Cable connection structure of camera module for vehicle

• US 9,590,321 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Sangyeal, Kim, Heungsun, Cho, Bumsig
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ishwarbhai B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paghadal, Paresh
• Application Number:
  US14/234,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20140151118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50.52, 174/88.R, 361/749
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5845 the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/02 Soldered or welded connections H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10356 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3405 Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Disclosed is a cable connection structure of a camera module for a vehicle, the cable connection structure including a cable unit having at least one wire member, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) having a terminal on one end thereof and having a connecting portion on the other end, the terminal being soldered to a wire metal piece exposed at an end of the wire member and having a number corresponding to a number of the wire member, the connecting portion being connected to the camera module, and a molded connector surrounding a joining portion between the cable unit and the FPCB.

Claims

1. A cable connection structure of a camera module for a vehicle, comprising:

a cable unit having at least one wire member comprising a wire metal piece;

a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) having at least one terminal on one end thereof and having a connecting portion on the other end, wherein each terminal is configured to be soldered to the corresponding wire metal piece exposed at an end of the wire member to form a joining portion between the cable unit and the FPCB, and wherein a number of the terminal corresponds to a number of the wire member; and

a connector comprising the cable unit soldered to the FPCB and comprising a truncated conical shaped front portion having a large diameter, a cylindrical rear portion having a small diameter and a coupling groove formed along on an outer circumference between the front portion and the rear portion,

wherein the cable unit includes a separation preventing rib protruding from an outer circumference at a distal end thereof corresponding to the rear portion of the connector to a predetermined height,

wherein the connector is configured to be molded in a mold, and

wherein the joining portion is located in the front portion and the separation preventing rib is located in the rear portion such that the Joining portion is sealed and the molded connector is prevented from being separated from the cable unit, and

the joining portion is molded in the front portion and the separation preventing rib is molded in the rear portion.

2. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cover member is made of any one of soft resin, rubber, and silicone rubber.

3. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein an end of the molded connector distal from the separation preventing rib is sealed such that only the FPCB is exposed through said end.

4. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separation preventing rib is protrusively formed to a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the wire member.

5. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the separation preventing rib is formed with a cut out in a circumferential direction thereof.

6. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the separation preventing rib is positioned in the connector to be molded with the connector.

7. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the molded connector is an integral single part with the cable unit and the FPCB.

8. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein only the connecting portion of the FPCB is exposed at one end of the molded connector, and

wherein only a sheath of the cable unit is exposed at the other end of the molded connector.

9. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the coupling groove has a predetermined depth and is coupled with a cover member of the camera module.

10. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cover member takes a shape of a cup having an opening to receive the camera module.

11. The cable connection structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cover member comprises a screw hole for a fastener to assemble the cover member to the vehicle.