Vehicle Camera Connector Fixation and Sealing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cameras face challenges in securely fixing connectors to the housing, particularly in preventing foreign substances from entering through coupling holes and ensuring the connectors remain firmly attached during external impacts and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle camera design featuring a rear case with a connector coupling portion and a bracket coupling portion, where the bracket surrounds the connector coupling portion to provide additional protection and fixation, and the area between the bracket coupling portions is formed lower than the connector coupling portion to reduce the overall size and enhance sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hole is formed in the housing for connector coupling, then electrical signal transmission is enabled, but foreign substances can enter through the hole compromising watertightness
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is nested within the housing structure through the coupling hole, with the connector body positioned inside the housing while maintaining electrical connectivity. This nesting approach allows the connector to be protected by the housing structure while still enabling signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing structure acts as an intermediary element between the connector and the housing, positioned at the coupling hole interface. This intermediary component enables both electrical signal transmission and prevents foreign substance infiltration by creating a sealed pathway for the connector.
2Reliability
If the connector is firmly fixed to the housing, then reliability under impact and vibration is improved, but the coupling structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling hole and sealing structure are merged into an integrated coupling mechanism. The sealing structure is formed as part of the housing or connector assembly, combining the functions of mechanical coupling and sealing into a single integrated structure, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling hole structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables electrical signal transmission, provides mechanical fixation of the connector, and prevents foreign substance infiltration through the integrated sealing structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
3Ease of operation
If the connector coupling area is raised above the bracket coupling portion, then connector access is improved, but the overall product size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector coupling structure utilizes the depth dimension of the housing by positioning the connector inside the housing volume. The coupling hole provides access from the exterior while the connector is accommodated within the internal space, effectively using the third dimension to resolve the conflict between accessibility and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is nested within the housing volume, with only the necessary coupling interface exposed through the coupling hole. This nesting arrangement allows the connector to be accessible for electrical connections while maintaining a compact overall product size by utilizing the internal housing space.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle camera. A vehicle camera according to one aspect comprises: a front case; a rear case having a space portion formed therein and coupled to the front case; a substrate module disposed in the space portion; and a terminal electrically connected to the substrate module and extending backward from the substrate module, wherein the rear case comprises a connector coupling portion and a bracket coupling portion which are formed on a rear surface thereof, wherein the connector coupling portion comprises a terminal hole for exposing the terminal to the outside, and the bracket coupling portion is disposed adjacent to the connector coupling portion and protrudes from the rear surface of the rear case so as to cover at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the connector coupling portion.