Camera modules, in-vehicle systems, and mobile devices

Abstract

This invention provides a camera module, in-vehicle system, and mobile device that suppresses screw play when the lens barrel and housing are screwed together, thereby preventing focus shifts in the optical system and achieving the desired optical performance. [Solution] The camera module of the present invention comprises a housing 24 which is coupled to a lens barrel 22 and forms a recess 24g for receiving a substrate on which an image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group. The coupling portion 70 that connects the housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 has a screw-fitting region 70B in which the housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are screwed together, and a fitting region 70A in which the housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are fitted together.

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera module, an in-vehicle system, and a moving body equipped with the in-vehicle system, which constitute an in-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in-vehicle cameras have been mounted on automobiles to support parking or prevent collisions through image recognition, and attempts have also been made to apply them to autonomous driving. In addition, such a camera module such as an in-vehicle camera generally includes a lens unit having a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along an optical axis, a lens barrel (barrel) that houses and holds the lens group, and an aperture member disposed between at least one pair of lenses in the lens group (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, such a lens unit may be attached to an attachment portion such as a front grill of a vehicle (automobile), and the lens located closest to the object side may be exposed to the outside. In such a case, foreign substances such as water droplets, muddy water, ice and snow, and frost are likely to adhere to the surface (lens surface) of the lens, and when they adhere, it is necessary to remove the foreign substances in order to ensure a clear observation field by the lens unit.

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

[0005] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, such a vibrating device 102 is installed in a camera that has an imaging unit 105 containing a lens 106 and an image sensor at the top of the camera body 103, and comprises a dome-shaped transparent cover 111, a cylindrical vibrating body 112 to which the cover 111 is fixed, and a piezoelectric element 113 fixed to the vibrating body 112 that vibrates the cover 111 via the vibrating body 112. The vibrating body 112 has a cylindrical portion 114 having a first end 114a located on the cover 111 side and a second end 114b located on the opposite side of the cover 111; a tubular first connecting portion 115 connected to the first end 114a of the cylindrical portion 114 and made of a cylinder with a larger inner diameter than the cylindrical portion 114; a first ring-shaped portion 116 interposed between the first connecting portion 115 and the cover 111 and having a smaller inner diameter than the first connecting portion 115; a second connecting portion 117 connected to the second end 114b of the cylindrical portion 114 and made of a cylinder with a smaller outer diameter than the cylindrical portion 114; and a second ring-shaped portion 118 interposed between the second connecting portion 117 and the piezoelectric element 113 and having a larger outer diameter than the second connecting portion 117. Furthermore, all components of this small camera module, including the camera body 103 and the vibration device 102, are housed within the housing 130.

[0006] In such a vibrating device 102, the piezoelectric element 113 is driven to cause ultrasonic vibration of the cover 111 via the vibrating body 112, thereby more effectively moving and atomizing the droplets, or removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of the cover 111. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-231993 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6977784 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Incidentally, the housing 130 that accommodates the components of the camera module may be constructed by combining multiple housing parts for reasons such as ease of assembly of these components. For example, for reasons of ease of assembly and design, the housing 130 may be constructed including at least a cylindrical first housing that forms an internal housing space for receiving the lens unit including the lens 106 and lens barrel, and the vibration device 102, and a substantially thin-walled dish-shaped second housing that forms a recess mainly for receiving the substrate portion on which the image sensor is mounted among the image sensor module (imaging module) that constitutes the imaging unit 105. Furthermore, in such a configuration, by attaching the lens barrel inside the first housing to the second housing by screwing it in, the position of the lens group in the optical axis direction relative to the image sensor module (the position of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction relative to the second housing) is easily adjusted, enabling easy focusing by screwing.

[0009] However, since the lens barrel and housing are generally molded from resin, the resin screws forming the threaded connection between the lens barrel and the second housing may develop looseness due to variations in molding. This looseness can cause the lens barrel to tilt or shift axially relative to the housing, resulting in focus errors and failure to achieve the desired optical performance. Of course, screw looseness can also occur with molding materials other than resin. Furthermore, this type of looseness problem is not limited to camera modules with vibration mechanisms, but can occur in all camera modules equipped with lens units that screw together the housing and the lens barrel.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a camera module, an in-vehicle system, and a mobile device that suppress screw play when the lens barrel and housing are screwed together, thereby preventing focus shifts in the optical system and obtaining desired optical performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a camera module comprising a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lenses, a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group, and an image sensor that converts the light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, The housing is coupled to the lens barrel and has a recess that receives a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group, The coupling portion connecting the housing and the lens barrel is characterized by having a screw-fitting region in which the housing and the lens barrel are screwed together, and a fitting region in which the housing and the lens barrel are fitted together.

[0012] According to the above configuration of the present invention, the joint connecting the housing and the lens barrel has a fitting region in addition to a screw-fitting region where the housing and the lens barrel are threaded together. Therefore, even if there is play in the threads in the screw-fitting region, this play, and consequently the tilting of the lens barrel relative to the housing, can be restricted by the fitting of the housing and the lens barrel in the fitting region. As a result, the optical system's focus shift is prevented, and the desired optical performance can be obtained.

[0013] In the above configuration, the threaded area may be formed by the threading of a male thread formed on the outer surface of the lens barrel with a female thread formed on the inner surface of the housing, in which case the fitting area is formed by the fitting surface on the outer surface of the lens barrel fitting with the fitting surface on the inner surface of the housing. Of course, the threaded area may also be formed by the threading of a female thread formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel with a male thread formed on the outer surface of the housing, in which case the fitting area is formed by the fitting surface on the inner surface of the lens barrel fitting with the fitting surface on the outer surface of the housing.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that the position of the lens group in the optical axis direction relative to the image sensor (the position of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction relative to the second housing) is adjusted by screwing the lens barrel into the housing in the screw-in direction while fitting the lens barrel into the housing in the fitting region, and once focusing is complete, the lens barrel and housing are bonded and fixed together with adhesive in that focused state.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above configuration, in the fitting region, the lens barrel may be press-fitted into the housing while its outer fitting surface makes line contact with the inner fitting surface of the housing at multiple positions along the circumferential direction, along the optical axis direction. Alternatively, the lens barrel may be press-fitted into the housing while its inner fitting surface makes line contact with the outer fitting surface of the housing at multiple positions along the circumferential direction, along the optical axis direction. With such a configuration, even if there is play in the screw in the threaded region, this play, and therefore the axial displacement of the lens barrel relative to the housing, can be restricted by the press-fitting of the housing and the lens barrel in the fitting region, thereby preventing focus shift of the optical system and obtaining the desired optical performance.

[0016] Such press-fitting may also be achieved, for example, in a so-called light press-fitting state, by providing dowels or D-cut surfaces that extend along the optical axis direction at, for example, equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the mating surfaces of the lens barrel and the housing (for example, either one or both of the mating surfaces on the outer circumference of the lens barrel or the inner circumference of the housing, or either one or both of the mating surfaces on the inner circumference of the lens barrel or the outer circumference of the housing).

[0017] Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the threaded region and the fitting region are provided adjacent to each other in the optical axis direction. This allows the fitting region to effectively and efficiently compensate for any looseness in the threaded region.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an in-vehicle system having the aforementioned camera module, and a mobile body equipped with the in-vehicle system. The same effects and advantages as those of the aforementioned camera module can be obtained with such an in-vehicle system and mobile body. The term "mobile body" refers to all objects that can be moved, such as vehicles. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the camera module of the present invention, looseness of the screws when the lens barrel and housing are screwed together is suppressed, preventing focus shifts in the optical system and achieving the desired optical performance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a camera module having a lens unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view along the optical axis direction of a first example of a fitting and screwing state of a lens barrel and a second housing constituting the camera module of FIG. 1, in which a fitting region is provided on the object side and a screwing region is provided on the image side. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the second housing of FIG. 2, in which a fitting surface with a dowel is provided on the object side and a female screw is provided on the image side. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of the second housing of FIG. 2, in which a fitting surface with a D-cut surface is provided on the object side and a female screw is provided on the image side. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view along the optical axis direction of a second example of a fitting and screwing state of a lens barrel and a second housing constituting the camera module of FIG. 1, in which a screwing region is provided on the object side and a fitting region is provided on the image side. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the second housing of FIG. 5, in which a female screw is provided on the object side and a fitting surface with a D-cut surface is provided on the image side. [Figure 7] It is a schematic cross-sectional view along the optical axis direction of an example of a core inserted into a housing molding die to form a female screw of the second housing. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for forming a female screw of the second housing using the core of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a schematic view of a vehicle as a moving body on which an imaging system (in-vehicle system) including a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. [Figure 10] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imaging device constituting the imaging system of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional camera module.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. These embodiments contribute to "9. Build resilient infrastructure, including local and transboundary infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all," which is one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part of a camera module 300 equipped with a lens unit 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The lens unit 20 described below is specifically for camera modules such as in-vehicle cameras. For example, it is fixedly installed on the exterior surface of a vehicle, and the wiring is routed into the vehicle and connected to a display or other device. Also, in Figure 1, hatching has been omitted for multiple lenses.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the camera module 300 of this embodiment includes a lens unit 20. This lens unit 20 comprises a cylindrical lens barrel 22, for example, made of resin (it may, of course, be made of metal), and a first housing (not shown) in which the lens barrel 22 is housed. That is, the first housing has an internal housing space for receiving the lens barrel 22.

[0024] Furthermore, the image-side ends of the lens barrel 22 and the first housing are supported by a rectangular tubular resin second housing 24 (which may, of course, be made of metal). The lens unit 20 also includes a first lens (not shown) held in the first housing and positioned furthest towards the object (left side in Figure 1) (exposed to the outside), and a plurality of (for example, five) second to sixth lenses 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 housed within the lens barrel 22.

[0025] The first lens (not shown), supported by a first housing (not shown) and located closest to the object, is a glass lens, and the second to sixth lenses 32 to 36 are resin lenses, but are not limited to these (for example, the first lens located closest to the object may also be a resin lens). In addition, an anti-reflective coating, hydrophilic coating, water-repellent coating, etc., may be provided on the surface of each lens as needed.

[0026] The six lenses fixed and supported by the first housing and lens barrel 22 are arranged so that their optical axes are aligned, and the lenses are lined up along a single optical axis O to form a group of lenses L used for imaging.

[0027] Within the lens barrel 22, two intermediate rings 60 and 61 are interposed between the second lens 32 and the fourth lens 34, and an intermediate ring 62 is also interposed between the fifth lens 35 and the sixth lens 36. The first intermediate ring 60, adjacent to the image side of the second lens 32, holds an aperture member 67. In this case, the aperture member 67 is either an "aperture diaphragm" that limits the amount of transmitted light and determines the F-number, which is an indicator of brightness, or a "light-shielding diaphragm" that blocks light rays that cause ghosting or aberrations. The second intermediate ring 61, located adjacent to the image side of the first intermediate ring 60, holds the third lens 33. The third intermediate ring 62, located between the fifth lens 35 and the sixth lens 36, defines the relative positions of the lenses 35 and 36 in the optical axis direction.

[0028] The end of the lens barrel 22 on the object side (the left end in Figure 1) is provided with a crimped portion 53, which is formed by thermally crimping the end radially inward. The second lens 32 is fixed to the object-side end of the lens barrel 22 within the lens barrel 22 by this crimped portion 53.

[0029] Furthermore, an inner flange portion 54 with an opening smaller in diameter than the sixth lens 36 is provided at the image-side end of the lens barrel 22 (the right end in Figure 1). The multiple lenses 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 that constitute the lens group L and the aperture member 67 are held and fixed in the optical axis direction within the lens barrel 22 by this inner flange portion 54 and the crimping portion 53.

[0030] The outer surface of the second lens 32 is provided with a reduced-diameter section on the image-side portion of the lens 32, and an O-ring 59 acting as a sealing member is provided in this reduced-diameter section, sealing the space between the outer surface of the lens 32 and the inner surface of the lens barrel 22 at the object-side end of the lens barrel 22. This prevents fine particles such as water and dust from entering the lens barrel 22 from the object-side end of the lens barrel 22. In addition, a filter 99, such as an infrared cut filter, is provided on the lower surface of the inner flange portion 26.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first housing (not shown) also contains a vibration mechanism (not shown) that vibrates the first lens (not shown) mentioned above. This vibration mechanism includes a piezoelectric element, which is a vibration source that vibrates ultrasonically, and a vibrating body connected to the piezoelectric element that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the piezoelectric element to the first lens.

[0032] In this embodiment, the lens unit 20 is composed of a first housing (not shown), a first lens (not shown) held in the first housing, a lens barrel 22, lenses 32-36 held in the lens barrel 22, and the aforementioned vibration mechanism (not shown). The camera module 300 of this embodiment is composed of this lens unit 20 and a second housing 24 fitted into the first housing of the lens unit 20.

[0033] The second housing 24 contains a package sensor (image sensor) 304 (see Figure 11), which is not shown in Figure 1. The package sensor 304 is located inside the second housing 24, facing the filter 99, and is positioned to receive the image of an object formed by the lens unit 20. The package sensor 304 is equipped with a CCD or CMOS sensor, and converts the light that is focused and reaches it through the lens unit 20 into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal is then converted into analog data or digital data, which are components of the image data captured by the camera.

[0034] Furthermore, the second housing 24 is equipped with a drive circuit board 305 (see Figure 11), which is not shown in Figure 1. The drive circuit board 305 is a board on which the image sensor 304 is mounted and which has a drive circuit that drives the piezoelectric element of the vibration mechanism described above by applying a voltage of a predetermined frequency. In other words, in this embodiment, the second housing 24 is coupled to the lens barrel 22 and has a recess 24g that receives the board 305 on which the image sensor 304 is mounted so that the image sensor 304 faces the lens group L.

[0035] Incidentally, the lens barrel 22 is inserted into the second housing 24 at its image end and joined thereto, and the joining portion has a threaded region where the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are screwed together, and a fitted region where the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are fitted together. A first example of a joining portion 70 that enables such a fitted and screwed joining is shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0036] In Figures 2 to 4, for convenience, the shapes of the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 are shown slightly differently from those in Figure 1. As shown in the figures, the coupling portion 70 has a fitting region 70A into which the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 fit together, and a screw-fitting region 70B into which the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are screw-fitted together. In this first example, the fitting region 70A is provided on the object side and the screw-fitting region 70B is provided on the image side, and these regions 70A and 70B are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the optical axis.

[0037] In this first example, the fitting region 70A is formed by the fitting surface 22a on the outer circumference of the lens barrel 22 on the image side fitting surface 24e on the inner circumference of the second housing 24 on the object side, and the screwing region 70B is formed by the screwing of a male thread 22b formed on the outer circumference of the lens barrel 22 on the image side than the fitting surface 22a and a female thread 24f formed on the inner circumference of the second housing 24 on the image side than the fitting surface 24e.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the fitting region 70A, the lens barrel 22 is press-fitted into the second housing 24 while its outer fitting surface 22a contacts the inner fitting surface 24e of the second housing 24 at multiple positions along the circumferential direction, along the optical axis direction. In this embodiment, such press-fitting is achieved in a light press-fit state by providing dowels or D-cut surfaces that extend along the optical axis direction at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the fitting surfaces 22a and 24e of the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24.

[0039] An example of achieving such light press-fitting using dowels is shown in Figure 3. As shown in the figure, dowels 72 extending along the optical axis are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the mating surface 24e of the inner circumference of the second housing 24. These dowels 72 allow the mating surface 22a of the lens barrel 22 to be press-fitted to the mating surface 24e of the second housing 24 while making line contact along the optical axis at multiple positions along the circumferential direction.

[0040] In contrast, Figure 4 shows an example of achieving light press-fitting using D-cut surfaces. As shown in the figure, D-cut surfaces 74 extending along the optical axis are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the mating surface 24e on the inner circumference of the second housing 24. These D-cut surfaces 74 cause the mating surface 22a of the lens barrel 22 to be press-fitted to the mating surface 24e of the second housing 24 while making line contact along the optical axis at multiple positions along the circumferential direction. In this case, the D-cut surfaces 74 are formed by cutting the mating surface 24e in a cross section perpendicular to the optical axis along a line segment (chord) connecting two points on its circumference so that the cross section becomes D-shaped.

[0041] As explained above, the coupling portion 70 that connects the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 has a fitting region 70A in addition to the screwing region 70B in which the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are screwed together. Therefore, even if there is play in the screws 22b and 22f in the screwing region 70B, this play, and therefore the tilting of the lens barrel 22 relative to the second housing 24, can be controlled by the fitting of the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 in the fitting region 70A (by adjusting the perpendicularity between the fitting surfaces 22a and 24e and the sensor mounting reference surface P for the package sensor 304 (see Figure 3)). As a result, the optical system (first lens and second to sixth lenses 32-36) is prevented from being out of focus, and the desired optical performance can be obtained.

[0042] In this embodiment, the optical axis position of the lens group L relative to the package sensor 304 (the optical axis position of the lens barrel 22 relative to the second housing 24) is adjusted by screwing the lens barrel 22 into the second housing 24 in the screwing area 70B while fitting the lens barrel 22 into the second housing 24 in the screwing area 70B. Once focusing is complete, the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 are bonded and fixed together with adhesive while in focus.

[0043] Figures 5 and 6 show a coupling portion 70A according to a second example that enables the coupling of the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 in a fitted and screwed state. As shown in the figures, in this second example as well, the coupling portion 70A has a fitting region 70A into which the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 fit together, and a screwed region 70B into which the second housing 24 and the lens barrel 22 are screwed together. In this second example, the fitting region 70A is provided on the image side and the screwed region 70B is provided on the object side, and these regions 70A and 70B are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the optical axis.

[0044] In this second example, the fitting region 70A is formed by the fitting surface 22a on the outer circumference of the lens barrel 22 on the image side fitting surface 24e on the inner circumference of the second housing 24 on the object side, and the screwing region 70B is formed by the screwing of a male thread 22b formed on the outer circumference of the lens barrel 22 on the object side than the fitting surface 22a and a female thread 24f formed on the inner circumference of the second housing 24 on the object side than the fitting surface 24e.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the fitting region 70A, the lens barrel 22 is press-fitted into the second housing 24 while its outer fitting surface 22a contacts the inner fitting surface 24e of the second housing 24 at multiple positions along the circumferential direction, along the optical axis direction. In addition, in this embodiment, such press-fitting is achieved in a light press-fit state by providing D-cut surfaces 74 that extend along the optical axis direction at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the fitting surfaces 22a and 24e of the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24, as shown in Figure 7.

[0046] By the way, in this embodiment in which the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 are formed from resin, in order to minimize play in the threads 22b and 22f in the threaded region 70B, when pouring resin into the mold to form the second housing 24, several inserts of different dimensions are manufactured to be fitted into the mold to form the female threads 24f of the second housing 24, and the most suitable insert is selected and used from among them.

[0047] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, multiple patterns of inserts 80 for forming the female thread 24f of the second housing 24 are manufactured, for example, with the dimensions of the male thread 80a (effective diameter of the male thread 80a) differing within a range of ±10 μm to 20 μm relative to the reference diameter D of the second housing 24 (reference dimension of the effective diameter of the female thread 24f) (Step S1 in Figure 8). Then, samples of the second housing 24 are molded using each pattern of insert 80 (Step S2 in Figure 8), and the screw torque is checked (the tighter the torque, the less play there is) (Step S3 in Figure 8). After that, the insert 80 with the optimal torque and amount of screw play is selected (Step S4 in Figure 8), and the second housing 24 is molded using the selected insert 80 (Step S5 in Figure 8).

[0048] Figure 9 schematically shows a vehicle 240 as a mobile body on which an in-vehicle system (imaging system) comprising an imaging device 250 including the camera module 300 of Figure 1 is mounted. As shown in the figure, the imaging device 250 can be mounted on the vehicle 240, and Figure 9 is an example of an arrangement illustrating the mounting position of the imaging device 250 on the vehicle 240. The imaging device 250 mounted on the vehicle 240 can also be called an in-vehicle camera and can be installed in various locations on the vehicle 240. For example, the first imaging device 250a may be placed on or near the front bumper as a camera that monitors the area in front of the vehicle 240 while it is in motion. The second imaging device 250b, which also monitors the area in front, may be placed near the rearview mirror inside the vehicle 240. The third imaging device 250c may be placed on the dashboard or inside the instrument panel, etc., as a camera that monitors the driver's driving conditions. The fourth imaging device 250d may be installed at the rear of the vehicle 240 for use as a rear monitor. Imaging devices 250a and 250b can be called front cameras. The third imaging device 250c can be called an in-camera. The fourth imaging device 250d can be called a rear camera. The imaging device 250 is not limited to these, and includes imaging devices installed in various positions, such as a left side camera that images the left rear side and a right side camera that images the right rear side.

[0049] The image signal of the image captured by the imaging device 250 can be output to an information processing device (control unit) 242 and / or a display device (output device) 243, etc., within the vehicle 240. These information processing devices 242 and 243 together with the imaging device 250 constitute an in-vehicle system. The information processing device 242 within the vehicle 240 includes a device that processes the image signal (captured image) acquired by the imaging device 250, recognizes the image (recognizes objects in the captured image), and assists the driver in driving. The information processing device 242 is also configured to output recognition information of objects in the captured image to the display device 243, and includes, but is not limited to, a navigation device, a collision damage mitigation braking device, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control device, and a lane departure warning device. The display device 243 displays the image processed and output by the information processing device 242, but can also receive the image signal directly from the imaging device 250. Furthermore, the display device 243 may employ, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, or an inorganic EL display. The display device 243 can display image signals output from an imaging device 250, such as a rear camera, which captures images from positions that are difficult for the driver to see (it can output information to the occupants).

[0050] Figure 10 shows the configuration of the imaging device that constitutes the in-vehicle system shown in Figure 9. As shown in the figure, the imaging device 250 according to one embodiment comprises a control unit 252, a storage unit 254, and the camera module 300 shown in Figure 1.

[0051] The control unit 252 controls the camera module 300 and processes the electrical signals output from the image sensor (package sensor) 304 of the camera module 300. This control unit 252 may be configured as a processor, for example. The control unit 252 may also include one or more processors. The processors may include general-purpose processors that load a specific program and execute a specific function, and dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Dedicated processors may include application-specific integrated circuits (ICs). Application-specific integrated circuits are also called ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits). The processors may also include programmable logic devices. Programmable logic devices are also called PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices). PLDs may include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The control unit 252 may be either a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a system-in-a-package (SiP) in which one or more processors cooperate. Furthermore, the control unit 252 may have the same functions as the information processing device 242 described above. For example, it may process the captured image output from the image sensor 304 to recognize objects within the captured image.

[0052] The storage unit 254 stores various information or parameters related to the operation of the imaging device 250. The storage unit 254 may be composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 254 may function as a work memory for the control unit 252. The storage unit 254 may store captured images. The storage unit 254 may store various parameters, etc., for the control unit 252 to perform detection processing based on the captured images. The storage unit 254 may be included in the control unit 252.

[0053] As mentioned above, the camera module 300 captures the subject image formed via the lens unit 20 with the image sensor 304 and outputs the captured image. The image captured by the camera module 300 is also called the captured image.

[0054] The image sensor 304 may be composed of, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The image sensor 304 has an imaging surface in which multiple pixels are arranged. Each pixel outputs a signal that is specified by current or voltage according to the amount of incident light. The signal output by each pixel is also called imaging data.

[0055] The image data may be read out by the camera module 300 for all pixels and taken into the control unit 252 as an image. The image data read out for all pixels is also called the maximum image. The image data may be read out by the camera module 300 for some pixels and taken into the image. In other words, the image data may be read out from pixels within a predetermined acquisition range. The image data read out from pixels within a predetermined acquisition range may be taken into the image. The predetermined acquisition range may be set by the control unit 252. The camera module 300 may obtain the predetermined acquisition range from the control unit 252. The image sensor 304 may capture an image within a predetermined acquisition range from the subject image formed via the lens unit 20.

[0056] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various ways without departing from its spirit. For example, in the present invention, the shapes of lenses, housings, lens barrels, etc., are not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, some or all of the embodiments described above may be combined, or some of the components of one of the embodiments described above may be omitted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 20 Lens Units 22 Telescope Tubes 22a Mating surface 22b Male screw 24 Second cabinet 24e Mating surface 24f Female thread 24g recess 70 Joint 70A mating area 70B Threaded area 240 vehicles (mobile) 243 Display device (output device) 252 Control Unit 300 Camera Modules 304 Image sensor 305 Drive circuit board L lens group

Claims

1. A camera module comprising a lens group in which multiple lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lens, a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group, and an image sensor that converts the light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, The housing is coupled to the lens barrel and has a recess that receives a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group, A camera module characterized in that the coupling portion connecting the housing and the lens barrel has a screw-fitting region where the housing and the lens barrel are screwed together, and a fitting region where the housing and the lens barrel are fitted together.

2. The aforementioned threaded region is formed by the threading of a male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel and a female thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of the housing. The fitting region is formed when the fitting surface on the outer circumference of the lens barrel fits with the fitting surface on the inner circumference of the housing. The camera module according to feature 1.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the fitting region, the lens barrel is press-fitted into the housing while its outer fitting surface contacts the inner fitting surface of the housing at multiple positions along the circumferential direction, along the optical axis direction.

4. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that the screw-fitting region and the mating region are provided adjacent to each other in the optical axis direction.

5. A cylindrical first housing having an internal housing space for receiving the aforementioned lens barrel, A vibration mechanism provided within the first housing includes a vibration source that vibrates ultrasonically and a vibrating body connected to the vibration source that transmits the ultrasonic vibrations of the vibration source to a first lens located closest to the object among the lens group, It further possesses, The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing that forms the recess for receiving the substrate is coupled as a second housing to the image side of the first housing.

6. An in-vehicle system installed in a vehicle, The camera module according to claim 1, A control unit that processes the captured image output from the image sensor of the camera module and recognizes an object in the captured image, An in-vehicle system characterized by having [a certain feature].

7. A mobile body equipped with the in-vehicle system described in claim 6 and an output device that outputs information to the occupants, The mobile body is characterized in that the control unit is configured to output recognition information of the object to the output device.

Images