Vehicular Camera Ring-Welded Lens Housing for Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular cameras face issues with connector inclination leading to deteriorated transmission characteristics, particularly affecting high-speed and wireless communication due to the inclination of the circuit board relative to the lens unit and housing.
Innovation Solution
The vehicular camera design includes a lens unit with a flange portion having a welding rib and a ring member welded to both the lens unit and housing, ensuring the connector is connected without inclination by using a ring member with varying protrusion heights to stabilize the connection, thereby maintaining orthogonal alignment with the circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the circuit board is inclined relative to the lens unit and housing, then assembly is simplified, but transmission characteristics of the connector deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ring member as an intermediary component between the lens unit and housing. This ring member includes a first surface that contacts the lens unit and a second surface that contacts the housing, acting as a mediator to establish orthogonal alignment. The ring member transfers and stabilizes the positional relationship, ensuring the circuit board connects orthogonally to the lens unit without requiring complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the ring member, specifically making the first surface have a different shape than the second surface. The first surface is configured to match the flange portion of the lens unit while the second surface matches the housing interface, creating a tailored geometric transformation that enables orthogonal alignment. This parameter change allows the connector to maintain proper orientation while simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Ease of manufacture
If the connector is connected with inclination, then manufacturing is easier, but high-speed and wireless communication performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ring member performs preliminary alignment action by establishing the orthogonal relationship between the lens unit and housing before the connector is fully assembled. The first surface of the ring member pre-positions the lens unit in the correct orientation, and the second surface pre-positions the housing accordingly, ensuring that when the connector is connected, it automatically achieves precise orthogonal alignment without requiring additional adjustment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the alignment problem by introducing a new dimensional element - the ring member's dual-surface geometry. The first surface operates in one dimensional configuration to contact the lens unit flange, while the second surface operates in a different dimensional configuration to contact the housing, creating a three-dimensional solution that transforms the alignment relationship and enables precise orthogonal connection.
3Reliability
If the circuit board is made orthogonal to the lens unit through ring member, then transmission characteristics improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a mechanical support structure for the lens unit, provides precise alignment reference surfaces for both the lens unit and housing, and establishes the orthogonal geometric relationship needed for connector alignment. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single component, the patent improves transmission characteristics without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 design stabilizes the connector connection, preventing deterioration of transmission characteristics and enabling high-speed and wireless communication by ensuring the connector remains orthogonal to the circuit board, thus enhancing image quality and communication efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a ring member having a flat plate shape and predetermined light transmissivity and welded to the flange portion of the lens unit and the second tubular portion of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular camera includes a lens unit including a first cylindrical portion, lens disposed inside the first cylindrical portion, and a flange portion disposed outside the first cylindrical portion to extend outward with respect to an optical axis of the lens, a circuit board, an image capturing element disposed on the optical axis of the lens, a housing including a second tubular portion, and accommodating the circuit board and the image capturing element inside the second tubular portion, and a ring member welded to the flange portion of the lens unit and the second tubular portion of the housing. The welding rib includes a first portion and a second portion, and a first height at which the first portion protrudes from the flange portion along an optical axis direction is different from a second height at which the second portion.