Vehicle-mounted camera module and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a vehicle-mounted camera module and a vehicle, a lens assembly is at least partially arranged in an accommodating space of a shell, a first circuit board is arranged in the accommodating space, the first circuit board and the lens assembly are arranged at an interval, a sensor corresponding to the lens assembly is arranged on the first circuit board, and a sealing assembly is also arranged in the accommodating space. The sealing assembly is arranged on the first circuit board, a cavity located on the light emitting side of the lens assembly is defined between the sealing assembly and the first circuit board, and the sensor is located in the cavity and arranged corresponding to the light passing part arranged corresponding to the lens assembly. The sealing assembly is arranged on the first circuit board, the cavity is defined between the sealing assembly and the first circuit board, and the sensor is arranged in the cavity, so that the sensor can be sealed and protected through the sealing assembly, and the situation that normal work of the sensor is affected by high-temperature damage, impurities generated by vibration, water inflow and the like is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of camera technology, and more particularly to a vehicle-mounted camera module and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] The main functions of in-vehicle camera modules include providing driving assistance, safety monitoring, and driving recording, such as recording driving data and monitoring parking. In-vehicle camera modules are typically used in harsh environments, such as operating normally in temperatures ranging from -40℃ to 85℃, or in situations involving strong vibrations during vehicle operation and wading.

[0003] In view of this, to ensure the normal operation of the vehicle camera module, it is urgent to design a way to encapsulate the internal sensors to avoid damage from high temperatures, impurities from vibration, and water ingress that could affect the normal operation of the sensors. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model discloses an in-vehicle camera module and a vehicle, which can encapsulate and protect the sensors of the in-vehicle camera module to ensure the normal use of the in-vehicle camera module.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of this utility model discloses a vehicle-mounted camera module, comprising:

[0006] A housing having a receiving space and a light-transmitting portion thereon;

[0007] A lens assembly, at least partially disposed in the receiving space, wherein the lens assembly transmits light through the light-transmitting portion;

[0008] A first circuit board, disposed within the receiving space and spaced apart from the lens assembly, is equipped with a sensor corresponding to the lens assembly; and

[0009] A sealing assembly is located in the receiving space and is disposed on the first circuit board to define a cavity between the sealing assembly and the first circuit board. The cavity is located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly along the thickness direction of the first circuit board. The sealing assembly has a light-transmitting portion, which is disposed corresponding to the lens assembly. The sensor is located in the cavity and is disposed corresponding to the light-transmitting portion.

[0010] By setting a sealing component and placing it on the first circuit board, the sealing component can directly define a cavity between itself and the first circuit board. This cavity can surround the outer periphery of the sensor. In other words, the sealing component directly covers the outer periphery of the sensor to seal and protect it, thereby preventing the sensor from being damaged by high temperature, generating impurities due to vibration, or being affected by water ingress, which would otherwise affect the normal operation of the sensor.

[0011] Furthermore, the sealing assembly has a light-transmitting section that can be configured to correspond to the lens assembly, allowing the sensor located in the sealing assembly chamber to also be configured to correspond to the light-transmitting section. This enables the light emitted from the lens assembly to be received by the sensor through the light-transmitting section, thereby preventing the sealing assembly from blocking the normal transmission of light from the lens assembly and ensuring that the vehicle-mounted camera module can work normally.

[0012] Furthermore, by isolating the sensor from other components on the first circuit board through a sealing assembly, the influence of stray light inside the vehicle camera module on its imaging quality can be effectively avoided.

[0013] As an optional implementation, the cavity is spaced apart from the light-emitting side of the lens assembly along the thickness direction of the first circuit board.

[0014] In this way, on the one hand, the light-emitting side of the lens assembly and the sensor are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, thereby ensuring that the light emitted by the lens assembly can be received by the sensor, thus guaranteeing the imaging quality of the vehicle camera module. On the other hand, the sealing assembly is spaced apart from the housing along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, so that the sealing assembly and the housing are not connected, thereby avoiding the sealing assembly from generating large stress on the first circuit board, which could lead to delamination between the first circuit board and the sensor.

[0015] As an optional implementation, the vehicle-mounted camera module further includes a filter, the light-transmitting part is configured as a light-transmitting port communicating with the cavity, and the filter is disposed on the light-transmitting port to cover the light-transmitting port.

[0016] By setting a filter at the light-transmitting port to cover it, the filter can block the light-transmitting port, ensuring the overall sealing performance of the sealing assembly. The filter can also be used to further filter the light emitted from the lens assembly according to usage requirements.

[0017] As an optional implementation, the lens assembly includes a transmitting lens and a receiving lens, and the light-transmitting portion includes a first sub-light-transmitting portion and a second sub-light-transmitting portion disposed at intervals. The transmitting lens transmits light through the first sub-light-transmitting portion, and the receiving lens transmits light through the second sub-light-transmitting portion.

[0018] The sensor includes a transmitting sensor corresponding to the transmitting lens and a receiving sensor corresponding to the receiving lens. The chamber includes a first chamber and a second chamber. The transmitting sensor is disposed in the first chamber and the receiving sensor is disposed in the second chamber.

[0019] By assembling a lens assembly that includes a transmitting lens and a receiving lens—that is, having two lenses—this vehicle-mounted camera module can capture images from two different perspectives, providing a wider field of view and a more comprehensive view compared to a single camera. Furthermore, by mimicking the function of the human eye, the dual cameras can achieve functions such as precise distance measurement and object recognition.

[0020] Simultaneously, through the correspondingly configured first sub-transmitting part, transmitting lens, and transmitting sensor, light can enter and exit through the transmitting lens, and the emitted light can be received by the transmitting sensor, ensuring the normal optical performance of the transmitting lens. Similarly, through the correspondingly configured second sub-transmitting part, receiving lens, and receiving sensor, light can enter and exit through the receiving lens, and the emitted light can be received by the receiving sensor, ensuring the normal optical performance of the receiving lens. This, in turn, ensures the normal operation of the dual-camera function of the vehicle-mounted camera module.

[0021] As an optional implementation, the sealing assembly includes a cover and a separator. The cover and the light-emitting side of the lens assembly are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the first circuit board. The cover is connected to the first circuit board to form the cavity between the cover and the first circuit board.

[0022] The partition is disposed in the chamber and is connected to the cover and the first circuit board respectively to divide the chamber into the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0023] By installing separators within the chamber that are connected to the housing and the first circuit board respectively, the chamber is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber. This serves several purposes: First, it helps prevent signal interference between the transmitting and receiving sensors. The separators ensure that the first and second chambers are independent and not interconnected, thus preventing light leakage between them. Second, it helps prevent physical damage to the transmitting and receiving sensors. For example, a high-energy laser emitter might burn out the sensitive element of the receiving sensor, or a malfunction in one component might affect the normal operation of the other. Third, it allows the first and second chambers to provide more suitable environments for the transmitting and receiving sensors, respectively, based on their characteristics, ensuring better operation of both sensors.

[0024] In addition, the partition is set inside the cavity and connected to the cover and the first circuit board to divide the cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity. This method can save the material required for the sealing assembly, thereby improving the economy of the vehicle camera module.

[0025] As an optional implementation, the sealing assembly further includes a first sealant and a second sealant, wherein the first sealant is sealed between the cover and the first circuit board, and the second sealant is sealed between the separator and the first circuit board.

[0026] The connection between the cover and the partition and the first circuit board is achieved by using a first sealant and a second sealant, preventing moisture or dust from entering between the first and second cavities. Furthermore, unlike mechanical connections (such as threaded connections), the sealant distributes stress across the entire connection cross-section, reducing the risk of damage to the first circuit board due to localized stress concentration. In addition, the sealant connection method simply requires applying adhesive or a gel to the first circuit board, cover, and partition; the sealant forms after cooling and curing, eliminating the need for additional connecting parts, simplifying the operation, and reducing production costs.

[0027] As an optional implementation, the housing has a top wall along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, and the first chamber and the second chamber are both spaced apart from the top wall along the thickness direction of the first circuit board;

[0028] The first sub-light-transmitting portion and the second sub-light-transmitting portion are configured as openings penetrating the top wall, the transmitting lens extends at least partially out of the first sub-light-transmitting portion, and the receiving lens extends at least partially out of the second sub-light-transmitting portion.

[0029] By spacing the first and second chambers from the top wall of the housing along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, installation space can be reserved for the portion of the transmitting and receiving lenses located inside the housing, thereby allowing the transmitting and receiving lenses to be partially installed within the housing's accommodating space, which is beneficial for the overall miniaturization design of the vehicle camera module.

[0030] By having the transmitting lens extend at least partially beyond the first sub-light-transmitting section and the receiving lens extend at least partially beyond the second sub-light-transmitting section, light propagation is more efficient. For the transmitting lens, it can emit light more directly, reducing reflection and refraction losses on the inner wall of the housing and improving the efficiency of light emission. For the receiving lens, it can more effectively receive external light, reducing potential obstruction and interference from the top wall and improving the sensitivity of light reception. Furthermore, by setting the first and second sub-light-transmitting sections on the top wall, and having the transmitting lens extend beyond the first sub-light-transmitting section and the receiving lens extend beyond the second sub-light-transmitting section, the entire structure achieves a more compact layout while maintaining optical functionality, which is beneficial for the miniaturization design of the entire vehicle-mounted camera module.

[0031] As an optional implementation, the vehicle-mounted camera module further includes a second circuit board disposed within the receiving space. Along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, the second circuit board is spaced apart from the first circuit board and located on the side of the first circuit board away from the lens assembly. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board.

[0032] By placing a second circuit board within the housing space, spaced apart from the first circuit board and electrically connected to it, the signals from the first circuit board can be converted by the second circuit board and recognized by the vehicle's mainboard. Furthermore, by using both the first and second circuit boards, the size of a single circuit board can be reduced, allowing them to fit within the internal space of the vehicle camera module and meeting the miniaturization requirements of the vehicle camera module.

[0033] As an alternative implementation, the housing includes a front housing and a rear housing, the rear housing being connected to the front housing to form the receiving space, the first circuit board being connected to the front housing, and the second circuit board being connected to the rear housing.

[0034] The housing comprises a front shell and a rear shell. The first circuit board is connected to the front shell, and the second circuit board is connected to the rear shell. This design facilitates separate processing and assembly. The first circuit board and the front shell are processed and assembled together, and the second circuit board and the rear shell are processed and assembled together, before being assembled together. This also improves the overall assembly efficiency of the vehicle camera module. Furthermore, this method of separate assembly followed by assembly simplifies the overall assembly process.

[0035] Secondly, this utility model also discloses a vehicle, including the vehicle-mounted camera module as described in the first aspect.

[0036] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are:

[0037] This utility model provides an in-vehicle camera module and vehicle. A light-transmitting portion is provided on the housing, through which a lens assembly, at least partially disposed within the housing's accommodating space, transmits light. A sensor is mounted on a first circuit board disposed within the accommodating space and located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly. The sensor is positioned corresponding to the lens assembly. A sealing component, located within the accommodating space, is disposed on the first circuit board and defines a cavity between it and the first circuit board. The sensor is located within the cavity corresponding to the light-transmitting portion, and along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, the cavity is located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly. By providing a sealing component and placing it on the first circuit board, the sealing component directly defines a cavity between itself and the first circuit board. This cavity surrounds the outer periphery of the sensor; that is, the sealing component directly covers the outer periphery of the sensor to seal and protect it, thereby preventing damage from high temperatures, vibration-induced impurities, and water ingress that could affect the sensor's normal operation.

[0038] Furthermore, the sealing assembly has a light-transmitting section that can be configured to correspond to the lens assembly, allowing the sensor located in the sealing assembly chamber to also be configured to correspond to the light-transmitting section. This enables the light emitted from the lens assembly to be received by the sensor through the light-transmitting section, thereby preventing the sealing assembly from blocking the normal transmission of light from the lens assembly and ensuring that the vehicle-mounted camera module can work normally.

[0039] Furthermore, by isolating the sensor from other components on the first circuit board through a sealing assembly, the influence of stray light inside the vehicle camera module on its imaging quality can be effectively avoided. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an in-vehicle camera module in related technologies;

[0042] Figure 2 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera module (single camera) disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Cross-sectional view at point AA;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera module (dual cameras) disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at point BB;

[0046] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of a section at point C;

[0047] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure disclosed in the embodiments of this application.

[0048] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0049] 100 - Vehicle-mounted camera module of related technology; 101 - Elastic material; 102 - Housing; 103 - Circuit board; 104 - Sensor; 200 - Vehicle-mounted camera module; 210 - Housing; 211 - Accommodation space; 212 - Light-transmitting part; 212a - First sub-light-transmitting part; 212b - Second sub-light-transmitting part; 213 - Top wall; 214 - Front shell; 215 - Rear shell; 220 - Lens assembly; 221 - Transmitting lens; 221a - First mounting part; 222 - Receiving lens; 222a - Second mounting part; 23 0 - First circuit board; 231 - Sensor; 231a - Transmitting sensor; 231b - Receiving sensor; 240 - Sealing assembly; 241 - Light transmission part; 242 - Cover; 243 - Separator; 244 - First sealant; 245 - Second sealant; 250 - Chamber; 251 - First chamber; 252 - Second chamber; 260 - Filter; 270 - Second circuit board; 271 - Image signal processor; 272 - Connector; 280 - Transmission assembly; 290 - Power supply assembly; 300 - Vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0051] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0052] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0053] Furthermore, the terms "setup" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0054] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0055] In-vehicle cameras are widely used in modern cars, for example in autonomous driving. They are installed around the vehicle to provide drivers with information about the surrounding environment, enabling driver assistance functions, as well as various functions such as driving recording and reversing monitoring.

[0056] Vehicle-mounted camera modules are typically used in harsh environments, such as requiring operation within a temperature range of -40℃ to 85℃, or encountering strong vibrations during vehicle operation and potential water wading scenarios. Therefore, to ensure the normal operation of vehicle-mounted camera modules, their internal sensors need to be encapsulated to prevent damage from high temperatures, impurities from vibration, and water ingress that could affect their normal operation.

[0057] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an in-vehicle camera module in related technologies. To achieve sealing of the sensor 104 inside the in-vehicle camera module 100, the inventors attempted to fill the space between the housing 102 and the circuit board 103 with an elastic material 101 such as EVA, forming a sealed cavity between the housing 102, the circuit board 103, and the elastic material 101. The sensor 104 is disposed within this sealed cavity. The circuit board 103 and the housing 102 are connected by threaded connectors, and the elastic material 101 is pressed together with an interference fit, thereby achieving a sealing effect. However, this interference fit pressing method can create stress risks on the circuit board 103, leading to delamination between the sensor 104 and other devices and the circuit board 103, affecting the normal use of the in-vehicle camera module 100.

[0058] In view of this, this application discloses an in-vehicle camera module and a vehicle. The housing has a receiving space, a lens assembly is at least partially disposed within the receiving space, a first circuit board is disposed within the receiving space and spaced apart from the lens assembly, a sensor is disposed on the first circuit board corresponding to the lens assembly, and a sealing assembly is also disposed within the receiving space. The sealing assembly is disposed on the first circuit board and defines a chamber located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly. The sensor is located in this chamber and is disposed corresponding to the light-transmitting portion disposed on the lens assembly. By providing the sealing assembly and placing it on the first circuit board, the sealing assembly can directly define a chamber between itself and the first circuit board. This chamber can surround the outer periphery of the sensor; that is, the sealing assembly directly covers the outer periphery of the sensor to seal and protect it, thereby preventing damage to the sensor from high temperatures, impurities from vibration, and water ingress that could affect the normal operation of the sensor. Furthermore, the sealing assembly includes a light-transmitting section that is positioned corresponding to the lens assembly. This allows the sensor located within the sealing assembly's chamber to also align with this light-transmitting section, enabling the light emitted from the lens assembly to be received by the sensor through the light-transmitting section. This prevents the sealing assembly from obstructing the normal light transmission from the lens assembly, ensuring the vehicle-mounted camera module functions correctly. Moreover, by isolating the sensor from other components on the first circuit board through the sealing assembly, the impact of stray light inside the vehicle-mounted camera module on its image quality can be effectively prevented.

[0059] The technical solution of this application will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0060] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera module (single camera) disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Figure 3 yes Figure 2The cross-sectional view at point AA shows that the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 of this application includes a housing 210, a lens assembly 220, a first circuit board 230, and a sealing assembly 240. The housing 210 has a receiving space 211 and a light-transmitting portion 212. The lens assembly 220 is at least partially disposed within the receiving space 211, and light passes through the light-transmitting portion 212. The first circuit board 230 is disposed within the receiving space 211 and spaced apart from the lens assembly 220. A sensor 231 is disposed on the first circuit board 230, corresponding to the lens assembly 220. The sealing assembly 240 is located in the receiving space 211 and is disposed on the first circuit board 230 to define a cavity 250 between the sealing assembly 240 and the first circuit board 230. The cavity 250 is located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly 220 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230. The sealing assembly 240 has a light-transmitting part 241, which is disposed corresponding to the lens assembly 220. The sensor 231 is located in the cavity 250 and is disposed corresponding to the light-transmitting part 241.

[0061] The vehicle-mounted camera module 200 of this application provides a sealing component 240, which is disposed on a first circuit board 230. The sealing component 240 can directly define a cavity 250 between itself and the first circuit board 230. The cavity 250 can surround the outer periphery of the sensor 231. In other words, the sealing component 240 directly covers the outer periphery of the sensor 231 to seal and protect the sensor 231, thereby preventing the sensor 231 from being damaged by high temperature, generating impurities due to vibration, or being affected by water ingress, which would affect the normal operation of the sensor 231.

[0062] Furthermore, the sealing assembly 240 has a light-transmitting part 241, which is provided in relation to the lens assembly 220. This allows the sensor 231 located in the chamber 250 of the sealing assembly 240 to be positioned in relation to the light-transmitting part 241. As a result, the light emitted from the lens assembly 220 can be received by the sensor 231 through the light-transmitting part 241, thereby preventing the sealing assembly 240 from blocking the normal transmission of light from the lens assembly 220 and ensuring that the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 can work normally.

[0063] Furthermore, by isolating the sensor 231 from other components on the first circuit board 230 through the sealing component 240, the influence of stray light inside the vehicle camera module 200 on its imaging quality can be effectively avoided.

[0064] It is understood that the material of the aforementioned housing 210 may be plastic, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel, etc., and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0065] It is understood that the light-transmitting portion 241 described above may include, but is not limited to: a through hole opened on the housing, or a light-transmitting lens disposed at the through hole of the housing, or the housing being partially light-transmitting to form the light-transmitting portion 241.

[0066] It is understood that the first circuit board 230 is used to fix the sensor 231 that receives the optical signal of the lens 222. Therefore, the first circuit board 230 can be an RFPC (Rigid-Flexible Printed Circuit Board) or an HTCC (High Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) heating plate. This embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0067] It is understandable that the size of the aforementioned chamber 250 should be slightly larger than the size of the sensor 231. This helps to prevent vibrations generated during vehicle operation from causing the sealing assembly 240 to collide with the sensor 231, thereby damaging the sensor 231.

[0068] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 Along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230, the chamber 250 and the light-emitting side of the lens assembly 220 are spaced apart. On the one hand, this ensures that the light-emitting side of the lens assembly 220 and the sensor 231 are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230, thereby ensuring that the light emitted by the lens assembly 220 can be received by the sensor 231, thus guaranteeing the imaging quality of the vehicle camera module 200. On the other hand, this allows the sealing assembly 240 to be spaced apart from the housing 210 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230. Compared to the interference fit method using EVA material in related technologies, this method prevents the sealing assembly 240 from being connected to the housing 210, thus avoiding excessive stress on the first circuit board 230 by the sealing assembly 240, which could lead to delamination between the first circuit board 230 and the sensor 231.

[0069] Understandably, to prevent the light emitted from the lens assembly 220 from being properly received by the sensor 231 due to the opaque sealing component 240, a light-transmitting portion 241 is provided on the sealing component 240 corresponding to the lens assembly 220 and the sensor 231. This light-transmitting portion 241 can have various examples. In one example, the light-transmitting portion 241 can be made of a light-transmitting material on the sealing component 240 corresponding to the lens assembly 220 and the sensor 231. This ensures that the light emitted from the lens assembly 220 can pass through this light-transmitting part of the sealing component 240 and be received by the sensor 231. For example, the light-transmitting part of the sealing component 240 can be made of materials such as polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

[0070] See another example. Figure 3 The light-transmitting part 241 can be configured as a light-transmitting port communicating with the cavity 250. A filter 260 is provided at the light-transmitting port to cover the light-transmitting port. In this way, the filter 260 can block the light-transmitting port, ensuring the overall sealing performance of the sealing assembly 240. Furthermore, the filter 260 can further filter the light emitted from the lens assembly 220 according to the usage requirements. For example, if the filter 260 is an infrared filter 260, the infrared visible light in the light emitted from the lens assembly 220 can be filtered out by the filter 260.

[0071] It is understandable that since the filter 260 is located at the light transmission port, it is necessary to use sealant to connect the filter 260 to the sealing component 240 to avoid gaps that would reduce the sealing effect of the sealing component 240.

[0072] Optionally, the sealant can be a UV-curable adhesive or a silicone adhesive, etc., and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0073] Understandably, the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 can be a single camera or a dual camera. Using a dual camera allows for the capture of images from two different perspectives, providing a more comprehensive field of view. Furthermore, by mimicking the functions of the human eye, dual cameras can achieve precise distance measurement and object recognition. The following section will provide a detailed explanation of why the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 uses a dual camera setup.

[0074] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera module (dual cameras) disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Figure 5 yes Figure 4The cross-sectional view at point BB shows that the lens assembly 220 includes a transmitting lens 221 and a receiving lens 222. The light-transmitting portion 212 includes a first sub-light-transmitting portion 212a and a second sub-light-transmitting portion 212b spaced apart. The transmitting lens 221 transmits light through the first sub-light-transmitting portion 212a, and the receiving lens 222 transmits light through the second sub-light-transmitting portion 212b. The sensor 231 includes a transmitting sensor 231a corresponding to the transmitting lens 221 and a receiving sensor 231b corresponding to the receiving lens 222. Through the correspondingly arranged first sub-light-transmitting portion 212a, transmitting lens 221, and transmitting sensor 231a, light can enter and exit through the transmitting lens 221, and the emitted light can be received by the transmitting sensor 231a, ensuring the normal optical performance of the transmitting lens 221. With the correspondingly configured second sub-light-transmitting part 212b, receiving lens 222, and receiving sensor 231b, light can enter and exit through the receiving lens 222, and the emitted light can be received by the receiving sensor 231b, ensuring the normal optical performance of the receiving lens 222. This ensures the normal operation of the dual-camera function of the vehicle-mounted camera module 200.

[0075] Optionally, the chamber 250 includes a first chamber 251 and a second chamber 252. The transmitting sensor 231a is disposed in the first chamber 251, and the receiving sensor 231b is disposed in the second chamber 252. This ensures that both the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b are sealed and protected by the sealing assembly 240, thereby preventing the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b from being damaged by high temperature, generating impurities due to vibration, or being affected by water ingress, which would affect their normal operation.

[0076] It is understood that the aforementioned receiving sensor 231b is used to receive the optical signal from the lens 222 assembly 220 and convert it into an electrical signal for transmission to the first circuit board 230. Therefore, the receiving sensor 231b should be an image sensor 231, which can be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge coupled device (CCD), etc. This embodiment does not make any specific limitations on this.

[0077] It is understood that the aforementioned transmitting sensor 231a is used to transmit signals to the object being photographed. The light signal is reflected back after encountering the object and is received by the receiving lens 222, then transmitted to the receiving sensor 231b for identification. Therefore, the transmitting sensor 231a can be an infrared light source emitter or a laser emitter, etc., and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0078] It is understood that the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 can be connected or separated. Taking the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 as an example, the connection between the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 allows heat to flow between the connected chambers 250, which helps to make the temperature of the two chambers 250 more uniform.

[0079] Taking the case where the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 are separated as an example, please refer to... Figure 5 The sealing assembly 240 includes a cover 242 and a separator 243. The cover 242 is spaced apart from the light-emitting side of the lens assembly 220 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230. The cover 242 is connected to the first circuit board 230 to form a chamber 250 between the cover 242 and the first circuit board 230. The separator 243 is disposed in the chamber 250 and is connected to both the cover 242 and the first circuit board 230 to divide the chamber 250 into a first chamber 251 and a second chamber 252. By providing a separator 243 within the chamber 250 and connecting it to the cover 242 and the first circuit board 230 respectively, the chamber 250 is divided into a first chamber 251 and a second chamber 252. This helps to avoid signal interference between the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b. In other words, by using the separator 243 to separate the chambers, the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 are independent of each other and do not communicate with each other, thereby preventing light leakage between the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252. On the other hand, it helps prevent physical damage to the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b. For example, a high-energy laser emitter may burn out the sensitive element of the receiving sensor 231b, or a malfunction in one of the components of the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b may affect the normal operation of the other component. Furthermore, it allows the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 to provide more suitable environments according to the characteristics of the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231, respectively, so as to ensure that the transmitting sensor 231a and the receiving sensor 231b work better.

[0080] In addition, the separator 243 is disposed in the cavity and connected to the cover 242 and the first circuit board 230 to divide the cavity 250 into a first cavity 251 and a second cavity 252. Compared with setting two covers 242 separately to form the first cavity 251 and the second cavity 252, this method can save the material required for the sealing assembly 240, thereby improving the economy of the vehicle camera module 200.

[0081] It is understood that the materials of the cover 242 and the separator 243 need to have a certain degree of hardness in order to prevent collapse during use and to better support the filter 260 on the cover 242 so that it does not shift. Therefore, the materials of the cover 242 and the separator 243 can be plastic, stainless steel or aluminum alloy, etc., and this embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0082] Optionally, please refer to Figure 5 , combined Figure 6 , Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The enlarged view at point C shows that the sealing assembly 240 also includes a first sealant 244 and a second sealant 245. The first sealant 244 seals the connection between the cover 242 and the first circuit board 230, while the second sealant 245 connects the separator 243 and the first circuit board 230. The connection between the cover 242 and the separator 243 and the first circuit board 230 is achieved through the first sealant 244 and the second sealant 245, preventing moisture or dust from entering between the first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252. Furthermore, unlike traditional mechanical connections (such as threaded connections), the sealant can distribute stress across the entire connection cross-section, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the first circuit board 230 due to localized stress concentration. In addition, the sealant connection only requires applying glue or an adhesive to the first circuit board 230, the cover 242, and the separator 243; the sealant forms after the glue cools and cures, eliminating the need for additional connecting parts, simplifying the operation, and reducing production costs.

[0083] It is understood that the first sealant 244 and the second sealant 245 are the same sealants used to connect the filter 260 and the sealing assembly 240, and will not be described again in this embodiment.

[0084] In some embodiments, please refer to... Figure 5The housing 210 has a top wall 213 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230. The first chamber 251 and the second chamber 252 are both spaced apart from the top wall 213 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230. The first sub-light-transmitting portion 212a and the second sub-light-transmitting portion 212b are configured as openings penetrating the top wall 213. The transmitting lens 221 extends at least partially from the first sub-light-transmitting portion 212a, and the receiving lens 222 extends at least partially from the second sub-light-transmitting portion 212b. By spaced apart from the top wall of the housing 210 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230, installation space is reserved for the portions of the transmitting lens 221 and the receiving lens 222 located within the housing 210's receiving space 211. This allows the transmitting lens 221 and the receiving lens 222 to be partially housed within the housing 210's receiving space 211, thereby facilitating the overall miniaturization of the vehicle-mounted camera module 200.

[0085] Furthermore, by having the transmitting lens 221 extend at least partially beyond the first sub-transmitting portion 212a and the receiving lens 222 extend at least partially beyond the second sub-transmitting portion 212b, the propagation of light is more efficient. For the transmitting lens 221, it can emit light more directly, reducing reflection and refraction losses on the inner wall of the housing 210 and improving the efficiency of light emission. For the receiving lens 222, it can receive external light more effectively, reducing potential obstruction and interference from the top wall 213 and improving the sensitivity of light reception. Additionally, by providing the first sub-transmitting portion 212a and the second sub-transmitting portion 212b on the top wall 213, and by having the transmitting lens 221 extend beyond the first sub-transmitting portion 212a and the receiving lens 222 extend beyond the second sub-transmitting portion 212b, the entire structure achieves a more compact layout while maintaining optical functionality, which is beneficial for the miniaturization design of the entire vehicle-mounted camera module 200.

[0086] Understandably, when the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 uses dual cameras, it is typically assembled using an AA (Active Alignment) assembly process to ensure that the lens and sensor 231 in the camera module can be precisely aligned, thereby improving image quality. Therefore, the transmitting lens 221 and the receiving lens 222 each include a first mounting portion 221a and a second mounting portion 222a extending outward from the side wall. The first mounting portion 221a and the second mounting portion 222a are spaced apart above the top wall 213 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230, and are connected between the first mounting portion 221a and the top wall 213 and between the second mounting portion 222a and the top wall 213 using AA glue, thereby fixing the transmitting lens 221 and the receiving lens 222 to the housing 210. The vehicle-mounted camera module 200 assembled using the AA (Alkali Adhesive) process allows the transmitting lens 221 to be better aligned with the transmitting sensor 231a, and the receiving lens 222 to be better aligned with the receiving sensor 231b, thereby improving the overall imaging quality of the vehicle-mounted camera module 200. Furthermore, using AA adhesive to fix the transmitting lens 221 and the receiving lens 222 to the housing 210 also prevents external dust or water and other impurities from entering the housing 210's containing space 211, thus avoiding damage to the internal sensors 231 and circuit boards.

[0087] It is understood that the first circuit board 230 is used to receive the electrical signal converted by the receiving sensor 231b. However, this electrical signal cannot be directly and quickly recognized by the vehicle's mainboard. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 of this application also includes a second circuit board 270. For example, the second circuit board 270 can be an LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) circuit board. The second circuit board 270 is disposed within the receiving space 211, spaced apart from the first circuit board 230 along the thickness direction of the first circuit board 230, and located on the side of the first circuit board 230 away from the lens assembly 220. The second circuit board 270 is electrically connected to the first circuit board 230. The LVDS circuit board can transmit at a rate of several hundred Mbit / s on differential circuit board lines or balanced cables, thereby significantly improving data transmission efficiency and system response speed, so as to realize high-speed and stable image data transmission between the vehicle's mainboard and the first circuit board 230. In addition, the second circuit board 270 is also equipped with an ISP (Image Signal Processor 271), which is a unit used to process the signal output from the receiving sensor 231b. Its main functions include image scaling, automatic exposure, automatic white balance, and automatic focus. It converts the signal into a format that the vehicle motherboard can recognize, and then transmits it to the vehicle motherboard through the second circuit board 270. By setting up the first circuit board 230 and the second circuit board 270, compared to integrating all components into a single complete circuit board, the size of a single complete circuit board can be reduced. This allows the first circuit board 230 and the second circuit board 270 to fit into the internal space of the vehicle camera module 200, meeting the miniaturization design requirements of the vehicle camera module 200.

[0088] Optionally, a connector 272 is provided between the second circuit board 270 and the first circuit board 230. The connector 272 is electrically connected to both the first circuit board 230 and the second circuit board 270, and is configured to enable electrical signal transmission between the first circuit board 230 and the second circuit board 270. Specifically, the connector 272 can be a BTB (Board to Board Connector) connector 272 or a spring contactor, etc., and this embodiment does not impose any specific limitations on it.

[0089] Optionally, the second circuit board 270 is connected to a transmission component 280, which passes through the housing 210. One end of the transmission component 280 located outside the housing 210 is connected to the vehicle's mainboard. The transmission component 280 enables the transmission of electrical signals between the second circuit board 270 and the vehicle's mainboard. The transmission component 280 can be the aforementioned connector 272 or a ribbon cable, etc., and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0090] Optionally, the second circuit board 270 is also connected to a power supply component, which passes through the housing 210. One end of the power supply component located outside the housing 210 is connected to the vehicle's battery pack. The power supply component enables the battery pack to supply power to the vehicle-mounted camera module 200, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the vehicle-mounted camera module 200. The power supply component can be a wire or a pin, etc., and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0091] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 The housing 210 includes a front housing 214 and a rear housing 215. The rear housing 215 is connected to the front housing 214 to form a receiving space 211. A first circuit board 230 is connected to the front housing 214, and a second circuit board 270 is connected to the rear housing 215. By including the front housing 214 and the rear housing 215 in the housing 210, and connecting the first circuit board 230 to the front housing 214 and the second circuit board 270 to the rear housing 215, it is convenient to process and assemble them separately. The first circuit board 230 and the front housing 214 can be processed and assembled together, and the second circuit board 270 and the rear housing 215 can be processed and assembled together, and then assembled together. This also improves the overall assembly efficiency of the vehicle camera module 200. On the other hand, this method of separate assembly and then assembly simplifies the assembly process compared to installing all circuit boards into a single housing at once.

[0092] Please see Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of the vehicle disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Secondly, this application also discloses a vehicle 300, including the vehicle-mounted camera module 200 described in the first aspect above. The vehicle-mounted camera module 200 can be used as a reversing camera or driving recorder inside the vehicle 300.

[0093] The vehicle-mounted camera module 200 in this application embodiment may have the same structure as any of the vehicle-mounted camera modules 200 in the above embodiments and may bring the same or similar beneficial effects. For details, please refer to the description in the above embodiments. This application embodiment will not be repeated here.

[0094] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted camera module, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted camera module includes: A housing having a receiving space and a light-transmitting portion thereon; A lens assembly, at least partially disposed in the receiving space, wherein the lens assembly transmits light through the light-transmitting portion; A first circuit board, disposed within the receiving space and spaced apart from the lens assembly, is equipped with a sensor corresponding to the lens assembly; and A sealing assembly is located in the receiving space and is disposed on the first circuit board to define a cavity between the sealing assembly and the first circuit board. The cavity is located on the light-emitting side of the lens assembly along the thickness direction of the first circuit board. The sealing assembly has a light-transmitting portion, which is disposed corresponding to the lens assembly. The sensor is located in the cavity and is disposed corresponding to the light-transmitting portion.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, the cavity is spaced apart from the light-emitting side of the lens assembly.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted camera module also includes a filter, and the light-transmitting part is configured as a light-transmitting port communicating with the cavity. The filter is disposed on the light-transmitting port to cover the light-transmitting port.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lens assembly includes a transmitting lens and a receiving lens. The light-transmitting part includes a first sub-light-transmitting part and a second sub-light-transmitting part that are spaced apart. The transmitting lens transmits light through the first sub-light-transmitting part, and the receiving lens transmits light through the second sub-light-transmitting part. The sensor includes a transmitting sensor corresponding to the transmitting lens and a receiving sensor corresponding to the receiving lens. The chamber includes a first chamber and a second chamber. The transmitting sensor is disposed in the first chamber and the receiving sensor is disposed in the second chamber.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing assembly includes a cover and a separator. The cover and the light-emitting side of the lens assembly are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the first circuit board. The cover is connected to the first circuit board to form the cavity between the cover and the first circuit board. The partition is disposed in the chamber and is connected to the cover and the first circuit board respectively to divide the chamber into the first chamber and the second chamber.

6. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sealing assembly further includes a first sealant and a second sealant, wherein the first sealant is sealed between the cover and the first circuit board, and the second sealant is sealed between the separator and the first circuit board.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing has a top wall along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, and the first chamber and the second chamber are both spaced apart from the top wall along the thickness direction of the first circuit board; The first sub-light-transmitting portion and the second sub-light-transmitting portion are configured as openings penetrating the top wall, the transmitting lens extends at least partially out of the first sub-light-transmitting portion, and the receiving lens extends at least partially out of the second sub-light-transmitting portion.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted camera module also includes a second circuit board, which is disposed within the accommodating space. Along the thickness direction of the first circuit board, the second circuit board is spaced apart from the first circuit board and located on the side of the first circuit board away from the lens assembly. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The housing includes a front housing and a rear housing, the rear housing being connected to the front housing to form the receiving space, the first circuit board being connected to the front housing, and the second circuit board being connected to the rear housing.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes an on-board camera module as described in any one of claims 1-9.

Images