Camera for mounting on a vehicle

• US 9,346,415 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McElroy, Clarence P., Sesti, Matthew C., Rieden, Richard, Byrne, Steven V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duley, Janese
• Application Number:
  US14/517,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A camera for mounting on a vehicle includes a front housing member, a rear housing member, a lens member mounted to the front housing member and an imaging element positioned to receive images from the lens member. A circuit board is mounted to the front housing member and is configured to send to another component signals relating to images received by the imaging element. The circuit board has at least one front electrical connector thereon. The rear housing member has at least one rear electrical connector extending therefrom, with the rear electrical connector electrically connected to the front electrical connector. The rear housing member has a rear alignment structure that aligns the rear electrical connector with respect to the front electrical connector. The rear housing member and the front housing member are unaligned and the rear housing member mates with the front housing member.

Claims

1. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

a front housing member;

a lens member mounted to the front housing member;

an imaging element that is positioned to receive images from the lens member;

a circuit board mounted to the front housing member, wherein the circuit board is configured to send to another component signals relating to images received by the imaging element, wherein the circuit board has at least one front electrical connector thereon; and

a rear housing member configured to mate with the front housing member, wherein the rear housing member has at least one rear electrical connector extending therefrom, and wherein, as the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member, the at least one rear electrical connector aligns with and electrically connects to the at least one front electrical connector, and wherein the rear housing member has a rear alignment structure that aligns the at least one rear electrical connector with respect to the at least one front electrical connector as the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member, and wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member to define a camera interior, wherein the imaging element, the circuit board, the at least one front electrical connector and the at least one rear electrical connector are positioned in the camera interior.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rear electrical connector is at least one conductive pin and wherein the at least one front electrical connector is a female electrical connector.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one conductive pin is the rear alignment structure.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one female electrical connector is positioned in a female electrical connector housing, and wherein the rear alignment structure includes a sleeve that snugly receives the female electrical connector housing.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sleeve is integral with the rear housing member.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rear electrical connector is integral with the rear housing member.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one rear electrical connector is insert molded into the rear housing member.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front and rear housing members are sealingly joined together.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front housing member has a front housing member interior surface that has a front housing member coating of electrically conductive material thereon, and wherein one of the at least one front electrical connector is in electrical communication with the front housing member coating and is electrically connectable to ground.

10. A camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein the circuit board is mounted to the front housing with an electrically conductive circuit board fastener that is in electrical communication with the front housing member coating.

11. A camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rear housing member has a rear housing member interior surface that has a rear housing member coating thereon, and wherein one of the at least one rear electrical connector is in communication with the rear housing member coating and is electrically connectable to ground.

12. A camera as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said one of the at least one rear electrical connector is in communication with the said one of the at least one front electrical connector.

13. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

a front housing member having a front housing member interior surface that has a front housing member coating of electrically conductive material thereon;

a lens member mounted to the front housing member;

an imaging element that is positioned to receive images from the lens member;

a circuit board mounted to the front housing member, wherein the circuit board is configured to send to another component signals relating to images received by the imaging element, wherein the circuit board is mounted to the front housing member, wherein the circuit board has at least one front electrical connector thereon, wherein one of the at least one front connector is in electrical communication with the front housing member coating and is electrically connectable to ground;

a rear housing member having at least one rear electrical connector thereon; and

wherein, as the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member, the at least one rear electrical connector aligns with and electrically connects to the at least one front electrical connector, and wherein the rear housing member has a rear alignment structure that aligns the at least one rear electrical connector with respect to the at least one front electrical connector as the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member.

14. A camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein the circuit board is mounted to the front housing member with an electrically conductive circuit board fastener that is in electrical communication with the front housing member coating.

15. A camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rear housing member has a rear housing member interior surface that has a rear housing member coating thereon, and wherein one of the at least one rear electrical connector is in communication with the rear housing member coating and is electrically connectable to ground.

16. A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein the said one of the at least one rear electrical connector is in communication with the said one of the at least one front electrical connector.

17. A camera for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

a front housing member;

a lens member mounted to the front housing member;

an imaging element that is positioned to receive images from the lens member;

a circuit board mounted to the front housing member, wherein the circuit board is configured to send to another component signals relating to images received by the imaging element, wherein the circuit board has at least one front electrical connector thereon; and

a rear housing member, wherein the rear housing member has at least one rear electrical connector extending therefrom, wherein, as the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member, the at least one rear electrical connector electrically connects to the at least one front electrical connector, and wherein, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, the at least one rear electrical connector and the at least one front electrical connector are urged together by at least one biasing member, and wherein the rear housing member mates with the front housing member to define a camera interior, wherein the imaging element, the circuit board, the at least one front electrical connector and the at least one rear electrical connector are positioned in the camera interior.

18. A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein each front electrical connector has a rear end and each rear electrical connector has a front end, wherein the front and rear ends engage each other with a force that is substantially perpendicular to the front and rear ends.

19. A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein each front electrical connector has a bend therein that is one of the at least one biasing member.

20. A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein each front electrical connector has a rear end and each rear electrical connector has a front end, wherein the rear end and the front end are sized to permit a selected amount of misalignment therebetween while maintaining an electrical connection therebetween.