Exterior viewing camera module for vehicle vision system

• US 10,462,375 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wang, Jianguo, Achenbach, Garret, Salomonsson, Ove, Toma, Tom H., Ahlquist, Jr., Edward R., Winden, Brian J., Van Dan Elzen, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Kathleen M
• Application Number:
  US16/396,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20190253595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• Field of Search: 348143, 348148, 29854
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A vehicular camera module includes a housing that houses an imager assembly and a main circuit board. The imager assembly includes an imager on an imager circuit board, a lens barrel, a lens holder and a flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board. The main circuit board has first circuitry disposed at a first planar side and second circuitry disposed at a second planar side. An electrical connector at the second planar side connects with an electrical connector of the flexible ribbon cable. The main circuit board is accommodated within front and rear portions of the housing, while the imager is accommodated within the rear portion and is not accommodated within the front portion. The imager views to exterior of the housing via an opening of the upper cover at the rear portion of the housing, and the lens barrel extends through the opening.

Claims

1. A camera module for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a housing that houses an imager assembly and a main circuit board;

wherein the imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel accommodating at least one lens, (iii) a lens holder, and (iv) a flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;

wherein said housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together;

wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;

wherein said main circuit board comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first planar side and an opposing second planar side separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;

wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;

wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;

wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein, with the imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of the imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein said housing, with said upper cover and said lower cover joined together, comprises a front portion and a rear portion;

wherein said front portion is in front of said rear portion;

wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said front and rear portions;

wherein the imager is accommodated within said rear portion and is not accommodated within said front portion of said housing;

wherein said housing of said camera module has breadth and length, and wherein the PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said housing and along the length of said housing;

wherein said rear portion of said housing has height;

wherein said front portion of said housing has height;

wherein the maximum height dimension of said rear portion of said housing is greater than the maximum height dimension of said front portion of said housing;

wherein the imager assembly is attached at an inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing;

wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises an opening, and wherein the imager views to exterior of said housing via said opening;

wherein the lens barrel extends through said opening to protrude outside said housing;

wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted at an acute angle upward relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board; and

wherein the first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an electrical socket connector configured for electrical connection to a plug connector of a vehicular wire harness.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor.

3. The camera module of claim 2, wherein said image processor comprises an image processor chip, and wherein a heat sink is in contact with said image processor chip to dissipate heat generated by said image processor chip.

4. The camera module of claim 2, wherein said flexible ribbon cable provides LVDS signals to the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor.

5. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said housing is configured for detachable mounting at a mounting bracket disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module.

6. The camera module of claim 5, wherein the imager, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle, has the principal axis of its forward view directed within 2 degrees of horizontal.

7. The camera module of claim 5, wherein the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle is sloped relative to horizontal at an acute angle in a range of 24 degrees to 28 degrees, and wherein the imager, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield, has the principal axis of its forward view directed at an angle within 2 degrees of horizontal.

8. The camera module of claim 5, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the imager of the imager assembly is within 4 mm distance to a portion of the windshield that the imager views through.

9. The camera module of claim 5, wherein with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by the imager provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry of the PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor for at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle comprise (i) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

10. The camera module of claim 5, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, a stray light shield is present that reduces incidence of stray light at the imager of the imager assembly.

11. The camera module of claim 10, wherein said stray light shield is formed of a polymeric material in an injection molding operation.

12. The camera module of claim 11, wherein said stray light shield is separate from said housing of said camera module.

13. The camera module of claim 12, wherein said stray light shield is configured to attach at said housing of said camera module.

14. The camera module of claim 10, wherein said stray light shield comprises a base portion and side walls that extend upward from said base portion so as to establish a pocket.

15. The camera module of claim 14, wherein at least said base portion of said stray light shield comprises light traps configured to at least partially trap extraneous light emanating from exterior the equipped vehicle and passing through the windshield of the equipped vehicle so as to be incident at said base portion, said light traps reducing incidence of extraneous light at the imager.

16. The camera module of claim 15, wherein said light traps comprise a plurality of shaped light absorbing elements that are spaced apart and shaped to trap light, and wherein said shaped light absorbing elements comprise a plurality of generally vertical ribs each having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, and wherein said first surface of a given rib is closer to the windshield than said second surface of the given rib, and wherein said first surface is configured to be at an angle of less than or equal to five degrees relative to vertical and said second surface is configured to be at an angle of less than or equal to ten degrees relative to vertical when said camera module is mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said first and second surfaces are different so that each of said ribs narrows towards its upper end, and wherein a ratio of a distance between adjacent ribs to the height dimension of the adjacent ribs is greater than one, and wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle of the equipped vehicle, (i) said first surface is at an angle of zero degrees relative to vertical and (ii) said second surface is at an angle of five degrees relative to vertical.

17. The camera module of claim 5, wherein structure of said housing is configured to cooperate with corresponding structure of the mounting bracket so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle.

18. The camera module of claim 17, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the mounting bracket at least partially establishes angle of view of the imager relative to the windshield.

19. The camera module of claim 17, wherein one side of the mounting bracket comprises structure configured to cooperate with corresponding other structure of said housing of said camera module, and wherein the structure of the mounting bracket and the other structure of said housing of said camera module cooperate to detachably mount said camera module at the in-cabin side of the windshield.

20. The camera module of claim 19, wherein an opposing other side of the mounting bracket is configured for adhesive attachment at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

21. The camera module of claim 17, wherein the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle is sloped relative to horizontal at an acute windshield angle, and wherein the mounting bracket is configured and constructed so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield that is sloped relative to horizontal at the acute windshield angle, the imager has the principal axis of its forward view directed at an angle closer to horizontal than the acute windshield angle of the windshield to horizontal.

22. The camera module of claim 17, wherein said housing attaches at the mounting bracket via a mechanical clip-and-notch structure.

23. The camera module of claim 5, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, a stray light shield is present that reduces incidence of stray light at the imager of the imager assembly, and wherein said stray light shield is separate from the mounting bracket.

24. The camera module of claim 23, wherein said stray light shield is configured to attach at the mounting bracket.

25. The camera module of claim 24, wherein the mounting bracket is formed of a polymeric material in an injection molding operation, and wherein said stray light shield is integrally formed with the mounting bracket by injection molding of polymeric material in the injection molding operation and constitutes an integral part of the mounting bracket.

26. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the imager assembly is mechanically attached at the inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing, and wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rear portion of said housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

27. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted upward at an acute angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

28. The camera module of claim 1, wherein image data captured by the imager is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor.

29. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board.

30. The camera module of claim 29, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a hole surrounded by material of the PCB that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board passes through the hole of the PCB.

31. The camera module of claim 29, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a cut-out that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board traverses the cut-out of the PCB for connecting said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the PCB.

32. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together by a plurality of screw fasteners.

33. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the imager assembly is mechanically attached by a plurality of screw fasteners at the inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing.

34. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the breadth of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less, and wherein the length of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less, and wherein the height of said rear portion of said housing has a maximum dimension of 35 mm or less.

35. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board.

36. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board by at least one screw fastener that extends through a hole in the imager circuit board and mates with a threaded hole in the lens holder.

37. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens holder comprises a first wing extending laterally therefrom, said first wing having an opening therethrough, and wherein the lens holder comprises a second wing extending laterally therefrom, said second wing having an opening therethrough, and wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a first threaded hole that corresponds with the first opening of the first wing of the lens holder, and wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a second threaded hole that corresponds with the second opening of the second wing of the lens holder, and wherein the imager assembly is mechanically attached at the inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing by (i) a first screw fastener that passes through the first opening in the first wing and that screws into the first threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing and (ii) a second screw fastener that passes through the second opening in the second wing and that screws into the second threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing.

38. A camera module for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a housing that houses an imager assembly and a main circuit board;

wherein the imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel accommodating at least one lens, (iii) a lens holder, and (iv) a flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;

wherein said housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together;

wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;

wherein said main circuit board comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first planar side and an opposing second planar side separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor chip;

wherein said image processor chip is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;

wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;

wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein, with the imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of the imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein said housing, with said upper cover and said lower cover joined together, comprises a front portion and a rear portion;

wherein said front portion is in front of said rear portion;

wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said front and rear portions;

wherein the imager is accommodated within said rear portion and is not accommodated within said front portion of said housing;

wherein said housing of said camera module has breadth and length, and wherein the PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said housing and along the length of said housing;

wherein said rear portion of said housing has height;

wherein said front portion of said housing has height;

wherein the maximum height dimension of said rear portion of said housing is greater than the maximum height dimension of said front portion of said housing;

wherein the lens holder comprises a first wing extending laterally therefrom, said first wing having an opening therethrough;

wherein the lens holder comprises a second wing extending laterally therefrom, said second wing having an opening therethrough;

wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a first threaded hole that corresponds with the first opening of the first wing of the lens holder, and wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a second threaded hole that corresponds with the second opening of the second wing of the lens holder;

wherein the imager assembly is mechanically attached at an inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing by (i) a first screw fastener that passes through the first opening in the first wing and that screws into the first threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing and (ii) a second screw fastener that passes through the second opening in the second wing and that screws into the second threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing;

wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises an opening, and wherein the imager views to exterior of said housing via said opening;

wherein the lens barrel extends through said opening to protrude outside said housing;

wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted at an acute angle upward relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board; and

wherein the first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an electrical socket connector configured for electrical connection to a plug connector of a vehicular wire harness.

39. The camera module of claim 38, wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rear portion of said housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

40. The camera module of claim 39, wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted upward at an acute angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

41. The camera module of claim 38, wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor chip, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board.

42. The camera module of claim 41, wherein said flexible ribbon cable provides LVDS signals to the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board.

43. The camera module of claim 41, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a hole surrounded by material of the PCB that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board passes through the hole of the PCB.

44. The camera module of claim 41, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a cut-out that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board traverses the cut-out of the PCB for connecting said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the PCB.

45. The camera module of claim 41, wherein a heat sink is in contact with said image processor chip to dissipate heat generated by said image processor chip.

46. The camera module of claim 38, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board.

47. The camera module of claim 46, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together by a plurality of screw fasteners.

48. The camera module of claim 47, wherein with said camera module mounted in a vehicle equipped with said camera module, image data captured by the imager provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry of the PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor chip for at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle comprise (i) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

49. The camera module of claim 38, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board by at least one screw fastener that extends through a hole in the imager circuit board and mates with a threaded hole in the lens holder.

50. The camera module of claim 38, wherein said housing is configured for detachable mounting at a mounting bracket disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module.

51. The camera module of claim 50, wherein structure of said housing is configured to cooperate with corresponding structure of the mounting bracket so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle.

52. The camera module of claim 51, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the mounting bracket at least partially establishes angle of view of the imager relative to the windshield.

53. The camera module of claim 51, wherein the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle is sloped relative to horizontal at an acute windshield angle, and wherein the mounting bracket is configured and constructed so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield that is sloped relative to horizontal at the acute windshield angle, the imager has the principal axis of its forward view directed at an angle closer to horizontal than the acute windshield angle of the windshield to horizontal.

54. The camera module of claim 38, wherein, with said camera module mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, a stray light shield is present that reduces incidence of stray light at the imager of the imager assembly.

55. The camera module of claim 54, wherein said stray light shield comprises a base portion and side walls that extend upward from said base portion so as to establish a pocket.

56. The camera module of claim 54, wherein said stray light shield is formed of a polymeric material in an injection molding operation.

57. The camera module of claim 56, wherein said stray light shield is separate from said housing of said camera module.

58. The camera module of claim 57, wherein said stray light shield is configured to attach at said housing of said camera module.

59. The camera module of claim 38, wherein the breadth of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less, and wherein the length of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less, and wherein the height of said rear portion of said housing has a maximum dimension of 35 mm or less.

60. The camera module of claim 59, wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rear portion of said housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

61. The camera module of claim 38, wherein, with said camera module mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, the imager of the imager assembly is within 4 mm distance to a portion of the windshield that the imager views through.

62. A camera module for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a housing that houses an imager assembly and a main circuit board;

wherein the imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel accommodating at least one lens, (iii) a lens holder, and (iv) a flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;

wherein said housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together;

wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;

wherein said main circuit board comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first planar side and an opposing second planar side separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;

wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;

wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;

wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein, with the imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of the imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry disposed at the PCB of said main circuit board;

wherein said housing, with said upper cover and said lower cover joined together, comprises a front portion and a rear portion;

wherein said front portion is in front of said rear portion;

wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said front and rear portions;

wherein the imager is accommodated within said rear portion and is not accommodated within said front portion of said housing;

wherein the imager assembly is attached at an inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing;

wherein said housing of said camera module has breadth and length, and wherein the PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said housing and along the length of said housing;

wherein said rear portion of said housing has height;

wherein said front portion of said housing has height;

wherein the maximum height dimension of said rear portion of said housing is greater than the maximum height dimension of said front portion of said housing;

wherein the breadth of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less;

wherein the length of said housing has a maximum dimension of 100 mm or less;

wherein the height of said rear portion of said housing has a maximum dimension of 35 mm or less;

wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises an opening, and wherein the imager views to exterior of said housing via said opening;

wherein the lens barrel extends through said opening to protrude outside said housing; and

wherein the first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises an electrical socket connector configured for electrical connection to a plug connector of a vehicular wire harness.

63. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor, and wherein said image processor comprises an image processor chip, and wherein a heat sink is in contact with said image processor chip to dissipate heat generated by said image processor chip.

64. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are joined together by a plurality of screw fasteners.

65. The camera module of claim 64, wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted upward at an acute angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

66. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board comprises said image processor, and wherein said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board is disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable electrically connects with said second electrical connector of the PCB of said main circuit board disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board.

67. The camera module of claim 66, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a hole surrounded by material of the PCB that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board passes through the hole of the PCB.

68. The camera module of claim 66, wherein the PCB of said main circuit board comprises a cut-out that extends from the first planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board to the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein said flexible ribbon cable extending from the imager circuit board traverses the cut-out of the PCB for connecting said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the PCB.

69. The camera module of claim 66, wherein said flexible ribbon cable provides LVDS signals to the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the PCB of said main circuit board.

70. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board.

71. The camera module of claim 70, wherein the lens holder of the imager assembly is fixed to the imager circuit board by at least one screw fastener that extends through a hole in the imager circuit board and mates with a threaded hole in the lens holder.

72. The camera module of claim 62, wherein with said camera module mounted in a vehicle equipped with said camera module, image data captured by the imager provided via said flexible ribbon cable to circuitry of the PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor for at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the at least three driving assist systems of the equipped vehicle comprise (i) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

73. The camera module of claim 62, wherein said housing is configured for detachable mounting at a mounting bracket disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module.

74. The camera module of claim 73, wherein structure of said housing is configured to cooperate with corresponding structure of the mounting bracket so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle.

75. The camera module of claim 74, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the mounting bracket at least partially establishes angle of view of the imager relative to the windshield.

76. The camera module of claim 74, wherein the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle is sloped relative to horizontal at an acute windshield angle, and wherein the mounting bracket is configured and constructed so that, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield that is sloped relative to horizontal at the acute windshield angle, the imager has the principal axis of its forward view directed at an angle closer to horizontal than the acute windshield angle of the windshield to horizontal.

77. The camera module of claim 73, wherein the imager, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle, has the principal axis of its forward view directed within 2 degrees of horizontal.

78. The camera module of claim 73, wherein the windshield as installed in the equipped vehicle is sloped relative to horizontal at an acute angle in a range of 24 degrees to 28 degrees, and wherein the imager, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield, has the principal axis of its forward view directed at an angle within 2 degrees of horizontal.

79. The camera module of claim 62, wherein, with said camera module mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, a stray light shield is present that reduces incidence of stray light at the imager of the imager assembly.

80. The camera module of claim 79, wherein said stray light shield comprises a base portion and side walls that extend upward from said base portion so as to establish a pocket.

81. The camera module of claim 79, wherein said stray light shield is formed of a polymeric material in an injection molding operation.

82. The camera module of claim 81, wherein said stray light shield is separate from said housing of said camera module.

83. The camera module of claim 82, wherein said stray light shield is configured to attach at said housing of said camera module.

84. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rear portion of said housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.

85. The camera module of claim 62, wherein, with said camera module mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, the imager of the imager assembly is within 4 mm distance to a portion of the windshield that the imager views through.

86. The camera module of claim 62, wherein the lens holder comprises a first wing extending laterally therefrom, said first wing having an opening therethrough, and wherein the lens holder comprises a second wing extending laterally therefrom, said second wing having an opening therethrough, and wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a first threaded hole that corresponds with the first opening of the first wing of the lens holder, and wherein the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing comprises a second threaded hole that corresponds with the second opening of the second wing of the lens holder, and wherein the imager assembly is mechanically attached at the inner surface of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing by (i) a first screw fastener that passes through the first opening in the first wing and that screws into the first threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing and (ii) a second screw fastener that passes through the second opening in the second wing and that screws into the second threaded hole of the upper cover at said rear portion of said housing.

87. The camera module of claim 86, wherein the lens barrel of the imager assembly is tilted at an acute angle upward relative to the plane of the PCB of said main circuit board.