Sensor module and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A sensor module according to one aspect of the present technology comprises a sensor element, a first casing, a bracket, and a second casing. The first casing has an opening end section and accommodates the sensor element. The bracket fixes the first casing to an attachment target object. The second casing has: a first surface having a first weld section welded to the opening end section; and a second surface having a second weld section welded to the bracket, said second casing being fixed between the first casing and the bracket.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present technology relates to a sensor module to be mounted on, for example, a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the sensor module. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a camera unit for in-vehicle use has been fixed to a bracket attached to the vehicle body by fastening with screws (for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, depending on the vehicle model or type, a packing is sandwiched between the camera unit and the bracket to prevent water from entering the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-202976 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional camera units described above, a space for screws is required, and the work of attaching packing and screws is required. It is desirable to increase design freedom by eliminating this space for screws, to improve workability (productivity) by eliminating the work of fastening packing and screws, and to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present technology is to provide a sensor module and a method for manufacturing the sensor module that enable improved design freedom and workability, as well as cost reduction through a reduction in the number of components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a sensor module according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a sensor element, a first casing, a bracket, and a second casing. The first casing has an open end and houses the sensor element. The bracket fixes the first casing to an object to which the first casing is to be attached. The second casing has a first surface having a first welded portion welded to the open end and a second surface having a second welded portion welded to the bracket, and is fixed between the first casing and the bracket.

[0007] In the above sensor module, the second casing is welded to the first casing and the bracket, which eliminates the need for a screw bag space or the installation work for packing screws, improving design freedom and workability, while reducing costs by reducing the number of parts.

[0008] The first welded portion may be annularly provided along a peripheral portion of the first surface, and the second welded portion may be annularly provided on the peripheral portion of the second surface, on the outer circumferential side of the first welded portion.

[0009] The second casing may further have a first convex portion protruding from the second surface toward the bracket and forming the second welded portion.

[0010] The second casing may further have a plurality of second convex surface portions provided on the second surface on an inner circumferential side of the first convex surface portion and capable of contacting the bracket.

[0011] The first convex surface portion may be formed in an annular shape along the periphery of the second surface, or the first convex surface portion may be formed at a plurality of locations along the periphery of the second surface.

[0012] The first casing and the bracket may be made of a resin material that is absorptive of laser light of a predetermined wavelength, and the second casing may be made of a resin material that is transparent to the laser light.

[0013] The first casing and the bracket may be made of a resin material that is transparent to laser light of a predetermined wavelength, and the second casing may be made of a resin material that is absorptive of the laser light.

[0014] The sensor element may be a solid-state image sensor.

[0015] The sensor element may be a distance measuring sensor.

[0016] A manufacturing method for a sensor module according to one embodiment of the present technology includes housing a sensor element in a first casing, joining a first surface of a second casing to an open end of the first casing by laser welding, and joining a bracket to a second surface of the second casing by laser welding. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sensor module according to an embodiment of the present technology. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a camera unit in the sensor module. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the camera unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the camera unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the camera unit. [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic plan view of the camera unit, showing the relationship between a first welded portion and a second welded portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are schematic process diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing the sensor module. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the camera unit. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating modified examples of the configuration of the sensor module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] [Sensor module configuration] 1 is a side view of a sensor module according to an embodiment of the present technology. The sensor module 100 of this embodiment is a camera module for in-vehicle use. In the following description, the left-right direction, front-rear direction (optical axis direction), and height direction of the sensor module 100 are respectively defined as the Z direction, the Y direction, and the X direction. Of course, the directions are not limited to these settings.

[0020] The sensor module 100 includes a camera unit 110 and a bracket 120. The camera unit 110 is disposed, for example, outside a vehicle body (attachment object) not shown, and incorporates an imaging component that captures an image of the front, rear, or side of the vehicle depending on the attachment position. For example, a camera attached to the front part of the vehicle body (e.g., the front grill) captures an image of the environment in front of the vehicle. A camera attached to the rear part (e.g., above the license plate) captures an image of the environment behind the vehicle. A camera attached to the side of the vehicle (e.g., the upper part of a pillar (A pillar, B pillar, or the rearmost pillar of the vehicle (C pillar, D pillar)) or a side mirror) captures an image of the environment to the side of the vehicle.

[0021] Bracket 120 is a fixing member for fixing camera unit 110 to a vehicle body. Bracket 120 has a support surface 121 that supports camera unit 110. As described below, camera unit 110 is joined to support surface 121 of bracket 120 by laser welding.

[0022] 2 is an exploded perspective view of camera unit 110, FIGS. 3(A) and (B) are overall perspective views of camera unit 110, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of camera unit 110, and FIG. Camera unit 110 has, in that order in the positive direction of the Y axis, a front case (first casing) 10, an O-ring 6, an imaging component 4, and a rear case 13 (second casing).

[0023] The imaging component 4 has, in order along the positive direction of the Y axis, a lens assembly 7, an electromagnetic shielding case 8, a dustproof sheet 9, a board unit 5, a heat dissipation sheet 11, and a spacer cushion 12. The board unit 5 has, in order along the positive direction of the Y axis, a front board 2, a spacer board 1, and a rear board 3.

[0024] The front case 10 has a front surface portion 101 formed substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction (Y direction) and a side surface portion 102 extending from the periphery of the front surface portion 101 toward the rear case 13, and houses the imaging component 4. In this embodiment, the shape of the front surface 101 when viewed from the Y direction is substantially rectangular. The front case 10 is hollow, and the area surrounded by the front surface 101 and the side surface 102 forms a space. The end of the side surface 102 on the rear case 13 side has a rectangular opening end 104 that spreads in the ZX plane. This opening end 104 and the front surface 101 may be formed in any shape, such as a circle or a triangle, in the ZX plane.

[0025] The rear case 13 is fixed between the front case 10 and the bracket 120. The rear case 13 is an electromagnetic shielding case, and has a rear surface portion 131 disposed substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction (Y direction), and a side surface portion 132 extending from the periphery of the rear surface portion 131 toward the front case 10. The rear case 13 has a shape similar to that of the front surface portion 101, and in this embodiment, the shape of the rear surface portion 131 as viewed from the Y direction is substantially rectangular. The periphery portion 136 of the rear case 13 is formed with an area larger than that of the opening end 104 of the front case 10 so as to extend to the outer periphery side of the opening end 104 (see FIG. 3(B)). The rear case 13 is configured to be hollow, and an area surrounded by the rear surface portion 131 and the side surface portion 132 is a space portion.

[0026] The front case 10 and the rear case 13 are connected to each other by laser welding, which will be described in detail later. This forms an internal space that includes a space in the front case 10 and a space in the rear case 13. The imaging component 4 is disposed in this internal space.

[0027] 2, a through hole 103 is formed in the center of the front surface 101 of the front case 10, and the lens portion 71 of the lens assembly 7 is passed through the through hole 103 to attach the lens assembly 7 to the front case 10. The imaging component 4 is disposed so that the imaging optical axis O passes through approximately the center of the lens assembly 7.

[0028] The front substrate 2 and the rear substrate 3 are electrically connected by BtoB connection (connector connection) or flexible connection. The spacer substrate 1 is disposed between the front substrate 2 and the rear substrate 3 during this connection by snap-fitting, adhesion, or the like. A solid-state imaging element 22 such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor is mounted on the front substrate 2 as a sensor element. The solid-state imaging element 22 captures subject light via the lens assembly 7. Peripheral circuits such as a drive circuit for driving the solid-state imaging element 22 and a signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the solid-state imaging element 22 are mounted on the front substrate 2 and the rear substrate 3.

[0029] A connector section 135 is provided on the rear surface section 131 of the rear case 13. The connector section 135 is electrically connected to the board unit 5 via, for example, an FPC (flexible printed circuit) 23, and supplies power from the vehicle body side to the imaging component 4, or outputs an image signal from the imaging component 4 to the vehicle body side.

[0030] An O-ring 6 is disposed around the entire periphery inside the front case 10. This O-ring 6 functions to seal between the front case 10 and the imaging component 4 (lens assembly 7). This prevents raindrops and the like from entering the inside of the casing through the through-hole 103 of the front case 10. The O-ring 6 may be made of any elastic material, such as rubber or plastic.

[0031] In this embodiment, the rear case 13 is joined to the front case 10 and the bracket 120 by laser welding. In order to perform laser welding between the rear case 13, the front case 10, and the bracket 120, the front case 10 and the bracket 120 are made of a resin material that is absorbent to laser light of a predetermined wavelength. The rear case 13 is made of a resin material that is transparent to the laser light.

[0032] Examples of resin materials that are absorptive or transparent to laser light include general-purpose resins such as AS (acrylonitrile-styrene) resin and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, PC (polycarbonate) resin, a mixed resin of ABS and PC, PA (polyamide) resin, and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) resin.

[0033] The absorption or transmittance of the laser beam can be adjusted, for example, by the amount of the laser absorbing material mixed into the resin. As the absorbing material, for example, carbon black can be used. By adjusting the amount of the absorbing material added, the absorption rate (or transmittance) of the laser beam can be adjusted as desired. It is preferable that the resin material having the absorption property and the resin material having the transmittance of the laser beam are made of the same type of matrix resin. This increases the affinity between the resins at the joint, improving the welding strength. In addition, the transmittance can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the resin. By increasing (becoming thicker) the thickness of the resin, the transmittance of the resin can be further reduced. In addition, by decreasing (becoming thinner) the thickness of the resin, the transmittance of the resin can be further increased.

[0034] In this embodiment, for example, red laser light or infrared laser light having a wavelength of 800 nm to 1100 nm is used as the laser light for welding. The transmittance of the laser light in a resin material having transparency to the laser light is 30% or more, and more preferably 40% or more.

[0035] 4, the rear case 13 has a first surface S1 facing the open end 104 of the front case 10, and a second surface S2 facing the support surface 121 of the bracket 120. The support surface 121 is formed in a rectangular annular planar shape facing the peripheral edge of the second surface S2 of the rear case 13 (see FIG. 4).

[0036] The first surface S1 of the rear case 13 has a protrusion 133 that fits in the opening end 104 of the front case 10. The first surface S1 further has a first welded portion W1 that is welded to the opening end 104 of the front case 10. The first welded portion W1 is a melt-mixed portion of the resin material that constitutes the front case 10 and the resin material that constitutes the rear case 13 (indicated by a black circle on the first surface S1 in FIG. 4). The first welded portion W1 is provided in an annular shape along the periphery 136 of the first surface S1 of the rear case 13 over the entire area of ​​the portion facing the opening end 104.

[0037] The second surface S2 of the rear case 13 corresponds to the rear surface portion 131 of the rear case 13. The second surface S2 has a second welded portion W2 welded to the support surface 121 of the bracket 120. The second welded portion W2 is a melt-mixed portion of the resin material constituting the bracket 120 and the resin material constituting the rear case 13 (indicated by a black circle on the second surface S2 in FIG. 4). The second welded portion W2 is formed on a protruding portion 137 (first convex portion) protruding from the second surface S2 of the rear case 13 toward the support surface 121 of the bracket 120, as shown in FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 5. The protruding portion 137 is formed in a rectangular ring shape along the periphery (peripheral edge portion 136) of the rear case 13, and the protruding end surface is a plane parallel to the support surface 121. The protruding portion 137 is laser welded to the support surface 121, whereby a second welded portion W2 is formed in an annular shape on the protruding portion 137.

[0038] 6 is a schematic plan view of the camera unit 110 showing the relationship between the first welded portion W1 and the second welded portion W2. As shown in the figure, the first welded portion W1 and the second welded portion W2 are formed in a rectangular ring shape concentric with the optical axis of the camera unit 110 on the ZX plane. The first welded portion W1 and the second welded portion W2 are not formed at the same position when viewed from the optical axis direction, and the second welded portion W2 is formed on the outer periphery side of the first welded portion W1. Since the first welded portion W1 and the second welded portion W2 are each formed continuously in a ring shape, the sealing property of the joint between the front case 10 and the rear case 13 and the joint between the rear case 13 and the bracket 120 is improved, and waterproofness and dustproofness are ensured.

[0039] [Sensor module manufacturing method] Next, a method for manufacturing the sensor module 100 configured as above will be described.

[0040] The manufacturing method of the sensor module in this embodiment includes the steps of accommodating a camera unit 4 having a sensor element (solid-state imaging element 22) in a front case 10, joining a first surface S1 of the rear case 13 to an opening end 104 of the front case 10 by laser welding, and joining a bracket 120 to a second surface S2 of the rear case 13 by laser welding.

[0041] 7(A) and (B) are schematic process diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing the sensor module 100.

[0042] First, as shown in Fig. 2, the imaging components 4 obtained by sequentially assembling the shield case 8, dustproof sheet 9, board unit 5, heat dissipation sheet 11 and spacer cushion 12 to the lens assembly 7 in the Y-axis direction are housed in the front case 10 via the seal ring 6. Then, as shown in Fig. 7(A), the front case 10 and the rear case 13 are assembled in the Y-axis direction so that the opening end 104 of the front case 10 and the first surface S1 of the rear case 13 face each other.

[0043] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 7(B), while the rear case 13 is pressed against the front case 10 with a predetermined load, a laser beam L for welding is irradiated onto the second surface S2 of the rear case 13. The irradiation direction is the direction of the arrow of the laser beam L in Fig. 7(A). At this time, the laser beam L passes through the resin layer of the rear case 13 and is irradiated onto a portion corresponding to the opening edge 104 of the front case 10, and is scanned in a rectangular ring shape on the second surface S2 of the rear case 13 along the opening edge 104. The laser beam L may be a pulsed beam or a continuous beam.

[0044] In this embodiment, the front case 10 is made of a resin material that is absorbent for the laser light L, and the rear case 13 is made of a resin material that is transparent for the laser light L. Therefore, the laser light L passes through the rear case 13 and is irradiated to the opening end 104 of the front case 10. The irradiated area of ​​the opening end 104 to which the laser light L is irradiated generates heat due to absorption of the laser light L and is partially melted. Meanwhile, the first surface S1 of the rear case 13 facing the opening end 104 is also partially melted by heat conduction from the melted portion of the opening end 104. Thereafter, the melted portions of the front case 10 and the rear case 13 are each cooled and solidified, so that a first welded portion W1 that is welded to the opening end 104 of the front case 10 is formed on the first surface S1 of the rear case 13. As a result, the camera unit 110 in which the front case 10 and the rear case 13 are integrally joined is produced.

[0045] 7(B), the camera unit 110 is turned upside down, and the camera unit 110 and the bracket 120 are assembled in the Y-axis direction so that the second surface S2 of the rear case 13 faces the support surface 121 of the bracket 120. After that, the rear case 13 is pressed against the bracket 120 with a predetermined load, and the first surface S1 of the rear case 13 of the camera unit 110 is irradiated with a laser light L for welding. The irradiation direction is the direction of the arrow of the laser light L in FIG. 7(B). At this time, the laser light L passes through the resin layer of the rear case 13 and is irradiated to a portion corresponding to the protruding portion 137 of the rear case 13 (see FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 5), and is scanned in a rectangular ring shape on the first surface S1 of the rear case 13 along the protruding portion 137. The laser light L may be a pulsed light or a continuous light.

[0046] In this embodiment, the bracket 120 is made of a resin material that is absorbent for the laser light L, similar to the front case 10. Therefore, the laser light L is transmitted through the rear case 13 and irradiated onto the support surface 121 of the bracket 120. The irradiated area of ​​the support surface 121 with the laser light L generates heat due to absorption of the laser light L and is partially melted. Meanwhile, the protruding portion 137 of the rear case 13 facing the support surface 121 is also partially melted by heat conduction from the melted portion of the support surface 121. Thereafter, the melted portions of the bracket 120 and the rear case 13 are each cooled and solidified, thereby forming a second welded portion W2 that is welded to the support surface 121 of the bracket 120 on the second surface S2 of the rear case 13. As a result, the sensor module 100 in which the camera unit 110 and the bracket 120 are integrally joined is manufactured.

[0047] As described above, the rear case 13 is welded to the front case 10 and the bracket 120 by laser welding. Therefore, according to this embodiment, compared to the case where the rear case and the front case are joined by screws, there is no need for a screw bag space for the screws or the work of attaching the packing screws, which improves design freedom and workability, and reduces costs by reducing the number of screw parts. In addition, since there is no need for a screw bag space for the screws, the sensor module 100 can be made smaller. Furthermore, since the internal space of the sensor module 100 is expanded, it becomes possible to mount a high-performance large component (LSI), and the sensor module 100 can be made more highly functional.

[0048] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the rear case 13 is formed with an area larger than the open end 104 of the front case 10, and the second welded part W2 is provided on the outer periphery side of the first welded part W1. Therefore, even after the first welded part W1 is formed (after the front case 10 and the rear case 13 are welded together), it is possible to irradiate the laser light L toward the peripheral part 136 of the rear case 13 where the second welded part W2 is to be formed, and the second welded part W2 can be stably formed.

[0049] <Other embodiments> 8(A) and (B) are perspective views showing another configuration example of the camera unit 110, seen from the rear case 13 side. The camera units 110A and 110B shown in Figs. 8(A) and (B) are different from the above-mentioned embodiment in the aspect of the second welded part W2. Note that the bracket 120 is omitted from the illustration.

[0050] In the camera unit 110A shown in FIG. 8(A), the second welded portion W2 is formed on a raised portion 138 (first convex portion) further formed on a protruding portion 137 of the second surface S2 of the rear case 13. The raised portion 138 is a convex surface of a predetermined height that protrudes from the surface of the protruding portion 137 toward the bracket 120 and is welded to the bracket 120. The raised portion 138 is provided at a plurality of locations around the second surface S (periphery 136). The raised portion 138 is formed at diagonal positions (two locations) of the second surface S2, but may be formed at three or more locations at corners of the second surface S2. In the illustrated example, the raised portion 138 is formed on the protruding portion 137, but the protruding portion 137 may be omitted. In this case, the raised portion 138 is formed directly on the second surface S2.

[0051] In camera unit 110A configured as above, welded portion W2 is locally formed at the position where raised portion 138 is formed. Such a configuration is applicable to, for example, a camera module with specifications that do not require airtightness between camera unit 110A and bracket 120. According to this example, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the joint between camera unit 110A and bracket 120 and improve the joining workability. Of course, even in the case of a structure in which welded portion W2 is locally formed at the position where raised portion 138 is formed, the airtightness of the camera unit can be increased by using a packing. Camera unit 110A with increased airtightness using a packing can be treated as a camera module with specifications that require airtightness.

[0052] On the other hand, in camera unit 110B shown in Fig. 8(B), second welded portion W2 is formed on four wing portions 139 (first convex portions) formed at the four corner positions of second surface S2 of rear case 13. In this example, rear case 13 is formed with approximately the same size (area) as opening end 104 of front case 10, and multiple wing portions 139 are formed so as to protrude from the four corner positions of second surface S2 to the outer periphery side. Multiple wing portions 139 are convex surfaces of a predetermined height that protrude from second surface S2 toward bracket 120 and are welded to bracket 120, and second welded portion W2 is formed on the surface (end face) of each of them on the bracket 120 side.

[0053] Furthermore, in camera unit 110B, rear case 13 has a plurality of convex portions 140 (second convex surface portions). The plurality of convex portions 140 are provided on second surface S2, on the inner peripheral side of wing portions 139. The plurality of convex portions 140 are formed so as to protrude less toward bracket 120 than wing portions 139. The plurality of convex portions 140 function as stopper portions that determine the relative position between rear case 13 and the bracket when wing portions 139 and bracket 120 are welded together.

[0054] That is, when the rear case 13 is welded to the bracket 120, the rear case 13 is pressed against the bracket 120 with a predetermined load. At this time, the wings 139 are melted by irradiation with the laser light L, so that the distance between the rear case 13 (second surface S2) and the bracket 120 (support surface 121) gradually decreases during irradiation with the laser light. Therefore, by providing the convex parts 140 having a smaller protruding amount than the wings 139 at predetermined positions on the second surface S2, the convex parts 140 come into contact with the bracket 120 (support surface 121), and the approach distance between the rear case 13 and the bracket 120 can be limited to the protruding amount of the convex parts 140. The forming position, number, shape, etc. of the convex parts 140 are not particularly limited and can be set arbitrarily.

[0055] The camera unit 110A configured as above can also provide the same effects as those described above. In particular, in this example, since a predetermined relative distance between the camera unit 110B and the bracket 120 can be stably secured, for example, it is possible to suppress variation in the optical axis after the sensor module is assembled.

[0056] <Modification> In the above embodiment, the front case 10 and the bracket 120 are made of a resin material that is absorbent for the laser light L, and the rear case 13 is made of a resin material that is transparent to the laser light L, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the front case 10 and the bracket 120 may be made of a resin material that is transparent to the laser light L, and the rear case 13 may be made of a resin material that is absorbent for the laser light L.

[0057] In this case, as shown in Fig. 9, for example, a flange portion 104F extending outward is formed at the open end of the front case 10, and a laser beam L is irradiated from above the flange portion 104F to form a first welded portion W1 between the flange portion 104F and the peripheral portion of the first surface S1 of the rear case 13. Also, a laser beam L is irradiated from the opposite side of the support surface 121 of the bracket 120 to form a second welded portion W2 between the peripheral portion of the second surface S2 of the rear case 13 and the support surface 121 of the bracket 120. In this example, the second welded portion W2 is formed on the inner peripheral side of the first welded portion W1, but the second welded portion W2 may be formed on the outer peripheral side of the first welded portion W1.

[0058] The technology according to the present disclosure can be applied to various products. For example, the technology according to the present disclosure may be realized as a sensor module mounted on any type of moving object, such as an automobile, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a personal mobility device, an airplane, a drone, a ship, a robot, a construction machine, or an agricultural machine (tractor).

[0059] In the above embodiment, the sensor module 100 is described as a camera module, but is not limited thereto. For example, the present technology can be adopted in a sensor module equipped with a distance measuring sensor such as a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or a TOF (Time of Flight) as a sensor element.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the front case 10 and the rear case 13, and the rear case 13 and the bracket 120 are welded to each other by laser welding, but the present technology can also be applied to other welding methods such as ultrasonic welding.

[0061] The configurations of the sensor module, the front case, the rear case, the packing, and the like described with reference to the drawings are merely one embodiment, and may be modified as desired without departing from the spirit of the present technology. In other words, any other configuration for implementing the present technology may be adopted.

[0062] The present technology can also be configured as follows. (1) a sensor element; a first casing having an open end and housing the sensor element; A bracket for fixing the first casing to an object to which the first casing is attached; a second casing having a first surface having a first welded portion welded to the open end and a second surface having a second welded portion welded to the bracket, the second casing being fixed between the first casing and the bracket; A sensor module comprising: (2) The sensor module according to (1), the first welded portion is provided in an annular shape along a peripheral edge portion of the first surface, The second welded portion is provided in an annular shape on the periphery of the second surface and on the outer circumferential side of the first welded portion. Sensor module. (3) The sensor module according to (1) or (2), The second casing further has a first convex portion protruding from the second surface toward the bracket and forming the second welding portion. Sensor module. (4) The sensor module according to (3), The second casing further has a plurality of second convex surface portions provided on the second surface on the inner peripheral side of the first convex surface portion and capable of contacting the bracket. Sensor module. (5) The sensor module according to (3), The first convex surface portion is formed in an annular shape along the periphery of the second surface. Sensor module. (6) The sensor module according to (3), The first convex surface portion is formed at a plurality of locations around the second surface. Sensor module. (7) The sensor module according to any one of (1) to (6) above, the first casing and the bracket are made of a resin material that is absorbent for laser light of a predetermined wavelength; The second casing is made of a resin material that is transparent to the laser light. Sensor module. (8) The sensor module according to any one of (1) to (6) above, the first casing and the bracket are made of a resin material that is transparent to laser light of a predetermined wavelength, The second casing is made of a resin material that is absorbent for the laser light. Sensor module. (9) The sensor module according to any one of (1) to (8), The sensor element is a solid-state image sensor. Sensor module. (10) The sensor module according to any one of (1) to (9), The sensor element is a distance measuring sensor. Sensor module. (11) Housing the sensor element in a first casing; joining a first surface of a second casing to an open end of the first casing by a laser welding method; A bracket is joined to the second surface of the second casing by laser welding. A method for manufacturing a sensor module. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10...Front case (first casing) 22...Solid-state imaging element (sensor element) 13...Rear case (second casing) 104...Open end 100...Sensor module 110…Camera unit 120…Bracket 137...protrusion (first convex portion) 138...raised portion (first convex portion) 139...wing portion (first convex portion) 140...convex portion (second convex portion) L…Laser light S1…First side S2…Second side W1: First weld W2: Second weld

Claims

1. A sensor element; a first casing having an open end and housing the sensor element; a bracket for fixing the first casing to an object to which the first casing is attached; a second casing having a first surface having a first welded portion welded to the open end and a second surface having a second welded portion welded to the bracket, the second casing being fixed between the first casing and the bracket; Equipped with the first casing and the bracket are made of a resin material that is transparent to laser light of a predetermined wavelength, the second casing is made of a resin material that is absorptive of the laser light, The open end has a flange portion, and the first weld portion is formed between the flange portion and the first surface. Sensor module.

2. The sensor module according to claim 1 , the first welded portion is provided in an annular shape along a peripheral edge portion of the first surface, The second welded portion is provided in an annular shape on the periphery of the second surface on the outer circumferential side of the first welded portion. Sensor module.

3. The sensor module according to claim 1 , The second casing further has a first convex portion protruding from the second surface toward the bracket and forming the second welding portion. Sensor module.

4. The sensor module according to claim 3, The second casing further includes a plurality of second convex surface portions provided on the second surface on the inner peripheral side of the first convex surface portion and capable of contacting the bracket. Sensor module.

5. The sensor module according to claim 3, The first convex surface portion is formed in an annular shape along the periphery of the second surface. Sensor module.

6. The sensor module according to claim 3, The first convex surface portion is formed at a plurality of locations around the second surface. Sensor module.

7. The sensor module according to claim 1 , The sensor element is a solid-state image sensor. Sensor module.

8. The sensor module according to claim 1 , The sensor element is a distance measuring sensor. Sensor module.

9. The sensor element is housed in a first casing; joining a first surface of a second casing to an open end of the first casing by a laser welding method; A bracket is joined to the second surface of the second casing by laser welding. A method for manufacturing a sensor module, comprising the steps of: the first casing and the bracket are made of a resin material that is transparent to laser light of a predetermined wavelength, the second casing is made of a resin material that is absorptive of the laser light, The first casing is welded to the first surface by irradiating the first surface with the laser light from above a flange portion provided at the opening end. A method for manufacturing a sensor module.

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