A camera module and a vehicle

Abstract

This application provides a camera module and a vehicle. The camera module includes a base shell and a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a camera body, and a wireless communication module disposed within the base shell. The first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the base shell, and the second circuit board is connected to the bottom wall of the base shell. The camera body is mounted on the second circuit board, and at least a portion of the camera body passes through the first circuit board. The wireless communication module is disposed within the base shell and is electrically connected to the first circuit board. In this application, the spaced arrangement of the second circuit board and the first circuit board frees up a large amount of space on the first circuit board, and various electronic components can also be arranged on both sides of the first circuit board along its thickness direction, making full use of the space in the thickness direction of the base shell, thereby helping to reduce the overall thickness of the module and achieving a lightweight and miniaturized design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle camera technology, and in particular to a camera module and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of technology, the number of camera modules installed in vehicles is increasing, such as intelligent driving systems, panoramic surround view systems, reversing camera systems, and driver monitoring systems. A camera module typically includes a housing and a second circuit board, a first circuit board, and a camera installed inside the housing. The second circuit board is fixed to the first circuit board by screws, and the camera is fixed to the second circuit board. The second circuit board is equipped with devices such as image sensors, which can capture image signals collected by the camera and perform preliminary processing of the image signals. The first circuit board can further analyze and process the digital image signals transmitted by the second circuit board to optimize image quality. At the same time, the first circuit board is electrically connected to the vehicle's infotainment system and can receive instructions from the vehicle's infotainment system, thereby coordinating and controlling the normal operation of various electronic components within the camera module.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned camera module structure, the space on the first circuit board for installing other electronic components is small. The electronic components need to be arranged using the space in the thickness direction of the module, resulting in low effective utilization of the first circuit board and a relatively thick overall module. This is not conducive to the design of the module to be thinner and smaller, and it is difficult to meet the increasingly stringent high standards required for automotive cameras. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a camera module and a vehicle to at least solve the problem of low effective utilization of the first circuit board in the camera module in the prior art, which leads to a thicker module.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] This application provides a camera module, including a bottom shell and a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a camera body, and a wireless communication module disposed within the bottom shell; the first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the bottom shell, and the second circuit board is connected to the bottom wall of the bottom shell; the camera body is mounted on the second circuit board, and at least a portion of the camera body passes through the first circuit board; the wireless communication module is disposed within the bottom shell and is electrically connected to the first circuit board.

[0007] Optionally, a recessed cavity is provided on the bottom wall, at least a portion of the second circuit board is embedded in the recessed cavity, and the side of the second circuit board opposite to the first circuit board is connected to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity.

[0008] Optionally, a positioning post is provided in the recessed cavity, and a positioning hole is provided on the second circuit board, with the positioning post passing through the positioning hole.

[0009] Optionally, the second circuit board includes a central region and an edge region surrounding the central region, the camera body is mounted in the central region, and the positioning hole is located in the edge region.

[0010] Optionally, the bottom shell further includes a sidewall surrounding the periphery of the bottom wall; the sidewall is provided with a support portion protruding toward the inside of the bottom shell, and the side of the first circuit board near the bottom wall abuts against the support portion.

[0011] Optionally, the first circuit board has a clearance hole through which at least a portion of the camera body passes.

[0012] Optionally, the camera module further includes a board-to-board connector disposed within the bottom housing; the first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected through the board-to-board connector.

[0013] Optionally, the wireless communication module is connected to the side of the first circuit board away from the bottom wall.

[0014] Optionally, the wireless communication module is provided with an elastic conductive element, which abuts against the first circuit board to electrically connect the wireless communication module to the first circuit board.

[0015] Optionally, the camera module further includes an upper shell and a connector; the bottom shell has a first connection hole, the first circuit board has a second connection hole, the wireless communication module has a third connection hole, and the upper shell has a fourth connection hole, the first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole, and the fourth connection hole are coaxially arranged; the connector passes through the first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole, and the fourth connection hole to fix the bottom shell, the first circuit board, the wireless communication module, and the upper shell together.

[0016] Optionally, the number of connectors is two, and the two connectors are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom shell.

[0017] Optionally, the wireless communication module is further provided with a first latching part, which is located on the side away from the connector in the width direction of the bottom shell; a second latching part adapted to the first latching part is provided inside the bottom shell, and the first latching part and the second latching part are latched together.

[0018] Optionally, one of the bottom shell and the upper shell is provided with a limiting hole, and the other is provided with a limiting post. The limiting post passes through the limiting hole and is interference-fitted with the limiting hole.

[0019] Optionally, the spacing between the first circuit board and the second circuit board is 1mm to 6.5mm; and / or, the dimension of the camera body along the thickness direction of the bottom shell is 9mm to 11mm.

[0020] Optionally, the camera module also includes a latch, which is movably connected to the upper shell, with a portion of the latch extending outside the upper shell and adapted to be snapped and fixed to the display module.

[0021] Optionally, the camera module also includes a magnetic component, which is embedded and fixed inside the upper housing.

[0022] Optionally, the camera module further includes a quick electrical connector, which is inserted and fixed inside the upper housing. One end of the quick electrical connector is connected to the first circuit board, and the other end of the quick electrical connector extends out of the surface of the upper housing.

[0023] Optionally, the quick electrical connector includes at least one flexible electrical connector.

[0024] This application also provides a vehicle including the camera module described in any of the preceding claims.

[0025] Compared with existing technologies, the camera module and vehicle described in this application have the following advantages:

[0026] In the camera module of this application, a first circuit board and a second circuit board are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the bottom shell, and the second circuit board is connected to the bottom wall of the bottom shell. This spaced arrangement frees up a significant amount of space on the first circuit board, facilitating the installation and layout of other electronic components. These components can also be arranged on both sides of the first circuit board along its thickness direction, fully utilizing the space in the thickness direction of the bottom shell and effectively improving the utilization rate of the first circuit board. Simultaneously, the second circuit board is connected to the bottom wall of the bottom shell, and the camera body is mounted on the second circuit board, with a portion of the camera body passing through the first circuit board. This arrangement significantly reduces the space occupied by the camera body, the second circuit board, and the first circuit board in the thickness direction of the bottom shell, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the module and achieving a thinner and smaller design.

[0027] The vehicle described in this application has the same or similar advantages as the existing technology and the aforementioned camera module, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of this application. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application and do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 This is one of the cross-sectional views of the camera module in the embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a second cross-sectional view of the camera module in the embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 3 This is the third cross-sectional view of the camera module in the embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 4 This is the fourth cross-sectional view of the camera module in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 5 This is the fifth cross-sectional view of the camera module in the embodiments of this application.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 1-Bottom shell, 11-Bottom wall, 110-Recessed cavity, 12-Side wall, 121-Support part, 13-Second snap-fit ​​part, 14-Limiting hole, 2-First circuit board, 20-Allowing hole, 3-Second circuit board, 4-Camera body, 5-Wireless communication module, 51-First snap-fit ​​part, 6-Upper shell, 61-Limiting post, 7-Connector, 81-Snap buckle, 810-Spring, 82-Magnetic part, 9-Quick electrical connector. Detailed Implementation

[0036] 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, 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.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0038] It should be understood that the phrase "some embodiments" throughout the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, "some embodiments" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0039] The following detailed description of a camera module and vehicle provided in this application is illustrated with specific embodiments.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 This application provides a camera module, which includes a bottom shell 1 and a first circuit board 2, a second circuit board 3, a camera body 4, and a wireless communication module 5 disposed within the bottom shell 1. The first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are electrically connected, wherein the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1, and the second circuit board 3 is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1. The camera body 4 is mounted on the second circuit board 3, and at least a portion of the camera body 4 passes through the first circuit board 2. The wireless communication module 5 is disposed within the bottom shell 1 and is electrically connected to the first circuit board 2.

[0041] In this embodiment, the camera module can be applied to various scenarios such as intelligent driving systems, panoramic surround view systems, reversing camera systems, and driver monitoring systems. For example, in an intelligent driving system, the camera module can be installed at the front of the vehicle to monitor road conditions in real time, issuing warnings in case of potential collisions and reducing the probability of accidents. In a panoramic surround view system, the camera module can be installed at the front or rear of the vehicle, stitching and processing images captured by each camera module to form a comprehensive image of the vehicle's surroundings, facilitating the driver's observation of the surrounding environment. In a reversing camera system, the camera module can be installed at the rear of the vehicle; when the vehicle is reversing, the camera module automatically activates, transmitting a real-time image of the rear of the vehicle to the in-vehicle display screen to help the driver reverse smoothly. In a driver monitoring system, the camera module can be installed at the front of the vehicle to monitor the driver's eye state, head posture, etc., analyzing whether the driver is fatigued and issuing an alarm when an abnormality is detected.

[0042] The camera module includes a base shell 1, which has length, width, and thickness directions. The length direction is shown as the X direction in the figure, the thickness direction as the Z direction, and the width direction is not shown. The base shell 1 has an accommodating cavity with an opening at its upper part. The first circuit board 2, the second circuit board 3, and the camera body 4 are all housed within the accommodating cavity through the opening. The base shell 1 is typically made of high-strength, high-temperature resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials, and has good sealing performance, protecting the internal components from external environmental influences such as dust, moisture, vibration, and impact. The base shell 1 may also have openings for heat dissipation to prevent excessive internal temperature from affecting the performance of the components during prolonged operation.

[0043] The first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are each a PCB (Printed Circuit Board). The second circuit board 3 can be a sensor circuit board, on which an image sensor, signal processing chip, and other devices are mounted. The image sensor is a key component that converts optical signals into electrical signals. The signal processing chip performs preliminary processing on the raw signal output from the image sensor and sends the processed image signal back to the first circuit board 2 according to the signals that the first circuit board 2 can recognize. The first circuit board 2 provides electrical connections for the various components within the camera module. It integrates various electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as lines for transmitting data and signals. The first circuit board 2 can further analyze and process the digital image signal transmitted from the second circuit board 3, optimize the image quality, and then send the image signal to an external display module for display. In this embodiment, the first circuit board 2 can be electrically connected to the vehicle infotainment system to receive instructions from the system and coordinate and control the normal operation of the various electronic components within the camera module.

[0044] The camera body 4 includes an optical lens and a bracket for fixing the optical lens. The optical lens is fixed inside the bracket and mounted on the second circuit board 3 by means of the bracket. The optical lens can focus light to form a clear image of the object on the image sensor. The first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are spaced apart, and the second circuit board 3 is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1. At least a portion of the camera body 4 passes through the first circuit board 2 so that the optical lens of the camera body 4 is positioned on the side closer to the upper part of the bottom shell 1 for capturing images.

[0045] The first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are electrically connected. In the prior art, the second circuit board 3 and the circuit board typically have connection holes for fasteners such as bolts and screws to pass through. The fasteners are inserted into the connection holes to fix the two together. At the same time, the first circuit board 2 is connected to the bottom shell 1, thereby fixing the second circuit board 3 and the circuit board within the bottom shell 1. In the above structure, the second circuit board 3 occupies a large amount of space on the first circuit board 2, resulting in less space on the first circuit board 2 for mounting other electronic components, leading to low effective utilization of the first circuit board 2. Furthermore, the second circuit board 3 is mounted on the first circuit board 2, and the camera body 4 is mounted on the second circuit board 3. This stacked mounting results in a large space occupied by the camera body 4, the second circuit board 3, and the first circuit board 2 in the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1, leading to a thicker overall camera module, which is not conducive to the design of a thinner and smaller module.

[0046] In the camera module of this application, the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1, and the second circuit board 3 is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1. The spaced arrangement of the second circuit board 3 and the first circuit board 2 frees up a large amount of space on the first circuit board 2, which is conducive to the installation and layout of other electronic components on the first circuit board 2. Each electronic component can also be arranged on both sides of the first circuit board 2 along its thickness direction, making full use of the space in the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1 and effectively improving the utilization rate of the first circuit board 2. At the same time, the second circuit board 3 is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1, and the camera body 4 is mounted on the second circuit board 3. Part of the camera body 4 passes through the first circuit board 2 and extends out on the side of the first circuit board 2 away from the bottom wall 11. This arrangement greatly reduces the space in the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1 occupied by the camera body 4, the second circuit board 3, and the first circuit board 2 as a whole, thereby helping to reduce the overall thickness of the module and realize the design of a thinner and smaller module.

[0047] In addition, the second circuit board 3 is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1. The bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1 is positioned opposite to the opening at the top of the bottom shell 1. The second circuit board 3 can be connected to the bottom wall 11 by means of adhesive bonding, limiting snap-fit, etc. The specific configuration can be flexibly set according to actual needs.

[0048] The wireless communication module 5 is housed within the bottom shell 1 and electrically connected to the first circuit board 2. In some embodiments, the wireless communication module 5 is connected to the side of the first circuit board 2 facing away from the bottom wall 11. In the prior art, the connection between the camera module and the display module in the vehicle system is usually achieved using a wiring harness. However, the connectors of the wiring harness are often large, which is not conducive to the installation and deployment of the camera module in the vehicle. The camera module of this application includes a wireless communication module 5, which can be a WiFi module. The wireless communication module 5 is electrically connected to the first circuit board 2, so that the first circuit board 2 can send image data to the display module for display through the wireless communication module 5. Compared with the prior art, the use of transmission wiring harnesses is eliminated, which helps to reduce the difficulty of installing and deploying the camera module in the vehicle.

[0049] Optionally, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, a recessed cavity 110 is provided on the bottom wall 11, and at least a portion of the second circuit board 3 is embedded in the recessed cavity 110. The side of the second circuit board 3 facing away from the first circuit board 2 is connected to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110. Specifically, the bottom shell 1 can be integrally formed to form the recessed cavity 110 on its bottom wall 11, or it can be formed on its bottom wall 11 by mechanical cutting or laser cutting. The second circuit board 3 is embedded in the recessed cavity 110 and connected to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110.

[0050] In some embodiments, the second circuit board 3 can be completely embedded in the recessed cavity 110, with the surface of the second circuit board 3 near the first circuit board 2 not extending beyond the recessed cavity 110. This allows the second circuit board 3 to occupy only the space on the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1, which is more conducive to reducing the overall thickness of the module. However, at the same time, the depth of the recessed cavity 110 needs to be relatively deep to accommodate the entire second circuit board 3. Therefore, the above arrangement is more suitable for bottom shells 1 with thicker bottom walls 11. In other embodiments, the second circuit board 3 can also be partially embedded in the recessed cavity 110 and partially placed outside the recessed cavity 110. That is, the surface of the second circuit board 3 near the first circuit board 2 extends out of the recessed cavity 110. This allows the second circuit board 3 to occupy part of the space on the bottom wall 11 of the bottom shell 1 and part of the space of the internal cavity of the bottom shell 1, which can also reduce the overall thickness of the module to a certain extent. At the same time, the depth of the recessed cavity 110 can be reduced compared to the above arrangement, which is more suitable for bottom shells 1 with thinner bottom walls 11.

[0051] Furthermore, the second circuit board 3 is connected to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110, wherein the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110 refers to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110 away from the upper opening of the bottom shell 1. The second circuit board 3 can be bonded to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity 110. A small gap may exist between the peripheral side of the second circuit board 3 and its corresponding cavity wall to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the second circuit board 3 within the recessed cavity 110 during installation.

[0052] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, a positioning post is provided within the recessed cavity 110, and a positioning hole is provided on the second circuit board 3, with the positioning post passing through the positioning hole. The positioning post can be a cylindrical or prismatic structure, and the positioning hole can be a circular or square hole adapted to the shape of the positioning post. During the installation of the second circuit board 3, the positioning hole on the second circuit board 3 is aligned with the positioning post within the recessed cavity 110 for installation. The positioning post can pre-position the second circuit board 3, helping to ensure smooth installation and improving the installation accuracy of the second circuit board 3. The positioning post and the positioning hole are fitted with a clearance to avoid damage to the surface of the second circuit board 3.

[0053] Furthermore, the second circuit board 3 can have two or more positioning holes. For example, when the second circuit board 3 is a rectangular plate, a positioning hole can be provided at each of the four corners of the second circuit board 3, and a positioning post is provided at the corresponding position of the recessed cavity 110. Thus, the positioning post and the positioning hole cooperate to achieve pre-positioning of the four corners, which facilitates the smooth installation of the second circuit board 3. Of course, in practical applications, the number of positioning holes and positioning posts can be flexibly set according to the needs, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0054] Optionally, refer to Figure 1In some embodiments of this application, the second circuit board 3 includes a central region and an edge region surrounding the central region. The camera body 4 is mounted in the central region, and the positioning hole is located in the edge region. Typically, the second circuit board 3 is a rectangular circuit board. The center of the second circuit board 3 is the intersection of the two diagonals. The central region is the area that expands outwards from the center position, and it can have a rectangular structure, a circular structure, etc. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this. Furthermore, this embodiment defines the area outside the central region on the second circuit board 3 as the edge region, which surrounds the central region.

[0055] The camera body 4 is installed in the central area, achieving a centered arrangement. This arrangement helps to evenly distribute the center of gravity of the camera module, thereby improving the structural stability of the module. It also helps to evenly distribute the electronic components on the second circuit board 3 around the camera body 4, shortening the signal transmission path between the electronic components and the camera body 4, and improving the signal transmission speed and stability. The positioning holes are located in the edge area to avoid interference between the positioning posts and the camera body 4 during the engagement of the positioning holes with the positioning posts in the recessed cavity 110, thus ensuring the smooth installation of the second circuit board 3.

[0056] Optionally, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the bottom shell 1 further includes a side wall 12, which surrounds the periphery of the bottom wall 11. A support portion 121 is provided on the side wall 12, protruding towards the interior of the bottom shell 1. The side of the first circuit board 2 closest to the bottom wall 11 abuts against the support portion 121. Specifically, the side wall 12 surrounds the periphery of the bottom wall 11, and the side wall 12 and the bottom wall 11 form an accommodating cavity within the bottom shell 1. The bottom shell 1 can be a single piece manufactured using an integral injection molding process; that is, the bottom wall 11 and the side wall 12 of the bottom shell 1 are formed directly in a single process.

[0057] A support portion 121 is provided on the side wall 12. The support portion 121 and the side wall 12 can be integrally formed, that is, the support portion 121 is directly formed during the processing of the bottom shell 1. Alternatively, the support portion 121 can be an independent component, fixedly connected to the side wall 12 by means of adhesive bonding, assembly connection, or limiting snap-fit. The support portion 121 protrudes inward toward the bottom shell 1, that is, the support portion 121 protrudes toward the receiving cavity. The side of the first circuit board 2 near the bottom wall 11 abuts against the support portion 121, thereby the support portion 121 provides support for the first circuit board 2, which helps to improve the stability of the first circuit board 2 within the bottom shell 1. The surface of the support portion 121 that abuts against the first circuit board 2 is flat, so that the support portion 121 and the first circuit board 2 can make full contact and ensure the support effect.

[0058] In addition, the size of the support part 121 protruding into the bottom shell 1 can be flexibly set according to the size of the first circuit board 2. If the size of the first circuit board 2 is large, the size of the support part 121 protruding can be set to be large, so as to increase the contact area between the support part 121 and the first circuit board 2 and ensure a better support effect. If the size of the first circuit board 2 is small, the size of the support part 121 protruding can be set to be small, so that the support part 121 provides effective support for the first circuit board 2 while avoiding the support part 121 from excessively occupying the space of the accommodating cavity and improving the utilization rate of the space inside the bottom shell 1.

[0059] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, a clearance hole 20 is provided on the first circuit board 2, and at least a portion of the camera body 4 passes through the clearance hole 20. That is, the clearance hole 20 is located at the part where the camera body 4 passes through the first circuit board 2. The clearance hole 20 can be located at any part of the first circuit board 2. For example, the clearance hole 20 can be located in the central area of ​​the first circuit board 2 to improve the structural stability of the first circuit board 2. Typically, the first circuit board 2 is also a rectangular circuit board, with the center of the first circuit board 2 being the intersection of the two diagonals. The central area is the area that expands outward from the center position, and it can have a rectangular structure, a circular structure, etc. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this. The clearance hole 20 on the first circuit board 2 is located in the central area of ​​the first circuit board 2. This arrangement helps to make the force on the first circuit board 2 more uniform, thereby improving the structural stability of the first circuit board 2. It also helps to distribute the electronic components on the first circuit board 2 evenly, shortening the signal transmission path between the electronic components and improving the signal transmission rate and stability.

[0060] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the camera module further includes a board-to-board connector disposed within the bottom housing 1; the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 are electrically connected via the board-to-board connector. Specifically, the board-to-board connector is a connector specifically designed to connect two circuit boards, and it comes in various types and specifications, such as plug-in type and crimp type. Its connection method is simple, convenient for assembly and disassembly, and easy for inspection and maintenance; the board-to-board connector also has good electrical connection performance, which helps to ensure a reliable connection between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3; at the same time, the connection between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 using the board-to-board connector helps to achieve high-density integration of components within the bottom housing 1, thereby allowing more electronic components to be placed in a limited space.

[0061] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the wireless communication module 5 is provided with an elastic conductive element, which abuts against the first circuit board 2 to electrically connect the wireless communication module 5 and the first circuit board 2. Specifically, the elastic conductive element may be one or more metal springs. The metal springs have both good conductivity and a certain elastic deformation capability. They have a simple structure, are easy to process, and can reliably realize the electrical connection between the wireless communication module 5 and the first circuit board 2.

[0062] Optionally, refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, the camera module further includes an upper shell 6 and a connector 7; the bottom shell 1 is provided with a first connection hole, the first circuit board 2 is provided with a second connection hole, the wireless communication module 5 is provided with a third connection hole, and the upper shell 6 is provided with a fourth connection hole, the first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole and the fourth connection hole are coaxially arranged; the connector 7 passes through the first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole and the fourth connection hole to fix the bottom shell 1, the first circuit board 2, the wireless communication module 5 and the upper shell 6 together.

[0063] In this embodiment, the upper shell 6 is located at one end of the bottom shell 1 along its width direction. The upper shell 6 and the bottom shell 1 are connected to form a complete camera module. The upper shell 6 can also hold the wireless communication module 5 and the first circuit board 2 inside the bottom shell 1, improving the stability of the wireless communication module 5 and the first circuit board 2 within the bottom shell 1. In addition, in the aforementioned embodiment, the first circuit board 2 and the wireless communication module 5 are initially installed inside the bottom shell 1. The effective fixation between them and the bottom shell 1 is achieved by the connector 7 in this embodiment. The connector 7 realizes the fixed connection between the upper shell 6, the wireless communication module 5, the first circuit board 2, and the bottom shell 1. The connection method is simple and reliable, greatly reducing the assembly difficulty of the module, while strengthening the structural stability of the module and improving its vibration and impact resistance.

[0064] In addition, the connector 7 in this embodiment can be a fastener such as a bolt or screw. The first connecting hole, the second connecting hole, the third connecting hole and the fourth connecting hole can be further set as threaded holes, so that the upper shell 6, the wireless communication module 5, the first circuit board 2 and the bottom shell 1 can be connected by threaded connection through the connector 7, thereby further improving the connection reliability between the four.

[0065] Optionally, refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, the number of connectors 7 is two, and the two connectors 7 are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom shell 1. The length direction of the bottom shell 1 is as follows: Figure 1As shown in the X direction, the two connectors 7 are positioned opposite each other along the X direction to achieve a fixed connection between the upper shell 6, the wireless communication module 5, the first circuit board 2, and the bottom shell 1. In the prior art, the connection between the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6 and other components in the camera module is usually achieved using three or more connectors 7. In this application, because the overall thickness of the camera module is reduced, the number of connectors 7 used to connect the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6 and other components is also reduced. Two connectors 7 are sufficient to achieve effective fixation between the four components. Compared with the prior art, this reduces the number of connectors 7 and is more conducive to the lightweight design of the camera module.

[0066] Optionally, refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the wireless communication module 5 is further provided with a first latching portion 51, which is located on the side away from the connector 7 in the width direction of the bottom shell 1; a second latching portion 13 adapted to the first latching portion 51 is provided inside the bottom shell 1, and the first latching portion 51 and the second latching portion 13 are latched together. Specifically, since the number of connectors 7 used in this application is reduced compared to the prior art, and the volume of the wireless communication module 5 is larger than that of the first circuit board 2, the first latching portion 51 is provided on the wireless communication module 5. Through the latching cooperation between the first latching portion 51 and the second latching portion 13 inside the bottom shell 1, a dual connection relationship between the wireless communication module 5 and the bottom shell 1 is realized, thereby helping to improve the installation stability of the wireless communication module 5 in the bottom shell 1. Even with a small number of connectors 7, the reliable fixation of the wireless communication module 5 can still be guaranteed.

[0067] In the width direction of the bottom shell 1, the first snap-fit ​​portion 51 is located on the side away from the connector 7, which means that there is a gap between the part of the wireless communication module 5 that is fixed by the connector 7 and the part that is fixed by the first snap-fit ​​portion 51 in the width direction of the bottom shell 1. This setting helps to improve the uniformity of force on the wireless communication module 5, thereby further ensuring the installation stability of the wireless communication module 5 in the bottom shell 1.

[0068] Furthermore, refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, one of the first latching portion 51 and the second latching portion 13 can be a protrusion or a latch (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown in the dashed box area), the other can be a matching groove or slot, which has a simple structure, is easy to install, and helps reduce the assembly difficulty of the module. For example... Figure 5 As shown, a protrusion is provided on the side of the wireless communication module 5, and a groove is provided on the side wall 12 of the bottom shell 1. The protrusion is embedded in the groove to realize the cooperation between the wireless communication module 5 and the bottom shell 1.

[0069] Optionally, refer to Figure 4In some embodiments of this application, one of the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6 is provided with a limiting hole 14, and the other is provided with a limiting post 61. The limiting post 61 passes through the limiting hole 14 and is interference-fitted with the limiting hole 14 (e.g., Figure 4 As shown in the dashed box in the figure, in this way, when the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6 are connected and fixed by only two connectors 7, the interference fit of the limiting post 61 and the limiting hole 14 can further enhance the connection reliability between the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6, thereby ensuring the overall structural stability of the camera module.

[0070] exist Figure 4 In the cross-sectional view of the camera module shown, the bottom shell 1 has two limiting holes 14, and the upper shell 6 has two limiting posts 61. The two limiting posts 61 are press-fitted into the two limiting holes 14. The specific number of limiting posts 61 and limiting holes 14 can be flexibly set according to actual needs, and this embodiment does not limit this. In addition, the limiting holes 14 can also be located on the side of the bottom shell 1 away from the connector 7 in the width direction to achieve uniform force distribution between the bottom shell 1 and the upper shell 6.

[0071] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the distance between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 is 1mm to 6.5mm. Specifically, the distance range between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 is related to the arrangement of components on the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 and the height of the camera body 4. When there are no components on the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3, a minimum safety gap of about 1mm is sufficient between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3. When there are components on the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3, the maximum distance between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 should not obstruct the field of view of the camera body 4. Since the height of the camera body 4 is usually about 6.5mm, the maximum distance between the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 3 is set to 6.5mm.

[0072] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the size of the camera body 4 along the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1 is 9mm to 11mm. For example, the size of the camera body 4 along the thickness direction of the bottom shell 1 can be 10mm, 10.5mm, 10.8mm, etc. The overall thickness of the camera module formed by the camera body 4 within the above size range is about 10mm to 12mm, which is a reduction in the overall thickness of the module compared to the prior art.

[0073] Optionally, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments of this application, the camera module further includes a latch 81, which is movably connected to the upper shell 6. A portion of the latch 81 extends outside the upper shell 6 and is adapted to be snapped and fixed with the display module. Specifically, the portion of the latch 81 extending outside the upper shell 6 is adapted to be snapped and fixed with a display module such as a display screen. It should be noted that the display module needs to be provided with a snap-fit ​​structure adapted to the latch 81. The latch 81 engages with the snap-fit ​​structure to achieve a fixed connection between the camera module and the display module.

[0074] The upper shell 6 has an installation space for mounting buckles 81, and a portion of the buckles 81 is movably installed within this installation space. In some embodiments, refer to... Figure 5 As shown, the latch 81 is located inside the upper shell 6 on one side and connected to the upper shell 6 via a spring 810. Under the elastic deformation of the spring 810, relative movement between the latch 81 and the upper shell 6 can be achieved. Furthermore, the latch 81 and the spring 810 can provide sufficient locking force to effectively meet the vehicle's collision strength requirements. In this embodiment, the connection between the camera module and the display module is achieved through the latch 81, meaning that a detachable connection between the camera module and the display module is realized, facilitating the removal of the camera module for inspection and maintenance when a malfunction occurs.

[0075] Additionally, there can be two latches 81, with the two latches 81 located on both sides of the upper shell 6 along its length direction, wherein the length direction of the upper shell 6 is the same as the length direction of the bottom shell 1, as shown below. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the X direction, the two clips 81 are movably connected to the upper shell 6. By pinching the clips 81 on both sides of the upper shell 6, the camera module can be detached from the display module. Its connection structure is simple and greatly facilitates user operation.

[0076] Optionally, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the camera module further includes a magnetic component 82, which is embedded and fixed within the upper housing 6. The magnetic component 82 facilitates positioning when the camera module is connected to the display module. It should be noted that a magnetic component is also required on the display module. The magnetic component on the display module and the magnetic component 82 in the upper housing 6 attract each other, enabling blind installation and positioning of the camera module. At the same time, the mutual attraction between the two magnetic components also helps to further enhance the connection reliability between the camera module and the display module.

[0077] In this embodiment, the magnetic component 82 can be located near the buckle 81 or in other positions inside the upper shell 6. The number of magnetic components 82 can also be set to two or more. The two or more magnetic components 82 are evenly distributed along the length of the upper shell 6, which helps to improve the stability of the magnetic adsorption process.

[0078] Optionally, refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the camera module further includes a quick-connect electrical connector 9. The quick-connect electrical connector 9 is inserted and fixed inside the upper shell 6. One end of the quick-connect electrical connector 9 is connected to the first circuit board 2, and the other end of the quick-connect electrical connector 9 extends out of the surface of the upper shell 6. Specifically, the upper shell 6 has a through hole for inserting the quick-connect electrical connector 9. The quick-connect electrical connector 9 passes through the through hole, with one end connected to the first circuit board 2 and the other end extending out of the surface of the upper shell 6. The portion of the quick-connect electrical connector 9 extending out of the upper shell 6 is used for electrical connection with a corresponding docking device in the display module. Through the quick-connect electrical connector 9, the electrical connection between the camera module and the docking device can be quickly realized, enabling the power supply and basic testing functions of the camera module.

[0079] Optionally, refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the quick electrical connector 9 includes at least one elastic electrical connector. The elastic electrical connector is composed of an elastic component, a conductor, and a connecting component, and can adapt to the relative displacement and deformation between the camera module and the docking device to a certain extent, while ensuring reliable electrical conductivity. In some embodiments, the elastic electrical connector can be a spring pin, a precision connector used in electronic products, typically formed by pre-pressing three basic components—a pin shaft, a spring, and a pin tube—using precision instruments. The quick electrical connector 9 can include multiple spring pins, spaced apart, or arranged in an array. The spring pins enable electrical connection between the camera module and the docking device, thereby providing power and basic detection functions for the camera module. Simultaneously, the spring pins support hot-swapping of the camera module, meaning that the camera module can be inserted and removed while energized. Figure 5 The diagram shows that the quick electrical connector 9 includes four spring pins, which are spaced apart along the length of the upper housing 6. Of course, the specific number of spring pins is related to its functional definition, and its number and arrangement can be adjusted according to the functional requirements of the display module to which the camera module is connected.

[0080] This application also provides a vehicle that includes the camera module of any of the foregoing embodiments. The vehicle in this embodiment can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a range-extended vehicle, a gasoline vehicle, etc., and can all include the camera module of any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0081] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes said element.

[0082] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising: Includes a bottom shell and a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a camera body, and a wireless communication module disposed within the bottom shell; The first circuit board is electrically connected to the second circuit board, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the bottom shell, and the second circuit board is connected to the bottom wall of the bottom shell; The camera body is mounted on the second circuit board, and at least a portion of the camera body passes through the first circuit board; The wireless communication module is located inside the bottom shell and is electrically connected to the first circuit board.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein, The bottom wall has a recessed cavity, at least a portion of the second circuit board is embedded in the recessed cavity, and the side of the second circuit board opposite to the first circuit board is connected to the cavity wall of the recessed cavity.

3. The camera module of claim 2, wherein, The recessed cavity is provided with a positioning post, and the second circuit board is provided with a positioning hole, with the positioning post passing through the positioning hole.

4. The camera module of claim 3, wherein, The second circuit board includes a central region and an edge region surrounding the central region. The camera body is mounted in the central region, and the positioning hole is located in the edge region.

5. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The bottom shell also includes a sidewall, which surrounds the periphery of the bottom shell; A support portion is provided on the side wall, the support portion protruding towards the inside of the bottom shell, and the side of the first circuit board near the bottom wall abuts against the support portion.

6. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first circuit board has a clearance hole, through which at least a portion of the camera body passes.

7. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It also includes a board-to-board connector disposed within the bottom shell; the first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected through the board-to-board connector.

8. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is connected to the side of the first circuit board away from the bottom wall.

9. The camera module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is provided with an elastic conductive element, which abuts against the first circuit board to electrically connect the wireless communication module to the first circuit board.

10. The camera module according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, It also includes the upper shell and connectors; The bottom shell is provided with a first connection hole, the first circuit board is provided with a second connection hole, the wireless communication module is provided with a third connection hole, and the upper shell is provided with a fourth connection hole. The first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole and the fourth connection hole are coaxially arranged. The connector passes through the first connection hole, the second connection hole, the third connection hole, and the fourth connection hole to fix the bottom shell, the first circuit board, the wireless communication module, and the top shell together.

11. The camera module according to claim 10, characterized in that, The number of connectors is two, and the two connectors are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom shell.

12. The camera module according to claim 11, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is also provided with a first latching part, which is located on the side away from the connector in the width direction of the bottom shell; The bottom shell is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part that is adapted to the first snap-fit ​​part, and the first snap-fit ​​part and the second snap-fit ​​part snap-fit ​​together.

13. The camera module according to claim 11, characterized in that, One of the bottom shell and the upper shell is provided with a limiting hole, and the other is provided with a limiting post. The limiting post passes through the limiting hole and is interference-fitted with the limiting hole.

14. The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The distance between the first circuit board and the second circuit board is 1mm to 6.5mm; and / or, the dimension of the camera body along the thickness direction of the bottom shell is 9mm to 11mm.

15. The camera module according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes a snap fastener, which is movably connected to the upper shell, with a portion of the snap fastener extending outside the upper shell and adapted to snap and fix with the display module.

16. The camera module according to claim 15, characterized in that, It also includes a magnetic component, which is embedded and fixed inside the upper shell.

17. The camera module according to claim 15, characterized in that, It also includes a quick-connect electrical connector, which is inserted and fixed inside the upper shell. One end of the quick-connect electrical connector is connected to the first circuit board, and the other end of the quick-connect electrical connector extends out of the surface of the upper shell.

18. The camera module according to claim 17, characterized in that, The quick-connect electrical connector includes at least one flexible electrical connector.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the camera module as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

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