EP3158722A1

EP3158722A1 - Camera, in particular usable in a vehicle, and a method for manufacturing such a camera

Info

Publication number: EP3158722A1
Application number: EP15727964.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Seger; Nikolai Bauer; Uwe Apel
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2014-06-23
Filing date: 2015-06-08
Publication date: 2017-04-26
Also published as: JP2017525310A; CN106464792B; US20170155808A1; CN106464792A; DE102014212016A1; US10009521B2; WO2015197343A1; JP6468691B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera (40), in particular for a vehicle, wherein the camera (40) has: an imager module (1) which has a sensor carrier (4) with a frontside (4a) and a rear side (4b), an image sensor (5) which is attached to the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4), a lens holder (3) which is connected to the sensor carrier (4), and a lens (2) which is accommodated in the lens holder (3), and a camera housing (20) in which the imager module (1) is accommodated. There is provision here that the camera housing (20) has a front housing part (21) with bearing regions (30a, 30b, 30c), at least one securing means (24) bears against the rear side (4b) of the sensor carrier (4) and secures the imager module (1) against the bearing regions (30a, 30b, 30c), and the securing means (24) is attached to the front housing part (21) by attachment means (25). Furthermore, a method for manufacturing the camera is provided.

Description

Description title

Camera, especially used in a vehicle, as well

a method of manufacturing such a camera

The invention relates to a camera, which can be used in particular in a vehicle, and to a method for producing such a camera.

State of the art

Such cameras generally have an imager module which has a sensor carrier, an image sensor mounted on the sensor carrier, furthermore an objective holder connected to the sensor carrier and an objective inserted into a tube region of the objective holder in the longitudinal direction. The focussing can by longitudinal adjustment of the lens in the lens holder, z. B. by a thread pitch, followed by fixation by adhesive or mechanical means.

Such an imager module is subsequently accommodated in a camera housing, which serves as a mechanical protection and z. B. a circuit carrier device, for. B. receives a circuit board with other electronic components and an attachment, for. B. allows in the interior of a vehicle.

The relative positioning and orientation of both the image sensor and the lens, d. H. the adjustment of the imager module, as well as the relative position of the imager module relative to the camera body, however, are generally complex and lead to high tolerances.

Furthermore, cooling of the image sensor or cooling of the image sensor in order to ensure the good optical properties of the image sensor is generally expensive. _Λ

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, the imager module is set against a front housing part in order to position the imager module relative to the housing part. In this case, at least one fixing means is used to hold the imager module to the front housing part; Advantageously, the imager module is pressed against the front housing part.

In this case, in particular the sensor carrier or the lens holder (3) can be pressed against contact areas of the front housing part.

This already achieves some advantages:

An advantage lies in the improvement of heat dissipation from the image sensor:

So the sensor carrier z. B. be formed as a metal plate, and the image sensor can be mounted directly on the front of the sensor carrier; also the front housing part can be wholly or partly made of metal. By the sensor carrier is applied directly to the front housing part, a very good heat dissipation of the image sensor on its back is made possible:

Via the sensor carrier and the front housing part, a direct heat conduction over metallic areas and thus a very good heat dissipation can be achieved. Here, the front housing part may have a large outer surface, wherein it advantageously largely covers the imager module in the circumferential direction to the outside.

The fixing agent, for. As a fixing plate, in particular can press against the back of the sensor carrier, and advantageously by means of fasteners such. B. screws may be mounted in the front housing part. As a result, a good heat dissipation or thermal connection is achieved, since a heat conduction is thus made possible via the metallic fastening means in the front housing part. This can be done both with direct contact of the sensor carrier as well as when the lens holder on the front housing part.

Further advantages lie in the improvement of the alignment or adjustment on the one hand of the imager module itself and furthermore of the imager module relative to the other

Camera Housing: On the advantage of improving the alignment or adjustment on the one hand of the imager module itself:

The adjustment of the imager module itself can be done by guide means in the tube portion of the lens holder, z. B. extending in the axial direction or the direction of the optical axis guide ribs. Thus, the lens holder z. B. be attached to the front of the sensor carrier by an adhesive layer, wherein the lateral position, d. H. Position perpendicular to the optical axis, can be done by positioning the image sensor relative to the guide center. The image sensor is thus aligned with the. Since the guide means are provided for guiding and unambiguous recording of the lens, thus, the position of the image sensor can be set directly to the lens. Thus, a direct alignment of the lens relative to the image sensor is possible without z. B. first, the sensor carrier is aligned with respect to the image sensor, and subsequently the lens with game is to be aligned relative to the sensor carrier. Thus, an optical axis can be formed which coincides with or combines with sufficient accuracy the objective axis, the tube axis of the objective holder, and the center normal of the image sensor.

To the advantage of improving the orientation of the relative position of the imager module to the camera body:

By placing the imager module directly against contact areas of the front housing part with contact areas formed on its front side, it is already possible to establish two angular positions, namely the rotational positions about axes of rotation perpendicular to the optical axis; When installed in a vehicle, these represent the pitch angle position and the yaw angle position. Advantageously, three bearing areas and bearing areas are provided in each case, which thus precisely define a bearing plane.

The definition of the further angular position, ie a rotational position about the optical axis, which thus represents in particular a roll angle position, can be done after attachment of the sensor carrier to the housing part, for which the imager module can be rotated relative to the front housing part. For this purpose, suitable Pass contours are provided on the sensor carrier, which are to be aligned with a suitable alignment geometry on the housing part; Thus, an optical alignment of suitable structures can take place. This can thus be done by a simple rotation or a sliding contact of the support areas on the investment areas, before the final fixation.

Thus, a simple and rapid training is possible, which further allows a very good thermal connection of the image sensor and heat dissipation of the image sensor via a metallic housing part, especially in a direct optical alignment and adjustment.

Thus, the image sensor can thus be passively aligned, via an orientation of the sensor carrier first relative to the lens holder and subsequently relative to the housing part.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows an imager module of the camera according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the imager module;

Fig. 3 shows a first step for the formation of the camera

Placing a fixing device and a circuit carrier;

Fig. 4 shows the subsequently formed camera;

FIG. 5 shows assemblies of the imager module prior to assembly; FIG.

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the imager module;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the method according to the invention; FIG. _.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment; FIG.

Fig. 9 is a partial enlargement of Fig. 8; and

10 is an enlarged detail according to an alternative to FIGS. 8 and 9 embodiment.

According to FIG. 1, an imager module 1 has an objective 2, an objective holder 3 accommodating the objective 2, a sensor carrier 4 having a front side 4a and a rear side 4b, and an image sensor 5 mounted on the front side 4a of the sensor carrier 4. As a sensor carrier 4, in particular a metal plate can be selected on the contacting of the image sensor 5, a conductor device, for. B. a flexible conductor (flexible conduction band) 6 is fixed, to which the image sensor 5 is contacted, wherein the flexible conductor 6 for subsequent contacting at a z. B. in Fig. 3 circuit carrier device, for. B. a circuit board 8, is used.

The lens holder 3 is z. B. manufactured as an injection-molded part of a plastic material and has a lens holder support portion 3a for resting on the sensor carrier 4 and a tube portion 3b, in which the z. B. one or more lenses 2a and a lens barrel 2b having lens 2 is used.

The Tubusbereich 3b has an inner surface 12, at the more, z. B. three, serving as a guide means guide ribs 14 are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction, z. B. rotationally symmetrical distributed, d. H. in 120 ° arrangement. In this case, however, non-rotationally symmetrical arrangements can be selected. On an outer side 15 of the lens barrel 2b corresponding guide grooves 16 are formed, in which the guide ribs 14 are received. The objective 2 can thus be introduced in the longitudinal direction into the tube region 3b.

Thus, the objective 2 or the objective body is clearly position-determined by the position of the guide ribs 14; The guide ribs 14 are subsequently used as a reference for the lateral alignment of the image sensor 5. The image sensor 5 has a center point or a center normal B; the objective 2 has an objective axis A; Furthermore, the tube region 3b has a tube axis C. Aim of the adjustment during assembly of the

Imager module 1 is thus that the two axes A and C and the center normal B coincide and form a common optical axis D. Thus, the lateral positions and the angle adjustments, i. H. regarding tilting, to adjust. By the guide ribs 14 of the tube portion 3b of the lens holder 3, the lens 2 can be clearly positioned so that the axes of symmetry A and C already coincide. During assembly, the image sensor 5, in particular its sensitive sensor surface 5a, can thus be aligned relative to the guide ribs 14 and thus to the tube axis C; this orientation is apparent in particular from the rear view of FIG.

Thus, the image sensor 5 is first mounted on the realized as a steel plate sensor carrier 4, z. B. by a circumferential adhesive layer 18 between the

Sensor carrier 4 and the lens holder support portion 3a of the lens holder 3 fixed, which further also a seal of the rear lens space and a protection of the image sensor 5 is achieved, since it is completely surrounded by the lens holder 3. Advantageously, the flex conductor 6 is fixed by the adhesive layer 18 or this passage is sealed.

Then, in the subsequent manufacturing step, the objective 2 is introduced into the tube region 3b of the objective holder 3, wherein focusing advantageously takes place while detecting a test pattern and evaluating the image signals of the image sensor 5. Example, by a front-applied adhesive 17 which is introduced between the front end of the tube portion 3b and the lens barrel 2b and also ensures a seal of the rear lens space and a seal of the front exposed image sensor 5. In principle, other fixations are possible.

The imager module 1 thus formed is subsequently installed and fixed in a camera housing 20. The camera body 20 in this case has a front

Housing part 21 and z. B. a first housing shell 22 and second

Housing shell 23, wherein furthermore a fixing element 24, for. B. a fixing plate 24, the circuit board 8 and fastening means 25, z. As screws are provided. _

The front housing part 21 is made of metal and formed substantially tubular or cylindrical; it has a front opening 21 a and a rear opening 21 b, so that the Imagermodul 1 can be inserted through the rear opening or entrance opening 21 b in the front housing part 21 and protrudes with the lens 2 from the front opening 21 a. In this case, an installation and fixation of the imager module 1 by contact with at least three support areas 28a, 28b and 28c or 128a, 128b, 128c at corresponding contact areas 30a, 30b and 30c of the front housing part 21, wherein the fixing plate 24 against the back 4b of the sensor carrier 4th suppressed.

The fixing plate 24 is z. B. two screws 25, which lie in Fig. 3 outside the plane and z. B. from the perspective exploded view of FIG. 6 can be seen on the front housing part 21, z. B. in receiving mandrels 27 with threads 27a of the front housing part 21, and advantageously somewhat braced, so that the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 with

Voltage in the direction of the optical axis D is joined together.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the bearing areas 28a, 28b, 28c are formed on the front side 4a of the sensor carrier 4. By the bearing areas 28a, 28b, 28c and bearing areas 30a, 30b, 30c positioning takes place with respect to the pitch angle position and yaw angle position, d. H. in angular positions with a rotation axis perpendicular to the optical axis D; the further fixation in the roll angle position, d. H. the tilting or rotational position with respect to the optical axis D is shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to the dot-dash lines by positioning pass contours 32, d. H. z. B. visible edges of the sensor carrier

4, relative to an alignment geometry 31 of the front housing part 21 is achieved. This z. B. the receiving domes 27 serve to form the alignment geometry 31 on the front housing part 21. Accordingly, the sensor carrier 4 as pass contours 32 z. B. recesses formed.

Thus, during installation, a sliding contact of the bearing areas 28a, 28b, 28c can take place on the contact areas 30a, 30b, 30c, ie a relative rotation of the sensor support 4 together with the entire imager module 1 relative to the front housing part 21, so that the pass contours 32 and Alignment geometry 31 from the angular position ago match, z. B. recognizably aligned. The cooling of the image sensor 5 is thus carried out directly on the front side 4a of the sensor carrier 4, and of the sensor carrier 4 on the one hand on the three support areas 28a, 28b and 28c on the corresponding abutment areas 30a, 30b and 30c of the metallic front housing part 21, and on the other hand via the Rear 4b of the sensor carrier 4 and the fixing plate 24 and the metallic screws 25 in the metallic front housing part 21, which in turn is cooled by its large outer surface.

The printed circuit board 8 can advantageously be fastened or held on the front camera housing 21, for B. by a recess in the circuit board 8 or a positive engagement behind or latching. Thus, the flex conductor 6 can be received in or on the circuit board 8, for contacting with other electronic components 35 on the circuit board 8, as indicated in Fig. 4, wherein as electronic components 35, in particular a control device, further also connection means for a data connection , z.

As an in-vehicle data bus can be provided. The front housing part 21 is further accommodated in the housing shells 22 and 23, the z. B. reveal each other, or record the circuit board 8 between them. Thus, the camera 40 with relatively little effort, and appropriate definition in the angular positions and positions, can be formed.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is provided as an alternative to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9. The imager module 1 is in this case pressed against the front housing part 21 with the objective holder 3. Thus, three support areas 128a,

128 b, 128 c on a front side of the lens holder 3, z. B. formed on the front of its widened lens holder support portion 3a, of which in Fig. 10, only the upper support portion 128b is shown, and abut against the abutment portions 30a, 30b, 30c of the front housing part 21. The adjustment described above can be done here as well. A cooling of the image sensor 5 continues via the sensor carrier 4, the fixing means 24 and the screws 25 on the front housing part 21st

An inventive method for producing the inventive camera 40 thus has z. For example, follow the steps: After starting in StO, in which the individual components shown in FIG. 6 are provided,

the image sensor 5 with the flexible conductor 6 is mounted on the sensor carrier 4 according to step St1, wherein the image sensor 5 is contacted with the flexible conductor 6 in the usual way,

In step St2, the image sensor 5 already fastened to the sensor carrier 4 is aligned and positioned with respect to the guide ribs 14, so that the relative orientation of the tube axis C with respect to the midpoint normal B of the image sensor 5 is ensured, and subsequently the sensor carrier 4 fixed to the lens holder 3 by forming the adhesive layer 18, and below

According to step St3, the objective 2 is introduced in the longitudinal direction or to a lens axis A into the tube region 3b of the objective holder 3, advantageously with focus.

The reached longitudinal position of the lens 2 is fixed by the adhesive 17 in step St4.

Thus, the Imager module 1 is already completed. Subsequently, the installation of the Imagermoduls 1 in the camera body 20 is carried out:

According to step St5, the imager module 1 is inserted through the rear opening 21b in the front housing part 21, so that the lens 2 protrudes forward from the front opening 21a; a seal is basically not required here. In this step St5, the support portions 28a, 28b, 28c on the front side 4a of the sensor support 4 are set against the abutment portions 30a, 30b, 30c of the front housing 21, and by rotating the imager module 1 about the optical axis D, the proper roll angle position is adjusted by the pass contours 32 on the sensor carrier 4 are aligned or aligned with the alignment geometry 31 on the front camera housing part 21.

Subsequently, in step St6, the position thus achieved is fixed by the fixing plate 24 placed on the back 4b of the sensor carrier 4 and through the

Screw 25 is fixed, which are screwed into the receiving hub 17, so that advantageously a slight tension in the axial direction can be present. However, the slight tension is without influence on the optical properties, since the fixing plate 24 in the center and in lateral areas on the sensor carrier 4 is applied and the sensor carrier 4 itself is formed as a metal plate or Stiffener with high rigidity.

Subsequently, in step St7, the circuit board 8 may be fixed to the front housing 21, or it may already be mounted in advance. The flex conductor 6 is advantageously contacted to the circuit board 8.

Subsequently, in step St8, the camera 40 can be completed by attaching the housing shells 22 and 23 and thereby achieving a hermetic seal.

Claims

claims

1 . Camera (40), in particular for a vehicle, the camera (40) comprising:

an imager module (1) which has a sensor carrier (4) with a front side (4a) and a rear side (4b), an image sensor (5) mounted on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4), one with the sensor carrier (4) having associated lens holder (3) and in the lens holder (3) received lens (2), and

a camera housing (20) in which the imager module (1) is accommodated, characterized in that

the camera housing (20) has a front housing part (21) with abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c),

at least one fixing means (24) bears against the rear side (4b) of the sensor carrier (4) and the imager module (1) is fixed against the contact areas (30a, 30b, 30c), and

the fixing means (24) by fastening means (25) on the front

Housing part (21) is attached.

2. Camera (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means (24) exerts an elastic spring force against the back (4b) of the sensor carrier (4) and the imager module (1) in the direction of the optical axis (D) of the imager module (1) presses against the contact areas (30a, 30b, 30c) of the front housing part (21).

3. Camera (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

the sensor carrier (4) is made of metal, preferably as a metal plate, and

the front housing part (41) is made of metal, in particular as a turned metal part or extruded part, for heat dissipation or heat dissipation of the image sensor (5) mounted on the sensor carrier (4) via the sensor carrier (4) to the front housing part (20).

4. Camera (40) according to claim 3, characterized in that

the fixing means (24) and the fastening means (25) are made of metal, and

the fastening means (25), in particular screws (25), extending from the xiermittel (24) extend through the sensor carrier (4) and are fixed to the front housing part (21) for heat dissipation from the back (4b) of the sensor carrier (4) via the fixing means (24) and the fastening means (25) to the front housing part (41).

Camera (40) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor carrier (4) on its front side (4a) bearing areas (28a, 28b, 28c) which bear against the contact areas (30a, 30b, 30c).

Camera (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lens holder (3) bearing areas (128a, 128b, 128c), which abut against the abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c).

Camera (40) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4) or on the lens holder (3) three support areas (28a, 28b, 28c, 128a, 128b, 128c) are formed, which abut against three contact areas (30a, 30b, 30c) of the front housing part (21),

wherein the imager module (1) rests on the camera housing (20) only in the three support areas (28a, 28b, 28c; 128a, 128b, 128c).

Camera (40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front housing part (21) surrounds the lens holder (3) and part of the lens (2) in the circumferential direction about the optical axis (D).

Camera (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the sensor carrier (4) pass contours (32) are formed, with respect to an alignment geometry (31) of the front housing part (21) by rotation about the optical axis (D) of the Imagermoduls (1) are alignable, for determining a roll angle position of the imager module (1) relative to the front housing part (21).

0. Camera (40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the objective holder (3) has a tube region (3b) in which the objective (2) is accommodated, wherein on an inner surface (12) of the tube region (3b) in the direction of the optical axis (D) extending guide means, in particular guide ribs (14) are formed, the guide receptacles (16) receive an outer side (15) of the lens (2), for longitudinal adjustment of the objective (2) in the tube region (3b) along the optical axis (D) and for focusing, wherein the sensor carrier (4) with the image sensor (5) in lateral directions perpendicular to the optical axis (D) and / or in its rotational position about the optical axis (D) on the guide means (14) is alignable.

1 1. Camera (40) according to claim 10, characterized in that the inner surface (12) of the Tubusbereichs (3b) at least three distributed circumferentially arranged guide means, in particular guide ribs (14), which in corresponding guide receptacles (16) of the lens (2). are included.

12. Camera (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lens holder (3) on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4) by means of an adhesive layer (18) in particular a circumferentially circumferential adhesive layer (18) is fixed ,

13. A method of manufacturing a camera (40) with at least the following

steps:

Forming an imager module (1) comprising a sensor carrier (4) having a front side (4a) and a rear side (4b), an image sensor (5) mounted on the front side (4a), an objective holder (3) attached to the sensor carrier (4) ) and a lens (2) accommodated in the lens guide (3), bearing areas (28a, 28b, 28c) being formed on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4) (St1, St2, St3),

Providing or forming a front housing part (21) which has abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c) (StO),

Insertion of the imager module (1) in the front housing part (21), wherein the bearing areas (28a, 28b, 28c) of the sensor carrier (4) against the abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c) of the front housing part (21) in the direction of the optical axis (D) set or created (St5),

Attaching at least one fixing means (24) to the back (4b) of the sensor carrier (4) and fixing or tensioning the fixing means (24) relative to the front camera housing (21) to form a relative position the imager module (1) in the front housing part (21) (St6).

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that subsequently the camera housing (20) is closed by attaching further housing parts (22, 23) to the front housing part (20).

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that

when inserting the imager module (1) in the front housing part (21), angular positions of the imager module (1) about two axes, in particular a pitch angle position and a yaw angular position are set, and

after insertion of the sensor carrier (4) in the front housing part (21) positioning of the imager module (1) in the front housing part (21) by rotation of the imager module (1) about its optical axis (D), under adjustment or sliding movement of the support areas (28a, 28b, 28c) takes place at the abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c), for defining a third angular position, in particular roll angle position, as a relative position about the optical axis (B).

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the image sensor (5) is placed directly on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier made of metal (4), and

the sensor carrier (4) in its contact areas (28a, 28b, 28c) is applied to metallic abutment areas (30a, 30b, 30c) of the front housing part (21) to form a direct thermal coupling of the image sensor (5) via the sensor carrier (4 ) to the front housing part (21).

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the lens holder (3) on the front side (4a) of the sensor carrier (4) is fixed, in particular by means of a circumferentially about the optical axis (D) encircling adhesive layer (18 ).

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that an inner surface (12) of a tube portion (3b) of the lens holder (3) has guide means (14) for guiding the lens (2) along the optical axis (D),

wherein the sensor carrier (4) and the lens holder (3) in the lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis (D) are positioned to each other by Alignment of the image sensor (5) attached to the sensor carrier (4) to the guide means (14), whereby a lateral position and / or rotational position of the lens (2) to be inserted into the tube region (3b) relative to the image sensor (5) is determined, and

wherein subsequently the lens (2) by Längsverstellen in the

Tubusbereich (3b) is adjusted longitudinally and a focus is adjusted.