Vehicle camera with compliant coaxial connector

• US 10,264,219 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mleczko, Jamie A., Conger, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US15/722,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20180098033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340461
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes 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: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a front camera housing and a rear camera housing. An imager is disposed at a printed circuit board, and a spring-biased electrical connector is disposed at the rear camera housing. The electrical connector includes an inner terminal and an outer terminal for connecting to respective ones of an inner contact and an outer contact at the printed circuit board. As the rear camera housing is moved into engagement with the front camera housing, the inner and outer terminals engage with the inner and outer contacts and compress towards a compressed state and, after the rear camera housing is attached at the front camera housing, are in spring-biased electrical connection with the inner and outer contacts at the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising:

a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel;

a front camera housing and a rear camera housing;

a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board;

wherein said printed circuit board has an inner contact and an outer contact disposed thereat, and wherein said inner and outer contacts comprise respective inner and outer electrically conductive pads established at a surface of said printed circuit board and in electrical conductive continuity with respective electrically conductive traces of said printed circuit board, and wherein said outer contact at least partially circumscribes said inner contact, and wherein said inner and outer contacts comprise inner and outer contact surfaces, respectively, that are parallel to the surface of said printed circuit board at which said inner and outer electrically conductive pads are established;

a spring-loaded electrical connector disposed at said rear camera housing, wherein said electrical connector comprises an inner terminal and an outer terminal for connecting to respective ones of said inner contact and said outer contact at said printed circuit board, and wherein said inner terminal comprises an inner contact surface at its end that is distal from said rear camera housing, and wherein said outer terminal comprises an outer contact surface at its end that is distal from said rear camera housing;

wherein said outer terminal circumscribes said inner terminal;

wherein said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector are spring-biased towards an extended state, and wherein said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector are compressible towards a compressed state;

wherein said lens barrel is accommodated at said front camera housing and wherein said printed circuit board is disposed at said front camera housing, and wherein said rear camera housing attaches at said front camera housing to enclose said printed circuit board within said camera with said lens optically aligned with said imager;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said inner contact surface of said inner terminal of said electrical connector is parallel to said inner electrically conductive pad of the inner contact at said printed circuit board;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said outer contact surface of said outer terminal of said electrical connector is parallel to said outer electrically conductive pad of said outer contact at said printed circuit board;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said inner and outer contact surfaces of the respective ones of said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector, with said inner and outer terminals in their extended state, engage the respective one of said inner and outer electrically conductive pads of said inner and outer contacts at said printed circuit board, and wherein, as said rear camera housing engages said front camera housing, said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector compress towards their compressed state and, after said rear camera housing is attached at said front camera housing, are in spring-biased electrical connection with said inner and outer contacts at said printed circuit board; and

wherein, with said rear camera housing attached at said front camera housing, and with said inner and outer contact surfaces of said inner and outer terminals in spring-biased electrical connection with said inner and outer electrically conductive pads at said printed circuit board, electrical connection integrity is maintained via the spring-biased direct contact of said inner and outer contact surfaces to said inner and outer electrically conductive pads without soldering at said printed circuit board.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer terminals are individually spring-biased via respective springs.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer contacts are dimensioned to accommodate lateral tolerances to allow for lateral variations in electrical connection with said inner and outer terminals, respectively.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is disposed at a connector portion of said rear camera housing.

5. The camera of claim 4, wherein an end of said electrical connector opposite said inner and outer terminals comprises a connector end for connecting to a wire or electrical connector of the vehicle.

6. The camera of claim 4, wherein an end of said electrical connector opposite said inner and outer terminals is electrically connected to a wire harness of the camera.

7. The camera of claim 4, wherein an end of said electrical connector opposite said inner and outer terminals comprises a connector end that is configured to electrically connect to a coaxial connector of a wire or electrical connector of the vehicle.

8. The camera of claim 1, wherein a base portion of said electrical connector is press-fit into said rear camera housing to secure said base portion relative to said rear camera housing.

9. The camera of claim 1, wherein said rear camera housing is overmolded over and at least partially along a base portion of said electrical connector to secure said base portion relative to said rear camera housing.

10. A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising:

a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel;

a front camera housing and a rear camera housing;

a printed circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said printed circuit board;

wherein said printed circuit board has an inner contact and an outer contact disposed thereat, and wherein said inner and outer contacts comprise respective inner and outer electrically conductive pads established at a surface of said printed circuit board and in electrical conductive continuity with respective electrically conductive traces of said printed circuit board, and wherein said outer contact at least partially circumscribes said inner contact, and wherein said inner and outer contacts comprise inner and outer contact surfaces, respectively, that are parallel to the surface of said printed circuit board at which said inner and outer electrically conductive pads are established;

a spring-loaded electrical connector disposed at said rear camera housing, wherein said electrical connector comprises an inner terminal and an outer terminal for connecting to respective ones of said inner contact and said outer contact at said printed circuit board, and wherein said inner terminal comprises an inner contact surface at its end its end that is distal from said rear camera housing, and wherein said outer terminal comprises an outer contact surface at its end its end that is distal from said rear camera housing;

wherein said outer terminal circumscribes said inner terminal;

wherein said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector are spring-biased towards an extended state, and wherein said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector are compressible towards a compressed state;

wherein said inner and outer terminals are individually spring-biased via respective springs;

wherein said electrical connector is disposed at a connector portion of said rear camera housing;

wherein an end of said electrical connector opposite said inner and outer terminals comprises a connector end that is configured to electrically connect to a coaxial connector of a wire or electrical connector of the vehicle;

wherein said lens barrel is accommodated at said front camera housing and wherein said printed circuit board is disposed at said front camera housing, and wherein said rear camera housing attaches at said front camera housing to enclose said printed circuit board within said camera with said lens optically aligned with said imager;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said inner contact surface of said inner terminal of said electrical connector is parallel to said inner electrically conductive pad of the inner contact at said printed circuit board;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said outer contact surface of said outer terminal of said electrical connector is parallel to said outer electrically conductive pad of said outer contact at said printed circuit board;

wherein, as said rear camera housing is moved toward engagement with said front camera housing, said inner and outer contact surfaces of the respective ones of said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector, with said inner and outer terminals in their extended state, engage the respective one of said inner and outer electrically conductive pads of said inner and outer contacts at said printed circuit board, and wherein, as said rear camera housing engages said front camera housing, said inner and outer terminals of said electrical connector compress towards their compressed state and, after said rear camera housing is attached at said front camera housing, are in spring-biased electrical connection with said inner and outer contacts at said printed circuit board; and

wherein, with said rear camera housing attached at said front camera housing, and with said inner and outer contact surfaces of said inner and outer terminals in spring-biased electrical connection with said inner and outer electrically conductive pads at said printed circuit board, electrical connection integrity is maintained via the spring-biased direct contact of said inner and outer contact surfaces to said inner and outer electrically conductive pads without soldering at said printed circuit board.

11. The camera of claim 10, wherein said inner and outer contacts are dimensioned to accommodate lateral tolerances to allow for lateral variations in electrical connection with said inner and outer terminals, respectively.

12. The camera of claim 10, wherein a base portion of said electrical connector is press-fit into said rear camera housing to secure said base portion relative to said rear camera housing.

13. The camera of claim 10, wherein said rear camera housing is overmolded over and at least partially along a base portion of said electrical connector to secure said base portion relative to said rear camera housing.

14. A method of assembling a camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements;

disposing the lens in a lens barrel;

providing a front camera housing and a rear camera housing;

providing a printed circuit board having an imager disposed thereat, wherein the printed circuit board has an inner contact and an outer contact disposed thereat, and wherein the inner and outer contacts comprise respective inner and outer electrically conductive pads established at a surface of the printed circuit board and in electrical conductive continuity with respective electrically conductive traces of the printed circuit board, and wherein the outer contact at least partially circumscribes the inner contact, and wherein the inner and outer contacts comprise inner and outer contact surfaces, respectively, that are parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board at which said inner and outer electrically conductive pads are established;

disposing a spring-loaded electrical connector at the rear camera housing, wherein the spring-loaded electrical connector comprises an inner terminal and an outer terminal for connecting to respective ones of the inner contact and the outer contact at the printed circuit board, and wherein the inner terminal comprises an inner contact surface at its end that is distal from said rear camera housing, and wherein the outer terminal comprises an outer contact surface at its end that is distal from said rear camera housing;

wherein the outer terminal circumscribes the inner terminal;

wherein the inner and outer terminals of the electrical connector are spring-biased towards an extended state, and wherein the inner and outer terminals of the electrical connector are compressible towards a compressed state;

wherein the lens barrel is accommodated at the front camera housing;

disposing the printed circuit board at the front camera housing;

moving the rear camera housing toward engagement with the front camera housing, with the inner contact surface of the inner terminal of the electrical connector parallel to the inner electrically conductive pad of the inner contact at the printed circuit board, and with the outer contact surface of the outer terminal of the electrical connector parallel to the outer electrically conductive pad of the outer contact at the printed circuit board;

attaching the rear camera housing at the front camera housing to enclose the printed circuit board within the camera with the lens optically aligned with the imager; and

wherein attaching the rear camera housing at the front camera housing comprises (i) moving the rear camera housing toward engagement with the front camera housing so that the inner and outer contact surfaces of the inner and outer terminals of the electrical connector, with the inner and outer terminals in their extended state, engage the respective one of the inner and outer electrically conductive pads of the inner and outer contacts at the printed circuit board, and (ii) engaging the rear camera housing with the front camera housing so that the inner and outer terminals of the electrical connector compress towards their compressed state; and

wherein, after the rear camera housing is attached at the front camera housing, the inner and outer terminals of the electrical connector are in spring-biased electrical connection with the inner and outer contacts at the printed circuit board, whereby electrical connection integrity is maintained via the spring-biased direct contact of the inner and outer contact surfaces to the inner and outer electrically conductive pads without soldering at the printed circuit board.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the inner and outer terminals are individually spring-biased via respective springs.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the inner and outer contacts are dimensioned to accommodate lateral tolerances to allow for lateral variations in electrical connection with the inner and outer terminals, respectively.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein disposing the spring-loaded electrical connector at the rear camera housing comprises disposing the spring-loaded connector at a connector portion of the rear camera housing.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein an end of the electrical connector opposite the inner and outer terminals comprises a connector end that is configured to electrically connect to a coaxial connector of a wire or electrical connector of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein disposing the spring-loaded electrical connector at the rear camera housing comprises press-fitting a base portion of the electrical connector is press-fit into the rear camera housing to secure the base portion relative to the rear camera housing.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein disposing the spring-loaded electrical connector at the rear camera housing comprises overmolding the rear camera housing over and at least partially along a base portion of the electrical connector to secure the base portion relative to the rear camera housing.