Camera module, vehicle-mounted system, and mobile object

Abstract

Provided are a camera module, an imaging system, and a mobile object that make it possible to prevent wiring connected to a vibration source from sounding by coming into contact with an imaging module due to ultrasonic vibration of the vibration source, and prevent disconnection of the wiring.　In a camera module according to the present invention, wiring 306 for electrically connecting a drive circuit for driving a vibrator 61 and the vibrator 61 extends from the vibrator 61 in a first housing 23, is inserted through a wiring hole 24f formed in a second housing 24, and extends so as to face an imaging module 310 in a third housing 25. The wiring 306 is secured to the second housing 24 such that a facing portion 306b facing the imaging module 310 of the wiring 306 does not come into contact with the imaging module 310 during ultrasonic vibration of the vibrator 61.

Description

Camera Module, Vehicle-mounted System, and Moving Body

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

[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 camera modules, such as in-vehicle cameras, generally include 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] Further, such a lens unit may be attached to an attachment portion such as a front grill of a vehicle (automobile), and in some cases, the lens located closest to the object side is 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 of view by the lens unit.

[0004] Regarding the removal of foreign substances adhering to the surface of a lens (or lens cover), in recent years, foreign substances have also been removed by vibrating the lens (or 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 6, such a vibration 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 vibrator 112 to which the cover 111 is fixed, and a piezoelectric element 113 fixed to the vibrator 112 as a vibration source that vibrates the cover 111 via the vibrator 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.

[0006] In such a vibrating device 102, the piezoelectric element 113 is driven by power supplied from the drive circuit board 130 to cause ultrasonic vibration of the cover 111 via the vibrating body 112, thereby more effectively moving and atomizing droplets, or removing foreign matter adhering to the surface of the cover 111.

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-231993, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6977784

[0008] Incidentally, all the components of such a small camera module, including the camera body 103 and the vibration device 102, are housed within the housing 130. In this case, the housing 130 may be constructed by combining multiple housing parts for reasons such as ease of assembly of the camera components. In particular, if the housing 130 is constructed by 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, a substantially thin 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) constituting the imaging unit 105, and a cylindrical third housing that forms an internal housing space for accommodating most of the image sensor module and a part of the extension from the image sensor module, then the routing of wiring such as an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) that electrically connects the drive circuit board 130 and the piezoelectric element 113 within the housing becomes a problem.

[0009] In other words, in the housing division structure described above, it is necessary to fasten the housings together with screws, and to interpose a sealing member at the joint between the housings in order to maintain airtightness inside the housings. In this case, the image sensor module, which occupies most of the inner space of the second and third housings, is generally located in the center of the inside of the second and third housings, and the sealing member is disposed on the outer periphery of the housing to ensure sufficient airtightness. Therefore, the screws for fastening the housings together are located on the outer periphery of the housing, close to the sealing member, between the image sensor module and the sealing member. Furthermore, given the limited installation space for camera components, and the increasing demand for miniaturized cameras, the wiring connecting the drive circuit board 130 and the piezoelectric element 113 is constrained by the mounting positions of screws, sealing members, and the image sensor module. There is also no space to form holes for wiring insertion within the housing wall. As a result, the wiring inevitably extends radially outward from the piezoelectric element 113, bending within the narrow space inside the housing, and then crosses the side of the image sensor module to reach the drive circuit board 130. Consequently, there are concerns that the wiring, which resonates due to the ultrasonic vibrations of the piezoelectric element 113 and the vibrator 112, may repeatedly come into contact with the nearby image sensor module, causing noise or even leading to disconnection due to friction.

[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 can prevent wiring connected to a vibration source from coming into contact with the imaging module due to the ultrasonic vibrations of the vibration source, thereby preventing the wiring from breaking.

[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 lens; a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group; and an image sensor that converts light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, the camera module comprising: a cylindrical first housing that forms an internal housing space for receiving the lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group; a second housing coupled to the image side of the first housing and forming a recess for receiving a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group; a cylindrical third housing coupled to the image side of the second housing and surrounding the imaging module including the substrate from the outside; a vibration mechanism provided inside the first housing and having a vibration source that vibrates ultrasonically, and a vibrator connected to the vibration source that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the vibration source to a first lens located furthest towards the object among the lens group; and a drive circuit that drives the vibration source and wiring that electrically connects the vibration source. The wiring extends from the vibration source in the first housing, is inserted through a wiring hole formed in the second housing, and extends within the third housing so as to face the imaging module. The wiring is fixed to the second housing such that the portion of the wiring facing the imaging module does not come into contact with the imaging module when the vibration source vibrates ultrasonically.

[0012] According to the above configuration of the present invention, since the wiring is fixed to the second housing so as not to come into contact with the imaging module, it is possible to avoid the wiring connected to the vibration source coming into contact with the imaging module due to the ultrasonic vibrations of the vibration source and causing noise, and consequently, it is also possible to prevent wire breakage due to friction.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above configuration of the present invention, the second housing preferably has an inclined surface to which the wiring is fixed, and this inclined surface extends from the wiring hole and extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the optical axis so as to move radially outward from the imaging module. With this, since the wiring is fixed to the inclined surface of the second housing, the contact area between the wiring and the second housing can be increased compared to a fixing surface that extends in the direction of the optical axis, and therefore, a larger fixing area between the wiring and the second housing can be secured, thereby increasing the fixing strength of the wiring (or, a wiring fixing space can be secured with a short excess length).

[0014] Furthermore, in the above configuration, since the inclined surface extends radially outward from the imaging module, the fixing points of the wiring fixed to the inclined surface also move radially outward from the imaging module. As a result, the opposing parts of the wiring facing the imaging module are separated from the imaging module, ensuring that contact between the wiring and the imaging module is reliably prevented. In addition, since the inclined surface extends from the wiring hole, the wiring that was extending radially outward can be gently directed towards the image side from the first housing to the third housing, thereby reducing the bending load on the wiring and preventing disconnection. In contrast, if the wiring hole extends along the optical axis, the wiring that was extending radially outward needs to be bent at a right angle to guide it towards the image side, which increases the bending load on the wiring and may cause the wiring to disconnect due to some malfunction.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above configuration of the present invention, the wiring may be fixed to the inclined surface by adhesive, or the wiring may be fixed to the inclined surface by pins. When the wiring is fixed to the inclined surface by adhesive, it is preferable that the adhesive be filled into the wiring holes. This ensures that the wiring holes are sealed by the adhesive, thereby ensuring airtightness inside the housing and thus preventing fogging of the lens.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that the connection end of the wiring to the vibration source extends radially outward from the vibration source. As mentioned above, the wiring is constrained by the mounting positions of other camera components and needs to extend radially outward at least within the first housing. If the connection end extends radially inward from the vibration source, it is necessary to bend the wiring several times to change its direction to radially outward. However, if the connection end of the wiring extends radially outward from the vibration source from the beginning, the wiring can be extended radially outward without bending, thereby reducing the load on the wiring due to bending and preventing the wiring from breaking.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that an elastic sheet is interposed between the opposing portion of the wiring facing the imaging module and the imaging module. With this arrangement, even if the wiring were to come into contact with the imaging module due to some malfunction, the elastic sheet, such as rubber, would mitigate the impact of the contact, thereby reducing noise and preventing wire breakage through its cushioning effect.

[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 capabilities as those of the aforementioned camera module can be obtained with such an in-vehicle system and mobile body. Note that "mobile body" refers to all objects that can move, such as vehicles.

[0019] According to the camera module of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the wiring connected to the vibration source coming into contact with the imaging module in response to the ultrasonic vibrations of the vibration source, thereby preventing the wiring from breaking.

[0020] This is a plan view of a camera module according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in Figure 1. This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle as a mobile body on which an imaging system (in-vehicle system) equipped with a camera module according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the imaging device constituting the imaging system in Figure 4. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional camera module.

[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 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations.

[0022] Figure 1 is a plan view of a camera module 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 300 along line A-A in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera module 300 along line B-B in Figure 1. The camera module described below is a camera module such as an in-vehicle camera, which is, for example, fixedly installed on the outer surface of a vehicle, with wiring routed into the vehicle and connected to a display or other device.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the camera module 300 of this embodiment is composed of various optical elements housed within a housing formed by joining together multiple housing parts. Specifically, the camera module 300 includes, as optical elements, a lens group L in which multiple lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lenses, a cylindrical lens barrel 22 that houses and holds the lens group L, and an image sensor 304 that converts the light focused through the lens group L into an electrical signal. Furthermore, the housing consists of a rectangular cylindrical first housing 23 that forms an internal housing space for receiving a lens barrel 22 that houses and holds the lens group L; a rectangular cylindrical, substantially thin-walled dish-shaped second housing 24 that is coupled to the image side of the first housing 23 and forms a recess 24g for receiving a substrate 309 on which the image sensor 304 is mounted so that the image sensor 304 faces the lens group L, thereby defining the position of the image sensor 304 in the optical axis direction; and a rectangular cylindrical third housing 25 that is coupled to the image side of the second housing 24 and surrounds the imaging module 310 including the substrate 309 from the outside, with an extended portion 310A extending from the imaging module 310 protruding outward from the third housing 25. Furthermore, the housings 23, 24, and 25 are made of different materials. For example, the first housing 23 is made of stainless steel (SUS304), the second housing 24 is made of engineering plastic (PPS resin), and the third housing 25 is made of aluminum alloy (A5052). The imaging module 310 is formed by connecting, for example, the upper substrate 309 on which the image element 304 is mounted and the lower substrate on which the circuit for image processing is mounted, with a support column.

[0024] Furthermore, the image-side (lower side in Figure 2) end of the lens barrel 22 and the first housing 23 is supported by the second housing 24. The second housing 24 is shorter in length in the optical axis direction than the first housing 23. The optical axis is indicated by O, and the direction perpendicular to this optical axis O is the radial direction.

[0025] The first housing 23 is positioned radially outward from the lens barrel 22, and the second housing 24 is positioned on the image side (downward in Figure 2) than the first housing 23. The lens barrel 22, the first housing 23, the second housing 24, and the third housing 25 are arranged coaxially. A rectangular plate-shaped inner flange portion 24a is formed at the upper end of the second housing 24, and a convex portion 24b is formed at the radial center of this inner flange portion 24a, projecting toward the object side (upward in Figure 2), and a through hole 24c is formed at the radial center of this convex portion 24b.

[0026] Furthermore, a stepped portion 24d is formed on the upper surface of the inner flange portion 24a, and the lower end of the first housing 23 is fitted into this stepped portion 24d. This positions the first housing 23 relative to the second housing 24 in the radial and optical axis directions.

[0027] Furthermore, the lens unit 20, which includes the lens group L and the lens barrel 22, comprises a plurality (for example, six) of lenses 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 arranged in order from the object side. Lens 31 is the first lens 31 located closest to the object, and this first lens 31 is held in the first housing 23 by a lens holding part 50, which will be described later. The five lenses 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, which are located closer to the image than the first lens 31, are provided inside the lens barrel 22.

[0028] Furthermore, a cylindrical projection 27 is formed at the lower end of the lens barrel 22, projecting toward the image side (downward in Figure 2). This projection 27 is inserted into and fitted into a through hole 24c provided in the second housing 24. As a result, the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 are coaxial and aligned with the optical axis O.

[0029] Furthermore, the first lens 31, which is located closest to the object, is a glass lens, and lenses 32 to 36 are resin lenses, but this is not limited to this (for example, lens 31 may be a resin lens, and any or all of lenses 32 to 36 may be glass lenses). In addition, anti-reflective coatings, hydrophilic coatings, water-repellent coatings, etc., may be provided on the surfaces of lenses 31 to 36 as needed.

[0030] Multiple lenses 31-36, fixed and supported by the lens barrel 22, are arranged so that their optical axes align, and the lenses 31-36 are lined up along a single optical axis O, forming a group of lenses L used for imaging.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first housing 23 is positioned radially outward of the lens barrel 22. The first housing 23 is made of a metal such as SUS, and comprises a rectangular cylindrical housing body 23a, a radially short rectangular plate-shaped top plate portion 23b integrally formed with the housing body 23a at the upper end of the housing body 23a, and a locking portion 23c integrally formed with the top plate portion 23b at the inner circumferential edge of the top plate portion 23b. The thickness of the top plate portion 23b (thickness in the optical axis direction) is thinner than the thickness of the housing body 23a (thickness in the radial direction).

[0032] The locking portion 23c comprises a substantially cylindrical projection 23d formed projecting toward the object side (upward in Figure 2) from the inner circumferential edge of the top plate portion 23b, and a pressing portion 23e bent radially inward from the upper end of the projection 23d. An inclined surface 23f is formed on the pressing portion 23e along the circumferential direction, inclined with respect to the optical axis O. The first lens 31 is fixed by pressing its surface edge with the inclined surface 23f. In other words, with the lens group L assembled and housed within the first housing 23 and lens barrel 22, the inclined surface 23f of the pressing portion 23e presses the first lens 31, which is located closest to the object in the lens group L, and fixes it to the object-side end of the first housing 23 in the optical axis direction.

[0033] Furthermore, an inner flange portion 26 is provided at the image-side end (lower end in Figure 2) of the lens barrel 22, having an opening smaller in diameter than the sixth lens 36. The multiple lenses 31 to 36 constituting the lens group L are held and fixed in the optical axis direction within the first housing 23 and lens barrel 22 by this inner flange portion 26 and the inclined surface 23f of the retaining portion 23e. In addition, a filter 99, such as an infrared cut filter, is provided on the lower surface of the inner flange portion 26.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a ring-shaped lens holder 50 is provided for holding the first lens 31. This lens holder 50 is manufactured by turning a metal such as SUS to form a thin ring shape. The lens holder 50 has a cylindrical inner surface 50a and an annular surface 50b perpendicular to the inner surface 50a on its inner circumference side, and the inner surface 50a and the annular surface 50b are formed in an L-shape in cross-section. The inner surface 50a is arranged coaxially with the optical axis O, and the annular surface 50b is arranged perpendicular to the optical axis O. In addition, the lens holder 50 has an inner surface 50c perpendicular to the annular surface 50b and arranged coaxially with the optical axis O, and this inner surface 50c is arranged closer to the image (lower side in Figure 2) than the inner surface 50a, and has a smaller inner diameter than the inner surface 50a.

[0035] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the inner circumferential surface 50c of the ring-shaped lens holder 50 is larger than the outer diameter of the lens barrel 22, so that the upper end of the lens barrel 22 is positioned inside the inner circumferential surface 50c of the lens holder 50. The lens holder 50 is also joined to the first housing 23. That is, the outer circumferential surface 50d of the lens holder 50 abuts almost without gap against the inner circumference of the protrusion 23d of the first housing 23, so that the lens holder 50 is fitted into the locking portion 23c of the first housing 23. In this way, the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23 which has the locking portion 23c. The lens holder 50 joined to the first housing 23 has its axis coincide with the optical axis O and is positioned in the direction of the optical axis.

[0036] Furthermore, the lens holder 50 holds the first lens 31. That is, the inner circumferential surface 50a of the lens holder 50 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first lens 31, thereby positioning the first lens 31 radially and aligning it coaxially with the optical axis O. In addition, the annular surface 50b of the lens holder 50 is in close contact with the flat bottom surface 31a of the first lens 31 facing the image side, thereby positioning the first lens 31 in the direction of the optical axis.

[0037] Furthermore, the lenses 32 to 36, which are positioned closer to the image than the first lens 31, are held by the lens barrel 22 so that their optical axes coincide. Since the lens barrel 22 is provided coaxially with the second housing 24 and coincides with the optical axis O, the first lens 31 and the lenses 32 to 36, which are positioned closer to the image than the first lens 31, are positioned coaxially or with an eccentricity of less than a predetermined amount.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a vibration mechanism 60 is provided for vibrating the first lens 31. The vibration mechanism 60 comprises a transducer 61 as a vibration source that vibrates ultrasonically, and a vibrating body 62 that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the transducer 61 to the first lens 31. Such a vibration mechanism 60 is housed in the first housing 23, positioned radially inward from the first housing 23 and radially outward from the lens barrel 22. The transducer 61 is formed in the shape of an annular plate and is provided inside the housing body 23a of the first housing 23. The transducer 61 is formed, for example, from a piezoelectric element. The vibration mechanism 60 having the transducer 61 is spaced apart from the second housing 24 by a predetermined gap s to avoid resonance (resonance and the resulting noise) caused by vibration.

[0039] The vibrating body 62 comprises a donut-shaped mounting portion 62a and a main body portion 62b that extends from the mounting portion 62a toward the object side (upward side in Figure 2), and is substantially cylindrical with a bulge and constriction in the axial direction (optical axis direction), and has an S-shaped cross-section. The vibrator 61 is attached and fixed (connected) to the lower surface of the mounting portion 62a, and the upper end of the main body portion 62b is integrally formed with the lens holding portion 50 described above.

[0040] In this type of vibration mechanism 60, the vibrator 61 vibrates ultrasonically at a predetermined frequency, causing the vibrating body 62 to vibrate ultrasonically. When the vibrating body 62 vibrates, since the vibrating body 62 is integrated with the lens holder 50, the first lens 31 vibrates ultrasonically at the same frequency via the lens holder 50, thereby removing foreign matter such as water droplets, mud, ice, snow, and frost that has accumulated on the lens surface 31b of the first lens 31.

[0041] The lens holding part 50 is fitted to the top plate part 23b (locking part 23c) of the first housing 23. However, the thickness of the top plate part 23b is thinner than that of the housing body 23a, and the top plate part 23b functions as a damper. Therefore, it is difficult for the vibration of the lens holding part 50 to be transmitted to the housing body 23a. As a result, it is difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the second housing 24 fitted to the housing body 23a. Consequently, it is difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the lens barrel 22 fitted to the second housing 24, and it is also difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the lenses 32 to 36. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in optical performance caused by displacement of the lenses 32 to 36 due to vibration.

[0042] In this embodiment, the lens unit 20 is constituted by the first housing 23, the first lens 31 held by the first housing 23, the lens barrel 22, the lenses 32 to 36 held by the lens barrel 22, the lens holding part 50, the vibration mechanism 60, and the like. The camera module 300 of this embodiment is constituted by this lens unit 20, the second housing 24 fitted to the first housing 23 of the lens unit 20, and the third housing 25 fitted to the second housing 24 and accommodating the imaging module.

[0043] As described above, the second housing 24 and the third housing 25 accommodate the imaging module 310 including the substrate 309 on which the imaging element 304 (image sensor) is mounted inside thereof. Specifically, the imaging module 310 occupies most of the inner space of the second and third housings 24 and 25, and the substrate 309 on which the imaging element 304 (image sensor) is mounted is received in the recess 24g of the second housing 24 and is disposed at the center inside the third housing 25 in a positioned state.

[0044] The imaging element 304 as the package sensor is disposed inside the second housing 24 facing the filter 99, and is disposed at a position for receiving the image of an object formed by the lens unit 20. Further, the imaging element 304 includes a CCD, a CMOS, or the like, and converts the light that is condensed and reaches through the lens unit 20 into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal is converted into analog data or digital data which are components of the image data photographed by the camera.

[0045] Furthermore, as described above, the second housing 24, with the substrate 309 on which the image sensor 304 is mounted in its recess 24g, has a sealing member 70 interposed between it and the third housing 25 (the joint between the second housing 24 and the third housing 25) in order to maintain airtightness between the internal spaces of the housings 24 and 25 which are in communication with each other, and is fastened to the first housing 23 by screws 80, as clearly shown in Figure 3. In this case, the screws 80 are fastened at the four corners of the housings 23 and 24, which have rectangular cross-sections. Also, in this case, as described above, the inside of the first housing 23 is densely packed with components including the lens unit 20 and the vibration mechanism 60, and the assembly is carried out sequentially from the side of the first housing 23 to the side of the second housing 24 and the third housing 25, so the screws 80 are screwed into the threaded portion 83 of the first housing 23 from the side of the second housing 24, and the head 80a of the screws 80 is located on the side of the second housing 24. In other words, the screw 80 has a shaft portion 80b with threads formed on it that is screwed into the threaded portion 83 of the first housing 23, and a head portion 80a formed at the end of the shaft portion 80b that is fitted against the side of the second housing 24.

[0046] Furthermore, the second housing 24 is also fastened to the third housing 25 by screws 85, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. In this case as well, the screws 85 are fastened at the four corners of the rectangular housings 24 and 25, and the screws 85 are screwed into the threaded portion 87 of the second housing 24 from the third housing 25 side, with the head 85a of the screw 80 positioned on the third housing 25 side. That is, the screw 85 has a shaft portion 85b with threads formed therein that are screwed into the threaded portion 87 of the second housing 24, and a head 85a formed at the end of the shaft portion 85b that is pressed against the third housing 25 side.

[0047] Furthermore, the third housing 25 is equipped with a drive circuit board 305 inside. The drive circuit board 305 is a board having a drive circuit that applies a voltage of a predetermined frequency to the vibrator 61 of the vibration mechanism 60 to drive the vibrator 61. This drive circuit board 305 and the vibrator (piezoelectric element) 61 are electrically connected by wiring 306 formed by an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) or the like.

[0048] As described above, the imaging module 310 that occupies most of the inner spaces of the second and third housings 24 and 25 is positioned at the inner center of the second and third housings 24 and 25. The seal member 70 is disposed on the outer peripheral portions of the housings 24 and 25 to ensure sufficient airtightness. The screws 80 and 85 for fastening the housings 23, 24, and 25 to each other are disposed on the outer peripheral sides of the housings 23, 24, and 25 close to the seal member 70. Therefore, the mounting positions of these screws 80 and 85, the seal member 70, and the imaging module 310 are restricted. Also, since there is no space for forming holes for inserting wiring in the walls of the housings 23, 24, and 25, the wiring 306 extends from the vibrator 61 in the first housing 23, is inserted through the wiring hole 24f formed in the second housing 24, and extends in the narrow space of the third housing 25 so as to face the imaging module 310 laterally and reaches the drive circuit board 305.

[0049] In this case, at the connection end portion 306a of the wiring 306 with the vibrator 61, the wiring 306 extends radially outward from the vibrator 61, and then is curved toward the image side and passed through the wiring hole 24f formed in the inner flange portion 24a of the second housing 24. The wiring 306 extends in the optical axis direction within the annular space between the imaging module 310 and the inner surface of the third housing 25 and is electrically connected to the drive circuit board 305. In the present embodiment, the facing portion 306b of the wiring 306 facing the imaging module 310 does not contact the imaging module 310 during ultrasonic vibration of the vibrator 61 (therefore, so that no buzzing sound occurs and / or so that disconnection due to rubbing can be avoided), and the wiring 306 is fixed to the second housing 24. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as an example, the second housing 24 has an inclined surface 24e for fixing the wiring 306. The inclined surface 24e extends from the wiring hole 24f and extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the optical axis O so as to be radially outward from the imaging module 310. The wiring 306 is adhesively fixed to the inclined surface 24e by an adhesive. In particular, in the present embodiment, the entire portion of the wiring 306 along the inclined surface 24e is adhesively fixed.

[0050] If the wiring 306 is fixed to the inclined surface 24e of the second housing 24 in this manner, the contact area between the wiring 306 and the second housing 24 can be increased compared to a fixed surface that extends in the optical axis direction. Therefore, a larger fixing area between the wiring 306 and the second housing 24 can be secured, thereby increasing the fixing strength of the wiring (or, a wiring fixing space can be secured with a short excess length). In addition, since the inclined surface 24e extends radially outward from the imaging module 310, the fixing portion of the wiring 306 fixed to the inclined surface 24e also moves radially outward from the imaging module 310. Therefore, the opposing portion 306b of the wiring 306 facing the imaging module 310 is separated from the imaging module 310, thereby reliably preventing contact between the wiring 306 and the imaging module 310. Furthermore, since the inclined surface 24e extends from the wiring hole 24f, the wiring 306, which was extending radially outward within the first housing 23, can be gently directed towards the image from the first housing 23 to the third housing 25. Therefore, the bending load on the wiring 306 can be reduced, preventing disconnection.

[0051] The adhesive used to fix the wiring 306 to the inclined surface 24e is preferably applied to fill the wiring hole 24f. This ensures that the wiring hole 24f is sealed with the adhesive, thereby maintaining airtightness within the housings 23, 24, and 25, and thus preventing fogging of the lenses 31 to 36.

[0052] The wiring 306 may be fixed to the inclined surface 24e with pins instead of adhesive. Alternatively, it may be fixed by other means. Although not shown in the figures, an elastic sheet such as a rubber sheet may be interposed between the opposing portion 306b of the wiring 306 facing the imaging module 310 and the imaging module 310. With the interposition of the elastic sheet, even if the wiring 306 were to come into contact with the imaging module 310 due to some malfunction, the impact of the contact would be mitigated by the elastic sheet, thus reducing noise and preventing wire breakage through its cushioning effect.

[0053] Figure 4 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 Figures 1 to 3 is mounted. As shown in the figure, the imaging device 250 can be mounted on the vehicle 240, and Figure 4 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.

[0054] 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. 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 the imaging device 250, which captures images from positions that are difficult for the driver to see, such as a rear camera, to the driver (it can output information to the occupants).

[0055] Figure 5 shows the configuration of the imaging device that constitutes the in-vehicle system shown in Figure 4. 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 Figures 1 to 3 described above.

[0056] The control unit 252 controls the camera module 300 and processes the electrical signals output from the image 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 specific programs and execute specific functions, 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 an object in the captured image.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented with various modifications 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 components of one of the embodiments described above may be omitted.

[0062] 20 Lens unit 22 Lens barrel 23 First housing 24 Second housing 24e Inclined surface 24f Wiring hole 25 Third housing 31 First lens 60 Vibration mechanism 61 Transducer (vibration source) 300 Camera module 304 Image sensor 306 Wiring 306a Connection end 306b Opposing part 310 Imaging module L Lens group

Claims

1. A camera module comprising a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lens, a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group, and an image sensor that converts light collected through the lens group into an electrical signal, comprising: a cylindrical first housing that forms an internal housing space for receiving the lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group; a second housing coupled to the image side of the first housing and forming a recess for receiving a substrate on which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor faces the lens group; a cylindrical third housing coupled to the image side of the second housing and surrounding the imaging module including the substrate from the outside; a vibration mechanism provided inside the first housing and having a vibration source that vibrates ultrasonically, a vibrator connected to the vibration source that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the vibration source to a first lens located furthest towards the object among the lens group; and a drive circuit that drives the vibration source and wiring that electrically connects the vibration source. The wiring extends from the vibration source in the first housing and is inserted through a wiring hole formed in the second housing, and extends within the third housing so as to face the imaging module, and the wiring is fixed to the second housing such that the portion of the wiring facing the imaging module does not come into contact with the imaging module when the vibration source vibrates ultrasonically.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the second housing has an inclined surface to which the wiring is fixed, and the inclined surface extends from the wiring hole and extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the optical axis so as to move radially outward from the imaging module.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that the wiring is bonded and fixed to the inclined surface with an adhesive.

4. The camera module according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive is filled into the wiring hole.

5. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that the wiring is pinned and fixed to the inclined surface.

6. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiring has a connection end to the vibration source that extends radially outward from the vibration source.

7. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic sheet is interposed between the opposing portion of the wiring facing the imaging module and the imaging module.

8. An in-vehicle system mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a camera module as described in claim 1; and a control unit that processes an image captured from the image sensor of the camera module to recognize an object in the image captured.

9. A mobile body equipped with the in-vehicle system described in claim 8 and an output device that outputs information to the occupants, wherein the control unit is configured to output recognition information of the object to the output device.

Images