Driver Monitoring Camera LED Mounting for Compact Illumination Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera arrangements face challenges in positioning the light source unit relative to the lens element due to their differing heights, leading to obstruction of the illumination field and complex assembly processes involving additional circuit boards and board-to-board connectors.
Innovation Solution
The camera arrangement features a light source unit directly mounted to a plug element of a connector device, ensuring equal distances from the circuit board to the lens element, allowing for a simple assembly process without additional components and avoiding obstruction, thus reducing installation space and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the light source unit is arranged on the same circuit board as the image capture device in close proximity, then the package size is reduced, but the field of illumination is partly obstructed by the image capture device
Solution Approach 1:
The light source unit is positioned at a different vertical level (dimension) than the image capture device. Specifically, the light source unit is arranged such that its top side is at substantially the same height above the circuit board as the top side of the lens element, creating equal distances in the vertical dimension to avoid obstruction while maintaining compact packaging.
2Illumination intensity
If a supplementary circuit board is used to mount the light source unit, then the light source unit can be positioned at equal height to the lens element, but the assembly process becomes laborious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connector device is designed to integrate both the base plug mounted on the circuit board and the further plug element directly mounting the light source unit into a single unified component. This merging eliminates the need for a separate supplementary circuit board, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the equal height positioning of the light source unit relative to the lens element.
3Reliability
If a supplementary circuit board with female connector is used, then electrical connection is achieved, but additional installation space is required and blind assembly is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The connector device merges the base plug and further plug element into a single integrated component that mounts directly to the circuit board without requiring a supplementary circuit board. This eliminates the need for additional installation space and allows the male connector to be accessible during assembly, eliminating blind assembly requirements while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a compact package design with simplified assembly, reduced costs, and robust electrical connections, while maintaining effective illumination and field of view without obstructing components during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The light source unit (22) is electrically connected to a base plug (38) of a connector device (36) of the camera arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A camera arrangement for monitoring a driver of a vehicle, with an image capture device including a lens element providing a field of view to an image sensor of the image capture device. The image capture device is mounted to a circuit board. A light source unit is configured to illuminate an object to be captured by the image sensor. A top side of the lens element and a top side of the light source unit have substantially equal distances from the circuit board. The light source unit is electrically connected to a base plug of a connector device. The base plug is mounted to the circuit board. The light source unit is directly mounted to a further plug element of the connector device, which is electrically connected to the base plug.