Electronic apparatus with an improved bearing for a connecting unit, camera system for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

• US 9,973,670 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Trout, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/102,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/91 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic apparatus (1) for a camera system of a motor vehicle, including a housing (2), including a circuit board (15) disposed in the housing (2), and including an electrical connecting unit (7) for electrically connecting the electronic apparatus (1) to an external apparatus, wherein the connecting unit (7) has a base body (12) and a plurality of electrical connecting elements (14) projecting from the base body (12) and electrically connected to the circuit board (15), and wherein the base body (12) has a connecting area (13) disposed outside of the housing (2) for connecting a cable, wherein the base body (12) of the connecting unit (7) is supported on the housing (2) with a clearance (26) at least in one translational degree of freedom.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for a camera system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing, comprising a circuit board disposed in the housing; and

an electrical connecting unit for electrically connecting the electronic apparatus to an external apparatus, wherein the connecting unit has a base body and a plurality of electrical connecting elements, which project from the base body and are electrically connected to the circuit board, and wherein the base body has a connecting area disposed outside of the housing for connecting a cable,

wherein the base body of the connecting unit is supported on the housing with a clearance at least in one translational degree of freedom,

wherein the base body has a bearing element, which is supported with a clearance in a bearing chamber formed in the housing,

wherein the housing comprises a bottom, to which the circuit board is attached, and a top connected to the bottom, and

wherein the bearing chamber has a first area formed on the bottom and a second area formed on the top.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base body of the connecting unit is supported on the housing with a clearance at least in two translational degrees of freedom.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a movement of the bearing element within the bearing chamber is limited in defined manner by walls of the bearing chamber.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element is formed in the form of a circumferential flange.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flange is disposed perpendicularly to the circuit board.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bearing chamber is formed in the form of a groove, in which an edge region of the bearing element is supported.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements are formed as press-fit connectors, which are each press-fitted into a corresponding recess of the circuit board.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a controller for controlling at least one camera of the camera system and/or for processing images of the camera.

9. A camera system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one camera for providing images; and

a controller for processing the images,

wherein at least one of the components of camera and/or controller is formed as an electronic apparatus according to claim 1.

10. A motor vehicle with a camera system according to claim 9.