CAMERA SYSTEM

• US 20120081550A1
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sewell, Michael Roland
• Application Number:
  US13/251,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/20 Image signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A camera system comprising a circuit board having a first end with a first camera electrically connected thereto and a second end with a second camera electrically connected thereto; and a frame having a first frame member, a second frame member, and a mount for attaching the system to the vehicle; wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first and second frame members; and wherein the first frame member is coupled to the second frame member at a first connection location proximate the first end and at a second connection location proximate the second end to reduce the deflection of the first and second ends of the circuit board relative to the mount to maintain the alignment of the first and second cameras.

Claims

1. A camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

a circuit board having a first end with a first camera electrically connected thereto and a second end with a second camera electrically connected thereto; and

a frame having a first frame member, a second frame member, and a mount for attaching the system to the vehicle;

wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first and second frame members; and

wherein the first frame member is coupled to the second frame member at a first connection location proximate the first end and at a second connection location proximate the second end to reduce the deflection of the first and second ends of the circuit board relative to the mount to maintain the alignment of the first and second cameras.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are made from materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the mount is located between the first and second connection locations.

4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the first and second frame members are made from aluminum silicon carbide.

5. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the second frame member has a curved beam geometry.

6. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially enclose the circuit board and frame, the housing having a first aperture configured to receive a lens of the first camera and a second aperture configured to receive a lens of the second camera.

7. The camera system of claim 6, further comprising a cover configured to be coupled to the housing to at least partially enclose the coupled circuit board and frame.

8. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the first frame member is configured as a housing and the second frame member is configured as a cover, the cover being coupled to the housing to enclose at least a portion of the circuit board therein.

9. The camera system of claim 1, wherein at each of the connection locations the frame members are attached at a plurality of locations that are configured to at least partially surround one of the first and second cameras, and wherein at each of the plurality of locations the circuit board is connected to the frame.

10. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes at least one elongated opening configured to slideably couple the circuit board to the frame through the at least one connection location.

11. A mounting system for mounting a circuit board of a camera system, the circuit board having a portion configured to have at least one camera electrically connected thereto, the mounting system comprising:

a first frame member;

a second frame member; and

a mount for attaching the mounting system to the vehicle;

wherein the first frame member is coupled to the second frame member through at least one connection location, such that the circuit board is disposed between the first and second frame members; and

wherein the at least one connection location is proximate to the at least one camera to reduce the deflection of the portion of the circuit board relative to the mount.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are made from materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion.

13. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the first frame member is coupled to the second frame member at a second connection location proximate to a second portion of the circuit board having a second camera electrically connected thereto, and wherein the mount is located between the first and second connection locations.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the first and second frame members are made from aluminum silicon carbide.

15. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the second frame member has a curved beam geometry.

16. The mounting system of claim 11, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially enclose the circuit board and frame, the housing having an aperture configured to receive a lens of the at least one camera.

17. The mounting system of claim 16, further comprising a cover configured to be coupled to the housing to at least partially enclose the coupled circuit board and frame.

18. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the first frame member is configured as a housing and the second frame member is configured as a cover, the cover being coupled to the housing to enclose at least a portion of the circuit board therein.

19. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein at each of the at least one connection location the frame members are attached at a plurality of locations that are configured to at least partially surround the at least one camera, and wherein at each of the plurality of locations the circuit board is connected to the frame.

20. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the circuit board includes at least one elongated opening configured to slideably couple the circuit board to the frame through the at least one connection location.