US 11,874,593 B2
Vehicular exterior camera with vacuum sealed lens assembly
Zhongyao Liu, Troy, MI (US); Jonathan D. Conger, Berkley, MI (US); Steven V. Byrne, Goodrich, MI (US); Jeffrey A. White, Howell, MI (US); and Kevin T. Smith, Rochester Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/811,320.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/203,376, filed on Jul. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/203,119, filed on Jul. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0020304 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 5/335 (2011.01); G03B 30/00 (2021.01); G03B 17/55 (2021.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)
CPC G03B 30/00 (2021.01) [G03B 17/55 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular camera assembly, the vehicular camera assembly comprising:
a lens barrel accommodating at least an outer lens element and an inner lens element;
a housing having a first portion and a second portion that are joined together;
an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB), wherein the imager PCB comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the imager PCB, wherein an imager is disposed at the first side of the imager PCB;
wherein the imager comprises a two dimensional imaging array having at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns;
wherein the lens barrel is disposed at the first portion of the housing such that the imager is aligned with the inner lens element and the outer lens element, and wherein the inner lens element is disposed closer to the imager than the outer lens element;
wherein a vacuum exists in a space between the outer lens element and the inner lens element to thermally insulate an outer surface of the outer lens element from an inner surface of the inner lens element, and wherein the outer surface of the outer lens element faces away from the imager and the inner surface of the inner lens element faces toward the imager; and
wherein, with the imager aligned with the lens barrel, light passing through (i) the outer lens element, (ii) the vacuum and (iii) the inner lens element is imaged by the imager.