Vehicle Camera Flex Board Layout for Multi-Directional Stress Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

The flexible board in vehicle-mounted cameras lacks flexibility in the in-plane direction, leading to stress absorption issues in the left-right direction, which can cause load to be applied to the connection portions between the imaging device board and the main board, compromising reliability.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-mounted camera design featuring a flexible board with intersecting first and second bending portions along distinct axes, allowing stress absorption in any direction, and an optical unit with a crystal oscillator positioned to minimize crosstalk and ensure reliable image generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible board is used to connect the imaging device board and the main board, then flexibility in the thickness direction is provided, but flexibility in the in-plane direction is lacking, causing stress absorption issues in the left-right direction

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstress absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible board is divided into multiple bending portions (first bending portion and second bending portion) with different bending axes. Each bending portion can independently absorb stress in different directions, providing multi-directional flexibility while maintaining connection reliability between the imaging device board and main board.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible board incorporates bending portions that extend flexibility from the traditional single-axis (thickness direction) to multi-axis (including in-plane left-right direction) flexibility. By adding bending degrees of freedom in the in-plane direction, the flexible board can now absorb stress from multiple directions without compromising connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the flexible board lacks flexibility in the in-plane direction, then structural simplicity is maintained, but load stress in the left-right direction cannot be absorbed, applying load to connection portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible board structureVSAvoidconnection portion reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible board is segmented into multiple functional regions including first bending portions and second bending portions with different bending axes. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in absorbing stress from specific directions, improving connection reliability without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible board's structural parameters are changed by introducing bending portions with specific bending axes and flexibility characteristics. These parameter changes enable the board to absorb load stress in the left-right direction while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured with standard processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If the crystal oscillator is positioned close to the flexible board, then space utilization is improved, but crosstalk occurs between the crystal oscillator and flexible board, causing image abnormalities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidimage generation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A shielding structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the crystal oscillator and the flexible board. This shielding structure acts as a mediator that blocks electromagnetic interference and crosstalk between the two components, allowing them to be positioned closer together while maintaining image generation reliability by preventing signal interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3883231B1Vehicle onboard camera
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3883231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3883231B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3883231B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Object] To provide a vehicle-mounted camera capable of successfully absorbing stress applied to a flexible board that connects a main board and an imaging device board to each other. [Solving Means] The vehicle-mounted camera includes an imaging device board, a main board, and a flexible board. The imaging device board includes a first terminal. The main board includes a second terminal. The flexible board includes a first connection portion to be connected to the first terminal, a second connection portion to be connected to the second terminal, and a first bending portion and a second bending portion that are located between the first connection portion and the second connection portion and are bent along a first bending axis and a second bending axis intersecting with each other in a developed state of the flexible board. The vehicle-mounted camera is capable of absorbing stress in any direction applied to the flexible board.