VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH CAMERA HAVING MOLDED INTERCONNECT DEVICE

• US 20160037028A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Biemer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes a housing having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view interior or exterior of the vehicle. The front housing portion houses a lens assembly. The rear housing portion has a connector portion for electrically connecting circuitry of the camera to an electrical connector of the vehicle when the camera is disposed at the vehicle. The circuitry of the camera includes an imager comprising an imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements. The rear housing portion has circuitry and electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology.

Claims

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

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

wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view interior or exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens assembly;

wherein said rear housing portion has a connector portion for electrically connecting circuitry of said camera to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

wherein said circuity of said camera includes an imager comprising an imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements; and

wherein said rear housing portion has circuitry and electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is applied by MID technology at an inner surface of said rear housing portion.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein a core pin portion of said connector portion of said rear housing portion is configured to connect to a pin portion of a coaxial connector of the vehicle and has its conductive connecting surface applied by MID technology.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein said imager comprises a chip that is disposed in said housing and not disposed at a printed circuit board.

5. The camera of claim 4, wherein said imager is electrically connected to circuitry at an inner surface of said rear housing portion.

6. The camera of claim 5, wherein said circuitry at said inner surface of said rear housing portion is applied by MID technology at said inner surface of said rear housing portion.

7. The camera of claim 1, wherein said front housing portion has electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology.

8. The camera of claim 7, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion electrically connect to circuitry or electrically connecting elements of said rear housing portion when said front and rear housing portions are assembled together.

9. The camera of claim 7, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion comprise electrically conductive traces that generate heat when powered so as to defrost or defog at least one optic of said lens assembly.

10. The camera of claim 7, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion comprise an actuator for adjusting said lens assembly.

11. The camera of claim 1, wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle.

12. The camera of claim 11, wherein said camera is part of a surround view system for a vehicle.

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

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

wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view interior or exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens assembly;

wherein said rear housing portion has a connector portion for electrically connecting circuitry of said camera to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

wherein said circuity of said camera includes an imager comprising an imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;

wherein said rear housing portion has circuitry and electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology;

wherein said circuitry is applied by MID technology at an inner surface of said rear housing portion;

wherein said front housing portion has electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology; and

wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion electrically connect to circuitry or electrically connecting elements of said rear housing portion when said front and rear housing portions are assembled together.

14. The camera of claim 13, wherein said imager comprises a chip that is disposed in said housing and not disposed at a printed circuit board, and wherein said imager is electrically connected to circuitry at an inner surface of said rear housing portion.

15. The camera of claim 13, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion comprise electrically conductive traces that generate heat when powered so as to defrost or defog at least one optic of said lens assembly.

16. The camera of claim 13, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion comprise an actuator for adjusting said lens assembly.

17. The camera of claim 13, wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein said camera is part of a surround view system for a vehicle.

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

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

wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view interior or exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said front housing portion houses a lens assembly;

wherein said rear housing portion has a connector portion for electrically connecting circuitry of said camera to an electrical connector of the vehicle when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

wherein said circuity of said camera includes an imager comprising an imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;

wherein said rear housing portion has circuitry and electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology;

wherein said circuitry is applied by MID technology at an inner surface of said rear housing portion; and

wherein circuitry of a printed circuit board disposed in said rear housing portion is electrically connected to said circuitry and electrically connecting elements of said rear housing portion when said printed circuit board is disposed in said rear housing portion.

19. The camera of claim 18, wherein said imager comprises a chip that is disposed in said housing and not disposed at a printed circuit board, and wherein said imager is electrically connected to MID applied circuitry at an inner surface of said rear housing portion.

20. The camera of claim 18, wherein said front housing portion has electrically connecting elements established via molded interconnect device (MID) technology, wherein said electrically connecting elements of said front housing portion electrically connect to circuitry or electrically connecting elements of said rear housing portion when said front and rear housing portions are assembled together.