Vehicular camera and lens assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:
- a lens assembly comprising a lens barrel and an attaching portion, said lens barrel including lens optics comprising a plurality of optical elements;
a front camera housing having an imager disposed thereat;
said front camera housing comprising a cylindrical opening;
wherein said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing;
a printed circuit board attached at said front camera housing;
wherein said imager is disposed on said printed circuit board;
wherein, with an adhesive disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, said lens assembly is adjusted relative to said front camera housing to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager;
wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device;
wherein the adhesive is initially curable from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period, and wherein the adhesive is further curable from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period;
wherein said second time period is longer than said first time period;
wherein the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process after said lens optics is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith;
wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said lens assembly to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager;
wherein, after the initial radiation curing process is completed, said lens assembly, adhesively attached to said front camera housing, is moved to the secondary curing process to further cure the adhesive to the further more cured state; and
wherein, when more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on 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 assembly comprising a lens barrel and an attaching portion, said lens barrel including lens optics comprising a plurality of optical elements; a front camera housing having an imager disposed thereat; said front camera housing comprising a cylindrical opening; wherein said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing; a printed circuit board attached at said front camera housing; wherein said imager is disposed on said printed circuit board; wherein, with an adhesive disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, said lens assembly is adjusted relative to said front camera housing to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device; wherein the adhesive is initially curable from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period, and wherein the adhesive is further curable from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period; wherein said second time period is longer than said first time period; wherein the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process after said lens optics is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said lens assembly to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process is completed, said lens assembly, adhesively attached to said front camera housing, is moved to the secondary curing process to further cure the adhesive to the further more cured state; and wherein, when more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on 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 assembly comprising a lens barrel and an attaching portion, said lens barrel including lens optics comprising a plurality of optical elements; a front camera housing having an imager disposed thereat; said front camera housing comprising a cylindrical opening; wherein said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing; a printed circuit board attached at said front camera housing; wherein said imager is disposed on said printed circuit board; wherein, with an adhesive disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, said lens assembly is adjusted relative to said front camera housing to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device; wherein the adhesive is initially curable from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period, and wherein the adhesive is further curable from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period; wherein said second time period is longer than said first time period; wherein the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process after said lens optics is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said lens assembly to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process is completed, said lens assembly that is adhesively attached to said front camera housing is moved to the secondary curing process to further cure the adhesive to the further more cured state; wherein, when more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on a vehicle; and wherein at least one of (i) optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved robotically, (ii) the adhesive, as disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, has a thickness of up to approximately 0.75 mm and (iii) when the adhesive is cured, a gap exists between the end of said lens optics 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 assembly comprising a lens barrel and an attaching portion, said lens barrel including lens optics comprising a plurality of optical elements; a front camera housing having an imager disposed thereat; said front camera housing comprising a cylindrical opening; wherein said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing; a printed circuit board attached at said front camera housing; wherein said imager is disposed on said printed circuit board; wherein, with an adhesive disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, said lens assembly is adjusted relative to said front camera housing to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device; wherein the adhesive is initially curable from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period, and wherein the adhesive is further curable from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period; wherein said second time period is longer than said first time period; wherein the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process after said lens optics is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said lens assembly to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process is completed, said lens assembly that is adhesively attached to said front camera housing is moved to the secondary curing process to further cure the adhesive to the further more cured state; wherein, when more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on a vehicle; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved robotically; and wherein, when the adhesive is in the initially-cured state, a gap exists between the end of said lens optics 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 assembly comprising a lens barrel and an attaching portion, said lens barrel including lens optics comprising a plurality of optical elements; a front camera housing having an imager disposed thereat; said front camera housing comprising a cylindrical opening; wherein said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing; a printed circuit board attached at said front camera housing; wherein said imager is disposed on said printed circuit board; wherein, with an adhesive disposed in its uncured state between said attaching portion of said lens assembly and said front camera housing, said lens assembly is adjusted relative to said front camera housing to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager; wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device; wherein the adhesive is initially curable from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period, and wherein the adhesive is further curable from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period; wherein said second time period is longer than said first time period; wherein the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process after said lens optics is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith; wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said lens assembly to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager; wherein, after the initial radiation curing process is completed, said lens assembly that is adhesively attached to said front camera housing is moved to the secondary curing process to further cure the adhesive to the further more cured state; wherein, when more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on a vehicle; wherein an annular surface of said attaching portion of said lens assembly opposes an annular surface of said front camera housing when said lens barrel is partially received in said cylindrical opening of said front camera housing, and wherein the adhesive is disposed between (i) said annular surface of said attaching portion of said lens assembly and (ii) said annular surface of said front camera housing; and wherein, when the adhesive is in the initially-cured state, a gap exists between the end of said lens optics and said imager and wherein the gap is devoid of the adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification