Vehicle camera housing with tolerance compensating connector

• US 10,298,823 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sauer, Stefan, Steigerwald, Jens, Bally, Nazar F., Sigle, Marc, Newiger, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Haque, Md N
• Application Number:
  US14/609,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0043 for integrated articles, i.e. not substantially protruding from the surrounding parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, with a circuit element disposed within the first housing portion. The second housing portion has a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at a vehicle. A coaxial connector is disposed at the connector portion of the second housing portion. The coaxial connector includes a plurality of electrical coaxial connector elements. Each of the electrical coaxial connector elements has (i) a first end that is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of the circuit element within the first housing portion and (ii) a second end that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring.

Claims

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

a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;

a circuit element disposed within said first housing portion of said housing, said circuit element comprising circuitry;

wherein said second housing portion of said housing comprises a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle;

a coaxial connector disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, said coaxial connector comprising a plurality of electrical connector elements, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a first end that is configured for electrically connecting to said circuitry of said circuit element within said first housing portion and (ii) a second end that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring;

wherein said first ends of said electrical connector elements are not coaxial and wherein said second ends of said electrical connector elements are coaxial;

wherein said first ends of said electrical connector elements electrically connect to a mating connector disposed at said circuit element; and

wherein said mating connector comprises a plurality of receiving portions for receiving said first ends of said electrical connector elements.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector elements adjust so that said first ends engage said circuitry and make electrical connection therewith during assembly of said camera assembly.

3. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein said electrical connector elements adjust via one of (i) a flexible portion of said electrical connector elements and (ii) a spring-loaded portion of said electrical connector elements.

4. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said mating connector disposed at said circuit element is made by at least one of (i) metal stamping and (ii) metal folding.

5. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said mating connector comprises at least two electrically conductive brush contacts separated by a non-electrically conductive insulator, and wherein said first end of a first electrical connector element of said electrical connector elements electrically connects with one of said electrically conductive brush contacts and said first end of a second electrical connector element of said electrical connector elements electrically connects with the other of said electrically conductive brush contacts.

6. The camera assembly of claim 5, wherein said first electrical connector element comprises a core connector of said connector and said second electrical connector element comprises a shield connector of said connector.

7. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector elements are made by at least one of (i) metal stamping and (ii) metal folding.

8. The camera assembly of claim 7, wherein said connector is fixedly disposed at said second housing portion by molding.

9. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector elements comprise a core connector and a shield connector, and wherein said core connector is fixed to said shield connector by molding.

10. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector is fixed to said second housing portion by at least one fastener.

11. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector is fixed to said second housing portion by at least one clip.

12. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector is fixed to said second housing portion via adhesive.

13. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises a connector for an inbound coaxial cable that conveys at least one of electrical signals and data to said circuitry.

14. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector elements comprise angled elements and wherein said first ends angled relative to said second end.

15. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;

a circuit element disposed within said first housing portion of said housing, said circuit element comprising circuitry;

wherein said second housing portion of said housing comprises a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle;

a coaxial connector disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, said coaxial connector comprising a plurality of electrical coaxial connector elements, wherein each of said electrical coaxial connector elements comprises (i) a first end that is configured for electrically connecting to said circuitry of said circuit element within said first housing portion and (ii) a second end that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring;

wherein said first ends of said electrical coaxial connector elements electrically connect to a mating connector disposed at said circuit element;

wherein said mating connector comprises at least two brush contacts separated by an insulator, and wherein a first connector element of said electrical coaxial connector elements electrically connects with one of said brush contacts and a second connector element of said electrical coaxial connector elements electrically connects with the other of said brush contacts; and

wherein said first ends of said electrical coaxial connector elements engage said brush contacts of said mating connector and make electrical connection therewith during assembly of said camera assembly.

16. The camera assembly of claim 15, wherein said first connector element comprises a core connector of said coaxial connector and said second connector element comprises a shield connector of said coaxial connector.

17. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;

a circuit element disposed within said first housing portion of said housing, said circuit element comprising circuitry;

wherein said second housing portion of said housing comprises a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle;

a coaxial connector disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, wherein one of (i) said coaxial connector is press fit into said connector portion of said second housing portion and (ii) said connector portion of said second housing portion is overmolded over said coaxial connector;

wherein said coaxial connector comprises a plurality of electrical connector elements, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a first end that is configured for electrically connecting to said circuitry of said circuit element within said first housing portion and (ii) a second end that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring;

wherein said first ends of said electrical connector elements electrically connect to a mating connector disposed at said circuit element; and

wherein said mating connector comprises a plurality of receiving portions for receiving said first ends of said electrical connector elements.

18. The camera assembly of claim 17, wherein said electrical connector elements adjust so that said first ends engage said circuitry and make electrical connection therewith during assembly of said camera assembly, and wherein said electrical connector elements adjust via one of (i) a flexible portion of said electrical connector elements and (ii) a spring-loaded portion of said electrical connector elements.