US 12,422,691 B2
Vehicular camera assembly with lens barrel welded at imager housing
Janie R. Harari, Boston, MA (US); Rene Dreiocker, Rochester Hills, MI (US); and Steven V. Byrne, Goodrich, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on May 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/318,251.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/385,824, filed on Dec. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/384,237, filed on Nov. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/364,832, filed on May 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0375849 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 27/62 (2006.01); G03B 17/12 (2021.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01)
CPC G02B 27/62 (2013.01) [G03B 17/12 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular camera, the vehicular camera comprising:
a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
a camera housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;
wherein the first portion of the camera housing includes a passageway therethrough;
an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) comprising 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 PCB is disposed at the camera housing with the imager facing the passageway of the first portion of the camera housing;
an alignment element disposed at the first portion of the camera housing, wherein the alignment element (i) interfaces with a surface of the first portion of the camera housing and an outer surface of the lens barrel and (ii) circumscribes an opening of the passageway;
wherein the alignment element comprises a first through hole configured to align with the surface of the first portion of the camera housing;
wherein, during assembly of the vehicular camera, an inner end of the lens barrel is received through the alignment element and is received at the first portion of the camera housing;
wherein, during assembly of the vehicular camera, and with the inner end of the lens barrel received at the first portion of the camera housing, the lens barrel is adjusted relative to the first portion of the camera housing and relative to the alignment element to initially align the lens relative to the imager;
wherein, with the lens initially aligned relative to the imager, the alignment element is initially attached to the first portion of the camera housing and the lens barrel is initially attached to the alignment element to initially retain the lens relative to the imager;
wherein the alignment element is initially attached to the first portion of the camera housing via welding the alignment element to the first portion of the camera housing, and wherein the alignment element is welded to the first portion of the camera housing at the first through hole formed through the alignment element;
wherein, with the alignment element initially attached to the first portion of the camera housing and the lens barrel initially attached to the alignment element, (i) the first through hole extends through the alignment element in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the passageway of the first portion of the camera housing and (ii) the first through hole is axially offset from the longitudinal axis of the passageway of the first portion of the camera housing;
wherein, during assembly of the vehicular camera, and with the lens initially retained relative to the imager, the lens barrel is adjusted relative to the first portion of the camera housing and the alignment element to further align the lens relative to the imager;
wherein, during assembly of the vehicular camera, and with the alignment element initially attached to the first portion of the camera housing and the lens barrel initially attached to the alignment element, and when the lens barrel is adjusted relative to the first portion of the camera housing to further align the lens relative to the imager, the alignment element (i) is adjustable relative to the first portion of the camera housing and (ii) is adjustable along the outer surface of the lens barrel to accommodate movement of the lens barrel relative to the first portion of the camera housing; and
wherein, with the lens further aligned relative to the imager, the alignment element is secured at the first portion of the camera housing and the lens barrel is secured at the alignment element to secure the lens relative to the imager.