Vehicular camera with aligned housing members and electrical connection between aligned housing members

• US 9,868,404 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sesti, Matthew C., Byrne, Steven V.
• Primary Examiner(s): AGGARWAL, YOGESH K
• Application Number:
  US14/992,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 348370-376
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/91 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A camera for mounting on a vehicle includes a front housing member having a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board, with the circuit board includes a set of front electrical connectors. A rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis. The rear housing member includes a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper. One set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors. Each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws.

Claims

1. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, the camera comprising:

a front housing member comprising a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board;

wherein the circuit board comprises a set of front electrical connectors;

a rear housing member;

wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis;

wherein the rear housing member comprises a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper;

wherein one set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors;

wherein each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws; and

wherein the first and second jaws together define a second axis along which the first and second jaws clamp a male electrical connector.

2. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

3. The camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector have a width that is sized so that a male electrical connector is positionable therebetween over a range of positions.

4. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the female electrical connectors have biasing members that bias jaw structure towards a home position.

5. The camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein movement of jaw structure is permitted along a third axis that is generally perpendicular to the first and second axes.

6. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear housing member has rear housing alignment structure that mates with front housing alignment structure of the front housing member to align the rear housing member with respect to the front housing member.

7. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, the camera comprising:

a front housing member comprising a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board;

wherein the circuit board comprises a set of front electrical connectors;

a rear housing member;

wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis;

wherein the rear housing member comprises a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper;

wherein one set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors;

wherein each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws;

wherein the rear housing member has rear housing alignment structure that mates with front housing alignment structure of the front housing member to align the rear housing member with respect to the front housing member; and

wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector together define a second axis along which the first and second jaws engage one of the male electrical connectors, and wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector are sized so that a male electrical connector is positionable therebetween.

9. The camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector are sized so that a male electrical connector is positionable therebetween over a range of positions.

10. The camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein a female electrical connector has a jaw structure biasing member that biases jaw structure towards a home position but permits movement of jaw structure along a third axis that is generally perpendicular to the second axis.

11. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, the camera comprising:

a front housing member comprising a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board;

wherein the circuit board comprises a set of front electrical connectors;

a rear housing member;

wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis;

wherein the rear housing member comprises a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper;

wherein one set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors;

wherein each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws; and

wherein the front and rear electrical connectors are able to accommodate misalignment along two axes which are orthogonal to the each other and to the first axis.

12. The camera as claimed in claim 11, comprising a connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber holds one of the female electrical connectors, wherein each chamber is defined by a plurality of chamber walls and wherein the chambers are separated from each other by the chamber walls.

13. The camera as claimed in claim 11, wherein, during mating of the front and rear housing members, male electrical connectors move in a first direction to enter jaws of female electrical connectors, and wherein a stop member is associated with each female electrical connector, and wherein the stop members are positioned to limit movement of jaw structure of female electrical connectors in the first direction during entry of male electrical connectors into female electrical connectors.

14. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, the camera comprising:

a front housing member comprising a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board;

wherein the circuit board comprises a set of front electrical connectors;

a rear housing member;

wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis;

wherein the rear housing member comprises a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper;

wherein the front and rear electrical connectors are able to accommodate misalignment;

wherein one set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors;

wherein each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws;

wherein the female electrical connectors have biasing members that bias jaw structure towards a home position; and

wherein the rear housing member has rear housing alignment structure that mates with front housing alignment structure of the front housing member to align the rear housing member with respect to the front housing member.

15. The camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector are sized so that a male electrical connector is positionable therebetween over a range of positions.

16. The camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second jaws of a female electrical connector together define a second axis along which the first and second jaws clamp a male electrical connector, and wherein a female electrical connector has a jaw structure biasing member that biases jaw structure towards a home position but permits movement of jaw structure along a third axis that is generally perpendicular to the second axis.

17. The camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein a stop member is associated with each female electrical connector, and wherein the stop members are positioned to limit movement of jaw structure of female electrical connectors in the first direction during entry of male electrical connectors into female electrical connectors.