METHOD OF ASSEMBLING CAMERA FOR VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
- providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein the lens is accommodated in a lens barrel;
providing a lens holder having a lens barrel mounting portion and an attaching portion;
providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at the printed circuit board, and wherein an electrical connector extends from the printed circuit board;
attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder with the imager aligned with the lens barrel mounting portion;
providing an adhesive in its uncured state;
inserting the lens barrel partially into the lens barrel mounting portion;
dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive between the lens barrel and the lens barrel mounting portion of the lens holder;
bringing the lens into focus with the imager and optically center-aligning the lens with the imager;
with the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, initially curing the adhesive to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first period of time;
wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith;
after the initial radiation curing process, further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process;
wherein the further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time;
wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period of time;
wherein, when further cured via the secondary 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;
after further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state, mounting the lens holder at a structure; and
after further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state, electrically connecting the electrical connector of the printed circuit board to electrical circuitry at the structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of assembling a camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. An adhesive is dispensed to establish a layer of uncured adhesive (i) between the lens barrel and lens holder or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process. The further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
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providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein the lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a lens holder having a lens barrel mounting portion and an attaching portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at the printed circuit board, and wherein an electrical connector extends from the printed circuit board; attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder with the imager aligned with the lens barrel mounting portion; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; inserting the lens barrel partially into the lens barrel mounting portion; dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive between the lens barrel and the lens barrel mounting portion of the lens holder; bringing the lens into focus with the imager and optically center-aligning the lens with the imager; with the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, initially curing the adhesive to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first period of time; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith; after the initial radiation curing process, further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process; wherein the further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time; wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period of time; wherein, when further cured via the secondary 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; after further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state, mounting the lens holder at a structure; and after further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state, electrically connecting the electrical connector of the printed circuit board to electrical circuitry at the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
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providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein the lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a lens holder having a lens barrel mounting portion and an attaching portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at the printed circuit board; inserting the lens barrel partially into the lens barrel mounting portion and securing the lens barrel at the lens barrel mounting portion of the lens holder; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive between the lens holder and the printed circuit board; attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder with the uncured adhesive disposed therebetween; wherein the dispensed uncured adhesive, when disposed between the attached printed circuit board and the lens holder, is disposed outboard of the imager disposed at the printed circuit board; wherein no part of the dispensed uncured adhesive, when disposed between the attached printed circuit board and the lens holder, covers the imager; bringing the lens into focus with the imager and optically center-aligning the lens with the imager; with the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, initially curing the adhesive to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first period of time; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith; after the initial radiation curing process, further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process; wherein the further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time; wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period of time; and wherein, when further cured via the secondary 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. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
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providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein the lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a lens holder having a lens barrel mounting portion and an attaching portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at the printed circuit board, and wherein an electrical connector extends from the printed circuit board; attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder with the imager aligned with the lens barrel mounting portion; wherein the step of attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder comprises mechanically attaching the printed circuit board at the lens holder; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; inserting the lens barrel partially into the lens barrel mounting portion; dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive between the lens barrel and the lens barrel mounting portion of the lens holder; bringing the lens into focus with the imager and optically center-aligning the lens with the imager; with the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, initially curing the adhesive to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first period of time; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith; after the initial radiation curing process, further curing the initially-cured adhesive to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process; wherein the further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time; wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period of time; wherein, when further cured via the secondary 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; providing a camera housing; and attaching the lens holder at the camera housing, wherein, with the lens holder attached at the camera housing, the camera housing and the lens holder substantially encase the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification