Vehicular Camera Connector Assembly Without Jumper Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cameras face challenges due to space restrictions, complexity, high cost, and reliability issues, particularly when mounted rearwardly on vehicles, with significant alignment and electrical connection complexities leading to potential failures.
Innovation Solution
A camera design with aligned or unaligned housing members that eliminate the need for jumper wires by directly connecting front and rear electrical connectors, incorporating conductive coatings to manage static electricity, and a locking mechanism for secure mounting without fasteners, allowing for efficient assembly and reduced space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If jumper wires are used to connect front and rear electrical connectors, then the camera can be assembled with separate housing members, but the cost increases and reliability decreases due to potential circuit failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the front and rear electrical connectors into a single integrated electrical connector assembly. This eliminates the need for jumper wires to connect separate front and rear connectors, thereby reducing potential points of failure while maintaining assembly flexibility. The integrated design combines multiple electrical connection functions into one unified component.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple components and individual electrical connections are used in the camera assembly, then the camera can be manufactured with modular components, but the cost increases and reliability problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual electrical connections and components into integrated assemblies. The front housing member, rear housing member, and electrical connectors are merged into a unified structure where electrical connections are built-in rather than separate components. This reduces the total number of individual parts while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated electrical connector serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connections, structural support, and alignment features. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate jumper wires and mounting hardware, reducing component count while maintaining modular manufacturing benefits.
3Manufacturing precision
If the camera components are precisely aligned during assembly, then the mounting position accuracy improves, but the assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates alignment features directly into the molded housing members during the manufacturing process. The front and rear housing members are pre-aligned through integrated guide structures and positioning features that are formed as part of the molding process, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly alignment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment and mounting functions are merged into the housing member structure itself. The front and rear housing members include built-in alignment features that automatically ensure precise positioning when assembled, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular camera includes a camera housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion joined together to form a cavity within the camera housing. A first electrical connector is disposed at a circuit board and includes a plurality of pin-receiving sockets. The second housing portion has a second electrical connector having a plurality of pins. With the first housing portion joined with the second housing portion, the first ends of the pins are disposed within the cavity and the second ends of the pins are disposed outside of the cavity. When the second housing portion is being joined with the first housing portion, respective first ends of the pins insert into and electrically-conductively connect with respective pin-receiving sockets at the circuit board. With the vehicular camera mounted at a vehicle, the second ends of the pins electrically-conductively connect with a vehicle wire harness of the vehicle.