Camera apparatus and camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017257536-A1
Application number	US-201715446834-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a camera apparatus, a camera case is fixed to a windshield from within a cabin of a vehicle. A camera module includes an optical unit and a camera substrate. The optical unit includes a lens. The camera substrate includes an image sensor. The optical unit includes a lens barrel portion and a base portion. The lens barrel portion holds the lens therein. The base portion has a reference surface that serves as a reference for positioning when the camera module is fixed to the camera case and to which the lens barrel portion is fixed so as to have a fixed positional relationship. The camera substrate is fixed to the optical unit in a position in which an optical axis of the lens passes through a center of a light receiving surface of the image sensor and is perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A camera apparatus comprising:
a camera case that is fixed to a windshield of a vehicle from within a cabin of the vehicle; and a camera module that includes an optical unit and a camera substrate, and is fixed to the camera case, the optical unit including a lens, and the camera substrate including an image sensor and being fixed to an end portion of the optical unit, the optical unit including a lens barrel portion and a base portion, the lens barrel portion holding the lens therein, and the base portion having a reference surface that serves as a reference for positioning when the camera module is fixed to the camera case and to which the lens barrel portion is fixed so as to have a fixed positional relationship, the camera substrate being fixed to the optical unit in a position in which an optical axis of the lens passes through a center of a light receiving surface of the image sensor and is perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

2 . The camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the optical unit has a structure in which the lens barrel portion and the base portion are integrally molded.

3 . The camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the optical unit has a symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis of the lens.

4 . The camera apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the optical unit has a symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis of the lens.

5 . A camera module that is fixed to a camera case fixed to a windshield of a vehicle from within a cabin of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
an optical unit that includes a lens; and a camera substrate that includes an image sensor and is fixed to an end portion of the optical unit, the optical unit including a lens barrel portion and a base portion, the lens barrel portion holding the lens therein, and the base portion having a reference surface that serves as a reference for positioning when the camera module is fixed to the camera case and to which the lens barrel portion is fixed so as to have a fixed positional relationship, and the camera substrate being fixed to the optical unit in a position in which an optical axis of the lens passes through a center of a light receiving surface of the image sensor and is perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Takama Daisuke
• Furutake Yasuki
• Masui Soji

Classifications

• H04N23/55 Primary

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title