On-vehicle camera

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle camera capable of smoothly welding a lens unit and a chassis while preventing light to which the image sensor is highly sensitive from entering the chassis through a flange to suppress the impact on an imaging element.SOLUTION: The on-vehicle camera includes a lens unit, a circuit board, an image pick-up device, and a chassis. The image pick-up device has a first sensitivity in a first wavelength band shorter than a predetermined wavelength and a second sensitivity smaller than the first sensitivity in a second wavelength band longer than the predetermined wavelength. A first resin that molds the large cylindrical part of the chassis and the flange of the lens unit has a first light transmittance in the first wavelength band and has a second light transmittance larger than the first light transmittance in the second wavelength band. A second resin forming the chassis has a third light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance at least in the second wavelength band.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an in-vehicle camera. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with demands for improved vehicle safety and the introduction of autonomous driving functions, there has been active development of vehicle-mounted cameras that are mounted on vehicles and capture images of the inside and outside of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-197798 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The level of requirements for vehicle safety, autonomous driving functions, and the like continues to rise, and further improvements in the performance of in-vehicle cameras are also being called for.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a technique for providing a new vehicle-mounted camera. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a lens unit including a first cylindrical portion having a first cylindrical shape, at least one lens arranged inside the first cylindrical portion and on an optical axis, and a flange portion arranged on the outside of the first cylindrical portion so as to extend outward with the optical axis as a reference over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the lens unit including: a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, an imaging element arranged on the optical axis and arranged on the first surface of the circuit board, and a housing including a second cylindrical portion having a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis and accommodating at least the circuit board and the imaging element, the second cylindrical portion of the housing having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end and arranged at a position farther than the first end in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the lens unit, The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted camera, wherein the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion are integrally molded from a first resin, the housing is molded from a second resin, the first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the flange portion of the lens unit around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the imaging element has a first sensitivity in a first wavelength band shorter than a predetermined wavelength and a second sensitivity smaller than the first sensitivity in a second wavelength band longer than the predetermined wavelength, the first resin of the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion has a first light transmittance in the first wavelength band and a second light transmittance larger than the first light transmittance in the second wavelength band, and the second resin of the housing has a third light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance at least in the second wavelength band. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion of the lens unit are integrally molded from a first resin, and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing process. In addition, the first resin has a high second light transmittance in the second wavelength band, whereas the imaging element has a high first sensitivity in the first wavelength band that is shorter than the second wavelength band. Therefore, in welding the lens unit and the housing, by using a laser beam in the second wavelength band that transmits through the first resin and to which the imaging element has low sensitivity, it is possible to smoothly perform welding while suppressing the influence on the imaging element. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view of an example of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between an on-board camera, a camera ECU, and a display provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle interior of another example of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera. [Figure 4] Top view of the vehicle in Figure 3 [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between an on-board camera, a camera ECU, and a display device provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a top view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 10] A cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a graph showing the transmittance of a conventional first resin and the transmittance of a first resin according to an embodiment versus wavelength on the horizontal axis. [Figure 12] A perspective view of a lens unit [Figure 13] Bottom view of the lens unit DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, an embodiment specifically disclosing an in-vehicle camera according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters and duplicated description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Vehicles equipped with on-board cameras) FIG. 1 is an example of a vehicle, and shows a top view of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera. The vehicle V is equipped with on-board cameras 100, including on-board cameras 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D. On-board camera 100A is a front camera, on-board camera 100B is a rear camera, on-board camera 100C is a right-side camera, and on-board camera 100D is a left-side camera. On-board cameras 100A to 100D are wide-angle cameras having an angle of view of, for example, about 180°, and are arranged so as to capture an image of the entire circumference of vehicle V.

[0011] For example, vehicle-mounted camera 100A is installed on the front grill of vehicle V and captures an image of the area ahead diagonally downward relative to the ground. Vehicle-mounted camera 100B is installed on the roof spoiler of vehicle V and captures an image of the area behind diagonally downward relative to the ground. Vehicle-mounted camera 100C and vehicle-mounted camera 100D are each installed on the side mirror of vehicle V and capture an image of an area to the side diagonally downward relative to the ground.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between the vehicle-mounted cameras 100A-100D, the camera ECU 110, and the display 7 provided in the vehicle V shown in Fig. 1. The camera ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 110 shown in Fig. 2 combines images captured by the vehicle-mounted cameras 100A-100D, and displays the combined image on a display 7 of a navigation system disposed in, for example, an instrument panel. An occupant can visually check the situation around the vehicle V by viewing the display 7.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the cabin of another example of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera, and FIG. 4 is a top view of the vehicle of FIG. 3. The vehicle V is provided with a display 5 (e.g., an electronic rearview mirror) at the mounting position of the rearview mirror in the front part between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger seat 4 in the cabin 2. Furthermore, the vehicle V is equipped with an on-board camera 100 at the rear of the vehicle body. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the connection between the on-board camera 100, the camera ECU 111, and the display 5 provided in the vehicle V shown in FIG. 3. The camera ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 111 shown in FIG. 4 processes the image captured by the on-board camera 100, and the display 5 displays the image. The occupant can check the situation behind the vehicle V by visually checking the display 5.

[0014] (Embodiment of the vehicle-mounted camera) FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 9. Coordinates including an X-axis along one side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and along the other side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, and a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis and along the height direction of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 are defined and will be used in the following description.

[0015] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 of this embodiment includes a lens unit 30, a circuit board 40, an imaging element 50, and a housing 60.

[0016] The lens unit 30 constitutes a cylindrical lens barrel 31 and includes a first cylindrical portion 37 having a first cylindrical shape, and at least one lens arranged on an optical axis L (see FIG. 10) inside the first cylindrical portion 37. The first cylindrical portion 37 is cylindrical, and holds therein, for example, a lens group consisting of a plurality of lenses. The lenses in the lens group are arranged with their optical axes L aligned, constituting a lens group used for imaging the inside and outside of the body of the vehicle V.

[0017] Furthermore, the lens unit 30 has a flange portion 32 disposed on the outside of the first cylindrical portion 37 so as to extend outward around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L and with the optical axis L as the reference.

[0018] The flange portion 32 has a first flange surface 32a, a second flange surface 32b opposite the first flange surface 32a and located in the internal space of a large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 described later, and a flange end surface 32c connecting the first flange surface 32a and the second flange surface 32b.

[0019] The first cylindrical portion 37 and the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 are integrally molded from a first resin.

[0020] The circuit board 40 is disposed in the internal space of the housing 60, and has a first surface 40a and a second surface 40b opposite to the first surface 40a. However, two or more circuit boards may be provided.

[0021] The flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 and the circuit board 40 are disposed so as to be approximately parallel to each other. That is, the first flange surface 32a of the flange portion 32 is disposed along the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40. The second flange surface 32b is also disposed along the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40, and is located closer to the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 than the first flange surface 32a in the direction of the optical axis L, with the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 being used as a reference.

[0022] The imaging element 50 is disposed on the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 on the optical axis L of at least one lens of the lens unit 30, and the imaging element 50 can capture an image by guiding light from the outside to the imaging element 50.

[0023] The image sensor 50 has a predetermined sensitivity to light guided from the outside through the lens unit 30, and can capture an image according to the sensitivity. In general, the sensitivity of an image sensor varies according to the wavelength of the received light. The image sensor 50 of the embodiment has at least a first sensitivity in a first wavelength band having a wavelength shorter than a predetermined wavelength, and a second sensitivity smaller than the first sensitivity in a second wavelength band having a wavelength longer than the predetermined wavelength.

[0024] The housing 60 is a cylindrical member having an internal space, supports the lens unit 30, and accommodates at least the circuit board 40 and the imaging element 50. The housing 60 has a large diameter cylindrical portion 61 having a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis L, and a small diameter cylindrical portion 62 along the optical axis L. In a plane direction perpendicular to the optical axis L, the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 constituting the second cylindrical portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the small diameter cylindrical portion 62, and both have rectangular cross sections. The large diameter cylindrical portion 61 accommodates at least the circuit board 40 and the imaging element 50 inside. The small diameter cylindrical portion 62 accommodates an electrical connector 80 that exclusively ensures electrical connection with the outside of the vehicle-mounted camera 100. The large diameter cylindrical portion 61 and the small diameter cylindrical portion 62 can be integrally molded with a resin described later, but the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 and the small diameter cylindrical portion 62 may be joined by a method such as welding or screwing, which are prepared separately in advance. In this embodiment, the housing 60 has a rectangular cylindrical shape, but is not limited to this, and may be a cylindrical shape of a polygon other than a rectangle, a circular or elliptical shape, or a cylindrical shape of another shape.

[0025] The large diameter cylindrical portion 61 has a first end 63 and a second end 64 opposite the first end 63 and positioned farther than the first end 63 in the direction of the optical axis L with respect to the lens unit 30.

[0026] At least the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 is molded from a second resin, and a first end 63 of the second cylindrical portion 61 is welded to the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. The welding of the first end 63 and the flange portion 32 is performed by, for example, laser welding using a laser beam.

[0027] General laser welding is used to weld a first resin having a predetermined light transmittance at the wavelength of the laser light, for example, and a second resin having a light transmittance (which may be light absorbing) lower than that of the first resin. When the first resin is irradiated with laser light while applying pressure to both resins, the laser light passes through the first resin without being absorbed. The transmitted laser light is absorbed by the surface of the second resin, which has a lower light transmittance than the first resin. The absorbed laser energy is converted into heat, and the surface of the second resin is heated. Furthermore, the surface of the first resin that is in contact with the surface of the second resin is also heated by thermal conduction. As a result, both resins are melted at the interface between the first resin and the second resin. When the laser irradiation is stopped, the melted resin solidifies and the two resins are welded together.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 37 and the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 are integrally molded from a first resin, and the housing 60 is molded from a second resin. In laser welding, a laser beam is irradiated from above the flange portion 32 with the lens unit 30 in close contact with the housing 60. As in the general method described above, the light transmittance of the first resin is greater than that of the second resin at least at the wavelength of the laser beam used. Therefore, the laser beam that passes through the flange portion 32 molded from the first resin is absorbed by the first end portion 63 of the housing 60 molded from the second resin, and laser welding is performed.

[0029] As in this embodiment, by integrally molding the first cylindrical portion 37 and the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 with the first resin, the number of parts and the manufacturing process can be reduced. However, the fact that the laser light used for welding passes through the flange portion 32 and reaches the first end portion 63 of the housing 60 also means that it reaches the inside of the housing 60, that is, the imaging element 50. If the sensitivity of the imaging element 50 is high relative to the wavelength of the laser light that can pass through the first resin (flange portion 32), even after the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is completed, light with a wavelength that affects imaging from the outside will reach the imaging element 50 through the first resin. Such an event may have an adverse effect on the imaging element 50.

[0030] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first resin that molds the first tubular portion 37 and the flange portion 32 has a first light transmittance in the first wavelength band of the above-described image pickup element 50, and has a second light transmittance that is greater than the first light transmittance in the above-described second wavelength band of the image pickup element 50. In other words, the first resin has a property of more easily transmitting light in the second wavelength band having a longer wavelength than light in the first wavelength band having a shorter wavelength.

[0031] Since the first resin easily transmits light in the second wavelength band, which has a longer wavelength, laser welding can be performed using laser light in the second wavelength band. On the other hand, the first resin does not transmit or does not transmit light in the first wavelength band, which has a shorter wavelength, compared to light in the second wavelength band. The imaging element 50 has a high first sensitivity in the first wavelength band, which has a shorter wavelength. Therefore, even after the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is completed, the first resin (flange portion 32) does not transmit or does not transmit light in the first wavelength band, which may have an adverse effect on the imaging element 50.

[0032] Moreover, the second resin of the housing 60 has a third light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance of the first resin at least in the second wavelength band of the imaging element 50. Thereby, the second resin absorbs the laser light transmitted through the first resin during laser welding, thereby enabling laser welding to be performed.

[0033] That is, while the first resin has a high second light transmittance in the second wavelength band, the imaging element 50 has a high first sensitivity in a first wavelength band that is shorter than the second wavelength band. Therefore, in welding the lens unit 30 and the housing 60, by using a laser beam in the second wavelength band that transmits through the first resin, welding can be performed smoothly. In addition, the first resin prevents light to which the imaging element 50 is highly sensitive from entering the inside of the housing 60 from the flange portion 32, thereby suppressing the influence on the imaging element.

[0034] FIG. 11 is a graph showing the transmittance (%) of the conventional first resin and the transmittance (%) of the first resin of the embodiment versus wavelength (nm) on the horizontal axis. As shown in the figure, the conventional first resin has a rising wavelength where the transmittance increases at a wavelength around 700 nm as the wavelength increases from 0 nm. In contrast, the imaging element 50 generally has a property where the sensitivity decreases with the wavelength increasing from 0 nm, with the boundary (boundary between the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band) being the above-mentioned predetermined wavelength of 1000 nm to 1200 nm. That is, the rising wavelength of the conventional first resin overlaps with the wavelength band to which the imaging element 50 has high sensitivity, i.e., the first wavelength band. Therefore, the flange portion 32 molded from the conventional first resin transmits light to which the imaging element 50 has high sensitivity, which may adversely affect the imaging element 50.

[0035] On the other hand, as shown in the figure, the first resin of the embodiment has a rising wavelength where the transmittance increases at a wavelength of about 1100 nm as the wavelength increases from 0 nm, and the rising wavelength is shifted to the long wavelength side compared to the conventional first resin (shift of transmission wavelength). That is, the rising wavelength of the first resin of the embodiment is a wavelength higher than the wavelength band to which the sensitivity of the imaging element 50 is high, i.e., the first wavelength band, and does not overlap with the first wavelength band to which the sensitivity of the imaging element 50 is high. The first resin transmits light of the second wavelength band to which the sensitivity of the imaging element 50 is low, so that laser welding is possible. Therefore, the flange portion 32 molded with the first resin of the embodiment does not easily transmit or does not transmit light to which the imaging element 50 is highly sensitive, so that it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the imaging element 50.

[0036] The second resin of the housing 60 may have a fourth light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance not only in the second wavelength band but also in the first wavelength band, thereby suppressing unnecessary light from passing through the housing 60 and further suppressing the influence on the imaging element 50.

[0037] In the embodiment, the first end 63 of the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 is welded to the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 by laser light over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. This makes it possible to firmly weld the lens unit 30 and the housing 60 together.

[0038] The above-mentioned predetermined wavelength of the imaging element 50 may be one wavelength between 1000 nm and 1200 nm. This can suppress the visible light, which has a large effect on the imaging element 50, from passing through the first resin and the second resin, and suppress the effect on the imaging element 50. The laser light used for laser welding may have a wavelength longer than one wavelength. This can ensure that the laser light passes through the first resin and ensures welding. The predetermined wavelength may be, for example, 1100 nm, and in this case, the first wavelength band is a wavelength band that is equal to or greater than 0 nm and shorter than 1100 nm, and the second wavelength band is a wavelength band that is longer than 1100 nm.

[0039] As described above, the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 has the first flange surface 32a and the second flange surface 32b. In the embodiment, the first end portion 63 of the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 is welded to the second flange surface 32b of the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. This allows the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 and the housing 60 to be firmly welded together.

[0040] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the lens unit 30. Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the lens unit 30. The lens unit 30 further has a flange protruding portion 33 that protrudes from the second flange surface 32b of the flange portion 32 toward the second end 64 of the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 in the direction of the optical axis L, and at least three protrusions 36 that protrude from the flange protruding portion 33 toward the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 in the direction of the optical axis L.

[0041] The at least three protrusions 36 include a first protrusion 36a, a second protrusion 36b, and a third protrusion 36c. The large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the lens unit 30, the flange portion 32, the flange protruding portion 33 of the flange portion 32, and the at least three protrusions 36 of the flange protruding portion 33 are integrally molded from a first resin. In FIG. 10, the third protrusion 36c is present on the Y-axis rear side of the second protrusion 36b, and is not directly shown in the figure.

[0042] This allows the lens unit 30, which has a complex shape, to be molded as a single unit, thereby reducing the number of parts and the manufacturing process.

[0043] The first protrusion 36a and the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 are fixed by a first adhesive 37a, the second protrusion 36b and the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 are fixed by a second adhesive 37b, and the third protrusion 36c and the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 are fixed by a third adhesive 37c. In FIG. 10, the third adhesive 37c is present on the Y-axis rear side of the second adhesive 37b and is not directly shown in the figure. The first adhesive 37a, the second adhesive 37b, and the third adhesive 37c may be the same adhesive or different adhesives.

[0044] As a result, the flange portion 32 is supported not only by the housing 60 but also by the circuit board 40 via at least three protrusions 36, allowing the lens unit 30 to be more stably positioned. Note that in the embodiment, in Fig. 10, the fourth protrusion 36d and the fourth adhesive 37 are located on the Y-axis inner side of the first protrusion 36a and the first adhesive 37a, respectively, and the flange portion 32 is supported by the circuit board 40 via the four protrusions.

[0045] The housing 60 has four side walls 66 that are formed continuously with the second end 64 of the housing 60 and extend from the second end 64 toward the second flange surface 32b of the lens unit 30. The four side walls 66 are a first side wall 66a, a second side wall 66b, a third side wall 66c, and a fourth side wall 66d. The first side wall 66a is connected to the second side wall 66b, the second side wall 66b is connected to the third side wall 66c, the third side wall 66c is connected to the fourth side wall 66d, and the fourth side wall 66d is connected to the first side wall 66a. This allows the housing 60 to be molded in a simple shape.

[0046] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 further includes an electrical connector 80 having a first connector end 81 and a second connector end 82 opposite to the first connector end 81, and a connector connection portion 41 disposed on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40. The electrical connector 80 is disposed inside the large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60.

[0047] The first connector end 81 of the electrical connector 80 is electrically connected to the connector connection portion 41 on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40, and the second connector end 82 of the electrical connector 80 is electrically connected to a cable of the vehicle V when the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is placed in the vehicle V.

[0048] This makes it possible to electrically connect the circuit board 40 and the cable of the vehicle V with a simple configuration using the electrical connector 80.

[0049] The first cylindrical portion 37 of the lens unit 30 is circular in a plan view of the first cylindrical portion 37 (plan view when viewed from the direction of the optical axis L, the same applies below). The flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 is a first rectangle in a plan view of the flange portion 32. The flange protruding portion 33 of the lens unit 30 is a second rectangle having an area smaller than the first rectangle of the flange portion 32 in a plan view of the flange protruding portion 33. The large diameter cylindrical portion 61 of the housing 60 is a third rectangle having an area larger than the second rectangle of the flange protruding portion 33 in a plan view of the large diameter cylindrical portion 61.

[0050] This allows the lens unit 30 and the housing 60 to be manufactured in a simple shape.

[0051] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 also includes a third cylindrical metallic shield member 90. The shield member 90 has a shielding function for protecting the imaging element 50 from external noise. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the shield member 90 has a bottom surface portion 91 and four side surface portions 92 extending from the bottom surface portion 91 toward the second flange surface 32b of the flange portion 32 of the lens unit 30 in the direction of the optical axis L. The four side surface portions 92 of the shield member 90 are a first side surface portion 92a, a second side surface portion 92b connected to the first side surface portion 92a, a third side surface portion 92c connected to the second side surface portion 92b, and a fourth side surface portion 92d connected to the third side surface portion 92c.

[0052] This allows the shield member 90 to be formed in a simple shape.

[0053] Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted camera 100 includes a heat-conducting member 95 disposed inside the third cylindrical portion of the shielding member 90. This allows the heat from the imaging element 50 and the circuit board 40, which tend to generate heat, to be efficiently dissipated to the shielding member 90 and the housing 60 via the heat-conducting member 95. The heat-conducting member 95 can be formed of, for example, silicone resin. The heat-conducting member 95 in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 8 shows the shape of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 before it is manufactured, and by applying heat during manufacturing, the heat-conducting member 95 is disposed between the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40 and the second end 64 of the housing 60 after manufacturing.

[0054] As a result, the present disclosure includes at least the following items. Note that, in parentheses, components corresponding to those in the above-described embodiment are shown, but the present disclosure is not limited to these.

[0055] (1) A lens unit (lens unit 30) including a first cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 37) having a first cylindrical shape, at least one lens arranged inside the first cylindrical portion on an optical axis (optical axis L), and a flange portion (flange portion 32) arranged on the outside of the first cylindrical portion so as to extend outward with respect to the optical axis over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; A circuit board (circuit board 40) having a first surface (first surface 40a) and a second surface (second surface 40b) opposite to the first surface; an imaging element (imaging element 50) disposed on the optical axis and on the first surface of the circuit board; a housing (housing 60) that houses at least the circuit board and the imaging element and has a second cylindrical portion (large diameter cylindrical portion 61) that is a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, The second cylindrical portion of the housing is A first end portion (first end portion 63), a second end (second end 64) that is opposite to the first end and is disposed at a position farther away from the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis than the first end, the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion of the lens unit are integrally molded from a first resin, the housing is molded from a second resin, the first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the flange portion of the lens unit around the entire circumference of the second cylindrical portion of the housing, the flange portion being welded to the flange portion of the lens unit around the optical axis; The imaging element includes: a first sensitivity in a first wavelength band that is shorter than the predetermined wavelength; a second sensitivity that is smaller than the first sensitivity in a second wavelength band that is longer than the predetermined wavelength, the first resin of the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion has a first light transmittance in the first wavelength band and a second light transmittance in the second wavelength band that is greater than the first light transmittance; the second resin of the housing has a third light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance at least in the second wavelength band; An in-vehicle camera (in-vehicle camera 100).

[0056] In the vehicle-mounted camera of the present disclosure, the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion of the lens unit are integrally molded from a first resin, and the number of parts and the manufacturing process can be reduced. In addition, the first resin has a high second light transmittance in the second wavelength band, whereas the imaging element has a high first sensitivity in the first wavelength band that is shorter than the second wavelength band. Therefore, in welding the lens unit and the housing, the welding can be performed smoothly by using a laser light in the second wavelength band that transmits through the first resin. In addition, the first resin prevents light to which the imaging element is highly sensitive from entering the inside of the housing through the flange portion, and therefore the influence on the imaging element can be suppressed.

[0057] (2) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), the second resin of the housing has a fourth light transmittance that is smaller than the second light transmittance even in the first wavelength band; In-car camera.

[0058] This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary light from passing through the housing, and further reduce the effect on the imaging element.

[0059] (3) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), The first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the flange portion of the lens unit by laser light around the entire circumference of the second cylindrical portion of the housing. In-car camera.

[0060] This allows the lens unit and the housing to be firmly welded together.

[0061] (4) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (3), The predetermined wavelength is a wavelength between 1000 nm and 1200 nm. In-car camera.

[0062] This makes it possible to prevent visible light, which has a large effect on the imaging element, from passing through the first resin and the second resin, thereby suppressing the effect on the imaging element.

[0063] (5) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (4), The laser light has a wavelength longer than the one wavelength. In-car camera.

[0064] This ensures that the laser light is transmitted through the first resin and that welding can be performed reliably.

[0065] (6) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), The flange portion of the lens unit is a first flange surface disposed along the first surface of the circuit board; a second flange surface disposed along the first surface of the circuit board and located closer to the first surface of the circuit board than the first flange surface in the direction of the optical axis; The first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the second flange surface of the flange portion of the lens unit around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis. In-car camera.

[0066] This allows the flange portion of the lens unit and the housing to be firmly welded together.

[0067] (7) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (6), The lens unit is a flange protruding portion (flange protruding portion 33) protruding from the second flange surface of the flange portion toward the second end portion of the second cylindrical portion of the housing in the optical axis direction; a first surface of the circuit board and a second surface of the circuit board that faces the first surface of the circuit board; The at least three protrusions include a first protrusion (first protrusion 36a), a second protrusion (second protrusion 36b), and a third protrusion (third protrusion 36c), the first cylindrical portion of the lens unit, the flange portion of the lens unit, the flange protruding portion of the flange portion, and the at least three protruding portions of the flange protruding portion are integrally molded from the first resin; In-car camera.

[0068] This makes it possible to integrally mold a lens unit having a complex shape, thereby reducing the number of parts and the manufacturing process.

[0069] (8) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (7), the first protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a first adhesive (first adhesive 37a); the second protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a second adhesive (second adhesive 37b); the third protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a third adhesive (third adhesive 37c); In-car camera.

[0070] With this, the flange portion is supported by at least three protrusions, not only by the housing but also by the circuit board, so that the lens unit can be positioned more stably.

[0071] (9) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (8), the housing has four sidewalls (sidewalls 66) that are formed continuously with the second end of the housing and extend from the second end toward the second flange surface of the lens unit; The four side wall portions are a first side wall portion (first side wall portion 66a), a second side wall portion (second side wall portion 66b), a third side wall portion (third side wall portion 66c), and a fourth side wall portion (fourth side wall portion 66d), the first side wall portion of the housing is connected to the second side wall portion of the housing, the second side wall portion of the housing is connected to the third side wall portion of the housing, the third side wall portion of the housing is connected to the fourth side wall portion of the housing, The fourth side wall portion of the housing is connected to the first side wall portion of the housing. In-car camera.

[0072] This allows the housing to be formed in a simple shape.

[0073] (10) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (9), an electrical connector (electrical connector 80) having a first connector end (first connector end 81) and a second connector end (second connector end 82) opposite to the first connector end, and a connector connection portion (connector connection portion 41) disposed on the second surface of the circuit board; the electrical connector is disposed inside the second cylindrical portion of the housing, the first connector end of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the connector mating portion on the second surface of the circuit board; the second connector end of the electrical connector is electrically connected to a cable of the vehicle when the vehicle-mounted camera is disposed in the vehicle; In-car camera.

[0074] This makes it possible to electrically connect the circuit board and the vehicle cable with a simple configuration using an electrical connector.

[0075] (11) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (10), the first cylindrical portion of the lens unit is circular in a plan view of the first cylindrical portion, the flange portion of the lens unit has a first rectangle in a plan view of the flange portion, the flange protrusion of the lens unit is a second rectangle having an area smaller than the first rectangle of the flange portion in a plan view of the flange protrusion, The second cylindrical portion of the housing has a third rectangle having an area larger than the second rectangle of the flange protruding portion in a plan view of the second cylindrical portion. In-car camera.

[0076] This allows the lens unit and the housing to be manufactured in a simple shape.

[0077] (12) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (11), Further provided is a third cylindrical metallic shield member (shield member 90), The shield member is A bottom surface portion (bottom surface portion 91); and four side surface portions (side surface portions 92) extending from the bottom surface portion toward the second flange surface of the flange portion of the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis, The four side surfaces of the shielding member are a first side surface portion (first side surface portion 92a), a second side surface portion (second side surface portion 92b) connected to the first side surface portion, a third side surface portion (third side surface portion 92c) connected to the second side surface portion, and a fourth side surface portion (fourth side surface portion 92d) connected to the third side surface portion. In-car camera.

[0078] This allows the shield member to be molded in a simple shape.

[0079] (13) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (12), Further comprising a heat conductive member (heat conductive member 95) disposed inside the third cylindrical portion of the shield member, In-car camera.

[0080] This allows heat generated from the circuit board or the like to be easily dissipated via the heat conductive member.

[0081] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, corrections, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents may be made within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0082] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present disclosure is useful as an in-vehicle camera that smoothly welds a lens unit to a housing, prevents light to which an imaging element is highly sensitive from entering the interior of the housing through a flange portion, and suppresses the effects on the imaging element. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 30 Lens unit 31 Lens barrel 32 Flange section 32a First flange surface 32b Second flange surface 32c Flange end face 33 Flange protrusion 36a 1st protrusion 36b 2nd protrusion 36c 3rd protrusion 36d 4th protrusion 37 First cylindrical section 37a First adhesive 37b Second adhesive 37c Third adhesive 37d Fourth adhesive 40 Circuit Board 40a Page 1 40b 2nd side 41 Connector connection part 50 Image sensor 60 Case 61 Large diameter cylindrical portion (second cylindrical portion) 62 Small diameter cylindrical part 63 First end 64 Second end 66 Side wall 66a First side wall part 66b 2nd side wall part 66c 3rd side wall part 66d 4th side wall part 80 Electrical Connectors 81 First connector end 82 Second connector end 90 Shielding material 91 Bottom part 92 Side part 92a 1st side part 92b 2nd side part 92c 3rd side part 92d 4th side part 95 Thermal Conductive Materials 100 Car Camera

Claims

1. a lens unit including a first cylindrical portion having a first cylindrical shape, at least one lens disposed inside the first cylindrical portion and on an optical axis, and a flange portion disposed on the outside of the first cylindrical portion so as to extend outward with the optical axis as a reference over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; an imaging element disposed on the optical axis and on the first surface of the circuit board; a housing that houses at least the circuit board and the imaging element and has a second cylindrical portion that has a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, The second cylindrical portion of the housing is A first end portion; a second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion and is disposed at a position farther from the first end portion in the direction of the optical axis relative to the lens unit; the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion of the lens unit are integrally molded from a first resin, the housing is molded from a second resin, the first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the flange portion of the lens unit around the entire circumference of the second cylindrical portion of the housing, the flange portion being welded to the flange portion of the lens unit around the optical axis; The imaging element includes: a first sensitivity in a first wavelength band that is shorter than a predetermined wavelength; a second sensitivity that is smaller than the first sensitivity in a second wavelength band that is longer than the predetermined wavelength, the first resin of the first cylindrical portion and the flange portion has a first light transmittance in the first wavelength band and a second light transmittance in the second wavelength band that is greater than the first light transmittance, the second resin of the housing has a third light transmittance smaller than the second light transmittance at least in the second wavelength band; In-car camera.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, the second resin of the housing has a fourth light transmittance that is smaller than the second light transmittance even in the first wavelength band; In-car camera.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, The first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the flange portion of the lens unit by laser light around the entire circumference of the second cylindrical portion of the housing. In-car camera.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, The predetermined wavelength is a wavelength between 1000 nm and 1200 nm. In-car camera.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 4, The laser light has a wavelength longer than the one wavelength. In-car camera.

6. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, The flange portion of the lens unit is a first flange surface disposed along the first surface of the circuit board; a second flange surface disposed along the first surface of the circuit board and located closer to the first surface of the circuit board than the first flange surface in the direction of the optical axis, The first end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing is welded to the second flange surface of the flange portion of the lens unit around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis. In-car camera.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, The lens unit is a flange protruding portion protruding from the second flange surface of the flange portion toward the second end of the second cylindrical portion of the housing in the optical axis direction; at least three protrusions protruding from the flange protruding portion toward the first surface of the circuit board in the optical axis direction; the at least three protrusions include a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a third protrusion; the first cylindrical portion of the lens unit, the flange portion of the lens unit, the flange protruding portion of the flange portion, and the at least three protrusions of the flange protruding portion are integrally molded from the first resin; In-car camera.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 7, the first protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a first adhesive; the second protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a second adhesive; the third protrusion of the flange protruding portion of the flange portion of the lens unit is fixed to the first surface of the circuit board by a third adhesive; In-car camera.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, the housing has four sidewall portions formed continuously with the second end portion of the housing and extending from the second end portion toward the second flange surface of the lens unit; the four side wall portions are a first side wall portion, a second side wall portion, a third side wall portion, and a fourth side wall portion, the first side wall portion of the housing is connected to the second side wall portion of the housing, the second side wall portion of the housing is connected to the third side wall portion of the housing, the third side wall portion of the housing is connected to the fourth side wall portion of the housing, The fourth side wall portion of the housing is connected to the first side wall portion of the housing. In-car camera.

10. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 9, an electrical connector having a first connector end and a second connector end opposite the first connector end; and a connector mating portion disposed on the second surface of the circuit board; the electrical connector is disposed inside the second cylindrical portion of the housing, the first connector end of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the connector mating portion on the second surface of the circuit board; the second connector end of the electrical connector is electrically connected to a cable of the vehicle when the vehicle-mounted camera is disposed in the vehicle; In-car camera.

11. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 10, the first cylindrical portion of the lens unit is circular in a plan view of the first cylindrical portion, the flange portion of the lens unit has a first rectangle in a plan view of the flange portion, the flange protrusion of the lens unit is a second rectangle having an area smaller than the first rectangle of the flange portion in a plan view of the flange protrusion, The second cylindrical portion of the housing has a third rectangle having an area larger than the second rectangle of the flange protruding portion in a plan view of the second cylindrical portion. In-car camera.

12. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 11, A third cylindrical metal shield member is further provided. The shield member is A bottom portion and four side surfaces extending from the bottom surface portion toward the second flange surface of the flange portion of the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis, The four side surfaces of the shield member include a first side surface portion, a second side surface portion connected to the first side surface portion, a third side surface portion connected to the second side surface portion, and a fourth side surface portion connected to the third side surface portion. In-car camera.

13. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 12, Further comprising a heat conductive member disposed inside the third cylindrical portion of the shield member. In-car camera.

Images