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 said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel;
providing a camera front housing having a front portion and a rear portion;
providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board;
providing an adhesive in its uncured state;
dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive having a thickness less than 0.75 mm;
wherein the layer of uncured adhesive is one of (i) between said lens barrel and said front portion of said camera front housing and (ii) between said printed circuit board and said rear portion of said camera front housing;
bringing said lens into focus with said imager and optically center-aligning said lens with said imager;
with said lens in focus with said 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;
wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens in focus with said 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, when further cured via the secondary 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 the adhesive, in its further-cured state, limits movement out of focus and optical center-alignment of said lens relative to said imager to less than +/−
18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing (i) a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, (ii) a camera front housing, (iii) a printed circuit board with an imager. An uncured adhesive is dispensed (i) between the lens barrel and the front portion of the camera front housing or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the rear portion of the camera front housing. The lens is brought into focus with the imager, and the adhesive is initially cured in an initial radiation curing process. After the initial radiation curing process, the initially-cured adhesive is further cured in a secondary curing process. The further-cured adhesive limits movement of the lens relative to the imager to less than +/−18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours.
152 Citations
31 Claims
-
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 said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a camera front housing having a front portion and a rear portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; dispensing the uncured adhesive so as to establish a layer of uncured adhesive having a thickness less than 0.75 mm; wherein the layer of uncured adhesive is one of (i) between said lens barrel and said front portion of said camera front housing and (ii) between said printed circuit board and said rear portion of said camera front housing; bringing said lens into focus with said imager and optically center-aligning said lens with said imager; with said lens in focus with said 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; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens in focus with said 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, when further cured via the secondary 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 the adhesive, in its further-cured state, limits movement out of focus and optical center-alignment of said lens relative to said imager to less than +/−
18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
-
providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a camera front housing having a front portion and a rear portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board; attaching said printed circuit board at said rear portion of said camera front housing; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; dispensing the uncured adhesive to establish a layer of uncured adhesive with a thickness less than 0.75 mm at one of said lens barrel and said front portion of said camera front housing; attaching said lens barrel to said front portion of said camera front housing with the adhesive therebetween; bringing said lens into focus with said imager and optically center-aligning said lens with said imager; with said lens in focus with said 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; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens in focus with said 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, when further cured via the secondary 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 the adhesive, in its further-cured state, limits movement out of focus and optical center-alignment of said lens relative to said imager to less than +/−
18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of assembling a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said method comprising:
-
providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel; providing a camera front housing having a front portion and a rear portion; providing a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board; attaching said lens barrel at said front portion of said camera front housing; providing an adhesive in its uncured state; dispensing the uncured adhesive to establish a layer of uncured adhesive with a thickness less than 0.75 mm at one of said rear portion of said camera front housing and said printed circuit board; attaching said printed circuit board to said rear portion of said camera front housing with the adhesive therebetween; bringing said lens into focus with said imager and optically center-aligning said lens with said imager; with said lens in focus with said 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; wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens in focus with said 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, when further cured via the secondary 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 the adhesive, in its further-cured state, limits movement out of focus and optical center-alignment of said lens relative to said imager to less than +/−
18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification