion configured to receive and retain a generally cylindrical-shaped cable portion therein.

18. The camera module of claim 14, wherein said circuit element is mounted at least partially within said lens receiving portion that includes said lens assembly, said cable receiving portion mating with said lens receiving portion to substantially seal said circuit element therein.

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

a circuit element, said circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, said circuit element including a circuitry connector;

a cable having a cable portion and a cable connector for connecting to said circuitry connector;

a housing portion comprising a lens receiving portion and a cable receiving portion, said lens receiving portion and said cable receiving portion mating together to substantially house said circuit element;

wherein said lens receiving portion comprises a polymeric material and wherein said cable receiving portion comprises a polymeric material;

wherein said lens receiving portion is configured to at least partially receive a lens assembly, and wherein said lens assembly provides an optical path through at least one optical element of said lens assembly to said imaging sensor at said circuit element;

wherein said circuit element is mounted at least partially within said lens receiving portion that includes said lens assembly, said cable receiving portion mating with said lens receiving portion to substantially seal said circuit element therein;

wherein said cable receiving portion includes a connector receiving portion and a wire receiving portion, and wherein said connector receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable connector therein and said wire receiving portion is configured to receive and retain said cable portion therein;

a tube having an appropriate form for a given cable shape, wherein said tube encompasses at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion; and

wherein said tube substantially seals around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.

20. The camera module of claim 19, wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a shaped receiving pocket configured to receive and retain a respectively-shaped cable connector therein, and wherein said connector receiving portion comprises a generally rectangular-shaped connector receiving portion configured to receive and retain a generally rectangular-shaped cable connector therein, and wherein said tube is shrink-wrapped to substantially seal around said at least a portion of said wire receiving portion and said cable portion.