IMAGER WITH WIRE HARNESS CONNECTING FEATURES

• US 20180091779A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hendricks, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,694,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0015 characterised by the lens design
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component

Abstract

An imager having a lens defining a viewing angle. A lens holder is operably coupled with the lens. A printed circuit board includes a flex connector. The flex connector is operably coupled with a wire harness that extends in a direction orthogonal to the viewing angle. A housing includes a cover and a base. An electromagnetic interference shield is disposed on a rear surface of the base.

Claims

1. An imager comprising:

a lens defining a viewing angle;

a lens holder operably coupled with the lens;

a printed circuit board including an imager board and a connector board coupled by a flex laminate, the printed circuit board being operably coupled with a wire harness that extends in a direction generally orthogonal to the viewing angle;

a housing including a cover and a base, wherein the cover and the base interface along a plane intersecting a line perpendicular with the lens and a line defined by the longitudinal extent of the wire harness; and

an electromagnetic interference shield disposed on a rear surface of the base.

2. The imager of claim 1, further comprising:

a wire harness plug that extends between the connector board and the electromagnetic interference shield.

3. The imager of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield includes a spring arm that engages a wall of the lens holder.

4. The imager of claim 1, wherein the flex laminate connects to a chamfered corner of the connector board and the imager board.

5. The imager of claim 1, wherein a forward annular flange of the lens holder is seated against an inner wall of the cover of the housing.

6. The imager of claim 1, wherein the interface of the base and the cover extends from a forward bottom edge of the housing to a rearward top edge of the housing.

7. An imager comprising:

a lens defining a viewing angle;

a lens holder operably coupled with the lens;

a printed circuit board including an imager board that is fastened to the lens holder and a connector board that is unfastened within the lens holder;

a flex connector operably coupled with a wire harness that extends in a direction generally orthogonal to a principal axis of the viewing angle of the lens;

a housing including a rear opening; and

a wire harness cover operably coupled with the rear opening and directing the wire harness in a direction generally orthogonal to the viewing angle.

8. The imager of claim 7, further comprising:

a wire harness plug that extends between the connector board and an electromagnetic interference shield.

9. The imager of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield includes a spring arm that engages a wall of the lens holder.

10. The imager of claim 7, wherein the flex connector connects to a chamfered corner of the connector board and the imager board.

11. The imager of claim 7, wherein a forward annular flange of the lens holder is seated against an inner wall of the wire harness cover of the housing.

12. The imager of claim 7, wherein the interface of the wire harness cover and a base extends from a forward bottom edge of the housing to a rearward top edge of the housing.

13. The imager of claim 8, wherein the wire harness plug extends through the electromagnetic interference shield.

14. An imager comprising:

a lens defining a viewing angle;

a lens holder operably coupled with the lens;

a housing including a bottom aperture and a rear cover;

a printed circuit board including a fixed imager board and a connector board;

a flex connector operably coupling the imager board with the connector board, the connector board being in detachable engagement with a wire harness that extends through the bottom aperture.

15. The imager of claim 14, further comprising:

a wire harness plug that extends between the connector board and an electromagnetic interference shield.

16. The imager of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield includes a spring arm that engages a wall of the lens holder.

17. The imager of claim 14, wherein the flex connector connects to a chamfered corner of the connector board and the imager board.

18. The imager of claim 14, wherein a forward annular flange of the lens holder is seated against an inner wall of the housing.

19. The imager of claim 14, wherein the interface of the rear cover and a base extends from a forward bottom edge of the housing to a rearward top edge of the housing.

20. The imager of claim 15, wherein the wire harness plug extends through the electromagnetic interference shield.