On-vehicle camera

Abstract

To prevent an assembling process from being complicated, while suppressing a size increase of an on-vehicle camera by executing welding at a first welding part and a second welding part from the same direction, even when diameters of a lens and a lens barrel are increased to improve imaging performance.SOLUTION: The on-vehicle camera includes: a lens barrel including an inside surface, an outside surface, and a lens; an imaging element; a circuit board; a housing; and a ring member facing at least a part of a third end part of the housing and storing the imaging element and the circuit board together with the housing. A first portion of the ring member and at least a part of the third end part of the housing are welded at a first welding part and a second portion of the ring member and at least a part of a second end part of the lens barrel are welded at a second welding part. The first welding part is located outside of a part of the outside surface of the lens barrel and the second welding part is located inside of a part of the outside surface of the lens barrel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2024 / 004821 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-185553 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The level of requirements for vehicle safety and autonomous driving functions is constantly increasing, and further improvements in the performance of in-vehicle cameras are also being called for.

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

[0006] The present disclosure provides a lens barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first cylindrical shape along an optical axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and at least one lens arranged along the optical axis; an imaging element arranged on the optical axis and closer to the second end of the lens barrel than to the first end of the first cylindrical shape of the lens barrel; a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the imaging element arranged on the first surface; and a lens barrel surrounding at least the imaging element and the circuit board and configured to receive the optical signal. a housing having a second cylindrical shape along the axis and including a third end and a fourth end located farther from the third end and opposite the third end relative to the first end of the barrel; a ring member that faces at least a part of the second end of the barrel and at least a part of the third end of the housing and houses at least the image sensor and the circuit board together with the housing; a first portion of the ring member that is arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a first welded portion in which at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel is welded over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, a second portion of the ring member arranged over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, and at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel are welded over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, wherein the second end of the lens barrel has a first optical absorptance, the third end of the housing has a second optical absorptance, and the ring member has a third optical absorptance, and the third optical absorptance is smaller than the first optical absorptance. and is smaller than the second light absorption rate, the first part of the ring member is positioned closer to the third end of the housing than the fourth end of the housing, the second part of the ring member is positioned closer to the second end of the lens barrel than the fourth end of the housing, the first welded part is located outside a part of the outer surface of the lens barrel based on the optical axis, and the second welded part is located inside the part of the outer surface of the lens barrel based on the optical axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, even if the diameters of the lens and lens barrel are increased to improve imaging performance, welding at the first welded portion and the second welded portion can be performed from the same direction, thereby preventing the assembly process from becoming complicated while suppressing an increase in the size of the vehicle-mounted camera. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view of an example of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between an in-vehicle camera, a camera ECU, and a display provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of another example of a vehicle, in which an on-board camera is installed; [Figure 4] Figure 3: Top view of the vehicle [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between an in-vehicle camera, a camera ECU, and a display provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a top perspective view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] 1 is a bottom 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] 1 is a top view of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view taken along line II in Figure 9 [Figure 11] Enlarged view of area A in Figure 10 [Figure 12] Enlarged view of area B in Figure 10 [Figure 13] A perspective view of the lens barrel as seen from the second end side. [Figure 14A] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ring member as viewed from the third surface side; [Figure 14B] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ring member as viewed from the fourth surface side; [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lens barrel and the ring member are welded by laser welding to assemble the first assembly. [Figure 16] 1 is a perspective view of a first assembly and a first shield; [Figure 17A] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a second assembly in which the first assembly and the first shield are assembled; [Figure 17B] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a second assembly in which the first assembly and the first shield are assembled; [Figure 18] A perspective view of the second assembly and a circuit board with an imaging element [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third assembly in which the second assembly and the circuit board are assembled; [Figure 20] A perspective view of a housing containing a second shield [Figure 21] A perspective view of the third assembly and the housing [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the third assembly and the housing are welded by laser welding to assemble the vehicle-mounted camera. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, a detailed description of an embodiment specifically disclosing an in-vehicle camera according to the present disclosure will be provided. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters and redundant description of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the accompanying 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 of the claims.

[0010] (Vehicles equipped with in-vehicle cameras) FIG. 1 shows an example of a vehicle, a top view of a vehicle equipped with an on-board camera. Vehicle V is equipped with on-board cameras 100, including on-board camera 100A, on-board camera 100B, on-board camera 100C, and on-board camera 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 with a field of view of, for example, about 180°, and are positioned so that the entire periphery of vehicle V can be captured.

[0011] For example, vehicle-mounted camera 100A is installed on the front grill of vehicle V and captures images of the area ahead in a direction looking diagonally down relative to the ground. Vehicle-mounted camera 100B is installed on the roof spoiler of vehicle V and captures images of the area behind in a direction looking diagonally down relative to the ground. Vehicle-mounted camera 100C and vehicle-mounted camera 100D are each installed on the side mirrors of vehicle V and capture images of the areas to the side in a direction looking diagonally down relative to the ground.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of connections between the vehicle-mounted cameras 100A to 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 to 100D and displays the combined image on a display 7 of a navigation system disposed on, for example, an instrument panel. The occupants can view the display 7 to check the situation around the vehicle V.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another example of a vehicle cabin 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) in the front portion of the cabin 2 between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, at the mounting position of the rearview mirror. The vehicle V also has an on-board camera 100 mounted 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, camera ECU 111, and display 5 provided in the vehicle V shown in FIG. 3. The camera ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 111 shown in FIG. 4 processes images captured by the on-board camera 100, and the display 5 displays the images. Passengers can view the display 5 to check the situation behind the vehicle V.

[0014] (In-car camera) Fig. 6 is an upper perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. Fig. 7 is a lower 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 100 according to the embodiment. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 9. Note that coordinates are defined that include an X-axis along one side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis and along the other side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, and a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis and along the height direction of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, and these will be used in the following description.

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

[0016] The lens barrel 30 has a first cylindrical shape along an optical axis L extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 9 (Z direction), and has an inner surface 30a facing the internal space and an outer surface 30b exposed to the outside. The lens barrel 30 has a first end 31 located at the tip of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and a second end 32 opposite the first end 31. The lens barrel 30 is made of, for example, resin.

[0017] The lens barrel 30 has at least one lens 33 arranged on an optical axis L. As shown in FIG. 10 , the lens barrel 30 may house, for example, a lens group consisting of multiple lenses 33 inside. The ends of each lens in the lens group are held in the internal space of the lens barrel 30 while contacting the inner surface 30a. The multiple lenses 33 are arranged with their optical axes L aligned, and form a lens group used for capturing images of the inside and outside of the body of the vehicle V.

[0018] The imaging element 50 is disposed on the optical axis L, closer to the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 than to the first cylindrical first end 31 of the lens barrel 30. Light guided into the lens barrel 30 from the outside passes through the lens 33 and reaches the imaging element 50. The imaging element 50 detects the light that has reached it and captures an image.

[0019] The circuit board 40 has a first surface 40a and a second surface 40b opposite to the first surface 40a, and the imaging element 50 is disposed on the first surface 40a. However, two or more circuit boards may be provided.

[0020] Housing 60 encloses at least image sensor 50 and circuit board 40, has a second cylindrical shape along optical axis L, and includes a third end 61 closer to lens barrel 30, and a fourth end 62 located farther from third end 61 and opposite third end 61 relative to first end 31 of lens barrel 30. Housing 60 is made of, for example, resin.

[0021] The housing 60 has, for example, a rectangular shape in plan view (plan view seen from the direction along the optical axis L; the same applies below). However, this plan view shape may be a polygon other than a pentagon, or may be a triangle. The corners of the housing 60 may be curved.

[0022] Ring member 20 faces at least a part of second end 32 of barrel 30 and at least a part of third end 61 of housing 60, and houses at least image sensor 50 and circuit board 40 together with housing 60. Ring member 20 is made of, for example, resin.

[0023] The ring member 20 has a first portion 21 and a second portion 22 arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. The first portion 21 is arranged outward of the second portion 22 with the optical axis L as the reference.

[0024] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 has a first welded portion W1 where the first portion 21 of the ring member 20 and at least a part of the third end 61 of the housing 60 are welded together around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L (see FIG. 10). The vehicle-mounted camera 100 also has a second welded portion W2 where the second portion 22 of the ring member 20 and at least a part of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 are welded together around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L (see FIG. 10). Note that the resin member 80 is omitted from FIG. 10.

[0025] That is, ring member 20 is welded to housing 60 at first welded portion W1, and is welded to lens barrel 30 at second welded portion W2. As a result, lens barrel 30, ring member 20, and housing 60 are integrated together.

[0026] In the integrated state, the first portion 21 of the ring member 20 is positioned closer to the third end 61 of the housing 60 than to the fourth end 62 of the housing 60. The second portion 22 of the ring member 20 is positioned closer to the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 than to the fourth end 62 of the housing 60.

[0027] Furthermore, the first welded portion W1 is located outside a portion of the outer surface 30b of the barrel 30, in this case a portion 30b1 that protrudes outward near the first end 31, with respect to the optical axis L. The second welded portion W2 is located inside the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b of the barrel 30 with respect to the optical axis L.

[0028] Next, the optical absorptance of the lens barrel 30, the housing 60, and the ring member 20 will be described. At least the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 has a first optical absorptance. The first optical absorptance is, for example, an optical absorptance of 95% or more for light in the wavelength range of 350 nm to 1200 nm. The entire lens barrel 30 may have the first optical absorptance.

[0029] At least the third end 61 of the housing 60 has a second light absorptance. The second light absorptance is, for example, a light absorptance of 95% or more for light in a wavelength range of 350 nm to 1200 nm. The entire housing 60 may have the second light absorptance.

[0030] On the other hand, the ring member 20 has a third optical absorptance. The third optical absorptance is, for example, an optical absorptance of less than 85% for light with a wavelength of 1070 nm, which is the wavelength of laser light used in laser welding, at a thickness of 1 mm, in other words, an optical transmittance of 15% or more. The optical transmittance of the ring member 20 is, for example, an optical transmittance of 0% or more and 5% or less for light with a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm, which is the wavelength range of visible light.

[0031] In this embodiment, the third light absorptance of the ring member 20 is smaller than the first light absorptance (third light absorptance<first light absorptance) and smaller than the second light absorptance (third light absorptance<second light absorptance).

[0032] Conventional in-vehicle cameras are also assembled by integrating the lens barrel, ring member, and housing. The welding of each member is performed, for example, by laser welding, which involves irradiating a laser onto the welding points. The welding involves welding the lens barrel and ring member, and welding the ring member and housing, and each welding point is performed by irradiating a laser onto each welding point. Because it is complicated to change the laser irradiation direction of the laser irradiation device, it is common for each laser to be irradiated from the same direction (for example, from top to bottom in Figure 10).

[0033] Modern vehicle-mounted cameras require high imaging accuracy, and this demand has led to an increase in the diameter of the lens and the lens barrel that houses the lens. If the two welds described above were located outside the outer periphery of the lens barrel relative to the optical axis L, not only would the diameter of the lens barrel increase, but the overall size of the vehicle-mounted camera would also increase. Therefore, it is possible to position at least one of the two welds (for example, the weld between the lens barrel and the ring member) inside the outer periphery of the lens barrel relative to the optical axis L.

[0034] However, when welding two locations using laser irradiation from the same direction, welding at a location shifted inward from the outer periphery of the lens barrel may be impossible because the increased outer periphery of the lens barrel may obstruct the laser's progress.One method is to refract the laser using optical components such as lenses and mirrors and guide it to the location of the weld, but this may result in a decrease in the accuracy of the irradiation position.

[0035] On the other hand, in the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment, the first portion 21 of the ring member 20 and at least a portion of the third end 61 of the housing 60 are welded together at a first weld W1, and the second portion 22 of the ring member 20 and at least a portion of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 are welded together at a second weld W2. The first weld W1 is located outside a portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b of the lens barrel 30 with respect to the optical axis L, and the second weld W2 is located inside a portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b of the lens barrel 30 with respect to the optical axis L. In other words, the position of the first weld W1 that welds the ring member 20 to the housing 60 and the position of the second weld W2 that welds the ring member 20 to the lens barrel 30 can be shifted inward or outward from each other in the radial direction perpendicular to the optical axis L.

[0036] As a result, even if the diameters of the lens 33 and the lens barrel 30 are increased to improve imaging performance, the second weld W2 is located inside the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b of the lens barrel 30 with respect to the optical axis L, preventing an increase in the size of the vehicle-mounted camera 100. Furthermore, during the assembly process, after the lens barrel 30 and the ring member 20 are laser welded from one direction at the second weld W2, the assembly of the lens barrel 30 and the ring member 20 can be inverted and the ring member 20 and the housing 60 can be welded from the same direction at the first weld W1. As a result, welding at the first weld W1 and the second weld W2 can be performed from the same direction, preventing an increase in the size of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and preventing the assembly process from becoming complicated.

[0037] Furthermore, the third light absorptance of the ring member 20 is smaller than the first light absorptance of the lens barrel 30 (third light absorptance<first light absorptance), and is also smaller than the second light absorptance of the housing 60 (third light absorptance<second light absorptance). Therefore, after passing through the ring member 20, the laser during laser welding is prevented from passing through the lens barrel 30 or the housing 60, so that welding of the ring member 20 and the lens barrel 30, or welding of the ring member 20 and the housing 60 can be carried out efficiently. The assembly process of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 will be described in detail later.

[0038] In this embodiment, the second welded part W2 is closer to the fourth end 62 of the housing 60 than the first welded part W1 in the direction along the optical axis L. This allows the ring member 20 and the lens barrel 30 to be welded together at a position different from the position where the ring member 20 and the housing 60 are welded together in the direction along the optical axis L.

[0039] Furthermore, part 30b1 of outer surface 30b of barrel 30 is the farthest part of outer surface 30b with respect to optical axis L. This ensures that first welded part W1 is positioned outside outer surface 30b of barrel 30.

[0040] Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of region A in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of region B in Fig. 10. Second end 32 of barrel 30 has first region 32a, second region 32b, and barrel protrusion 32c. First region 32a is disposed around the entire circumference centered on optical axis L, and second region 32b is disposed outward of first region 32a with optical axis L as the reference around the entire circumference centered on optical axis L. Barrel protrusion 32c protrudes from second region 32b in a direction away from first end 31 of barrel 30, and is disposed around the entire circumference centered on optical axis L.

[0041] The lens-barrel protruding portion 32c has a lens-barrel protruding top portion 32c1, which is the top portion, a first lens-barrel protruding side surface 32c2, and a second lens-barrel protruding side surface 32c3. The first lens-barrel protruding side surface 32c2 is connected to the lens-barrel protruding top portion 32c1 and the first region 32a, and is arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. The second lens-barrel protruding side surface 32c3 is connected to at least the lens-barrel protruding top portion 32c1, and is arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L, opposite the first lens-barrel protruding side surface 32c2.

[0042] The third end 61 of the housing 60 has a third region 61a, a fourth region 61b, and a housing protrusion 61c. The third region 61a is disposed around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. The fourth region 61b is disposed around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L, outward from the third region 61a with the optical axis L as the reference. The housing protrusion 61c protrudes from the third region 61a in a direction away from the third end 61 of the housing 60, and is disposed around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L.

[0043] The housing protruding portion 61c has a housing protruding top portion 61c1 that is a top portion, a first housing protruding side surface 61c2, and a second housing protruding side surface 61c3. The first housing protruding side surface 61c2 is connected to at least the housing protruding top portion 61c1 and is arranged over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. The second housing protruding side surface 61c3 is connected to the housing protruding top portion 61c1 and the fourth region 61b of the third end portion 61 of the housing 60 and is arranged over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L, opposite the first housing protruding side surface 61c2.

[0044] In this configuration, at least a portion of the third end 61 of the housing 60 is the housing protrusion top 61c1 of the housing protrusion 61c, and at least a portion of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 is the lens barrel protrusion top 32c1 of the lens barrel protrusion 32c.

[0045] The first welded portion W1 is formed by welding a first portion 21 of ring member 20, which is arranged around the optical axis L, to a housing protruding top 61c1 of housing protruding portion 61c at third end 61 of housing 60, around the optical axis L. The second welded portion W2 is formed by welding a second portion 22 of ring member 20, which is arranged around the optical axis L, to a barrel protruding top 32c1 of barrel protruding portion 32c at second end 32 of barrel 30, around the optical axis L.

[0046] As a result, first portion 21 of ring member 20 and housing protruding top portion 61c1 of housing protruding portion 61c of third end portion 61 of housing 60 are welded at first welded portion W1, and second portion 22 of ring member 20 and barrel protruding top portion 32c1 of 32c of second end portion 32 of barrel 30 are welded at second welded portion W2. This reliably forms two welded portions, allowing for a strong connection between ring member 20 and housing 60, and between ring member 20 and barrel 30.

[0047] The lens barrel 30 also has a flange portion 34 arranged on the outside of the first cylindrical shape so as to extend outward around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis L. As shown in FIG. 13 (described later), the flange portion 34 has a first shape having a first end face 34a corresponding to the first side, a second end face 34b corresponding to the second side, a third end face 34c corresponding to the third side, and a fourth end face 34d corresponding to the fourth side in a plan view of the flange portion 34. The first shape is, for example, an octagon as in the embodiment, but may also be a rectangle or another polygon. By having the flange portion 34 on the lens barrel 30, the flange portion 34 can be used to connect to the ring member 20.

[0048] As shown in Figures 14A and 14B (described later), the ring member 20 has a planar portion 23, a first wall portion 24a, a second wall portion 24b, a third wall portion 24c, a fourth wall portion 24d, a first surface portion 25a, a second surface portion 25b, a third surface portion 25c, and a fourth surface portion 25d. The planar portion 23 has a first side 23a, a second side 23b connected to the first side 23a, a third side 23c connected to the second side 23b, and a fourth side 23d connected to the third side 23c, and has a second shape in a plan view of the ring member 20. The second shape is, for example, a rectangle, but may be a polygon with pentagons or more sides. At least a portion of the planar portion 23 includes the first portion 21.

[0049] The first wall portion 24a extends from the first side 23a of the planar portion 23 in a direction away from the fourth end 62 of the housing 60, and has a first inner surface 24a1 and a first outer surface 24a2 opposite the first inner surface 24a1. The second wall portion 24b extends from the second side 23b of the planar portion 23 in a direction away from the fourth end 62 of the housing 60, and has a second inner surface 24b1 and a second outer surface 24b2 opposite the second inner surface 24b1. The third wall portion 24c extends from the third side 23c of the planar portion 23 in a direction away from the fourth end 62 of the housing 60, and has a third inner surface 24c1 and a third outer surface 24c2 opposite the third inner surface 24c1. The fourth wall portion 24d extends from the fourth side 23d of the planar portion 23 in a direction away from the fourth end 62 of the housing 60 and has a fourth inner surface 24d1 and a fourth outer surface 24d2 opposite the fourth inner surface 24d1. The first wall portion 24a has a first locking portion 24a3 at the center of the first outer surface 24a2, the first locking portion 24a3 having an inner surface and a back surface. The second wall portion 24b has a second locking portion 24b3 at the center of the second outer surface 24b2, the second locking portion 24b3 having an inner surface and a back surface. The third wall portion 24c has a third locking portion 24c3 at the center of the third outer surface 24c2, the third locking portion 24c3 having an inner surface and a back surface. The fourth wall portion 24d has a fourth locking portion 24d3 at the center of the fourth outer surface 24d2, the fourth locking portion 24d3 having an inner surface and a back surface. The back surface of the first locking portion 24a3 can be considered to be included in the first outer surface 24a2. The back surface of the second locking portion 24b3 can be considered to be included in the second outer surface 24b2. The back surface of the third locking portion 24c3 can be considered to be included in the third outer surface 24c2. The back surface of the fourth locking portion 24d3 can be considered to be included in the fourth outer surface 24d2.

[0050] The first surface portion 25a is connected to the first wall portion 24a and extends away from the optical axis L. The second surface portion 25b is connected to the second wall portion 24b and extends away from the optical axis L. The third surface portion 25c is connected to the third wall portion 24c and extends away from the optical axis L. The fourth surface portion 25d is connected to the fourth wall portion 24d and extends away from the optical axis L. At least a portion of each of the first surface portion 25a, the second surface portion 25b, the third surface portion 25c, and the fourth surface portion 25d includes the second portion 22.

[0051] This allows the lens barrel 30 to be placed in a space surrounded by the ring member 20 and the four wall portions, and the four surface portions can be used to connect to the housing 60, making assembly easy.

[0052] Furthermore, at least a portion of the first end face 34a of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the first inner surface 24a1 of the first wall portion 24a of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the second end face 34b of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the second inner surface 24b1 of the second wall portion 24b of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the third end face 34c of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the third inner surface 24c1 of the third wall portion 24c of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the fourth end face 34d of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the fourth inner surface 24d1 of the fourth wall portion 24d of the ring member 20. This allows the lens barrel 30 to be stably positioned in the space surrounded by the ring member 20 and the four walls.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 20 (described later), the housing 60 has a first side wall portion 63a, a second side wall portion 63b, a third side wall portion 63c, and a fourth side wall portion 63d. The first side wall portion 63a has a first inner wall surface 63a1 and a first outer wall surface 63a2. The second side wall portion 63b has a second inner wall surface 63b1 and a second outer wall surface 63b2. The third side wall portion 63c has a third inner wall surface 63c1 and a third outer wall surface 63c2. The fourth side wall portion 63d has a fourth inner wall surface 63d1 and a fourth outer wall surface 63d2.

[0054] The back surface of the first locking portion 24a3, which is at least a part of the first outer surface 24a2 of the first wall portion 24a of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the first inner wall surface 63a1 of the first side wall portion 63a of the housing 60. The back surface of the second locking portion 24b3, which is at least a part of the second outer surface 24b2 of the second wall portion 24b of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the second inner wall surface 63b1 of the second side wall portion 63b of the housing 60. The back surface of the third locking portion 24c3, which is at least a part of the third outer surface 24c2 of the third wall portion 24c of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the third inner wall surface 63c1 of the third side wall portion 63c of the housing 60. The back surface of the fourth locking portion 24d3, which is at least a part of the fourth outer side surface 24d2 of the fourth wall portion 24d of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the fourth inner wall surface 63d1 of the fourth side wall portion 63d of the housing 60. This allows the ring member 20 to be stably positioned while contacting the four inner wall surfaces of the housing 60.

[0055] Furthermore, ring member 20 has, on planar portion 23, third surface 23e and fourth surface 23f opposite third surface 23e, and at least one protrusion 26 protruding from fourth surface 23f of planar portion 23 toward first surface 40a of circuit board 40. This allows ring member 20 and circuit board 40 to be connected, and circuit board 40 to be stably disposed inside housing 60.

[0056] At least one protrusion 26 of the ring member 20 includes a first protrusion 26a, a second protrusion 26b, a third protrusion 26c, and a fourth protrusion 26d, which protrude from the fourth surface 23f of the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20 toward the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40. This allows the ring member 20 and the circuit board 40 to be stably connected. The first protrusion 26a, the second protrusion 26b, the third protrusion 26c, and the fourth protrusion 26d are each formed near a corner of the planar portion 23.

[0057] Furthermore, the ring member 20 further has a first center C1 in the planar portion 23 where a first hole 23g is formed, and at least a part of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 passes through the first hole 23g in the first center C1 of the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20. This allows light that has passed through the lens barrel 30 to pass through the first hole 23g in the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20.

[0058] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment further includes a metal first shield 70 that is attached to the ring member 20 and faces the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 and the fourth surface 23f of the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20. As shown in Fig. 16 , which will be described later, the first shield 70 has a second center C2 in which a second hole 70a is formed that corresponds to the first hole 23g of the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20. This allows light that has passed through the ring member 20 to pass through the second hole 70a of the first shield.

[0059] The first shield 70 has a shield surface portion 71. A third hole 71a through which the first protrusion 26a of the ring member 20 passes, a fourth hole 71b through which the second protrusion 26b of the ring member 20 passes, a fifth hole 71c through which the third protrusion 26c of the ring member 20 passes, and a sixth hole 71d through which the fourth protrusion 26d of the ring member 20 passes are formed in the shield surface portion 71 of the first shield 70. This allows the four protrusions of the ring member 20 to pass through the four holes in the shield surface portion 71 of the first shield 70 and reach the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40.

[0060] The first protrusion 26a, the second protrusion 26b, the third protrusion 26c, and the fourth protrusion 26d of the ring member 20 are connected to the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 via the adhesive X. This allows the ring member 20 and the circuit board 40 to be firmly connected to each other.

[0061] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment further includes a second shield 75 made of metal and arranged inside the housing 60 so as to surround at least the image sensor 50 and the circuit board 40. The first shield 70 is electrically connected to the second shield 75. This allows the first shield 70 and the second shield 75 to work together to improve the shielding performance for blocking noise inside the housing 60.

[0062] 21, which will be described later, the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to this embodiment further includes a resin member 80 disposed inside the housing 60, at least between the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40 and the fourth end 62 of the housing 60. This allows the resin member 80 to dissipate heat generated from the circuit board 40. The resin member 80 can also provide shielding performance that blocks noise.

[0063] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment further includes a connector 90 and a connector connection portion 45 disposed on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40 (see FIG. 10). The connector 90 has a first connector end 91 and a second connector end 92 disposed opposite the first connector end 91, and is disposed at the fourth end 62 of the housing 60. The first connector end 91 of the connector 90 is electrically connected to the connector connection portion 45 on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40. This allows external power to be supplied to the circuit board 40.

[0064] When the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is disposed in the vehicle V, the second connector end 82 of the connector 90 is electrically connected to a wire of the vehicle V. The connector 90 is, for example, a coaxial connector, a shielded twisted quad (STQ) connector, a shielded twisted pair (STP) connector, or the like. The connector connection part 45 is, for example, configured by a floating connector. This allows power from the vehicle V to be supplied to the circuit board 40 via the wire. If the connector 90 is a coaxial connector, it can supply a high-frequency signal to the circuit board 40 in addition to power.

[0065] In the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment, the first weld W1 is formed by laser welding a first portion 21 of the ring member 20, which is disposed around the entire circumference of the ring member 20, to at least a part of the third end 61 of the housing 60, all around the circumference of the ring member 20, centered on the optical axis L. The second weld W2 is formed by laser welding a second portion 22 of the ring member 20, which is disposed around the entire circumference of the ring member 20, to at least a part of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30, all around the circumference of the ring member 20, centered on the optical axis L. This allows for easy and strong welding.

[0066] The lens barrel 30 may be formed from a first resin having a first optical absorptivity. The housing 60 may be formed from a second resin having a second optical absorptivity. The ring member 20 may be formed from a third resin having a third optical absorptivity. This allows efficient laser welding. Details of laser welding will be explained in the next assembly process.

[0067] The assembly process of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 will be described using Figures 13 to 22. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the lens barrel 30 as seen from the side of the second end 32. Figure 14A is a perspective view of the ring member 20 as seen from the side of the third surface 23e of the planar portion 23, and Figure 14B is a perspective view of the ring member 20 as seen from the side of the fourth surface 23f of the planar portion 23.

[0068] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lens barrel 30 and the ring member 20 are welded by laser welding to assemble the first assembly 101. First, the ring member 20 in the position shown in FIG. 14B is placed on the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 in the position shown in FIG. 13. At this time, at least a portion of the second end 32 of the lens barrel 30 passes through the first hole 23g in the first center C1 of the planar portion 23 of the ring member 20. Also, as shown in the next FIG. 16, at least a portion of the first end surface 34a of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the first inner surface 24a1 of the first wall portion 24a of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the second end surface 34b of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the second inner surface 24b1 of the second wall portion 24b of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the third end face 34c of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the third inner side surface 24c1 of the third wall portion 24c of the ring member 20. At least a portion of the fourth end face 34d of the flange portion 34 of the lens barrel 30 contacts the fourth inner side surface 24d1 of the fourth wall portion 24d of the ring member 20.

[0069] 15, the laser irradiation device irradiates at least a portion of second end 32 of barrel 30 and second portion 22 of ring member 20 at second welded portion W2, and barrel 30 and ring member 20 are integrated to complete first assembly 101. In this embodiment, second portion 22 of ring member 20 is welded to barrel protruding top portion 32c1 of barrel protruding portion 32c at second end 32 of barrel 30.

[0070] Laser irradiation is performed from the side of the outer surface 30b where the farthest portion 30b1 is not present with respect to the optical axis L. This allows the second welded portion W2 to be formed radially inward of the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b even if the diameter of the lens 33 increases due to the demand for high imaging performance, and the diameter of the lens barrel 30, particularly the diameter at the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b, increases. This prevents the size of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, particularly the size in the radial direction, from increasing outward.

[0071] Furthermore, even if the laser irradiation position is radially inside the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b, laser welding can be performed smoothly without being obstructed by the portion 30b1, and the second welded portion W2 can be formed. Since no optical element is required to refract the laser to avoid the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b, there is no risk of the accuracy of the irradiation position decreasing.

[0072] Furthermore, the third optical absorptance of ring member 20 is smaller than the first optical absorptance of second end 32 of barrel 30. For this reason, the laser in Fig. 15 is not easily absorbed by ring member 20 while passing through it, and is largely absorbed at second end 32 of barrel 30, allowing for efficient laser welding.

[0073] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the first assembly 101 and the first shield 70. The position of the first assembly 101 in Fig. 16 is obtained by turning the position of the first assembly 101 in Fig. 15 upside down, and the first shield 70 is attached to the first assembly 101 from the side of the fourth surface 23f of the ring member 20 of the first assembly 101.

[0074] 17A is an upper perspective view of a second assembly 102 obtained by assembling the first assembly 101 and the first shield 70. FIG. 17B is a lower perspective view of the second assembly 102 obtained by assembling the first assembly 101 and the first shield 70. Flexible claw portions 72a (first claw portions) and claw portions 72b (second claw portions) are provided on four sides of the shield surface portion 71 of the first shield 70. The claw portions 72b of the first shield 70 elastically engage with the inner surfaces of the first locking portion 24a3, the second locking portion 24b3, the third locking portion 24c3, and the fourth locking portion 24d3 of the ring member 20, thereby integrating the first assembly 101 and the first shield 70 to complete the second assembly 102.

[0075] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the second assembly 102 and the circuit board 40 with the imaging element 50. The imaging element 50 and the circuit board 40 are pre-assembled. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a third assembly 103 obtained by assembling the second assembly 102 and the circuit board 40. The tips of the first protrusion 26a, the second protrusion 26b, the third protrusion 26c, and the fourth protrusion 26d of the ring member 20 are connected to the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40 via adhesive X, thereby integrating the second assembly 102 and the circuit board 40 and completing the third assembly 103.

[0076] 20 is a perspective view of the housing 60 accommodating the second shield 75. The second shield 75 is attached to the housing 60 separately from the assembly of the third assembly 103. The second shield 75 contacts at least a portion of the first inner wall surface 63a1 of the first side wall portion 63a of the housing 60, at least a portion of the second inner wall surface 63b1 of the second side wall portion 63b, at least a portion of the third inner wall surface 63c1 of the third side wall portion 63c, and at least a portion of the fourth inner wall surface 63d1 of the fourth side wall portion 63d.

[0077] 21 is a perspective view of the third assembly 103 and the housing 60. After the resin member 80 is placed inside the housing 60, the third assembly 103 and the housing 60 are welded together.

[0078] 22 is a perspective view showing the state in which the third assembly 103 and the housing 60 are welded by laser welding to assemble the vehicle-mounted camera 100. The laser irradiation device irradiates a laser in a direction from top to bottom in FIG. 22 as indicated by the arrow, whereby the first portion 21 of the ring member 20 and at least a part of the third end portion 61 of the housing 60 are welded at the first welded portion W1, thereby completing the vehicle-mounted camera 100. In this embodiment, the first portion 21 of the ring member 20 is welded to the housing protruding top portion 61c1 of the housing protruding portion 61c of the third end portion 61 of the housing 60.

[0079] In this assembly process, the posture of the first assembly 101 completed by laser welding shown in Fig. 15 is turned upside down, i.e., upside down in the Z direction, and then laser welding shown in Fig. 22 is performed, so that the laser irradiation direction in Fig. 15 and the laser irradiation direction in Fig. 22 can be made the same. In other words, a series of assembly processes can be performed simply by changing the posture of the first assembly 101, without changing the laser irradiation direction of the laser irradiation device. Changing the laser irradiation direction of the laser irradiation device is complicated, but changing the posture of the first assembly 101 is relatively easy.

[0080] 15, welding can be performed at the second welded portion W2 located inside the portion 30b1 of the outer surface 30b of the lens barrel 30 while avoiding the portion 30b1, and welding can also be performed at the second welded portion W2 located outside the portion 30b1 from the same direction as in Fig. 15, as in Fig. 22. As a result, welding can be performed at the two welded portions, the first welded portion W1 and the second welded portion W2, from the same direction, which prevents the size of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 from increasing and prevents the assembly process from becoming complicated.

[0081] Furthermore, the third light absorptance of the ring member 20 is smaller than the second light absorptance of the third end portion 61 of the housing 60. For this reason, the laser in Fig. 22 is not easily absorbed by the ring member 20 while passing through it, and is largely absorbed by the third end portion 61 of the housing 60, allowing for efficient laser welding.

[0082] As a result, the back surface of the first locking portion 24a3, which is at least a part of the first outer surface 24a2 of the first wall portion 24a of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the first inner wall surface 63a1 of the first side wall portion 63a of the housing 60. The back surface of the second locking portion 24b3, which is at least a part of the second outer surface 24b2 of the second wall portion 24b of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the second inner wall surface 63b1 of the second side wall portion 63b of the housing 60. The back surface of the third locking portion 24c3, which is at least a part of the third outer surface 24c2 of the third wall portion 24c of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the third inner wall surface 63c1 of the third side wall portion 63c of the housing 60. The back surface of the fourth locking portion 24d3, which is at least a part of the fourth outer side surface 24d2 of the fourth wall portion 24d of the ring member 20, contacts at least a part of the fourth inner wall surface 63d1 of the fourth side wall portion 63d of the housing 60.

[0083] 17B, ​​the claw portions 72b of the first shield 70 engage with the inner surfaces of the first locking portions 24a3, second locking portions 24b3, third locking portions 24c3, and fourth locking portions 24d3 of the ring member 20. The first shield 70 is electrically connected to the second shield 75 via the claw portions 72a.

[0084] As a result, the present disclosure describes at least the following: Note that the components in parentheses correspond to those in the above-described embodiments, but are not limited to these.

[0085] (1) A lens barrel (lens barrel 30) having an inner surface (inner surface 30a) and an outer surface (outer surface 30b), a first cylindrical shape along an optical axis (optical axis L), a first end (first end 31), a second end (second end 32) opposite to the first end, and at least one lens (lens 33) arranged along the optical axis; an imaging element (imaging element 50) disposed on the optical axis and closer to the second end of the barrel than to the first end of the first cylindrical shape of the barrel; 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, the image pickup element being disposed on the first surface; a housing (housing 60) that encloses at least the imaging element and the circuit board, has a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, and includes a third end (third end 61) and a fourth end (fourth end 62) that is farther from the third end with respect to the first end of the lens barrel and is positioned opposite the third end; a ring member (ring member 20) that faces at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel and at least a portion of the third end of the housing, and that houses at least the image sensor and the circuit board together with the housing; a first welded portion (first welded portion W1) in which a first portion (first portion 21) of the ring member is disposed around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis and at least the part of the third end portion of the housing is welded around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a second portion (second portion 22) of the ring member arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, and a second welded portion (second welded portion W2) in which at least the part of the second end of the lens barrel is welded around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the second end of the lens barrel has a first optical absorptance; the third end of the housing has a second light absorptivity; the ring member has a third light absorptance; the third optical absorptance is less than the first optical absorptance and less than the second optical absorptance; the first portion of the ring member is positioned closer to the third end of the housing than to the fourth end of the housing; the second portion of the ring member is positioned closer to the second end of the lens barrel than to the fourth end of the housing; the first welded portion is located outside a portion (30b1) of the outer surface of the barrel with respect to the optical axis; the second welded portion is located inside the part of the outer surface of the barrel with respect to the optical axis. An in-vehicle camera (in-vehicle camera 100).

[0086] According to the vehicle-mounted camera of the present disclosure, the first portion of the ring member and at least a portion of the third end of the housing are welded at a first weld, and the second portion of the ring member and at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel are welded at a second weld. The first weld is located outward from a portion of the outer surface of the lens barrel relative to the optical axis, and the second weld is located inward from a portion of the outer surface of the lens barrel relative to the optical axis. This makes it possible to weld the first weld and the second weld from the same direction, even if the diameters of the lens and lens barrel are increased to improve imaging performance, thereby preventing the vehicle-mounted camera from increasing in size and preventing the assembly process from becoming complicated.

[0087] (2) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), the second welded portion is closer to the fourth end of the housing than the first welded portion in a direction along the optical axis; In-car camera.

[0088] This allows welding of the ring member to the lens barrel to a position different from that of welding of the ring member to the housing in the direction along the optical axis.

[0089] (3) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), the portion of the outer surface of the lens barrel is the furthest from the optical axis on the outer surface; In-car camera.

[0090] This ensures that the first welded portion is positioned outside the outer surface of the barrel.

[0091] (4) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), The second end of the lens barrel is a first region (first region 32a) arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a second region (second region 32b) arranged outside the first region with the optical axis as a reference over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a barrel protrusion (barrel protrusion 32c) that protrudes from the second region in a direction away from the first end of the barrel and is arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis, The lens barrel protrusion is a barrel protruding top portion (barrel protruding top portion 32c1) that is the top portion; a first lens barrel protruding side surface (first lens barrel protruding side surface 32c2) connected to the lens barrel protruding top and the first region and arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a second lens barrel protruding side surface (second lens barrel protruding side surface 32c3) that is connected to at least the lens barrel protruding top portion and is disposed opposite the first lens barrel protruding side surface over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, The third end of the housing a third region (third region 61a) arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a fourth region (fourth region 61b) arranged on the outer side of the third region with the optical axis as a reference over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a housing protrusion (housing protrusion 61c) that protrudes from the third region in a direction away from the third end of the housing and is arranged around the entire circumference of the housing centered on the optical axis, The housing protrusion is a housing protruding top portion (housing protruding top portion 61c1) that is a top portion; a first housing protruding side surface (first housing protruding side surface 61c2) connected to at least the housing protruding top portion and arranged around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a second housing protruding side surface (61c3) connected to the housing protruding top portion and the fourth region of the third end portion of the housing, and disposed opposite the first housing protruding side surface around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; the at least a portion of the third end of the housing is the housing protrusion top of the housing protrusion, the at least part of the second end of the barrel is the barrel protrusion top of the barrel protrusion, the first welded portion in which the first portion of the ring member, which is disposed around the entire circumference of the ring member and the housing protrusion top of the housing protrusion at the third end of the housing, are welded around the entire circumference of the ring member and the housing protrusion top at the third end of the housing, the second portion of the ring member is disposed over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, and the barrel protruding top of the barrel protruding portion at the second end of the barrel is welded over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; In-car camera.

[0092] As a result, the first portion of the ring member and the housing protruding top of the housing protruding portion at the third end of the housing are welded at the first weld, and the second portion of the ring member and the lens barrel protruding top of the lens barrel protruding portion at the second end of the lens barrel are welded at the second weld, thereby reliably forming two welds and firmly connecting the ring member to the housing, and the ring member to the lens barrel.

[0093] (5) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), The lens barrel further includes a flange portion (flange portion 34) disposed on the outside of the first cylindrical portion so as to extend outward with the optical axis as a reference around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, The flange portion has a first shape having, in a plan view of the flange portion, a first end face (first end face 34a) corresponding to the first side, a second end face (second end face 34b) corresponding to the second side, a third end face (third end face 34c) corresponding to the third side, and a fourth end face (fourth end face 34d) corresponding to the fourth side. In-car camera.

[0094] As a result, by having a flange portion on the lens barrel, the flange portion can be used for connection to the ring member.

[0095] (6) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (5), The ring member is a planar portion (planar portion 23) having a first side (first side 23a), a second side (second side 23b) connected to the first side, a third side (third side 23c) connected to the second side, and a fourth side (fourth side 23d) connected to the third side; a first wall portion (first wall portion 24a) extending from a first side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a first inner surface (first inner surface 24a1) and a first outer surface (first outer surface 24a2) opposite to the first inner surface; a second wall portion (second wall portion 24b) extending from a second side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a second inner surface (second inner surface 24b1) and a second outer surface (second outer surface 24b2) opposite the second inner surface; a third wall portion (third wall portion 24c) extending from a third side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a third inner surface (third inner surface 24c1) and a third outer surface (third outer surface 24c2) opposite the third inner surface; a fourth wall portion (fourth wall portion 24d) extending from a fourth side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a fourth inner surface (fourth inner surface 24d1) and a fourth outer surface (fourth outer surface 24d2) opposite the fourth inner surface; a first surface portion (first surface portion 25a) connected to the first wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; a second surface portion (second surface portion 25b) connected to the second wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; a third surface portion (third surface portion 25c) connected to the third wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; and a fourth surface portion (fourth surface portion 25d) connected to the fourth wall portion and extending away from the optical axis. In-car camera.

[0096] This allows the lens barrel to be placed in a space surrounded by the ring member and the four wall portions, and the four surface portions can be used to connect to the housing, making assembly easy.

[0097] (7) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (6), at least a part of the first end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the first inner surface of the first wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the second end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the second inner surface of the second wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the third end surface of the flange portion of the barrel contacts the third inner surface of the third wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the fourth end surface of the flange portion of the barrel contacts the fourth inner surface of the fourth wall portion of the ring member; In-car camera.

[0098] This allows the lens barrel to be stably disposed in the space surrounded by the ring member and the four wall portions.

[0099] (8) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (6), The housing further includes a first side wall portion (first side wall portion 63a) having a first inner wall surface (first inner wall surface 63a1) and a first outer wall surface (first outer wall surface 63a2), a second side wall portion (second side wall portion 63b) having a second inner wall surface (second inner wall surface 63b1) and a second outer wall surface (second outer wall surface 63b2), a third side wall portion (third side wall portion 63c) having a third inner wall surface (third inner wall surface 63c1) and a third outer wall surface (third outer wall surface 63c2), and a fourth side wall portion (fourth side wall portion 63d) having a fourth inner wall surface (fourth inner wall surface 63d1) and a fourth outer wall surface (fourth outer wall surface 63d2), at least a part of the first outer surface of the first wall portion of the ring member (the back surface of the first locking portion 24a3) contacts at least a part of the first inner wall surface of the first side wall portion of the housing, at least a part of the second outer surface of the second wall portion of the ring member (the back surface of the second locking portion 24b3) contacts at least a part of the second inner wall surface of the second side wall portion of the housing, at least a part of the third outer surface of the third wall portion of the ring member (a back surface of the third locking portion 24c3) contacts at least a part of the third inner wall surface of the third side wall portion of the housing, At least a part of the fourth outer surface of the fourth wall portion of the ring member (the back surface of the fourth locking portion 24d3) contacts at least a part of the fourth inner wall surface of the fourth side wall portion of the housing. In-car camera.

[0100] This allows the ring member to be stably arranged while being in contact with the four inner wall surfaces of the housing.

[0101] (9) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (5), The ring member is In the planar portion, a third surface (third surface 23e) and a fourth surface (fourth surface 23f) opposite to the third surface, and at least one protrusion (protrusion 26) protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion toward the first surface of the circuit board. In-car camera.

[0102] This allows the ring member and the circuit board to be connected, and the circuit board to be stably positioned inside the housing.

[0103] (10) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (9), The at least one protrusion of the ring member is a first protrusion (first protrusion 26a) protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a second protrusion (second protrusion 26b) protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a third protrusion (third protrusion 26c) protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a fourth protrusion (fourth protrusion 26d) protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board, In-car camera.

[0104] This allows the ring member and the circuit board to be stably connected.

[0105] (11) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (10), the ring member further has a first center portion (first center portion C1) in which a first hole (first hole 23g) is formed in the planar portion, At least a part of the second end of the lens barrel passes through the first hole in the first center of the planar portion of the ring member. In-car camera.

[0106] This allows light that has passed through the lens barrel to pass through the first hole in the planar portion of the ring member.

[0107] (12) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (11), a first shield (first shield 70) made of metal attached to the ring member and facing the first surface of the circuit board and the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member; The first shield has a second center portion (second center portion C2) in which a second hole (second hole 70a) corresponding to the first hole of the planar portion of the ring member is formed. In-car camera.

[0108] This allows the light that has passed through the ring member to pass through the second hole in the first shield.

[0109] (13) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (11), The first shield has a shield surface portion (shield surface portion 71), a third hole (third hole 71a) through which the first protrusion portion of the ring member penetrates, a fourth hole (fourth hole 71b) through which the second protrusion portion of the ring member penetrates, a fifth hole (fifth hole 71c) through which the third protrusion portion of the ring member penetrates, and a sixth hole (sixth hole 71d) through which the fourth protrusion portion of the ring member penetrates are formed in the shield surface portion of the first shield; In-car camera.

[0110] This allows the four protrusions of the ring member to pass through the four holes in the shield surface portion of the first shield and reach the first surface of the circuit board.

[0111] (14) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (13), The first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion of the ring member are connected to the first surface of the circuit board via an adhesive (adhesive X). In-car camera.

[0112] This allows the ring member and the circuit board to be firmly connected.

[0113] (15) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (12), a second shield (second shield 75) made of metal arranged inside the housing so as to surround at least the imaging element and the circuit board; the first shield is electrically connected to the second shield; In-car camera.

[0114] This allows the first shield and the second shield to work together to improve the shielding performance for blocking noise inside the housing.

[0115] (16) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), The housing further includes a resin member (resin member 80) disposed at least between the second surface of the circuit board and the fourth end of the housing. In-car camera.

[0116] This allows the resin member to dissipate heat generated from the circuit board.

[0117] (17) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), a connector connection portion (connector connection portion 45) disposed on the second surface of the circuit board; a connector (connector 90) having a first connector end (first connector end 91) and a second connector end (second connector end 92) disposed opposite the first connector end, the connector (connector 90) being disposed at the fourth end of the housing; the first connector end of the connector is electrically connected to the connector connection portion on the second surface of the circuit board; In-car camera.

[0118] This allows power to be supplied to the circuit board from an external source.

[0119] (18) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (17), The connector is a coaxial connector. In-car camera.

[0120] This allows high frequency signals to be supplied to the circuit board in addition to power.

[0121] (19) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), the first welded portion is formed by laser welding a first portion of the ring member, the first portion being arranged around the entire circumference of the ring member and the at least one part of the third end portion of the housing, around the entire circumference of the ring member and the optical axis being the center; the second welded portion is formed by laser welding a second portion of the ring member arranged around the entire circumference of the ring member and at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel around the entire circumference of the lens member, the second welded portion being centered on the optical axis; In-car camera.

[0122] This allows welding to be performed easily and firmly.

[0123] (20) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (19), the lens barrel is formed of a first resin having a first light absorptance; the housing is formed of a second resin having a second light absorptance; the ring member is formed of a third resin having a third light absorptance; In-car camera.

[0124] This allows efficient laser welding. [Industrial Applicability]

[0125] The present disclosure is useful as an in-vehicle camera that can be easily assembled while preventing an increase in size. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 20 Ring member 21 Part 1 22 Part 2 23 Planar part 23a Side 1 23b Side 2 23c Third side 23d Fourth side 23e 3rd page 23f 4th page 23g 1st hole 24a 1st wall 24a1 1st inner surface 24a2 1st outer surface 24a3 1st locking part 24b 2nd wall section 24b1 2nd inner surface 24b2 2nd outer surface 24b3 Second locking part 24c 3rd wall section 24c1 3rd inner surface 24c2 Third outer surface 24c3 Third locking part 24d 4th wall section 24d1 4th inner surface 24d2 4th outer surface 24d3 4th locking part 25a First side 25b Second side part 25c Third side 25d 4th side 26 Protrusion 26a 1st protrusion 26b 2nd protrusion 26c 3rd protrusion 26d 4th protrusion 30 Telescope tube 30a Inside surface 30b External surface 30b1 part 31 First end 32 Second end 32a 1st area 32b 2nd area 32c Lens barrel protrusion 32c1 Lens barrel protruding top 32c2 First barrel protruding side 32c3 Second barrel protruding side 33 Lens 34 Flange 34a 1st end face 34b 2nd end face 34c 3rd end face 34d 4th end face 40 Circuit Board 40a Page 1 40b 2nd side 45 Connector connection part 50 imaging element 60 cabinets 61 Third end 61a Third area 61b 4th area 61c Housing protrusion 61c1 Protruding top of the housing 61c2 First housing protruding side 61c3 Second housing protruding side 62 4th end 63a First side wall part 63a1 First inner wall 63a2 1st outer wall surface 63b Second side wall part 63b1 2nd inner wall surface 63b2 2nd outer wall 63c Third side wall part 63c1 3rd inner wall 63c2 Third outer wall 63d 4th side wall part 63d1 4th inner wall 63d2 4th outer wall 70 First Shield 70a 2nd hole 71 Shield surface part 71a 3rd hole 71b Hole 4 71c Hole 5 71d Hole 6 72a Claw part (1st claw part) 72b Claw part (second claw part) 75 Second Shield 80 Resin parts 90 Connector 91 First connector end 92 Second connector end 100 In-car camera 101 1st assembly 102 Second assembly 103 Third assembly C1 1st center C2 2nd center L optical axis W1 1st weld part W2 2nd weld part X Adhesive

Claims

1. a lens barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first cylindrical shape along an optical axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and at least one lens disposed along the optical axis; an imaging element disposed on the optical axis closer to the second end of the first cylindrical lens barrel than to the first end of the first cylindrical lens barrel; a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the image pickup element being disposed on the first surface; a housing that encloses at least the image sensor and the circuit board, has a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, and includes a third end, and a fourth end that is farther from the third end with respect to the first end of the lens barrel and is positioned opposite the third end; a ring member that faces at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel and at least a portion of the third end of the housing, and that houses at least the image sensor and the circuit board together with the housing; a first welded portion in which a first portion of the ring member, the first portion being disposed around the entire circumference of the ring member and at least the part of the third end of the housing, are welded around the entire circumference of the ring member and the optical axis; a second welded portion in which a second portion of the ring member is disposed around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis and at least the part of the second end of the lens barrel is welded around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the second end of the lens barrel has a first optical absorptance; the third end of the housing has a second light absorptance; the ring member has a third light absorptance; the third optical absorptance is less than the first optical absorptance and less than the second optical absorptance; the first portion of the ring member is positioned closer to the third end of the housing than to the fourth end of the housing; the second portion of the ring member is positioned closer to the second end of the lens barrel than to the fourth end of the housing; the first welded portion is located outside a part of the outer surface of the barrel with respect to the optical axis, the second welded portion is located inside the part of the outer surface of the barrel with respect to the optical axis. In-car camera.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, the second welded portion is closer to the fourth end of the housing than the first welded portion in a direction along the optical axis; In-car camera.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, the portion of the outer surface of the lens barrel is the furthest from the optical axis on the outer surface; In-car camera.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, The second end of the lens barrel a first region arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a second region disposed on the outer side of the first region with respect to the optical axis over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a barrel protrusion that protrudes from the second region in a direction away from the first end of the barrel and is disposed around the entire circumference of the optical axis, The lens barrel protrusion is a barrel protruding top portion, which is a top portion; a first barrel protruding side surface connected to the barrel protruding top and the first region and arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a second barrel protruding side surface connected to at least the barrel protruding top portion and disposed opposite the first barrel protruding side surface over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, The third end of the housing includes: a third region arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a fourth region disposed on the outer side of the third region with respect to the optical axis over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; a housing protrusion that protrudes from the third region in a direction away from the third end of the housing and is arranged around the entire circumference of the housing, the housing protrusion being centered on the optical axis; The housing protrusion is a housing protruding top portion that is a top portion; a first housing protruding side surface connected to at least the housing protruding top portion and arranged around the entire circumference of the optical axis; a second housing protruding side surface connected to the housing protruding top and the fourth region of the third end of the housing, and disposed opposite the first housing protruding side surface around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the at least a portion of the third end of the housing is the housing protrusion top of the housing protrusion, the at least part of the second end of the barrel is the barrel protrusion top of the barrel protrusion, the first welded portion, in which the first portion of the ring member, which is disposed around the entire circumference of the ring member and the housing protrusion top of the housing protrusion at the third end of the housing, are welded around the entire circumference of the ring member and the housing protrusion top at the third end of the housing, the second portion of the ring member is disposed over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis, and the barrel protruding top of the barrel protruding portion at the second end of the barrel is welded over the entire circumference centered on the optical axis; In-car camera.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, the lens barrel further includes a flange portion disposed on the outside of the first cylindrical portion so as to extend outward with respect to the optical axis over an entire circumference centered on the optical axis, the flange portion has a first shape having, in a plan view of the flange portion, a first end face corresponding to the first side, a second end face corresponding to the second side, a third end face corresponding to the third side, and a fourth end face corresponding to the fourth side; In-car camera.

6. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 5, The ring member is a planar portion having a first side, a second side connected to the first side, a third side connected to the second side, and a fourth side connected to the third side; a first wall portion extending from a first side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a first inner surface and a first outer surface opposite to the first inner surface; a second wall portion extending from a second side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a second inner surface and a second outer surface opposite to the second inner surface; a third wall portion extending from a third side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a third inner surface and a third outer surface opposite to the third inner surface; a fourth wall portion extending from a fourth side of the planar portion in a direction away from the fourth end portion of the housing and having a fourth inner surface and a fourth outer surface opposite to the fourth inner surface; a first surface portion connected to the first wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; a second surface portion connected to the second wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; a third surface portion connected to the third wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; a fourth surface portion connected to the fourth wall portion and extending away from the optical axis; In-car camera.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, at least a part of the first end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the first inner surface of the first wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the second end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the second inner surface of the second wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the third end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the third inner surface of the third wall portion of the ring member; at least a part of the fourth end surface of the flange portion of the lens barrel contacts the fourth inner surface of the fourth wall portion of the ring member; In-car camera.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, the housing further includes a first side wall portion having a first inner wall surface and a first outer wall surface, a second side wall portion having a second inner wall surface and a second outer wall surface, a third side wall portion having a third inner wall surface and a third outer wall surface, and a fourth side wall portion having a fourth inner wall surface and a fourth outer wall surface, at least a portion of the first outer surface of the first wall portion of the ring member contacts at least a portion of the first inner wall surface of the first side wall portion of the housing; at least a portion of the second outer surface of the second wall portion of the ring member contacts at least a portion of the second inner wall surface of the second side wall portion of the housing; at least a portion of the third outer surface of the third wall portion of the ring member contacts at least a portion of the third inner wall surface of the third side wall portion of the housing; at least a portion of the fourth outer surface of the fourth wall portion of the ring member contacts at least a portion of the fourth inner wall surface of the fourth side wall portion of the housing; In-car camera.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, The ring member is the planar portion includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface; at least one protrusion protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion toward the first surface of the circuit board; In-car camera.

10. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 9, The at least one protrusion of the ring member is a first protrusion protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a second protrusion protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a third protrusion protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board; a fourth protrusion protruding from the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member toward the first surface of the circuit board, In-car camera.

11. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 10, the ring member further has a first center portion in the planar portion, the first center portion having a first hole formed therein; at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel passes through the first hole in the first center of the planar portion of the ring member; In-car camera.

12. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 11, a first metal shield attached to the ring member and facing the first surface of the circuit board and the fourth surface of the planar portion of the ring member; the first shield has a second center portion having a second hole formed therein corresponding to the first hole in the planar portion of the ring member; In-car camera.

13. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 12, the first shield has a shield surface portion, a third hole through which the first protrusion of the ring member penetrates, a fourth hole through which the second protrusion of the ring member penetrates, a fifth hole through which the third protrusion of the ring member penetrates, and a sixth hole through which the fourth protrusion of the ring member penetrates are formed in the shield surface portion of the first shield; In-car camera.

14. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 13, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion of the ring member are connected to the first surface of the circuit board via an adhesive; In-car camera.

15. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 12, a second shield made of metal and arranged inside the housing so as to surround at least the imaging element and the circuit board; the first shield is electrically connected to the second shield; In-car camera.

16. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, The housing further includes a resin member disposed inside the housing at least between the second surface of the circuit board and the fourth end of the housing. In-car camera.

17. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, a connector connection portion disposed on the second surface of the circuit board; a connector disposed at the fourth end of the housing, the connector having a first connector end and a second connector end disposed opposite the first connector end; the first connector end of the connector is electrically connected to the connector connection portion on the second surface of the circuit board; In-car camera.

18. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 17, The connector is a coaxial connector. In-car camera.

19. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, the first welded portion is formed by laser welding a first portion of the ring member, the first portion being arranged around the entire circumference of the ring member and the at least one part of the third end of the housing, around the entire circumference of the ring member and the optical axis being the center; the second welded portion is formed by laser welding a second portion of the ring member, the second portion being arranged around the entire circumference of the ring member and at least a portion of the second end of the lens barrel, around the entire circumference of the lens barrel. In-car camera.

20. 20. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 19, the lens barrel is formed of a first resin having a first light absorptance; the housing is formed of a second resin having a second light absorptance; the ring member is formed of a third resin having a third light absorptance; In-car camera.

Images