Connector module and vehicle camera including same

Abstract

The connector module includes a first connector including a first terminal and a first body in which the first terminal is disposed; and a second connector including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and a second body in which the second terminal is disposed, the second body including a space to which at least a portion of the first body is coupled, and a through hole formed to penetrate from an inner surface of the space to an outer surface of the second body, the first body including a protrusion protruding from another region from the outer surface and coupled to the through hole, and a cover disposed outside the through hole, the cover including a hole to which the protrusion is coupled.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present embodiment relates to a connector module and a vehicle camera including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a vehicle is provided with a room mirror and left and right side mirrors, and when reversing or parking the vehicle, the situation behind the vehicle is recognized through the room mirror and the side mirrors.

[0003] However, when checking the situation behind the vehicle through the rearview mirror and side mirrors, there are blind spots, which poses the risk of collision when parking or reversing.

[0004] Since the driver cannot check the blind spot behind the vehicle while the vehicle is moving, the driver must get off the vehicle to check it directly or someone other than the driver must check the blind spot behind the vehicle, which is inconvenient.

[0005] This has created a demand for vehicle cameras that can capture images of blind spots behind the vehicle and output the images to a display unit inside the vehicle, and recently there has been a trend toward installing such cameras in vehicles.

[0006] The vehicle camera includes a lens, a lens holder that accommodates the lens, an image sensor that converts an image of a subject collected by the lens into an electrical signal, and a printed circuit board on which the image sensor is mounted. The vehicle camera further includes a connector module for receiving power and transmitting / receiving signals. The connector module is configured by coupling multiple connectors together, but due to the characteristics of the installation area, there is a problem that the coupling force between the multiple connectors is not kept constant due to external impact. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present embodiment provides a connector module capable of maintaining a constant connection state between a plurality of connectors and improving electrical characteristics, and a vehicle camera including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector module according to this embodiment includes a first connector including a first terminal and a first body in which the first terminal is disposed; and a second connector including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and a second body in which the second terminal is disposed, the second body including a space to which at least a portion of the first body is coupled, and a through hole formed to penetrate from an inner surface of the space to an outer surface of the second body, the first body including a protrusion protruding from other areas from the outer surface and coupled to the through hole, and a cover disposed outside the through hole, the cover including a hole to which the protrusion is coupled.

[0009] The distance between the inner surface of the through hole and the outer surface of the protrusion may be 0 mm to 0.1 mm.

[0010] A distance between an inner surface of the hole and an outer surface of the protrusion may be greater than a distance between an inner surface of the through-hole and an outer surface of the protrusion.

[0011] A guide groove may be disposed on an inner surface of the space, the guide groove being recessed outward from other regions, and a guide protrusion may be disposed on an outer surface of the first body, protruding from other regions and coupled to the guide groove.

[0012] The guide protrusions may be provided in a plurality and may be arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the first body.

[0013] The protrusion may include a first protrusion disposed in the through hole and a second protrusion disposed in the hole, and an upper surface of the second protrusion may include an inclined surface.

[0014] A protrusion protruding inward from another region is formed on an inner surface of the space, and the space may include a first region to which the first body is coupled and a second region in which the protrusion is disposed.

[0015] A distance from an end surface of the first body coupled to the space to the protrusion may be 0.075 mm to 0.125 mm.

[0016] The protrusions may be provided in a plurality and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the second body, and a rib may be disposed on an outer surface of the second terminal to protrude outward and be coupled between adjacent protrusions.

[0017] The vehicle camera according to this embodiment includes a housing; and a connector module at least a portion of which protrudes outside the housing through a hole formed in the housing, the connector module including a first connector including a first terminal and a first body having the first terminal disposed therein; and a second connector including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and a second body having the second terminal disposed therein, the second body including a space portion to which at least a portion of the first body is coupled, and a through hole formed from an inner surface of the space portion to penetrate an outer surface of the second body, the first body including a protrusion protruding from another region from the outer surface and coupled to the through hole, and a cover disposed outside the through hole, the cover including a hole to which the protrusion is coupled. Effect of the Invention

[0018] This embodiment has the advantage that any movement of the connectors can be prevented and the connection state between the connectors can be firmly maintained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view showing FIG. 2 from another angle. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure of a first connector in a space portion of a second connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 4 is a graph comparing electrical characteristics of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connector module according to the prior art. [Figure 7] 11 is a graph showing electrical connection characteristics between a first pin and a second pin according to a distance between an end of a first body and a protrusion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and one or more of the components of the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for each other within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted in the sense that they are commonly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined, and commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in the context of the relevant art.

[0023] In addition, the terms used in the examples of the present invention are intended to describe the examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form can include the plural form unless otherwise specified, and when it is described as "A and (and) at least one (or more) of B and C," it can include one or more of all combinations of A, B, and C.

[0024] Additionally, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used to describe components of embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] These terms are used only to distinguish a component from other components, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0026] Furthermore, when a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it can include not only when the component is directly coupled, coupled, or connected to the other component, but also when the component is "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" by another component between the component and the other component.

[0027] In addition, when described as being formed or disposed "above (above) or below (below)" each component, "above (above)" or "below (below)" includes not only the case where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or disposed between the two components. In addition, when described as "above (above) or below (below)", it can include not only the upward direction based on one component, but also the downward direction.

[0028] Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the appearance of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded oblique view of the connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a drawing showing Figure 2 from another angle, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection structure of a first connector within a space portion of a second connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection structure of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] 1 to 5, a connector module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be connected to a vehicle camera. The vehicle camera can be coupled to a vehicle. The vehicle camera can be used as one or more of a front camera, a side camera, a rear camera, and a black box of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be disposed at the front of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be disposed at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be coupled to a windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be coupled to a front or rear windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be disposed on the side of the vehicle. The vehicle camera can capture an image of a subject and output the image to a display (not shown).

[0030] The vehicle camera includes a housing, which may include a lens, a printed circuit board, and an image sensor mounted on the printed circuit board. The housing includes a hole through which the connector module 10 passes, and the connector module 10 may be disposed through the hole such that a portion of the connector module 10 is disposed within the housing and another portion of the connector module 10 protrudes outside the housing.

[0031] The connector module 10 may include a first connector 100 and a second connector 200 .

[0032] The first connector 100 and the second connector 200 can be electrically connected to each other. The second connector 200 can be electrically connected to a printed circuit board in the vehicle camera. The second connector 200 can be physically coupled to the printed circuit board in the vehicle camera. The second connector 200 can be disposed so as to pass through a hole in a housing. However, this is merely an example, and of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, the first connector 100 can be disposed so as to pass through a hole in a housing and can be physically coupled to the printed circuit board.

[0033] The electrical and physical connection between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 allows power to be provided to the vehicle camera, signals for controlling the vehicle camera to be sent and received, and images captured by the vehicle camera to be transmitted to other components.

[0034] The first connector 100 may be called a male connector. The first connector 100 may include a first body. The first body may form the outer shape of the first connector 100. The first body may have a circular cross section and may include a space for accommodating the first terminal 170 therein. The first body may include a 1-1 body 120 and a 1-2 body 140. The space in the 1-1 body 120 and the space in the 1-2 body 140 may be mutually connected. The 1-1 body 120 and the 1-2 body 140 may include a first space 122 and a second space 142 for accommodating the first terminal 170 therein. The first space 122 and the second space 142 may have a hole shape exposed to the outside from one end and the other end of the first body, respectively. The 1-1 body 120 and the 1-2 body 140 may have different cross-sectional areas. As an example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first-second body 140 may be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first-first body 120 .

[0035] A bracket 110 having a cross-sectional area larger than other areas and for fixing the first connector 100 to the installation area may be formed between the 1-1 body 120 and the 1-2 body 140. The bracket 110 may have a plate shape having a predetermined thickness and may include a hole 112 penetrating from one side to the other side to which a screw (not shown) is coupled.

[0036] The 1-2 body 140 may have a shape that protrudes from one side of the bracket 110 in a region that is inserted into a space 212 in the second connector 200, which will be described later. A guide protrusion 150 that protrudes outward from other regions may be formed on the outer surface of the 1-2 body 140. The guide protrusion 150 is coupled to a guide groove 214, which will be described later, when the 1-2 body 140 is coupled to the space 212, and may slide along the guide groove 214. A plurality of guide protrusions 150 may be provided and may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the 1-2 body 140.

[0037] A protrusion 160 that protrudes outward from other regions may be formed on the outer surface of the 1-2 body 140. The protrusion 160 is for hook coupling of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, and may have a shape that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the 1-2 body 140. The protrusion 160 may be formed on one end of the 1-2 body 140 adjacent to the bracket 110.

[0038] The protrusion 160 may include a first protrusion 162 protruding upward from an upper surface of the 1-2 body 140, and a second protrusion 164 protruding upward from an upper surface of the first protrusion 162. The upper surfaces of the first protrusion 162 and the second protrusion 164 may be arranged to have a step between them in the vertical direction.

[0039] An inclined surface 166 may be formed on the upper surface of the second protrusion 164 in the coupling direction of the first connector 100, the height of which increases from the upper surface of the first-second body 140 as it goes rearward. When the first-second body 140 is coupled via the inclined surface 166, the protrusion 160 may be more easily guided into a coupling hole 222 (FIG. 3) of the second connector 200, which will be described later.

[0040] The first connector 100 may include a first terminal 170 (see FIG. 5). The first terminal 170 may be disposed in a space within the first body. The length of the first terminal 170 may be smaller than the length of the first body. The first terminal 170 may include a first coupling portion 172 and a first pin 174 disposed inside the first coupling portion 172. The first coupling portion 172 may have a circular cross section.

[0041] The second connector 200 may be referred to as a female connector. The second connector 200 may include a second body 210. The second body 210 may form the outer shape of the second connector 200. The second body 200 may have a space 212 formed therein. The space 212 may be a hole shape that penetrates from one end to the other end of the second body 200. The space 212 may have a circular cross section.

[0042] A protruding portion 219 protruding inward from other regions may be formed on the inner surface of the space 212. The protruding portion 219 may allow the space 212 to have a plurality of regions having different cross-sectional areas. For example, the space 212 may include a first region disposed at one end of the second body 210, a second region disposed inside the protruding portion 219, and a third region disposed at the other end of the second body 210. The first to third regions may be sequentially disposed along the length direction of the second body 210. The cross-sectional area of ​​the third region may be larger than that of the second region and smaller than that of the first region. At least one or more coupling protrusions (not shown) protruding inward from other regions may be formed on the inner surface of the protruding portion 219.

[0043] Meanwhile, the second body 210 may include an extension 280 disposed inwardly of the third region among the first to third regions. The extension 280 may protrude outward from the other regions and may have a circular cross-sectional shape. The extension 280 may be formed to be thinner than the other regions.

[0044] At least a portion of the first connector 100 may be coupled to the first region. The 1-2 body 140 may be coupled to the first region. A guide groove 214 having a shape recessed outward from other regions may be formed on an inner surface of a space 212 forming the first region. The guide groove 214 may be disposed to face a guide protrusion 150 of the first connector 100. During the coupling process of the first connector 100, the guide protrusion 150 may slide along the guide groove 214.

[0045] Meanwhile, in order to prevent interference with the protrusion 160 during the process of coupling the first body 140 to the first region, the second body 210 may include a through hole 216 that penetrates from the inner surface of the space 212 to the upper surface of the second body 210. When the first connector 100 is not coupled, at least a portion of the space 212 may be open upward through the through hole 216.

[0046] A cover 220 may be disposed on an upper portion of the through hole 216. The cover 220 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an upper surface of the second body 210 in the up-down direction. The cover 220 may be formed in a plate shape. The cover 220 may be formed integrally with the second body 210. The cover 220 includes a hole 222 penetrating from an upper surface to a lower surface, and the protrusion 160 may be coupled to the hole 222. Therefore, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled to each other, the protrusion 160 may pass through the through hole 216 and be coupled to the hole 222. At this time, the upper surface of the protrusion 160 may slide along the lower surface of the cover 220 via the inclined surface 166, and the protrusion 160 may be guided to the hole 222.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 4, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, at least a portion of the first protrusion 162 may be disposed in the through hole 216, and at least a portion of the second protrusion 164 may be disposed in the hole 222. A second terminal 290 may be disposed in the space 212 in the second body 210. The second terminal 290 may have a bar shape and may be disposed in the length direction along the first region, the second region, and the third region in the space 212. The second terminal 290 may include one end disposed in the first region and the other end disposed in the third region. The second terminal 290 may have a plurality of regions having different cross-sectional areas.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the second terminal 290 may include a rib 296 protruding outward from the outer surface. A plurality of the ribs 296 may be provided and spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the second terminal 210. The rib 296 may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second terminal 290 disposed in the second region. The rib 296 may have a ring-shaped cross-sectional shape. When the second terminal 290 is coupled to the space 212, the rib 296 may contact the inner circumferential surface of the second region. A groove-shaped rib groove is formed between adjacent ribs 296, and the coupling protrusion described above may be coupled to the rib groove. This can prevent the second terminal 290 from moving in the length direction when coupled to the space 212.

[0049] At one end of the second terminal 290, a second coupling part 292 and a second pin 294 disposed inside the second coupling part 292 and having a pinhole formed in the center may be formed. When the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the first pin 174 may be coupled into the pinhole of the second pin 294. The second coupling part 292 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, and may have a space 293 formed inside to which the first coupling part 212 is coupled. The second coupling part 292 may include a plurality of plate parts disposed along a circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of plate parts may have a predetermined curvature and may have a cut-out area with an adjacent plate part. As a result, when the first coupling part 212 is coupled to the space 293, the outer surface of the first coupling part 212 may be elastically supported.

[0050] The second terminal 290 may have a smaller cross-sectional area than other regions. The other end of the second terminal 290 may protrude to the outside of the second body 210.

[0051] 4, in order to maintain a firm connection between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, the distance between the side of the protrusion 160 and the inner surface of the through hole 216 may be 0 mm to 0.1 mm. Here, the inner surface of the through hole 216 may be a surface facing the side of the protrusion 160 with reference to a second direction (Y) perpendicular to a first direction (X) that is an up-down direction in a region forming the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 216. Meanwhile, when the distance between the side of the protrusion 160 and the inner surface of the through hole 216 is 0 mm, the side of the protrusion 160 may come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole 216.

[0052] In addition, the distance between the inner surface of the hole 222 in the cover 220 and the protrusion 160 may be greater than the distance between the protrusion 160 and the inner surface of the through hole 216. In particular, if the distance between the inner surface of the hole 222 and the outer surface of the protrusion 160 is a first distance, and the distance between the side of the protrusion 160 and the inner surface of the through hole 216 is a second distance, the first distance may be greater than the second distance.

[0053] 5, the distance between the end of the 1-2 body 140 coupled into the first region and the end face of the first region may be 0.075mm to 0.125mm. Here, the end face of the first region is a region that forms a boundary with the second region, that is, the distance from the end face of the 1-2 body 140 to the protrusion 219 based on the coupling direction of the first connector 100 may be 0.075mm to 0.125mm.

[0054] The above-described structure has an advantage in that it is possible to prevent any movement of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 and to firmly maintain the coupled state of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a graph comparing electrical characteristics of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connector module according to the prior art.

[0056] FIG. 6 takes into account the characteristics of vehicle cameras and quantifies the connection state between the first and second pins due to vibration. Referring to FIG. 6(a), in the connector module using conventional technology, there were many cases where an electrical short circuit (state 1 based on the y-axis) occurred between the first and second pins due to vibration.

[0057] However, referring to (b) of FIG. 6, in the case of the connector module 10 according to this embodiment, it can be seen that even if vibration occurs due to the optional anti-flow structure described above, the electrical connection between the first pin 174 and the second pin 294 is always maintained constant (state 0 based on the y-axis).

[0058] FIG. 7 is a graph showing electrical connection characteristics between the first pin and the second pin according to the distance between the end of the first and second bodies and the protrusion.

[0059] 7, as described above, it can be seen that the electrical connection characteristics of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 through the first and second pins are the best when the distance from the end surface of the first-second body 140 to the protrusion 219 is 0.075 mm. However, if the case where the electrical connection state is below 200, which is a state where the electrical connection state can substantially converge to 0, is included, the stable distance range from the end surface of the first-second body 140 to the protrusion 219 that satisfies this can be 0.075 mm to 0.125 mm.

[0060] Although all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention have been described as being combined or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. That is, all components may be selectively combined and operated in one or more combinations within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the terms "comprise", "comprise", "have" and the like described above mean that the component may be present, unless otherwise specified, and should be interpreted as including other components without excluding other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as dictionary-defined terms, should be interpreted as consistent with the contextual meaning of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless clearly defined in the present invention.

[0061] The above description is merely an illustrative example of the technical concept of the present invention, and a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted according to the following claims, and all technical concepts within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a first connector including a first terminal and a first body in which the first terminal is disposed; and a second connector including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and a second body in which the second terminal is disposed, the second body includes a space to which at least a portion of the first body is coupled, and a through hole formed to penetrate from an inner surface of the space to an outer surface of the second body, the first body includes a protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the first body relative to another region and coupled to the through hole; a cover disposed on the outside of the through hole; The cover includes a hole to which the protrusion is coupled.

2. The connector module according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between an inner surface of the through hole and an outer surface of the protrusion is between 0 mm and 0.1 mm.

3. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein a distance between an inner surface of the hole and an outer surface of the protrusion is greater than a distance between an inner surface of the through hole and an outer surface of the protrusion.

4. A guide groove is disposed on the inner surface of the space, the guide groove being recessed outward from other regions, The connector module according to claim 1 , wherein a guide protrusion is disposed on an outer surface of the first body, protruding from other regions and coupled to the guide groove.

5. The connector module according to claim 4 , wherein the guide protrusions are provided in a plurality of positions, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the first body.

6. The protrusion includes a first protrusion disposed in the through hole and a second protrusion disposed in the hole, The connector module according to claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the second protrusion includes an inclined surface.

7. A protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the space, the protrusion protruding inward from other regions, The connector module according to claim 1 , wherein the space includes a first region to which the first body is coupled and a second region in which the protrusion is disposed.

8. The connector module according to claim 7, wherein a distance from an end surface of the first body coupled to the space to the protrusion is between 0.075 mm and 0.125 mm.

9. The protrusions are provided in a plurality of portions and are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the second body. The connector module according to claim 7 , wherein a rib is disposed on an outer surface of the second terminal and protrudes outwardly and is coupled between adjacent protrusions.

10. Housing; and a connector module having at least a portion protruding outside the housing through a hole formed in the housing; The connector module includes: a first connector including a first terminal and a first body in which the first terminal is disposed; and a second connector including a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and a second body in which the second terminal is disposed, the second body includes a space to which at least a portion of the first body is coupled, and a through hole formed to penetrate from an inner surface of the space to an outer surface of the second body, the first body includes a protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the first body relative to another region and coupled to the through hole; a cover disposed on the outside of the through hole; The cover includes a hole to which the protrusion is coupled.

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