Vehicle windshield camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11716525-B2
Application number	US-201916363124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit;
an imaging board on which an imaging circuit to implement image processing on an output from the imager is mounted;
a holder defining a space accommodating the imaging board and filled with a filler having a specific property, the specific property being at least one of a thermal radiation property or a conductivity in the space; and
a metal camera casing accommodating the holder to enable to release heat generated in the imaging board via the filler, wherein
the imaging circuit includes a circuit element mounted on the imaging board,
both the imager and the imaging board are accommodated in the space of the holder,
the holder has a bottom surface therein,
the imaging board is entirely accommodated in the space of the holder,
the filler surrounds an entirety of a surface of the imaging board that faces the bottom surface of the holder,
the filler has an electric conductivity, and
the imaging board is electrically connected with the metal camera casing via the filler.

2. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lens unit or the holder accommodated in the metal camera casing is adhered to the metal camera casing with an adhesive, the adhesive being connected to the imaging board and having the specific property.

3. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the metal camera casing is connected to the imaging board through the adhesive and the filler.

4. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the lens unit includes a wide angle lens.

5. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the metal camera casing includes an opposing wall portion having a thermal radiation property and to be located to face the windshield.

6. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the filler is located between the imaging board and the holder, and
the filler is in contact directly with the imaging board and the holder.

7. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the filler is located between the surface of the imaging board, which is on an opposite side of the imager, and the bottom surface of the holder which faces to the surface of the imaging board.

8. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the holder is a combination of a tubular member and a bottomed member forming the space.

9. The camera module according to claim 8 , wherein
the tubular member and the bottomed member are two separate members and are directly connected with each other.

10. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the filler is entirely accommodated in the space.

11. The camera module according to claim 10 , wherein
the holder has a bottom wall and a side wall raised from the bottom wall,
the space is enclosed with the bottom wall and the side wall, and
the space opens on a side facing the bottom wall and surrounded by the side wall.

12. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the space surrounds sides of the imaging board, the sides of the imaging board positioned between a first face of the imaging board on which the imager is mounted and a second face that is opposite the first face.

13. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the space comprises a cavity for accommodating the imaging board, and
the cavity is filled with the filler.

14. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the holder comprises a tubular member and a bottom member, which together form the space that accommodates the imaging board.

15. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
an adhesive resides between an entirety of the surface of the imaging board, which is on an opposite side of the imager, and the bottom surface of the holder.

16. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the holder is a combination of a cylindrical member and a bottomed member,
the cylindrical member has an opening end on one side to which the lens unit is inserted, and
the cylindrical member has an opening end on an other side that is entirely covered with the bottomed member.

17. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging board is electrically connected with the casing via the filler and a conductive wire.

18. The camera module according to claim 17 , wherein
the holder has a though hole, and
the conductive wire is electrically connected with the filler with which the through hole is filled.

19. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the filler contacts the surface of the imaging board that faces the bottom surface of the holder.

20. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit;
an imaging board on which an imaging circuit to implement image processing on an output from the imager is mounted;
a holder holding the imaging board; and
a metal camera casing accommodating the lens unit and the holder and adhered to at least one of the lens unit or the holder with an adhesive, the adhesive connected to the imaging board and having a specific property, the specific property being an electrical conductivity with which the adhesive is electrically conductive to the imaging board,
wherein
the holder defines a space accommodating the imaging board,
the space is filled with a filler,
the adhesive spreads over an outer surface of the filler exposed from the inside of a connection window of the holder, and
the imaging board is connected to the adhesive through the filler.

21. The camera module according to claim 20 , wherein
the metal camera casing has a through hole through which the lens unit is exposed to an outside of the metal camera casing, and
the adhesive fills a second space between the through hole and the lens unit.

22. The camera module according to claim 21 , wherein
the adhesive contacts the through hole and the lens unit.

23. The camera module according to claim 20 , wherein the lens unit includes a wide angle lens.

24. The camera module according to claim 20 , wherein the metal camera casing includes an opposing wall portion having a thermal radiation property and to be located to face the windshield.

25. The camera module according to claim 20 , wherein
the metal camera casing is connected with the imaging board via the adhesive and a flexible board.

26. The camera module according to claim 20 , wherein
the metal camera casing is connected with the imaging board via the adhesive and the filler, and
the filler is located between the imaging board and the holder.

27. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical imag

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Shimizu Nobuhisa
• Furutake Yasuki
• Chikata Kensuke
• Yamaguchi Kazuma
• Kajino Yoichi

Classifications

• G03B2217/002

  Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body · CPC title

• G03B5/04

  Vertical adjustment of lens; Rising fronts · CPC title

• G03B17/561

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• G03B17/55

  with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft · CPC title

• G03B17/12

  with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets · CPC title