US 12,139,076 B2
Vehicular camera with electrical connector
Matthew C Sesti, Williamston, 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 Aug. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/450,516.
Application 18/450,516 is a continuation of application No. 17/444,204, filed on Aug. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,731,569.
Application 17/444,204 is a continuation of application No. 16/819,725, filed on Mar. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,077,805, issued on Aug. 3, 2021.
Application 16/819,725 is a continuation of application No. 16/556,312, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, granted, now 10,589,697, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 16/556,312 is a continuation of application No. 15/871,174, filed on Jan. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,399,510, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Application 15/871,174 is a continuation of application No. 14/992,254, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, granted, now 9,868,404, issued on Jan. 16, 2018.
Application 14/992,254 is a continuation of application No. 14/001,272, granted, now 9,233,641, issued on Jan. 12, 2016, previously published as PCT/US2012/026073, filed on Feb. 22, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/593,962, filed on Feb. 2, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/446,975, filed on Feb. 25, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391277 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 11/04 (2006.01); B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); H01R 12/91 (2011.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H01R 12/71 (2011.01); H01R 13/11 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [B60Q 9/008 (2013.01); H01R 12/91 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H01R 12/716 (2013.01); H01R 13/112 (2013.01)] 41 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular camera, the vehicular camera comprising:
a housing comprising a front housing member and a rear housing member;
an imager;
wherein the imager comprises an imaging array of photosensors;
a lens member disposed at the front housing member;
a circuit board disposed at the front housing member;
the circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side is separated from the first side by a thickness of the circuit board;
a female electrical connector assembly disposed at the second side of the circuit board;
wherein the female electrical connector assembly comprises a set of female electrical connectors;
wherein the female electrical connector assembly comprises a connector housing formed of an electrically insulative material that prevents conduction of electrical signals between adjacent female electrical connectors of the set of female electrical connectors of the female electrical connector assembly;
wherein the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member to encase the imager and the circuit board in the housing;
wherein the rear housing member comprises a socket connection portion configured to electrically connect to a plug connection portion of a vehicle wire harness when the vehicular camera is disposed at a vehicle;
wherein the rear housing member comprises a male electrical connector;
wherein the male electrical connector comprises a set of electrically conductive pins;
wherein each electrically conductive pin of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector comprises an inward-extending pin portion and an outward-extending pin portion, and wherein the inward-extending pin portion is physically and electrically contiguous with the outward-extending pin portion;
wherein the outward-extending pin portions of the electrically conductive pins of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector pass outward through a wall portion of the rear housing member into the socket connection portion of the rear housing member;
wherein the inward-extending pin portions of the electrically conductive pins of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector extend inward from an inner surface of the wall portion of the rear housing member;
wherein the inward-extending pin portions of the electrically conductive pins of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector plug into and electrically connect with respective female electrical connectors of the set of female electrical connectors of the female electrical connector assembly at the second side of the circuit board when the rear housing member is mated with the front housing member;
wherein a respective female electrical connector of the set of female electrical connectors of the female electrical connector assembly accommodates misalignment of the inward-extending pin portion of a respective electrically conductive pin of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the inward-extending pin portion of the respective electrically conductive pin of the set of electrically conductive pins of the male electrical connector; and
wherein the vehicular camera, when disposed at the vehicle, views at least rearward of the vehicle.