Camera module, imaging system, and moving object

Abstract

To provide a camera module capable of miniaturizing a camera while avoiding resonance due to vibration, fastening an imaging module to a housing with a screw, and performing optical alignment, an imaging system, and a moving body.SOLUTION: With a camera module, a second housing 24 is positioned at predetermined distance from a vibration mechanism 60 in an optical axis direction, and an imaging module 310 is fastened to a third housing 25 using a screw 80 screwed into the third housing 25 from a side of the second housing 24. In addition, a shim 95 for tilt adjustment and / or alignment adjustment in the optical axis direction of the imaging module 310 is interposed between a screwing portion 25Aa of the third housing 25 into which the screw 80 is screwed and the imaging module 310.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera module such as an in-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, an imaging system, and a mobile body equipped with an imaging system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, automobiles have been equipped with on-board cameras to support parking and prevent collisions through image recognition, and attempts have also been made to apply them to autonomous driving. In addition, camera modules such as such on-board cameras generally include a lens unit having a lens group consisting of multiple lenses arranged along an optical axis, a lens barrel that houses and holds this lens group, and an aperture member arranged between at least one of the lenses in the lens group (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, such lens units may be attached to a mounting portion such as the front grille of a vehicle (automobile), with the lens closest to the object exposed to the outside. In such cases, foreign matter such as water droplets, muddy water, ice, snow, and frost easily adheres to the surface of the lens. If this happens, it is necessary to remove the foreign matter to ensure a clear field of view for observation using the lens unit.

[0004] In recent years, foreign matter adhering to the surface of a lens (or lens cover) has been removed by vibrating (ultrasonic vibration) the lens (or lens cover) with a vibrating body. For example, in Patent Document 2, a vibrating device for removing foreign matter such as water droplets and dust adhering to a dome-shaped cover (lens cover) is provided in a camera equipped with a lens unit.

[0005] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, such a vibration device 102 is provided in a camera that has an imaging unit 105 with a lens 106 and a circuit including an imaging element built in at the top of the camera body 103, and is equipped with a dome-shaped transparent cover 111, a cylindrical vibrating body 112 to which the cover 111 is fixed, and a piezoelectric element 113 that is fixed to the vibrating body 112 and vibrates the cover 111 via the vibrating body 112. The vibrating body 112 has a cylindrical portion 114 having a first end 114a located on the cover 111 side and a second end 114b located on the opposite side from the cover 111, a cylindrical first connecting portion 115 connected to the first end 114a of the cylindrical portion 114 and consisting of a cylinder with an inner diameter larger than that of the cylindrical portion 114, a first ring-shaped portion 116 interposed between the first connecting portion 115 and the cover 111 and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the first connecting portion 115, a second connecting portion 117 connected to the second end 114b of the cylindrical portion 114 and consisting of a cylinder with an outer diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion 114, and a second ring-shaped portion 118 interposed between the second connecting portion 117 and the piezoelectric element 113 and having an outer diameter larger than that of the second connecting portion 117.

[0006] In such a vibration device 102, by driving the piezoelectric element 113 to ultrasonically vibrate the cover 111 via the vibrating body 112, the movement and atomization of droplets can be more effectively achieved, or foreign matter adhering to the surface of the cover 111 can be removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-231993 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6977784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Incidentally, all of the components of such a compact camera module, including camera body 103 and vibration device 102, are housed within housing 130. In this case, housing 130 may be constructed by joining multiple housing parts together for reasons such as ease of assembly of the camera components. For example, for reasons of ease of assembly and design, housing 130 may be constructed from a cylindrical first housing that forms an internal storage space for accommodating vibrating device 102 and a lens unit including lens 106 and a lens barrel, a substantially thin-walled, dish-shaped second housing that forms a recess that mainly accommodates a board portion on which an imaging element of an image sensor module (imaging module) that constitutes imaging unit 105 is mounted, and a cylindrical third housing that forms an internal storage space for accommodating most of the image sensor module and part of an extension from the image sensor module.

[0009] In such a divided housing structure, the manner in which components such as optical elements are fixed to each housing may be important in design. For example, among these multiple housings, the second housing, which receives a board on which an image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens, is a component that determines the position of the image sensor in the optical axis direction. Therefore, considering the alignment of the image sensor and the lens in the optical axis direction, it is preferable to fasten the image sensor module including the image sensor to the second housing with, for example, screws. However, with the recent increasing demand for smaller cameras, fastening the image sensor module to the second housing with screws becomes difficult.

[0010] That is, in a compact camera module in which the first housing includes the vibration device described above, the second housing needs to be spaced a predetermined distance from the vibration device of the first housing to avoid resonance (resonance and the resulting noise) due to vibration. On the other hand, because the distance between the lens and the image sensor is optically determined, there is a limit to how far the second housing can be spaced from the first housing. Therefore, if an attempt is made to further miniaturize the camera, the thickness of the second housing (the dimension in the optical axis direction) must be reduced, which makes it difficult to secure screw holes in the second housing for fixing screws to secure the image module to the second housing.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a camera module, an imaging system, and a mobile body that can avoid resonance due to vibration, fasten the imaging module to the housing with screws, and enable optical alignment, while also enabling the camera to be made smaller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a camera module including a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axes of the lenses, a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group, and an image sensor that converts light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, a cylindrical first housing that forms an accommodation space therein for accommodating the lens barrel that accommodates and holds the lens group, and that includes a vibration mechanism having a vibrator for vibrating a first lens that is positioned closest to the object among the lens group; a second housing coupled to the image side of the first housing in a state of being positioned a predetermined distance away from the vibration mechanism in the optical axis direction, the second housing forming a recess for receiving a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group; a cylindrical third housing coupled to the image side of the second housing and surrounding an imaging module including the substrate from the outside; Equipped with The imaging module is fastened to the third housing using a screw that is screwed into the third housing from the second housing side.

[0013] According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, since the second housing is positioned a predetermined distance from the vibration mechanism in the optical axis direction, resonance due to vibration (resonance and the resulting noise) can be avoided. Furthermore, since the imaging module is fastened to the third housing using a screw that is screwed into the third housing from the second housing side, even if the thickness (dimension in the optical axis direction) of the second housing has to be reduced due to the miniaturization of the camera, that is, even if a screw hole cannot be secured in the second housing, the imaging element board can be received by the second housing, and the imaging module can be fastened to the housing with a screw while securing a predetermined optical distance between the lens and the imaging element.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the above configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that a shim for adjusting the tilt and / or alignment in the optical axis direction of the imaging module be inserted between the screw-in portion of the third housing and the imaging module. This allows the shim to compensate for misalignment caused by fixing the imaging module to the third housing instead of the second housing, thereby enabling reliable optical alignment adjustment of the imaging module without any problems. It is also possible to fasten the imaging module to the third housing without using a shim, and then bond the second and third housings together by adhesive while performing active alignment adjustment.

[0015] The present invention also provides an in-vehicle system having the above-mentioned camera module, and a mobile body equipped with the in-vehicle system. Such in-vehicle systems and mobile bodies can achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned camera module. Note that the term "mobile body" refers to any object that can move, such as a vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The camera module of the present invention makes it possible to avoid resonance due to vibration, fasten the imaging module to the housing with screws, and perform optical alignment, while also achieving a compact camera. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle as a moving body on which an imaging system (on-board system) including a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. [Figure 3] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imaging device that constitutes the imaging system of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional camera module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment contributes to the achievement of "9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure" of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations, which states, "9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all."

[0019] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The camera module described below is particularly a camera module for an in-vehicle camera, and is, for example, fixedly installed on the exterior surface of a vehicle, with wiring drawn into the vehicle and connected to a display or other device.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the camera module 300 of this embodiment is configured by accommodating various optical elements in a housing formed by joining together a plurality of housing parts. Specifically, camera module 300 includes, as optical elements, lens group L in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axes of the lenses, a cylindrical lens barrel 22 that houses and holds lens group L, and image sensor 304 that converts light collected through lens group L into an electrical signal. The housing is made up of a first housing 23 in the shape of a rectangular tube that forms an accommodation space inside to accommodate lens barrel 22 that houses and holds lens group L, a second housing 24 in the shape of a rectangular tube and approximately a thin dish that forms a recess 24g that houses a board 309 on which image sensor 304 is mounted so that image sensor 304 faces lens group L, and determines the position of image sensor 304 in the direction of the optical axis, and a third housing 25 in the shape of a rectangular tube that surrounds image sensor module 310 including board 309 from the outside, and an extension 310A extending from image sensor module 310 protrudes outward from third housing 25. The imaging module 310 is formed by connecting, via a support 310a, the upper substrate 309 on which the imaging element 304 is mounted and a lower substrate 311 on which a circuit for performing image processing is mounted.

[0021] The image-side (lower side in FIG. 1) ends of lens barrel 22 and first housing 23 are supported by second housing 24. The length of second housing 24 in the optical axis direction is shorter than that of first housing 23. The optical axis is indicated by O, and the direction perpendicular to this optical axis O is the radial direction.

[0022] First housing 23 is disposed radially outward of lens barrel 22, and second housing 24 is disposed closer to the image side (lower side in FIG. 1) than first housing 23. Lens barrel 22, first housing 23, second housing 24, and third housing 25 are disposed coaxially. A rectangular plate-shaped inner flange portion 24a is formed at the upper end of the second housing 24, and a convex portion 24b that protrudes toward the object side (upward in Figure 1) is formed at the radial center of this inner flange portion 24a, and a through hole 24c is formed at the radial center of this convex portion 24b.

[0023] Furthermore, a step 24d is formed on the upper surface of the inner flange 24a, and the lower end of the first housing 23 is fitted into this step 24d, thereby positioning the first housing 23 relative to the second housing 24 in the radial direction and the optical axis direction.

[0024] Furthermore, the lens unit 20 including the lens group L and the lens barrel 22 includes a plurality of (for example, six) lenses 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 arranged in order from the object side. The lens 31 is a first lens 31 located closest to the object side, and this first lens 31 is provided in the first housing 23 and held by a lens holding portion 50, which will be described later. Five lenses 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , and 36 arranged closer to the image side than the first lens 31 are provided inside the lens barrel 22 .

[0025] Furthermore, a cylindrical protrusion 27 that protrudes toward the image side (downward in FIG. 1) is formed at the lower end of lens barrel 22, and this protrusion 27 is inserted into and fitted into a through-hole 24c provided in second housing 24. As a result, lens barrel 22 and second housing 24 are arranged coaxially and coincident with optical axis O.

[0026] Furthermore, the first lens 31 located closest to the object side is a glass lens, and the lenses 32 to 36 are resin lenses, but this is not limiting (for example, the lens 31 may be a resin lens). Furthermore, the surfaces of the lenses 31 to 36 may be provided with an anti-reflection film, a hydrophilic film, a water-repellent film, or the like, as required.

[0027] The multiple lenses 31 to 36 fixed to and supported by the lens barrel 22 are arranged with their optical axes aligned, and the lenses 31 to 36 are lined up along a single optical axis O to form a group of lenses L used for imaging.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first housing 23 is disposed radially outward from the lens barrel 22. The first housing 23 is made of metal such as SUS and includes a rectangular cylindrical housing main body 23a, a top plate portion 23b in the shape of a rectangular plate that is short in the radial direction and formed integrally with the housing main body 23a at the upper end of the housing main body 23a, and a locking portion 23c that is formed integrally with the top plate portion 23b at the inner peripheral edge of the top plate portion 23b. The thickness of the top plate portion 23b (thickness in the optical axis direction) is thinner than the thickness of the housing main body 23a (thickness in the radial direction).

[0029] The locking portion 23c includes a generally cylindrical protruding portion 23d formed to protrude from the inner peripheral edge of the top plate portion 23b toward the object side (upper side in FIG. 1), and a pressing portion 23e bent radially inward from the upper end of the protruding portion 23d. An inclined surface 23f inclined with respect to the optical axis O is formed on the inner surface of the pressing portion 23e along the circumferential direction. Then, inclined surface 23f presses the surface edge of first lens 31, thereby fixing first lens 31. In other words, in a state in which lens group L is assembled and housed within first housing 23 and lens barrel 22, inclined surface 23f of pressing portion 23e presses first lens 31, which is located closest to the object side of lens group L, and fixes it to the object-side end of first housing 23 in the optical axis direction.

[0030] Furthermore, an inner flange portion 26 having an opening with a diameter smaller than that of sixth lens 36 is provided at the image side end (the lower end in FIG. 1) of lens barrel 22. A plurality of lenses 31-36 constituting lens group L within first housing 23 and lens barrel 22 are held and fixed in the optical axis direction by this inner flange portion 26 and inclined surface 23f of pressing portion 23e. Further, a filter 99 such as an infrared cut filter is provided on the lower surface of the inner flange portion 26 .

[0031] In this embodiment, a ring-shaped lens holding portion 50 that holds the first lens 31 is provided. The lens holder 50 is manufactured by turning a metal such as stainless steel into a thin ring shape. The lens holder 50 has, on its inner periphery, a cylindrical inner circumferential surface 50a and a toric surface 50b that is perpendicular to the inner circumferential surface 50a, with the inner circumferential surface 50a and the toric surface 50b being formed into an L-shaped cross section. The inner circumferential surface 50a is disposed coaxially with the optical axis O, and the toric surface 50b is disposed perpendicular to the optical axis O. In addition, the lens holding portion 50 has an inner surface 50c that is perpendicular to the annular surface 50b and is arranged coaxially with the optical axis O, and this inner surface 50c is arranged closer to the image (lower in Figure 1) than the inner surface 50a and has a smaller inner diameter dimension than the inner surface 50a.

[0032] In addition, the inner diameter dimension of the inner surface 50c of the ring-shaped lens holding portion 50 is larger than the outer diameter dimension of the lens barrel 22, so that the upper end of the lens barrel 22 is positioned inside the inner surface 50c of the lens holding portion 50. Furthermore, the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23. That is, the outer peripheral surface 50d of the lens holder 50 abuts the inner periphery of the protrusion 23d of the first housing 23 with almost no gap, whereby the lens holder 50 fits into the locking portion 23c of the first housing 23. In this way, the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23 having the locking portion 23c. The lens holder 50 joined to the first housing 23 has an axis that coincides with the optical axis O, and is positioned in the optical axis direction.

[0033] The lens holder 50 also holds the first lens 31. That is, the inner peripheral surface 50a of the lens holder 50 abuts tightly against the outer peripheral surface of the first lens 31, thereby positioning the first lens 31 in the radial direction and disposing it coaxially with the optical axis O. The annular surface 50b of the lens holder 50 abuts tightly against the flat bottom surface 31a of the first lens 31 facing the image side, thereby positioning the first lens 31 in the optical axis direction.

[0034] Furthermore, lenses 32 to 36, which are arranged closer to the image than the first lens 31, are held by the lens barrel 22 so that their optical axes are aligned, and the lens barrel 22 is arranged coaxially with the second housing 24 and aligned with the optical axis O, so that the first lens 31 and lenses 32 to 36, which are arranged closer to the image than the first lens 31, are arranged coaxially or with an eccentricity of less than a predetermined amount.

[0035] In this embodiment, a vibration mechanism 60 for vibrating the first lens 31 is provided. The vibration mechanism 60 includes a vibrator 61 that ultrasonically vibrates, and a vibrating body 62 that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the vibrator 61 to the first lens 31. The vibration mechanism 60 is housed in the first housing 23, positioned radially inward from the first housing 23 and radially outward from the lens barrel 22. The vibrator 61 is formed in the shape of an annular plate, and is provided inside the housing main body 23a of the first housing 23. The vibrator 61 is formed of, for example, a piezoelectric element. The vibration mechanism 60 having the vibrator 61 is separated from the second housing 24 by a predetermined gap s to avoid resonance due to vibration (resonance and the resulting noise).

[0036] The vibrating body 62 includes a donut-shaped disk-shaped mounting portion 62a, and a main body portion 62b that extends from the mounting portion 62a toward the object side (upward in FIG. 1), has an outer diameter and an inner diameter that continuously change in the axial direction (optical axis direction), has a generally cylindrical shape with bulges and constrictions, and has an S-shaped cross section. The vibrator 61 is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting portion 62a, and the upper end side of the main body portion 62b is integrally formed with the lens holding portion 50 described above.

[0037] In such vibration mechanism 60, vibrator 61 ultrasonically vibrates at a predetermined frequency, causing vibrating body 62 to ultrasonically vibrate. When vibrating body 62 vibrates, first lens 31 ultrasonically vibrates at the same frequency via lens holding part 50, because vibrating body 62 is integrated with lens holding part 50, thereby removing foreign matter such as water droplets, muddy water, ice, snow, and frost from lens surface 31b of first lens 31.

[0038] The lens holding part 50 is fitted into the top panel part 23b (locking part 23c) of the first housing 23, but the thickness of the top panel part 23b is thinner than the thickness of the housing main body 23a, and the top panel part 23b functions as a damper, so that vibrations of the lens holding part 50 are not easily transmitted to the housing main body 23a. Therefore, vibrations are not easily transmitted to the second housing 24 fitted into the housing main body 23a, and as a result, vibrations are not easily transmitted to the lens barrel 22 fitted into the second housing 24, and therefore to the lenses 32 to 36, and deterioration of optical performance caused by displacement of the lenses 32 to 36 due to vibrations can be suppressed.

[0039] In addition, in this embodiment, the lens unit 20 is composed of the first housing 23, the first lens 31 held in the first housing 23, the lens barrel 22, the lenses 32 to 36 held in the lens barrel 22, the lens holding portion 50, the vibration mechanism 60, etc. The camera module 300 of this embodiment is composed of this lens unit 20, a second housing 24 that fits into the first housing 23 of the lens unit 20, and a third housing 25 that fits into the second housing 24 and houses the imaging module.

[0040] The second housing 24 and the third housing 25 house therein an imaging module 310 including a board 309 on which an imaging element 304 (image sensor) is mounted. Specifically, the imaging module 310 occupies most of the inner space of the second and third housings 24, 25, and is disposed in the center of the inside of the third housing 25 with the board 309 on which the imaging element 304 (image sensor) is mounted being received and positioned in the recess 24g of the second housing 24.

[0041] Image sensor 304 as a package sensor is disposed inside second housing 24 facing filter 99, and is disposed in a position where it receives an image of an object formed by lens unit 20. Image sensor 304 is equipped with a CCD, CMOS, or the like, and converts light that is collected and reaches it through lens unit 20 into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal is then converted into analog data or digital data, which are components of image data captured by the camera.

[0042] The third housing 25 also includes a drive circuit board 305 therein. The drive circuit board 305 is a board having a drive circuit that applies a voltage of a predetermined frequency to the piezoelectric element 61 of the vibration mechanism 60 to drive it. The drive circuit board 305 and the vibrator (piezoelectric element) 61 are connected by wiring 306 formed of an FPC or the like and passed through a wiring hole 24f formed in the inner flange portion 24a of the second housing 24.

[0043] As described above, with the substrate 309 on which the image sensor 304 is mounted received in the recess 24g, the second housing 24 has a seal member 70 interposed between it and the third housing 25 (at the joint between the second housing 24 and the third housing 25) to keep the internal spaces of the housings 24, 25, which communicate with each other, airtight, and is fastened to the first housing 23 with screws (not shown) or by adhesive. In this case, the inside of the first housing 23 is densely packed with components including the lens unit 20 and the vibration mechanism 60, as described above, and assembly is also performed in order from the first housing 23 side to the second housing 24 and the third housing 25 side. Therefore, in the case of screw fastening, the screw is screwed into the threaded portion of the first housing 23 from the second housing 24 side, and the head of the screw is positioned on the second housing 24 side.

[0044] Furthermore, the imaging module 310, in which the substrate 309 on which the imaging element 304 is mounted is received in the recess 24g of the second housing 24, is fastened to the third housing 25 using screws 80 that are screwed into the radially extending portion 25A of the third housing 25 from the side of the second housing 24. For this fastening, two screws 80 are used that are positioned diagonally on the third housing 25, and these screws 80 have shanks 80b with threads formed thereon that are threaded into the screw holes 90 in the threading portions 25Aa of the radially extending portions 25A of the third housing 25, and heads 80a formed at the ends of the shanks 80b and that are abutted against the imaging module. In the fastened state, the heads 80a are positioned on the second housing 24 side, and the shanks 80b are inserted into the supports 310a that connect the upper and lower substrates 309, 311 of the imaging module 310 to each other.

[0045] Furthermore, shims 95 for adjusting the tilt of the imaging module 310 and / or adjusting alignment in the optical axis direction are inserted between the threaded portion 25Aa of the third housing 25 into which the screw 80 is screwed and the image side end face of the imaging module 310 facing the threaded portion 25Aa. By adjusting the number, shape, etc. of the inserted shims 95, it is possible to align the imaging module 310 in the optical axis direction and the angle relative to the optical axis.

[0046] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a vehicle 240 as a moving object equipped with an in-vehicle system (imaging system) equipped with an imaging device 250 including the camera module 300 of FIG. 1. As illustrated, the imaging device 250 can be mounted on the vehicle 240, and FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an arrangement illustrating the mounting position of the imaging device 250 on the vehicle 240. The imaging device 250 mounted on the vehicle 240 can also be called an in-vehicle camera, and can be installed in various locations on the vehicle 240. For example, the first imaging device 250a may be disposed on or near the front bumper as a camera that monitors the front of the vehicle 240 while the vehicle 240 is traveling. The second imaging device 250b that monitors the front may be disposed near an inner rearview mirror inside the vehicle 240. The third imaging device 250c may be disposed on the dashboard or in the instrument panel as a camera that monitors the driver's driving status. The fourth imaging device 250d may be installed at the rear of the vehicle 240 to monitor the rear of the vehicle 240. The imaging devices 250a and 250b can be called front cameras. The third imaging device 250c can be called an in-camera. The fourth imaging device 250d can be called a rear camera. The imaging device 250 is not limited to these, and includes imaging devices installed in various positions, such as a left side camera that images the left rear side and a right side camera that images the right rear side.

[0047] An image signal of an image captured by the imaging device 250 may be output to an information processing device (control unit) 242 and / or a display device (output device) 243 in the vehicle 240. The information processing device 242 and the display device 243, together with the imaging device 250, constitute an in-vehicle system. The information processing device 242 in the vehicle 240 includes a device that processes the image signal (captured image) acquired by the imaging device 250 and recognizes the image (recognizes objects in the captured image) to assist the driver in driving. The information processing device 242 is configured to output recognition information of objects in the captured image to the display device 243, and examples of such devices include, but are not limited to, a navigation device, a collision damage mitigation braking device, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control device, and a lane departure warning device. The display device 243 displays the image processed and output by the information processing device 242, but can also receive an image signal directly from the imaging device 250. Furthermore, display device 243 may employ, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or an inorganic EL display. Display device 243 can display to the driver (can output information to passengers) an image signal output from imaging device 250 that captures an image from a position that is difficult for the driver to view, such as a rear camera.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows the configuration of an imaging device that constitutes the in-vehicle system of Fig. 2. As shown in the figure, an imaging device 250 according to one embodiment includes a control unit 252, a storage unit 254, and the camera module 300 of Fig. 1 described above.

[0049] The control unit 252 controls the camera module 300 and processes the electrical signal output from the image sensor 304 of the camera module 300. The control unit 252 may be configured as, for example, a processor. The control unit 252 may also include one or more processors. The processor may include a general-purpose processor that loads a specific program to execute a specific function, and a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated processor may include an application-specific integrated circuit (IC). An application-specific IC is also called an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor may include a programmable logic device. A programmable logic device is also called a programmable logic device (PLD). The PLD may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 252 may be either an SoC (system-on-a-chip) or a SiP (system in a package) in which one or more processors work together. In addition, the control unit 252 may have the same functions as the information processing device 242 described above, and may, for example, process the captured image output from the image sensor 304 and recognize the object in the captured image.

[0050] The storage unit 254 stores various information or parameters related to the operation of the imaging device 250. The storage unit 254 may be configured with, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The storage unit 254 may function as a work memory for the control unit 252. The storage unit 254 may store captured images. The storage unit 254 may store various parameters and the like for the control unit 252 to perform detection processing based on the captured images. The storage unit 254 may be included in the control unit 252.

[0051] As described above, the camera module 300 captures an image of a subject formed via the lens unit 20 with the image sensor 304 and outputs the captured image. The image captured by the camera module 300 is also referred to as a captured image.

[0052] The image sensor 304 may be configured, for example, as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The image sensor 304 has an imaging surface on which a plurality of pixels are arranged. Each pixel outputs a signal specified by a current or voltage according to the amount of incident light. The signal output by each pixel is also referred to as imaging data.

[0053] The imaging data may be read by the camera module 300 for all pixels and captured by the control unit 252 as a captured image. A captured image read by all pixels is also referred to as a maximum captured image. The imaging data may be read by the camera module 300 for some pixels and captured as a captured image. In other words, the imaging data may be read from pixels in a predetermined capture range. The imaging data read from pixels in the predetermined capture range may be captured as a captured image. The predetermined capture range may be set by the control unit 252. The camera module 300 may acquire the predetermined capture range from the control unit 252. The image sensor 304 may capture an image of a predetermined capture range from the subject image formed via the lens unit 20.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the shapes of the lens, housing, lens barrel, etc. are not limited to those of the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, some or all of the above-described embodiments may be combined, or part of the configuration of one of the above-described embodiments may be omitted, without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 20 Lens unit 22 Telescope tube 23 First enclosure 24 Second enclosure 25 Third Enclosure 31 First Lens 60 Vibration mechanism 80 screws 95 Sim 300 Camera Module 304 Image sensor 310 Imaging Module L lens group

Claims

1. A camera module comprising: a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axes of the lenses; a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group; and an image sensor that converts light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, a cylindrical first housing that defines an accommodation space therein for accommodating the lens barrel that accommodates and holds the lens group, and that includes a vibration mechanism having a vibrator for vibrating a first lens that is positioned closest to the object among the lens group; a second housing coupled to the image side of the first housing in a state of being positioned a predetermined distance from the vibration mechanism in the optical axis direction, the second housing forming a recess for receiving a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group; a cylindrical third housing coupled to the image side of the second housing and surrounding an imaging module including the substrate from the outside; Equipped with A camera module, wherein the imaging module is fastened to the third housing by using a screw that is screwed into the third housing from the second housing side.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that a shim for adjusting the tilt and / or alignment in the optical axis direction of the imaging module is interposed between the threaded portion of the third housing into which the screw is screwed and the imaging module.

3. An in-vehicle system mounted on a vehicle, The camera module according to claim 1 or 2; a control unit that processes a captured image output from the imaging element of the camera module and recognizes an object in the captured image; An in-vehicle system comprising:

4. A vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle system according to claim 3 and an output device that outputs information to a passenger, The control unit is configured to output recognition information of the object to the output device.

Images