Abstract
A camera module (1) for a vehicle (2). A printed circuit board (11) of the camera module (1) has a carrier (10) for at least one camera (14, 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N). The carrier (10) is mounted directly to the printed circuit board (11). The printed circuit board (11) carries as well electronic components (18) and a connector (19).
Claims
1. A camera module for a vehicle, comprising: at least one camera comprising, a printed circuit board, a carrier for the at least one camera mounted directly to the printed circuit board, wherein the carrier has a mounting structure for the at least one camera, wherein the mounting structure has a pair of rails and at least a pair of flexible wings; a chip housing of the at least one camera cooperates with the rails of the carrier in a form fitting manner, and a lens body of the at least one camera cooperates with the flexible wings of the carrier in a form and force fitting manner; and electronic components and a connector mounted to the printed circuit board.
2. The camera module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one illumination device carried by the carrier for the at least one camera.
3. The camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one illumination device comprises at least one IR-light emitting diode.
4. The camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier has a mounting structure for the at least one illumination device.
5. The camera module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting structure for the at least one illumination device comprises a flat abutting surface with a surrounding rim and the illumination device is held by a snap fit to the mounting structure.
6. The camera module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing which surrounds the camera module.
7. The camera module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a housing base and a housing cover the housing bays and the housing cover joined together to form the housing.
8. The camera module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing base and the housing cover have a first cut-out for the at least one camera, a second cut-out for the at least one illumination device and a third cut-out for the connector, wherein the at least one camera, the at least one illumination device and the connector of the camera module are aligned with the respective first, second and third cut-outs.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The numerous advantages of the disclosure may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a motor vehicle having at least one forward looking camera module according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 is schematic representation of the placement of a camera module according to another embodiment of the invention looking at the driver of the motor vehicle.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an electronic control unit which can be applied to at least one camera of the camera module according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier used for mounting the at least one camera according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of components of a camera module according to an embodiment of the invention mounted on a printed circuit board.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective and exploded view of the camera module and the housing, which encloses the camera module shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Same reference numerals used in this description refer to same elements or elements of similar function throughout the various figures. Furthermore, only reference numerals necessary for the description of the respective figure are shown in the figures. The shown embodiments represent only examples of how the invention can be carried out. This should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a motor vehicle 2. A camera module 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is mounted at a windshield 3 of the vehicle 2, so that the camera (see FIG. 3) of the camera module 1 is looking into the direction D of driving.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of a camera module 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. A lens 4 of the camera module 1 is looking at a driver 5 of the vehicle 2.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an electronic control unit 12 which can be applied to at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N of the camera module 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Electronic control unit 12 can be applied to a camera module 1, wherein the camera module 1 comprises at least one external view camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N (see FIG. 1) or at least one driver 5 (see FIG. 2) viewing camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N. The camera module 1 is composed of the printed circuit board 11 on which a carrier 10, a connector 19 and electronic components 18 are mounted. In the context of the present invention, a micro controller unit (not shown) is as well a part of the electronic components 18. In an embodiment, the carrier 10 has conductive traces (not shown) through which an electrical connection between the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N and the printed circuit board 11 and between the at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M and the printed circuit board 11 is provided. The carrier 10 is designed for mounting the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N which are as well fixed in position by the carrier 10. In the case that the camera module 1 is used to monitor the driver, the carrier 10 also has space for at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M. The at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M can be configured as an IR (infrared) light emitting diode (IR-LED).
[0040] The electronic connection 13 between the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N and the carrier 10 can be made by use of the surface mount technology (SMT) but it is not limited thereto. The electronic connection 13 between the carrier 10 and the printed circuit board 11 can also be made through SMT, but it is not limited thereto. In an embodiment, the printed circuit board 11 has guiding features (not shown) and holes (not shown) both of which facilitate the mounting of the printed circuit board 11. For protection reason, the camera module 1 is enclosed within a housing base 8.sub.2 and a housing cover 8.sub.1 both of which form a housing 7 when joined.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier 10 used for mounting the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N, according to an embodiment of the invention. The carrier 10, can be made from, but is not limited to, plastic, composite materials, casting alloys or sheet metal. The carrier 10 shown here is configured for mounting and fixing at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N and at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M. According to the embodiment shown here, a mounting structure 20 for the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N comprises a pair of rails 21 and at least a pair of flexible wings 22. A mounting structure 25 of the carrier 10 for the at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M comprises a flat abutting surface 26 with a surrounding rim 27.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of components of the camera module 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, mounted on a printed circuit board 11. The carrier 10, the connector 19 and the electronic components 18 are mounted on the printed circuit board 11. The carrier 10 mounts and fixes the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N and at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M. In the embodiment shown, the at least one camera 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.N has a chip housing 17 and a lens body 15. The chip housing 17 cooperates with the rails 21 of the carrier 10 in a form fitting manner. The lens body 15 cooperates with the flexible wings 22 of the carrier 10 in a form and force fitting manner. The at least one illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M is held in the mounting structure 25 by a snap fit of the rim 27 in the carrier 10. The illumination device 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.M comprises at least one light emitting diode 30 which is configured to emit IR light. The camera module 1 fully works when it has above mentioned components assembled and the electronic components 18, for example the microcontroller (MCU), has the required firmware flashed.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective and exploded view of the camera module 1 and the housing 7, which encloses the camera module 1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The carrier 10 with the at least one camera 14 (see FIG. 5) and the at least on illumination device 16 (see FIG. 5) is enclosed in a housing 7 for protection reason. The housing 7 comprises a housing base 8.sub.2 and a housing cover 8.sub.1. According to the embodiment shown here, the housing base 8.sub.2 and the housing cover 8.sub.1 are joined together to form the housing 7 with a cut-out 31 for the at least one camera 14 and a cut-out 32 for the at least one illumination device 16. Additionally, the housing base 8.sub.2 and the housing cover 8.sub.1 have a cut-out 33 for the connector 19.
[0044] It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the claims appended hereto.
[0045] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.
