Camera module and a camera for a vehicle

• US 9,723,184 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Je Kyung, Hwang, Sun Min, Ahn, Jae Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Application Number:
  US14/993,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20160205294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 348374, 257433-434
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a camera module including a rear-opened front body, a rear body coupled to a rear side of the front body to form an inner space, a lens part coupled to the front body, an image sensor accommodated at the inner space to convert a light having passed the lens part to an electrical signal, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) accommodated at the inner space and mounted with the image sensor, and a closed curve-shaped packing member interposed between the front body and the rear body, wherein the packing member includes a support part extensively formed from the packing member to an inner side, and the front body or the rear body includes a support part accommodation groove having a shape corresponding to that of the support part, whereby adhesionability during assembly of packing member can be maximized to thereby minimize an installation defect, a depressed or stamped phenomenon of a packing member that may occur during assembly process.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

a rear-opened front body;

a rear body coupled to a rear side of the front body to form an inner space;

a lens part coupled to the front body;

an image sensor accommodated at the inner space to convert a light having passed the lens part to an electrical signal;

a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) accommodated at the inner space and mounted with the image sensor; and

a closed curve-shaped packing member interposed between the front body and the rear body,

wherein the packing member includes a support part extensively formed from the packing member to an inner side, and the front body or the rear body includes a support part accommodation groove having a shape corresponding to that of the support part;

wherein the packing member includes a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, and the support part includes a first support part extended from the first lateral surface and a second support part extended from the second lateral surface; and

wherein the first support part has a different shape than the second support part.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first support part is protruded inwardly from the first lateral surface and the first support part is formed with a through hole through which the first support part horizontally passes.

3. The camera module of claim 2, wherein the rear body includes a first support part accommodation groove configured to accommodate the first support part, and a protruder inserted into the through hole by being protrusively formed from the first support part accommodation groove.

4. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second support part includes a hitching part arranged at an inner side of the second lateral surface and a connection part configured to connect the hitching part and the second lateral surface, wherein width of the connection part is smaller than that of the hitching part.

5. The camera module of claim 4, wherein the rear body includes the hitching part, and a second support part accommodation groove formed in a shape corresponding to that of the hitching part and the connection part to accommodate the hitching part and the connection part.

6. The camera module of claim 4, wherein the rear body includes a partition wall protrusively formed from the rear body to a front side, the packing member is so arranged as to wrap the partition wall in order to allow an inner surface to be contacted by the partition wall, and the partition wall includes a distancing part having a width corresponding to that of the connection part to accommodate the connection part.

7. The camera module of claim 6, wherein at least a part of the hitching part is so arranged as to contact the inner surface of the partition wall.

8. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the packing member is formed with a silicone or a rubber.

9. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface are so arranged as to be adjacently positioned.

10. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface are so arranged as to face each other.

11. The camera module claim 1, wherein the second lateral surface is positioned adjacent to the first lateral surface, the packing member includes a third lateral surface adjacent to the second lateral surface and a fourth lateral surface adjacent to the first lateral surface, and the support part further includes a third support part extended from the third lateral surface and a fourth support part extended from the fourth lateral surface.

12. The camera module of claim 11, wherein one of the first to fourth support parts has a shape different from that of the other three support parts.

13. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens part includes at least one lens, and a barrel configured to support the lens, and a sealing member is interposed between the barrel and the front body.

14. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the front body and the rear body are coupled by a screw.

15. The camera module of claim 14, wherein the packing member further includes an avoidance part so formed as to prevent interference with the screw.

16. A camera for a vehicle, comprising:

a rear-opened front body;

a rear body coupled to a rear side of the front body to form an inner space;

a lens part coupled to the front body;

an image sensor accommodated at the inner space to convert a light having passed the lens part to an electrical signal;

a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) accommodated at the inner space and mounted with the image sensor; and

a closed curve-shaped packing member interposed between the front body and the rear body,

wherein the packing member includes a support part extensively formed from the packing member to an inner side, and the front body or the rear body includes a support part accommodation groove having a shape corresponding to that of the support part;

wherein the packing member includes a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, and the support part includes a first support part extended from the first lateral surface and a second support part extended from the second lateral surface; and

wherein the first support part has a different shape than the second support part.

17. A camera module, comprising:

a rear-opened front body;

a rear body coupled to a rear side of the front body to form an inner space;

a lens part coupled to the front body;

a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) accommodated at the inner space;

an image sensor disposed on the PCB;

a closed curve-shaped packing member interposed between the front body and the rear body;

a first support part extended from a first lateral surface of the packing member;

a second support part extended from a second lateral surface of the packing member;

a first support part accommodation groove recessed from a surface of the rear body and having a shape corresponding to that of the first support part to accommodate at least a portion of the first support part; and

a second support part accommodation groove recessed from the surface of the rear body and having a shape corresponding to that of the second support part to accommodate at least a portion of the second support part,

wherein the first support part has a different shape than the second support part.