Camera module for vehicle vision system

• US 9,491,342 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Winter, Hartmut, Sauer, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US14/369,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• 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 module for use in a vision system for a vehicle includes a housing portion, a lens holding portion and a securing element. The housing portion at least partially houses circuitry of the camera module and includes a first mating surface and a first perimeter flange around the first mating surface. The lens holding portion at least partially houses a lens assembly of the camera module and includes a second mating surface and a second perimeter flange around the second mating surface. The securing element is disposed along the first and second perimeter flanges and overlaps opposite surfaces of the first and second perimeter flanges to secure the housing portion relative to the lens holding portion.

Claims

1. A camera module for use in a vision system for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a housing portion for at least partially housing circuitry of said camera module, said housing portion comprising a first mating surface and a first perimeter flange at least partially around said first mating surface, said housing portion comprising plastic and said first perimeter flange comprising plastic, said first perimeter flange having a first securing surface opposite said first mating surface;

a lens holding portion for at least partially housing a lens assembly of said camera module, said lens holding portion comprising a second mating surface and a second perimeter flange at least partially around said second mating surface, said lens holding portion comprising plastic and said second perimeter flange comprising plastic, said second perimeter flange having a second securing surface opposite said second mating surface; and

a securing element having first and second tabs that extend from a center portion, wherein said securing element is disposed along said first and second perimeter flanges and said first and second tabs are bent to overlap and engage said first and second securing surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges, respectively, to urge said first mating surface against said second mating surface to secure said housing portion relative to said lens holding portion, and wherein said center portion spans an interface where said first and second mating surfaces are mated together.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said securing element comprises a single metallic element that is disposed over said first and second perimeter flanges and that includes metallic first and second tabs that are bent to overlap said opposite first and second securing surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said securing element comprises a single continuous metallic strip that is bent along said first and second perimeter flanges and includes metallic first and second tabs that are bent to overlap said opposite first and second securing surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges.

4. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said securing element comprises a plurality of metallic strips, each of said metallic strips being disposed along a respective perimeter portion of said first and second perimeter flanges.

5. The camera module of claim 1, comprising a sealing element disposed between said first and second mating surfaces when said first and second mating surfaces are mated together.

6. The camera module of claim 5, wherein said sealing element is disposed at least partially in a channel established along one of said first and second mating surfaces.

7. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said first and second perimeter flanges are sealingly secured together when said securing element is disposed along said first and second perimeter flanges to secure said housing portion relative to said lens holding portion.

8. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said housing portion comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuitry of said camera module to a power source of a vehicle.

9. The camera module of claim 1, wherein at least one of said housing portion and said lens holding portion has a groove established at least partially at a location that is covered by said securing element, and wherein a portion of said securing element is deformed into said groove to further retain said securing element at said housing portion and said lens holding portion.

10. The camera module of claim 1, wherein said housing portion comprises a breakout element that is selectively removable to provide an aperture at said housing portion.

11. The camera module of claim 10, wherein a membrane is disposed at said aperture after said breakout element is removed from said housing portion.

12. The camera module of claim 11, wherein said membrane is retained at said aperture via at least one crimping element that crimps over a perimeter portion of said membrane and a flange of said housing portion that is formed around said aperture.

13. The camera module of claim 12, wherein said at least one crimping element comprises a generally ring-shaped element that is disposed at said flange and wherein an outer periphery of said generally ring-shaped element is crimped around a portion of said flange to retain said membrane at said housing portion.

14. The camera module of claim 13, wherein said membrane comprises a breathable material that allows for moisture to escape said housing portion while limiting water intrusion into said camera module.

15. A camera module for use in a vision system for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a plastic housing portion for at least partially housing circuitry of said camera module, said housing portion comprising a first mating surface and a first perimeter flange at least partially around said first mating surface, and wherein said first perimeter flange has a first securing surface opposite said first mating surface;

wherein said housing portion comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuitry of said camera module to a power source of a vehicle;

a plastic lens holding portion for at least partially housing a lens assembly of said camera module, said lens holding portion comprising a second mating surface and a second perimeter flange at least partially around said second mating surface, and wherein said second perimeter flange has a second securing surface opposite said second mating surface;

a securing element disposed along said first and second perimeter flanges and overlapping opposite surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges to secure said housing portion relative to said lens holding portion; and

wherein said securing element comprises at least one metallic element that is disposed over said first and second perimeter flanges and that includes a center portion that spans an interface where said first and second mating surfaces are mated together, and wherein said securing element includes first and second tabs that extend from said center portion and are bent to overlap said first and second securing surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges to urge said first mating surface against said second mating surface.

16. The camera module of claim 15, wherein said securing element comprises a single continuous metallic strip that at least substantially circumscribes said first and second perimeter flanges.

17. The camera module of claim 15, wherein said securing element comprises a plurality of metallic strips, each of said metallic strips being disposed along a respective perimeter portion of said first and second perimeter flanges.

18. The camera module of claim 15, comprising a sealing element disposed between said first and second mating surfaces when said first and second mating surfaces are mated together, and wherein said sealing element is disposed at least partially in a channel established along one of said first and second mating surfaces.

19. A camera module for use in a vision system for a vehicle, said camera module comprising:

a housing portion for at least partially housing circuitry of said camera module, said housing portion comprising a first mating surface and a first perimeter flange at least partially around said first mating surface;

wherein said housing portion comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuitry of said camera module to a power source of a vehicle;

a lens holding portion for at least partially housing a lens assembly of said camera module, said lens holding portion comprising a second mating surface and a second perimeter flange at least partially around said second mating surface;

a sealing element disposed between said first and second mating surfaces when said first and second mating surfaces are mated together, wherein said sealing element is disposed at least partially in a channel established along at least one of said first and second mating surfaces;

a metallic securing element disposed along said first and second perimeter flanges, wherein said metallic securing element comprises a center portion and first and second tabs extending from opposite sides of said center portion, and wherein said first and second tabs are bent to overlap opposite surfaces of said first and second perimeter flanges to secure said housing portion relative to said lens holding portion; and

wherein said first tab is bent to overlap a surface of said first perimeter flange opposite said first mating surface, and wherein said second tab is bent to overlap a surface of said second perimeter flange opposite said second mating surface, and wherein said center portion spans an interface where said first and second mating surfaces are mated together.

20. The camera module of claim 19, wherein one of (i) said metallic securing element comprises a single continuous metallic strip that circumscribes said first and second perimeter flanges and (ii) said metallic securing element comprises a plurality of metallic strips, each of said metallic strips disposed along a respective perimeter portion of said first and second perimeter flanges.