Magna Electronics Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Joseph A Stemmer

Steven V Byrne

Matthew C Sesti

Robert A Devota

Brian J Winden

John R Garcia

David F Olson

Neil Naik

A vehicular camera includes a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements, a lens holder, and an imager printed circuit board. The plurality of optical elements includes at least one plastic optical element and at least one glass optical element. The imager printed circuit board has circuitry disposed thereat. The circuitry of the imager printed circuit board includes an imager that has an imaging array. The lens is held in optical alignment with the imaging array of the imager via an adhesive. The adhesive bonds the lens barrel to the lens holder. A flexible electrical ribbon cable electrically connects the circuitry of the imager printed circuit board with additional circuitry of the vehicular camera. The vehicular camera, when installed and used in a vehicle, captures image data for a vision system of the vehicle.

Vehicular camera with adhesively bonded construction

A vehicular camera includes an imager printed circuit board and a lens having a plurality of optical elements. The lens is held in optical alignment with an imager at the imager printed circuit board via a dual cure one-part, filled adhesive that in its uncured state has an epoxy resin. The adhesive is both UV-curable and thermal-curable. A flexible electrical ribbon cable electrically connects circuitry of the imager printed circuit board with additional circuitry of the vehicular camera. Image data captured by the imager is provided to the additional circuitry of the vehicular camera via the flexible electrical ribbon cable. The additional circuitry includes at least a processor for processing image data captured by the imager and provided to the additional circuitry via the flexible electrical ribbon cable. The vehicular camera, when installed and used in a vehicle, captures image data for use by a vision system of the vehicle.

A method for assembling an imager assembly for a vehicular camera includes providing a lens barrel that accommodates a lens, providing a lens holder, and providing a PCB with an imager disposed thereat. A cylindrical portion of the lens barrel is disposed in a cylindrical passageway of the lens holder and the PCB is disposed at the lens holder. An adhesive is dispensed to hold the lens optically aligned with the imager. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a longer further-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the imager assembly in a vehicular camera in a vehicle.

A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. The camera utilizes an adhesive to hold the lens optically aligned with the imager. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially curable to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a further-cure time period that is longer than the initial-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the vehicular camera in a vehicle.

A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially curable to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a further-cure time period that is longer than the initial-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the vehicular camera in a vehicle. The further-cured adhesive maintains at least 70% strength of bond after being exposed for 1000 hours to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH.

A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. The lens barrel is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board attached at the lens holder, or the printed circuit board is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the lens barrel attached at the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process that includes UV light exposure for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process that is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

A method of assembling a camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. An adhesive is dispensed to establish a layer of uncured adhesive (i) between the lens barrel and lens holder or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process. The further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Method of assembling camera for vehicle vision system

A method of assembling a camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a camera front housing, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. An adhesive is dispensed to establish a layer of uncured adhesive one of (i) between the lens barrel and a front portion of the camera front housing and (ii) between the printed circuit board and a rear portion of the camera front housing. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process. The further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

An ornamental device including a decorative plated surface and a backlit assembly is described, and includes a light engine including a light-emitting diode (LED), a light pipe optically coupled to the LED, a light diffuser and a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a chrome surface finish, wherein the lens assembly encases the light engine, the light pipe and the light diffuser, and is assembled onto a back plate. When the LED is not illuminated, the lens assembly exhibits a chrome appearance, and when the LED is illuminated, light emanates through the lens assembly.

Backlit illuminated device with lighting through decorative plated surfaces

A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing (i) a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, (ii) a camera front housing, (iii) a printed circuit board with an imager. An uncured adhesive is dispensed (i) between the lens barrel and the front portion of the camera front housing or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the rear portion of the camera front housing. The lens is brought into focus with the imager, and the adhesive is initially cured in an initial radiation curing process. After the initial radiation curing process, the initially-cured adhesive is further cured in a secondary curing process. The further-cured adhesive limits movement of the lens relative to the imager to less than +/&#x2212;18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours.

A vehicular camera includes a lens, a printed circuit board and an imager. The lens has a plurality of optical element and is disposed at a lens holder. The imager is disposed at the printed circuit board. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. The initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens optically center-aligned and in focus with the imager. After the initial radiation curing process, the lens holder, adhesively attached to one of the printed circuit board and the holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process.

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Warren, MI, United States of America

Joseph A Stemmer