CN215529775U

CN215529775U - Transmission tray for camera

Info

Publication number: CN215529775U
Application number: CN202121758675.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 欧阳琴
Original assignee: ZF Automotive Systems Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: ZF Automotive Systems Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-30
Filing date: 2021-07-30
Publication date: 2022-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-30

Abstract

The utility model relates to a transmission tray for a camera, which comprises a tray base, wherein a plurality of lens openings are arranged on a first surface of the tray base and are respectively arranged at different positions preset for different camera production lines, a lens receiving barrel is arranged around a first lens opening in the lens openings, the lens receiving barrel is used for receiving lenses of the first camera production line in the different camera production lines, a lens bracket accommodating groove and a retaining mechanism are further arranged on the first surface of the tray base, an accommodating concave part is arranged on a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the tray base, and a first printed circuit board is arranged in the accommodating concave part. Thereby, a transfer tray adapted to a camera production line of different types, models or versions and an assembling process on the transfer tray are improved.

Description

Transmission tray for camera

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to transfer trays for use in a manufacturing line. In particular, the present invention relates to a transfer tray for a camera.

Background

An assembly and testing line for cameras, such as vehicle-mounted cameras, may include a plurality of stations, including a plasma cleaning/gluing/focusing station, a high temperature furnace station, a test station, and the like. The pieces to be processed, such as lenses and lens holders and PCB boards, need to be transported between the different stations by means of transport trays. A dedicated transfer tray needs to be designed for a camera production line of different types, models or versions, which is costly and labor intensive. With the updating of the cameras, how to provide a transmission tray suitable for different types, models or versions of camera production lines and improve the assembly process on the transmission tray is a problem to be solved by those skilled in the art.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transfer tray for cameras that overcomes at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a transfer tray for a camera, the transfer tray including a tray base having a plurality of lens ports provided on a first surface thereof, the plurality of lens ports being respectively arranged at different positions preset for different camera production lines, a lens receiving barrel being mounted around a first lens port of the plurality of lens ports, the lens receiving barrel being configured to receive a lens of the first camera production line of the different camera production lines, wherein a lens holder accommodating groove configured to accommodate a lens holder and a holding mechanism matched with the lens holder accommodating groove are further provided on the first surface of the tray base, the lens holder accommodating groove being configured to accommodate the lens holder, the holding mechanism being configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove, wherein an accommodating recess is provided on a second surface of the tray base opposed to the first surface, a first printed circuit board is mounted in the accommodation recess and mounted on the second surface of the tray base so as to cover the entire accommodation recess.

Thereby, a transfer tray adapted to a camera production line of different types, models or versions and an assembling process on the transfer tray are improved. In addition, the transmission tray designed for a specific camera production line can be adapted to various camera production lines, which also saves cost.

In some embodiments, the lens receiving barrel includes a barrel body and an engagement flange extending outwardly from the barrel body, the engagement flange being disposed around the first lens opening, and the engagement flange being fixedly disposed on the first surface of the tray base by means of a threaded connection.

In some embodiments, the retaining mechanism is slidably disposed on the first surface of the tray base by means of a sliding snap mechanism.

In some embodiments, the transport tray includes a first slide rail and a second slide rail mounted on the first surface of the tray base, the holding mechanism includes a first slide portion, a second slide portion, and a holding recess portion, the first slide portion is slidably disposed on the first slide rail, and the second slide portion is slidably disposed on the second slide rail, the holding recess portion is configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove.

In some embodiments, the lens receiving barrel for receiving the lens can be removed and transferred to be arranged around a second lens opening of the plurality of lens openings for adapting to a second camera production line of the different camera production lines.

In some embodiments, the lens holder is integrated with a second printed circuit board, and the first printed circuit board accommodated on the second surface of the tray base is electrically connected with the second printed circuit board via an electrical component.

In some embodiments, the first printed circuit board comprises an engagement portion shaped at the periphery of the first printed circuit board, said engagement portion being intended for fastening, via a fixing means, on a fixing frame arranged around and delimiting the accommodation recess.

In some embodiments, the first printed circuit board comprises a dielectric substrate and a metal pattern disposed on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, the metal pattern comprising a first array of printed connection points and/or a second array of connection points.

In some embodiments, electrical connection means are further mounted on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, the electrical connection means being configured for electrical connection with the first array of connection points and/or the second array of connection points provided on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and the electrical connection means being further configured for electrical contact to a second printed circuit board.

In some embodiments, the electrical connection means is configured as a resilient thimble.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the utility model and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the utility model in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view with a transfer tray according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of the transfer tray of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 shows a schematic rear view of the transfer tray of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the utility model. It should be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments described below are intended to provide a more complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the utility model to those skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

It should be understood that like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views. In the drawings, the size of some of the features may be varied for clarity.

It is to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the utility model. All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the specification have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprising," "including," and "containing" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. The term "and/or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" as used in the specification should be construed to include X and Y. The term "between about X and Y" as used herein means "between about X and about Y" and the term "from about X to Y" as used herein means "from about X to about Y".

In the description, when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" to, or "contacting" another element, etc., another element may be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly attached to," directly connected to, "directly coupled to," or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. In the description, one feature is disposed "adjacent" another feature, and may mean that one feature has a portion overlapping with or above or below an adjacent feature.

In the specification, spatial relations such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "high", "low", and the like may explain the relation of one feature to another feature in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatial relationship terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, features originally described as "below" other features may be described as "above" other features when the device in the figures is inverted. The device may also be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the relative spatial relationships may be interpreted accordingly.

It is to be understood that the transport tray according to the utility model can be used for various types, models or versions of cameras, in particular vehicle-mounted cameras. Vehicle-mounted cameras can be used in vehicles for various types of applications, in particular in the area of active safety, autonomous driving or assisted driving.

An assembly and testing line for cameras, such as vehicle-mounted cameras, may include a plurality of stations, including a plasma cleaning/gluing/focusing station, a high temperature furnace station, a test station, and the like. The work pieces, such as lenses, as well as lens holders and PCB boards, need to be transported between different stations by means of the transfer tray 100.

In the plasma cleaning/glue/focus station, a cleaning process, a glue process, and a focus process may be performed. In the cleaning process, the corresponding functional devices in the assembly and test production line may clean the circuit board and its camera chip and lens based on plasma. In the gluing process, corresponding functional equipment in an assembly and test production line can coat glue on the lens bracket and can detect the cleanliness of the circuit board and the camera chip thereof. In the focusing process, corresponding functional equipment in an assembling and testing production line can realize camera assembling through five-axis focusing.

In the high temperature furnace station, the assembled camera needs to be further cured in the high temperature furnace, making the camera more stable and robust.

In the test station, the optical performance, the electrical performance, etc. of the camera head need to be tested.

In order to transport the work pieces, such as lenses and lens holders, and PCB boards or assembled cameras between different stations, an adapted carrier, the so-called transfer tray 100, needs to be designed. However, a dedicated transfer tray needs to be designed for a camera production line of different types, models or versions, which is not only costly but also labor intensive. With the upgrading of the cameras, it is necessary to provide a transfer tray 100 adapted to different camera production lines and an assembly process on the transfer tray 100 so that the transfer tray 100 for a particular type, model or version of camera can be transferred in different camera production lines.

The conveying tray 100 according to the present invention can sequentially go to the plasma cleaning, gluing, focusing (at this time, the conveying tray 100 will perform circuit connection and signal conversion operations on the loaded processed material), the high temperature furnace, and the testing station on the conveying belt through the loading station, so that the product can complete the cleaning, gluing, focusing, entering the high temperature furnace, and product testing processes. In some embodiments, the transfer tray 100 may be automatically moved to the next station on the conveyor belt after completion of a process by the machine software control, and the work piece does not need to be removed from the transfer tray 100 at each process. In some embodiments, the precision of the transport tray 100 may be up to 0.01mm, or even up to 0.001mm, and the precision of the angle may be up to 0.1, or even 0.05.

Some embodiments of the utility model will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view with a transport tray 100 according to some embodiments of the utility model; fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of the transfer tray 100 of fig. 1; fig. 3 shows a schematic rear view of the transfer tray 100 of fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the transfer tray 100 may include a tray base 10, and the tray base 10 may have a substantially cubic configuration. The pallet base 10 may be supported on and transported by a conveyor belt to various stations. A plurality of lens ports may be provided on the first surface 12 of the tray base 10. In the present embodiment, two lens ports, i.e., a first lens port 14 and a second lens port 16, are shown, which may be respectively arranged at different positions preset for different camera production lines. That is, the presets for the active position of the lens in the assembly and testing line are often inconsistent for different types, models or versions of cameras. In order to be able to assemble and/or test a second type or model of camera simultaneously in a single assembly and/or test line developed for a first type or model of camera, it is necessary to purposefully preset different lens opening positions on the transport tray for the second type or model of camera. For example, the transport tray may be designed for an s-cam3.5 camera production line, but a plurality of lens ports may be provided on the transport tray, wherein the first lens port 14 may be preset at a first position for an s-cam3.5 camera production line and the second lens port 16 may be preset at a second position for an s-cam4.8 camera production line. Both the first and second positions are related to the steering algorithm for the assembly and testing line of the two types of cameras.

As shown in fig. 2, in order to mount lenses on the lens ports, removable lens receiving barrels 18 may be mounted around the respective lens ports. The lens receiving cylinder 18 is designed to receive the lens of the respective camera. The removable lens receiving barrel 18 means that the lens receiving barrel 18 can be transferred, for example, from the position of the first lens opening 14 to the position of the second lens opening 16 and mounted around the second lens opening 16. In the present embodiment, the lens receiving barrel 18 may include a barrel body and an engagement flange extending outwardly from the barrel body. The engagement flange may be arranged around the first lens opening 14 and fixedly arranged on the first surface 12 of the tray base 10 by means of a threaded connection 20, for example a screw. In order to transfer the lens receiving cylinder 18 to the second lens opening 16, it is merely necessary to remove the threaded connection 20, transfer the lens receiving cylinder 18 directly around the second lens opening 16 and fix it again by means of the threaded connection 20 in order to receive the lens of another camera. Therefore, the assembly and test of components of various cameras on the same assembly and test production line are realized.

In addition to the lens, a lens holder receiving groove 22 and a holding mechanism 24 that fits into the lens holder receiving groove 22 are provided on the first surface 12 of the tray base 10. The lens holder receiving groove 22 may be configured to receive a lens holder of a camera. The holding mechanism 24 may be configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove 22. The retaining mechanism 24 may be slidably disposed on the first surface 12 of the tray base 10, for example, by means of a slide and snap mechanism 244. In the current embodiment, the transport tray 100 may include a first slide rail 26 and a second slide rail 28 mounted on the first surface 12 of the tray base 10. The holding mechanism 24 may include a first sliding portion 241, a second sliding portion 242, and a holding recess 243. The holding recess 243 is provided on the front side surface of the holding mechanism 24, and the first slide portion 241 and the second slide portion 242 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the holding mechanism 24, respectively. The first sliding portion 241 is slidably disposed on the first slide rail 26, and the second sliding portion 242 is slidably disposed on the second slide rail 28. The holding recess 243 is configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove 22. In other words, the slide-catch mechanism 244 may be released when the lens holder is accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove 22, so that the holding recess 243 of the holding mechanism 24 may slide to clamp the lens holder. When the slide latch mechanism 244 is released without being triggered, the holding recess 243 may be disposed away from the lens holder receiving groove 22. Once the slide latch mechanism 244 is triggered to release, the holding mechanism 24 can slide along the first and second slide rails 26 and 28 to the side of the lens holder receiving groove 22 by means of the first and second sliding

portions

241 and 242, so that the holding recess 243 at the front side surface of the holding mechanism 24 can hold the lens holder mounted in the lens holder receiving groove 22.

As shown in fig. 3, a receiving recess 32 may be provided on a second surface 30 of the tray base 10 opposite to the first surface 12, and a first printed circuit board 34 may be mounted in the receiving recess 32 to electrically connect with a second printed circuit board and its chip in the loaded lens holder. The first printed circuit board 34 may be mounted on the second surface 30 of the tray base 10 so as to cover the entire accommodation recess 32. In other words, the first printed circuit board 34 can outwardly close the entire accommodation recess 32, and thus an additional covering portion is not required, which facilitates both assembly and remodeling efficiency. The first printed circuit board 34 may include an engagement portion formed at a periphery of the first printed circuit board 34, the engagement portion being formed for fastening to the fixing frame 36 via a fixing device. The fixing frame 36 is arranged around the receiving recess 32 and delimits the receiving recess 32.

The first printed circuit board 34 may be used to connect test equipment in a production line with a camera to be tested, to power the camera, and to feed back signals to software of a test facility for algorithmic processing. The first printed circuit board 34 may be electrically connected with a second printed circuit board integrated within the lens holder via electrical components. In particular, the first printed circuit board 34 may be electrically connected to a second printed circuit board on the lens holder by means of wires and electrical connection means, such as pogo pins. During testing, the electrical connection device can contact the second printed circuit board on the lens holder to achieve the communication effect. In addition, the testing equipment in the production line can be connected to the testing points on the first printed circuit board 34 through an electrical connection device, such as a spring thimble, to achieve conduction.

The first printed circuit board 34 may include a dielectric substrate and a metal pattern disposed on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, the metal pattern including printed test points, such as the first array of connection points 341 and/or the second array of connection points 342. Each array of connection points may, for example, be configured for testing of different types of cameras, and each array of connection points may be configured to be electrically connected to equipment in the production line adapted for testing of different types of cameras for transmitting control signals and/or test signals for circuit connection and signal conversion operations of the second printed circuit board integrated in the lens holder. The device for testing may be in electrical contact with the first array of connection points and/or the second array of connection points by means of pogo pins. Therefore, the model changing time consumed when different types of cameras are tested is saved.

Electrical connection means may also be mounted on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, the electrical connection means being configured for electrical connection with the first array of connection points and/or the second array of connection points provided on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and the electrical connection means, such as pogo pins, being further configured for electrical contact to the second printed circuit board, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure without substantially departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The disclosure is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

Claims

1. A transfer tray for cameras, characterized in that the transfer tray comprises a tray base, a plurality of lens ports are provided on a first surface of the tray base, the plurality of lens ports are respectively arranged at different positions preset for different camera production lines, a lens receiving barrel is mounted around a first lens port of the plurality of lens ports, the lens receiving barrel is configured to receive a lens of the first camera production line of the different camera production lines, wherein a lens holder accommodating groove and a holding mechanism matched with the lens holder accommodating groove are further provided on the first surface of the tray base, the lens holder accommodating groove is configured to accommodate a lens holder, the holding mechanism is configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove, wherein an accommodating recess is provided on a second surface of the tray base opposed to the first surface, a first printed circuit board is mounted in the accommodation recess and mounted on the second surface of the tray base so as to cover the entire accommodation recess.

2. The transfer tray for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens receiving barrel includes a barrel body and an engagement flange extending outwardly from the barrel body, the engagement flange being disposed around the first lens opening, and the engagement flange being fixedly disposed on the first surface of the tray base by means of a threaded connection.

3. The transfer tray for cameras according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding mechanism is slidably arranged on the first surface of the tray base by means of a sliding snap mechanism.

4. The transport tray for cameras according to claim 3, characterized in that the transport tray includes a first slide rail and a second slide rail mounted on the first surface of the tray base, and the holding mechanism includes a first slide portion, a second slide portion, and a holding recess portion, the first slide portion being slidably disposed on the first slide rail, and the second slide portion being slidably disposed on the second slide rail, the holding recess portion being configured to hold the lens holder accommodated in the lens holder accommodating groove.

5. Transfer tray for cameras according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens receiving barrel for receiving the lens can be removed and transferred to be arranged around a second one of the plurality of lens ports for adapting to a second one of the different camera production lines.

6. The transfer tray for camera heads according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens holder is integrated with a second printed circuit board, and the first printed circuit board accommodated on the second surface of the tray base is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board via an electric element.

7. Transfer tray for cameras according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first printed circuit board comprises an engagement portion shaped on the periphery of the first printed circuit board, said engagement portion being intended for fastening, via a fixing means, on a fixing frame arranged around and delimiting the housing recess.

8. The transfer tray for cameras of claim 6, wherein the first printed circuit board comprises a dielectric substrate and a metal pattern disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, the metal pattern comprising the first and/or second array of printed connection points.

9. The transfer tray for cameras as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that electrical connection means are further mounted on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, said electrical connection means being configured for electrical connection with the first array of connection points and/or the second array of connection points provided on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and said electrical connection means being further configured for electrical contact to the second printed circuit board.

10. The transport tray for cameras of claim 9 wherein the electrical connection means are configured as resilient pins.