VEHICLE CAMERA HOUSING WITH TOLERANCE COMPENSATING CONTACTS
First Claim
1. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion mated with a second housing portion;
wherein said first housing portion comprises a lens holder;
wherein said second housing portion comprises a connector portion;
wherein said connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle;
a circuit element disposed within said housing;
a plurality of electrical connector elements disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a first end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of said circuit element and (ii) a second end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring;
wherein said first end portions of said electrical connector elements comprise flexible elements; and
wherein, during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion, said first end portions flex as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system includes a housing with a lens holder at a first housing portion and a connector portion at a second housing portion. The connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at a vehicle. A circuit element is disposed within the housing and a plurality of electrical connector elements is disposed at the connector portion of the second housing portion. Each of the electrical connector elements includes a first end portion configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of the circuit element and a second end portion configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring. The first end portions of the electrical connector elements include flexible elements that, during mating of the first housing portion to the second housing portion, flex as the first end portions engage the circuitry and make electrical connection with the circuitry.
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:
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a housing comprising a first housing portion mated with a second housing portion; wherein said first housing portion comprises a lens holder; wherein said second housing portion comprises a connector portion; wherein said connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle; a circuit element disposed within said housing; a plurality of electrical connector elements disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a first end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of said circuit element and (ii) a second end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring; wherein said first end portions of said electrical connector elements comprise flexible elements; and wherein, during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion, said first end portions flex as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:
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a housing comprising a first housing portion mated with a second housing portion; wherein said first housing portion comprises a lens holder; wherein said second housing portion comprises a connector portion; wherein said connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle; a circuit element disposed within said housing; a plurality of electrical connector elements disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a first end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of said circuit element and (ii) a second end portion that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring; wherein said first end portions of said electrical connector elements comprise spring elements, and wherein, during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion, said spring elements compress as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry; wherein said first end portions are biased towards an extended state and compress towards a compressed state as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion; and wherein, when in said compressed state, said first end portions exert a biasing force at said circuitry to maintain electrical connection with said circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system, said camera assembly comprising:
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a housing comprising a first housing portion mated with a second housing portion; wherein said first housing portion comprises a lens holder; wherein said second housing portion comprises a connector portion; wherein said connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when said camera assembly is installed at a vehicle; a circuit element disposed within said housing; a plurality of electrical connector elements disposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion, wherein each of said electrical connector elements comprises (i) a body portion, (ii) a first end portion at a first end of said body portion, wherein said first end portion is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of said circuit element, and (iii) a second end portion at a second end of said body portion, wherein said second end portion is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring; wherein said body portions are insert molded in said connector portion during injection molding of said second housing portion with a polymer resin; wherein said second end portions are integrally formed with said terminal bodies and are exposed at said connector portion of said second housing portion; wherein said first end portions of said electrical connector elements comprise flexible elements; wherein, during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion, said first end portions flex as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry; and wherein said first end portions are of said electrical connector elements are biased towards a non-flexed state and flex towards a flexed state as said first end portions engage said circuitry and make electrical connection with said circuitry during mating of said first housing portion to said second housing portion. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification